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BasketofPuppies · Jul 7, 2008, 12:14 AM

France invented democracy, existentialism and the ménage à trois. America gave us Chinese food, pizza and chimichanga, I think.

Democracy is cool and all. Voting for our leaders is better than having them forced on us, but Chinese food tastes really good.

Because of this, I can't decide which country is better.

turtle777 · Jul 7, 2008, 12:28 AM

Originally Posted by BasketofPuppies

France invented democracy, existentialism and the ménage à trois.

And, not to forget, they invented retreat and surrender

-t

Yose · Jul 7, 2008, 12:33 AM

I thought the greeks came up with democracy…?

Factoid: Canada has the largest French population that never surrendered to Germany (maybe, it was passed around in a Canada Day email…)

BasketofPuppies · Jul 7, 2008, 12:34 AM

No, it was the French. Didn't you see Talladega Nights?

ctt1wbw · Jul 7, 2008, 01:07 AM

The French have outrageous accents.

Randman · Jul 7, 2008, 01:10 AM

if it weren't for France, the United States would not be.

If it weren't for the US, France would not be now.

ctt1wbw · Jul 7, 2008, 01:17 AM

Actually, France is a beautiful country. I've been to Marsailles for two weeks and Brest for a few days. The people are very nice and country is beautiful.

Randman · Jul 7, 2008, 01:35 AM

France is indeed a wonderful country to visit. I was pleasantly surprised my first time there. But just as GW Bush doesn't reflect all of America, neither does the snooty stereotype of frenchmen reflect in real life.

I think that made sense. It's late.

Andy8 · Jul 7, 2008, 03:57 AM

Originally Posted by basketofpuppies

america gave us chinese food.

wtf?

BasketofPuppies · Jul 7, 2008, 04:09 AM

Originally Posted by Andy8

wtf?

Jean Girard: My name is Jean Girard and I am a racing-car driver just like you except I am from Formula Un. I am the greatest one in the whole world. I have been following your career with great interest, Monsieur Bobby.
Ricky Bobby: I can't understand a word you've said the whole time.
Cal Naughton, Jr.: Did you eat some peanut butter or something?
Ricky Bobby: Yeah, you sound like a dog with peanut butter on the roof of your mouth
Jean Girard: I think what you are hearing is my accent. I am French.
Ricky Bobby: You say you're French?
Jean Girard: Oui.
[sounds like 'We']
Ricky Bobby: We? No, we are not French. We're American, because you're in America, okay? Greatest country on the planet
Jean Girard: Well, what have you given the world apart from George Bush, Cheerios, and the ThighMaster?
Ricky Bobby: Chinese food?
Cal Naughton, Jr.: Chinese food.
Jean Girard: That's from China.
Ricky Bobby: Pizza.
Jean Girard: Italy.
Cal Naughton, Jr.: Chimichanga.
Jean Girard: Mexico.
Ricky Bobby: Really, smarty-pants? What did French land give us?
Jean Girard: We invented democracy, existentialism, and the ménage à trois.
Cal Naughton, Jr.: Those are three pretty good things.
Ricky Bobby: Hey.
Cal Naughton, Jr.: Well that last one's pretty cool.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0415306/quotes

mattyb · Jul 8, 2008, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by BasketofPuppies

France invented democracy, existentialism and the ménage à trois. America gave us Chinese food, pizza and chimichanga, I think.

Democracy is cool and all. Voting for our leaders is better than having them forced on us, but Chinese food tastes really good.

Because of this, I can't decide which country is better.

Better in terms of what?

Holidays? France
Food? France
TV Selection? USA
Entrepreneurship? USA
Bureaucracy? France
Public Transport? France
Basketball Teams? USA

Depends what you want out of life.

P.S. I've been living in France for 7 years.

turtle777 · Jul 8, 2008, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by mattyb

Better in terms of what?

Bureaucracy? France

I think you mean WORSE or MORE, not better

(You are not really trying to convince me that France is LESS bureaucratic than the US, right ?)

-t

mattyb · Jul 8, 2008, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

I think you mean WORSE or MORE, not better

(You are not really trying to convince me that France is LESS bureaucratic than the US, right ?)

Sorry, yes. France's bureaucratic system is beyond belief. 25% (IIRC) of the workforce are civil servants of one form or another.

voodoo · Jul 8, 2008, 04:52 PM

France is the America of Europe.

mattyb · Jul 8, 2008, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by voodoo

France is the America of Europe.

You what ?????

voodoo · Jul 8, 2008, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by mattyb

You what ?????

I equated France and America

analogika · Jul 8, 2008, 05:21 PM

Sorry, voodoo, but the country in Europe that thinks they're the greatest in the world while everybody else just laughs at them is Italy.

Uncle Doof · Jul 8, 2008, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by analogika

Sorry, voodoo, but the country in Europe that thinks they're the greatest in the world while everybody else just laughs at them is Italy.

I thought that was us?

voodoo · Jul 8, 2008, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by analogika

Sorry, voodoo, but the country in Europe that thinks they're the greatest in the world while everybody else just laughs at them is Italy.

No arguments there

hehe

Kerrigan · Jul 8, 2008, 05:47 PM

France is certainly like America in that any country stretching from the Mediterranean to the Pyrennes and up to the English Channel is bound to have a cultural and geographic diversity that is similar in range to the US. This cannot be said for other European countries which are usually just confined to craggy little islands or miserable jutlands, whose people cannot bear any such criticism of their fatherland.

voodoo · Jul 8, 2008, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

France is certainly like America in that any country stretching from the Mediterranean to the Pyrennes and up to the English Channel is bound to have a cultural and geographic diversity that is similar in range to the US. This cannot be said for other European countries which are usually just confined to craggy little islands or miserable jutlands, whose people cannot bear any such criticism of their fatherland.

Is this some veiled jab at Denmark?

Kerrigan · Jul 8, 2008, 05:59 PM

Yes. Paging Oisin... paging Oisin... I just dissed the Danes

BasketofPuppies · Jul 8, 2008, 06:07 PM

Why are people taking this thread seriously?

I thought that my initial post was so over the top that everyone would know not to.

Atomic Rooster · Jul 8, 2008, 07:13 PM

I like french fries but they aren't even freaking French.

paul w · Jul 8, 2008, 07:37 PM

I guess I'm lucky since I get to choose both.

This thread reminds me - I need to stop and pick up some smelly cheese on the way home.

Rumor · Jul 8, 2008, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by Andy8

wtf?

Try to avoid thought when reading his post, you could short out your logic board.

voodoo · Jul 8, 2008, 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by paul w

I guess I'm lucky since I get to choose both.

This thread reminds me - I need to stop and pick up some smelly cheese on the way home.

Real men choose smelly cheese! MmmMmm

olePigeon · Jul 8, 2008, 07:55 PM

Chimichanga is American, not Mexican.

Cadaver · Jul 8, 2008, 07:58 PM

For women, France >> America.

I've been to France several times, and if it were easy to get a valid medical license there, I'd move in a heart beat (and I'd need some serious remedial French, too, after all these years).

imitchellg5 · Jul 8, 2008, 08:58 PM

Kerrigan · Jul 8, 2008, 10:13 PM

j'ai visite fran4ce environn dix foisss, et j'ai reycu rien dautre que cette bouteille de vin

mattyb · Jul 9, 2008, 05:10 AM

Originally Posted by BasketofPuppies

Why are people taking this thread seriously?

I thought that my initial post was so over the top that everyone would know not to.

Uh, this is the MacNN lounge isn't it? Does ANYONE take anything seriously in here?

Uncle Doof · Jul 9, 2008, 05:15 AM

France invented the suppository. Point to the US.

France invented boobies. Point to France.

A bloke I know who's a complete commie hates the French. Point to France.

Randman · Jul 9, 2008, 05:56 AM

Originally Posted by Uncle Doof

France invented boobies.

Uncle Doof · Jul 9, 2008, 06:08 AM

Originally Posted by Randman

'Tis true.

analogika · Jul 9, 2008, 06:48 AM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

Chimichanga is American, not Mexican.

Chinchinmanga, otoh, is Japanese.

analogika · Jul 9, 2008, 06:50 AM

Originally Posted by Uncle Doof

I thought that was us?

I don't think any Briton still has illusions about the most-definitely-past glory of the Empire?

mattyb · Jul 9, 2008, 07:36 AM

Originally Posted by Uncle Doof

A bloke I know who's a complete commie hates the French. Point to France.

Strange since there are still lots of communists in France. In fact there are towns where the (elected) mayor is a member of the communist party.

turtle777 · Jul 9, 2008, 09:09 AM

Originally Posted by Uncle Doof

A bloke I know who's a complete commie hates the French. Point to France.

No, that point would go to the US in a head-to-heads competition of the US against the UK

Read: bloke's an idiot.

-t