“I think it's a cultural, conversational tic.” As with most conversational tics – like asking how someone is without actually caring to know the answer – complaining in France is above all a means of forging interpersonal connection. And it's an apt one.
French people themselves generally accept that they have a well-earned reputation for always complaining, and it's very common – especially if you are a foreigner – to be scolded for getting something wrong, breaching a social code or making a language error.
Barlow and Nadeau suggest that the no used by many French people comes from an obsession with not getting blamed for being wrong. And while this is true in all walks of life, the fonctionnaires (bureaucrats) of France have turned it into a complex system that seems archaic and inefficient.
Complaining is a natural part of human communication. It is often a response to problems or a way to communicate dissatisfaction. Sometimes, however, people might find themselves wondering if they complain too much. It's probably not realistic to decide to never complain again, but setting limits can be beneficial.
These are known as chronic complainers. They have a tendency to ruminate on problems and to focus on setbacks over progress. Some research suggests that making a habit of complaining can “re-wire” the brain so that those particular thinking orientations become ingrained.
Definitions of complainer. a person given to excessive complaints and crying and whining. synonyms: bellyacher, crybaby, grumbler, moaner, sniveller, squawker, whiner. types: kvetch. (Yiddish) a constant complainer.
French people love to debate, and sometimes it looks scary; friends turn on each other, they loudly disagree, insults are thrown… But it's all in good fun, actually. Debate is just a part of the French way of life. One might say we're better at arguing positions than actually act on them, but that's up to debate.
The French have an undeniable reputation when it comes to love and sex. They are passionate, enticing and simply irresistible. French people have a way with words and actions that's all about love. And when it comes to displaying their fairness in bed, they are said to be absolute sex gods!
One-twelfth of the French population – 5.3 million people – feel very alone with no one to turn to.
The research also revealed that British people complain three times a day on average. One in six said they are most likely to complain in the morning, with traffic during their commute cited as their main worry.
The survey, conducted by Ipsos--the world's second largest market and opinion research company-- found that people most likely to have made a complaint in the past year are from Brazil (65%) and those least likely to have made a complaint are from Japan (17%).
Top 10 things people want to complain about – but don't:
A poor meal when eating out. Being ignored by a shop assistant. A parcel arriving late. Travel delays.
French people tend not to visit unannounced or uninvited. To do so is considered rude. When invited to a dinner, it is common for guests to ask their hosts if they are required to bring something on the day.
Anti-French sentiment (Francophobia or Gallophobia) is fear or antagonism of France, the French people, French culture, the French government or the Francophonie (set of political entities that use French as an official language or whose French-speaking population is numerically or proportionally large).
4 – Flirting is an Artform in France
It's in our genes and it's socially accepted in France. A Frenchwoman is expected to play her feminine side, and be “admired” for her beauty and wit among other qualities. Frenchmen like to flirt as well, even if they know very well there is no hope of it leading anywhere.
Despite the messy reality, most French people, 68 percent, believe it's possible to remain faithful to one person for life. They remain realistic, however. About 63 percent of French believe they can love someone even if he or she has cheated.
“French men pay attention to things like women wearing make-up, perfume, dressing well, and they enjoy a woman's sensuality.” This doesn't mean they expect women to be mere 'eye candy,' though. To the contrary, explains Carol: “French culture appreciates both the sensual and the intellectual."
For Parisians eye contact is a personal matter, much like your choice of wine, or infidelity in relationships. As a general rule, you have to avoid looking strangers in the eye; it's slightly offensive.
Many find French hard to learn because of the complex grammar and linguistic nuances that don't exist in English, especially for those who have never studied another European language specifically Romance languages like Spanish or Portuguese. Spoken French can also be challenging!
In France discussion is an art
The confrontation of ideas is part of the national identity, from the highest circles of power to the smallest villages in French regions.
late 14c., compleinen, "lament, bewail, grieve," also "find fault, express dissatisfaction, criticize," also "make a formal accusation or charge to an authority," from stem of Old French complaindre "to lament" (12c.), from Vulgar Latin *complangere, originally "to beat the breast," from Latin com-, here perhaps an ...
grump. noun. informal someone who complains a lot and is rarely happy.
Research shows that Hebb was right, because complaining does rewire your brain for negativity, especially at a neurological level. It impacts your brain so much that both negative thinking and speech become an integral part of you, so much so that you start seeking negativity.