Waiter fired for being too rude says he was 'just being French'

[sl8]

Last edited Mon Mar 26, 2018, 11:06 AM - Edit history (1)

From https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/26/waiter-fired-rude-says-just-french/

Waiter fired for being too rude says he was 'just being French'


French waiter fired for being too rude says he was only being French CREDIT: ASTRAKAN IMAGES

Henry Samuel, Paris
26 MARCH 2018 • 1:27PM

A waiter fired for being "aggressive, rude and disrespectful" has insisted there was nothing wrong with his manner - he was just being “French”.

Deserved or not, France’s reputation for producing surly waiters who eye customers with suspicion, indeed disdain, is known the world over and has stood the test of time.

Now one waiter has taken that reputation to another level by appearing to claim that a grumpy “garçon” is a cherished French national trait, not a sign of unprofessional conduct.

Guillaume Rey, who worked at a Vancouver restaurant on Canada's Pacific coast, filed a complaint with British Columbia's Human Rights Tribunal against his former employer, saying he is the victim of "discrimination against my culture"

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More at link.

[smirkymonkey]

1. I know plenty of French people who aren't rude.

I think he is using his "culture" as an excuse to be an asshole.

[Major Nikon]

4. I think it's more of a Paris thing

For whatever reason assholery seems to be better tolerated in the largest of cities. NYC and other large cities have the same reputation. I don't really think it's indicative of the majority of the population, it's just that when you pack a lot of people in a small area, the assholes are noticed more.

[Aristus]

5. When I was in Paris, the only people who were rude to me

were the British tourists.

[shenmue]

6. Yeah

[ucralum]

10. So much this!

I confess I was a bit nervous before visiting Paris for the first time last November, just based on the stereotype of the rude Parisian. Thankfully, our experience was quite the opposite; we found the people, including waitstaff, exceptionally polite. We had many delightful conversations, their English being infinitely better than our French. I think many people mistake reserve and directness for rudeness.

[TexasBushwhacker]

2. Fine. He should go back to France

When in Vancouver, be nice!

[Major Nikon]

3. If your culture requires you to be an asshole, your culture sucks

[Floyd R. Turbo]

7. Never had a bad experience with wait staff anywhere in France!

Taxi drivers, that’s a different story!

[geardaddy]

8. I had a French classmate from Paris

and I asked if she thought Parisians were generally rude to foreigners and she said, "No, we're rude to each other all the time."

When we were in Paris, we didn't come across many, if any rude Parisians.

[csziggy]

9. He lives in Canada now and is violating the Canadian culture of politness!

If he insists on discriminating against his adopted culture, he needs to go back to France!

http://www.thecanadaguide.com/culture/manners-and-etiquette/

[malthaussen]

11. Never been to France...

... so can't speak for the waiters there, but every waiter I've had in French restaurants elsewhere has been impeccably courteous. Even when I asked silly questions.

-- Mal

[steve2470]

12. I've been to Paris twice and never noticed the servers being rude

The rudest server I ever had was in Manhattan, but I'll be gracious and just say he was having a really bad day. Neglectful has been more my complaint with servers but I know they get super busy.

[jpak]

13. Did he fart in the customers general direction?