Comments for Nod and Smile http://jeanerz.com/blog1 ...because sometimes it's the only thing you can do. Sat, 19 May 2012 17:17:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 Comment on My love-hate relationship with the French #1: Humor by Rickie http://jeanerz.com/blog1/2008/07/10/my-love-hate-relationship-with-the-french-1-humor/#comment-186484 Rickie Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:21:50 +0000 http://jeanerz.com/blog1/?p=156#comment-186484 I've been in Paris for 6 months. I'm an American comedian... This is basically what I've noticed: The French don't seem to end their jokes with a facial expression that says "Hey, I made a funny". No smirk, no corner turned mouth, or puppy dog eyes. They say it so wry it is no long just sarcasm, which apparently is very american. If you ask "What on the plate?" and we answer "Cheese." we (Americans) let you know there's a joke by a wink or glimmer. Now, remember the US is a place where everyone is, at least on paper, equal. We (americans) want people in on the joke. Also, I generally think the comedy in American is about giving in to looking stupid -- in France YOU look stupid. You being stupid is funnier than YOU AND I being stupid. Sometimes a thin line between funny and caddy. Self-depreciation in continental Europe doesn't go over well. Maybe lost in translation. But I'm pretty sure everyone thinks I hate myself whereas in reality, I just don't want to look like I like myself too much because I actually do. I’ve been in Paris for 6 months. I’m an American comedian… This is basically what I’ve noticed: The French don’t seem to end their jokes with a facial expression that says “Hey, I made a funny”. No smirk, no corner turned mouth, or puppy dog eyes. They say it so wry it is no long just sarcasm, which apparently is very american. If you ask “What on the plate?” and we answer “Cheese.” we (Americans) let you know there’s a joke by a wink or glimmer. Now, remember the US is a place where everyone is, at least on paper, equal. We (americans) want people in on the joke. Also, I generally think the comedy in American is about giving in to looking stupid — in France YOU look stupid. You being stupid is funnier than YOU AND I being stupid. Sometimes a thin line between funny and caddy. Self-depreciation in continental Europe doesn’t go over well. Maybe lost in translation. But I’m pretty sure everyone thinks I hate myself whereas in reality, I just don’t want to look like I like myself too much because I actually do.

]]> Comment on The comics people have spies in our department… by Eufrosina http://jeanerz.com/blog1/2007/10/09/the-comics-people-have-spies-in-our-department/#comment-184962 Eufrosina Sun, 18 Mar 2012 00:52:24 +0000 http://jeanerz.com/blog1/2007/10/09/the-comics-people-have-spies-in-our-department/#comment-184962 Intriguing to listen to that, I think that's more the exception towards the rule however. Who understands what'll occur I was just seeking to deal with peoples expectations a little. Intriguing to listen to that, I think that’s more the exception towards the rule however. Who understands what’ll occur I was just seeking to deal with peoples expectations a little.

]]> Comment on My love-hate relationship with the French #1: Humor by alex http://jeanerz.com/blog1/2008/07/10/my-love-hate-relationship-with-the-french-1-humor/#comment-184640 alex Sun, 11 Mar 2012 20:05:55 +0000 http://jeanerz.com/blog1/?p=156#comment-184640 You seem a bit sensitive as well.There is nothing wrong about those answers. Your questions ,as well,are quite"smar ass".I mean,instead of the waiter I would answer you to bring your own bucket. Humour isn't universal,end of the story. I must say sometime jokes seem different according to the accent and the language. I live in an english speaking country. I was recently to a dinner where I was proposed to drink a glass of "Moeeet!"I didn't know what it was,and made the person repeat a few times.Till I realized she meant moet(mo-ait),the Champagne (Moet&Chandon). This person got really offended,I didn't mean to. You see sometime peoples make me repeat things ,sometime as a joke ,because of my accent.But when it's the other way around that's not funny any more. How funny. You seem a bit sensitive as well.There is nothing wrong about those answers.
Your questions ,as well,are quite”smar ass”.I mean,instead of the waiter I would answer you to bring your own bucket.
Humour isn’t universal,end of the story.
I must say sometime jokes seem different according to the accent and the language.
I live in an english speaking country.
I was recently to a dinner where I was proposed to drink a glass of “Moeeet!”I didn’t know what it was,and made the person repeat a few times.Till I realized she meant moet(mo-ait),the Champagne (Moet&Chandon).
This person got really offended,I didn’t mean to.
You see sometime peoples make me repeat things ,sometime as a joke ,because of my accent.But when it’s the other way around that’s not funny any more.
How funny.

]]> Comment on My love-hate relationship with the French #1: Humor by serena http://jeanerz.com/blog1/2008/07/10/my-love-hate-relationship-with-the-french-1-humor/#comment-183110 serena Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:34:24 +0000 http://jeanerz.com/blog1/?p=156#comment-183110 It would be helpful to know where you're from. I'm American and have been living in Paris for 30 years. I would have responded exactly the same way the waiter and cheesemonger did. Its really odd to ask if there are toilets or what's on the cheese plate, so yes, linguistically the questions invite jokes. If you'd made a grammatical mistake, you would've just been given the information that you wanted, and maybe had your grammar corrected. Both jokes are typical of American as well of French humor. If a French person jokes with you, that doesn't mean they're picking on you or being cruel. It would be helpful to know where you’re from. I’m American and have been living in Paris for 30 years. I would have responded exactly the same way the waiter and cheesemonger did. Its really odd to ask if there are toilets or what’s on the cheese plate, so yes, linguistically the questions invite jokes. If you’d made a grammatical mistake, you would’ve just been given the information that you wanted, and maybe had your grammar corrected. Both jokes are typical of American as well of French humor. If a French person jokes with you, that doesn’t mean they’re picking on you or being cruel.

]]> Comment on My love-hate relationship with the French #1: Humor by Anna http://jeanerz.com/blog1/2008/07/10/my-love-hate-relationship-with-the-french-1-humor/#comment-182506 Anna Sat, 07 Jan 2012 03:42:26 +0000 http://jeanerz.com/blog1/?p=156#comment-182506 Hi ! =) A bit late, but I still want to answer. ^^ Of course it's a bit rude, when someone you don't know will tease you, especially when you intend to give money to that person to do his job. But yeah in France you fight or you die, welcome in France ! \o/ We have an expression : "Question stupide, réponse idiote", so yeah when the answer is obvious, at least for the one who is asked, he will tend to tease you. But it's not mean, really, it's seen as just a joke. ^^ Hi ! =) A bit late, but I still want to answer. ^^
Of course it’s a bit rude, when someone you don’t know will tease you, especially when you intend to give money to that person to do his job.
But yeah in France you fight or you die, welcome in France ! \o/
We have an expression : “Question stupide, réponse idiote”, so yeah when the answer is obvious, at least for the one who is asked, he will tend to tease you. But it’s not mean, really, it’s seen as just a joke. ^^

]]> Comment on The 9 minute snooze by k http://jeanerz.com/blog1/2008/05/16/the-9-minute-snooze/#comment-181129 k Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:53:41 +0000 http://jeanerz.com/blog1/?p=138#comment-181129 I've always thought it's because the alarm clock rings only for a minute, so the minute of the ringtone and 9 gives 10. I’ve always thought it’s because the alarm clock rings only for a minute, so the minute of the ringtone and 9 gives 10.

]]> Comment on My love-hate relationship with the French #1: Humor by Cana-ri http://jeanerz.com/blog1/2008/07/10/my-love-hate-relationship-with-the-french-1-humor/#comment-180208 Cana-ri Mon, 12 Sep 2011 19:46:58 +0000 http://jeanerz.com/blog1/?p=156#comment-180208 Hi! I'm French and I live in Bretagne (in the North-West of France). It might be strange but here I never heard about anything like that, among my family and friends at least. It's true that grammar mistakes can be fun but even native speakers make some and more often than not so we shouldn't criticize people who are kind enough to learn our language. Maybe I'm going to be yelled at for saying that, but I think that kind of things happens generally in Paris. Of course there are idiots everywhere so you may as well found people like that in province. Well I hope it didn't discouraged you to come in France and speak French. :) Hi!
I’m French and I live in Bretagne (in the North-West of France). It might be strange but here I never heard about anything like that, among my family and friends at least. It’s true that grammar mistakes can be fun but even native speakers make some and more often than not so we shouldn’t criticize people who are kind enough to learn our language.
Maybe I’m going to be yelled at for saying that, but I think that kind of things happens generally in Paris. Of course there are idiots everywhere so you may as well found people like that in province.

Well I hope it didn’t discouraged you to come in France and speak French. :)

]]> Comment on My love-hate relationship with the French #1: Humor by jeanerz http://jeanerz.com/blog1/2008/07/10/my-love-hate-relationship-with-the-french-1-humor/#comment-178798 jeanerz Sun, 17 Jul 2011 14:14:12 +0000 http://jeanerz.com/blog1/?p=156#comment-178798 The teasing wouldn't be such a problem if it wasn't paired with what I see as French speakers' overly critical reaction to any grammar mistakes that second language learners make while speaking French. In my mind, when there is so much hypercorrection, teasing about language mistakes isn't so much of a joke. The teasing wouldn’t be such a problem if it wasn’t paired with what I see as French speakers’ overly critical reaction to any grammar mistakes that second language learners make while speaking French. In my mind, when there is so much hypercorrection, teasing about language mistakes isn’t so much of a joke.

]]> Comment on My love-hate relationship with the French #1: Humor by Oriane http://jeanerz.com/blog1/2008/07/10/my-love-hate-relationship-with-the-french-1-humor/#comment-178507 Oriane Thu, 07 Jul 2011 08:12:52 +0000 http://jeanerz.com/blog1/?p=156#comment-178507 As a native french speaker i have to agree with everybody, it is definitely the formulation that triggers this kind of answer. Though foreigners should not take it personally... They would have had the exact same reaction with any french asking this. In most cases it has nothing to do with being an asshole, most french are big teasers, and even among friends you will often get ironic answer when asking the obvious - though it will be followed by the true answer! for instance if someone comes to see me when i am, let's say writing an sms, my first reaction will be to answer "playing soccer" of something like that. But this is in no way an attempt to be mean and make this person feel stupid for asking smth obvious... I guess french are just big teases and just can't resist any opportunity to tease someone. As a native french speaker i have to agree with everybody, it is definitely the formulation that triggers this kind of answer. Though foreigners should not take it personally… They would have had the exact same reaction with any french asking this. In most cases it has nothing to do with being an asshole, most french are big teasers, and even among friends you will often get ironic answer when asking the obvious - though it will be followed by the true answer! for instance if someone comes to see me when i am, let’s say writing an sms, my first reaction will be to answer “playing soccer” of something like that. But this is in no way an attempt to be mean and make this person feel stupid for asking smth obvious… I guess french are just big teases and just can’t resist any opportunity to tease someone.

]]> Comment on My love-hate relationship with the French #1: Humor by jeanerz http://jeanerz.com/blog1/2008/07/10/my-love-hate-relationship-with-the-french-1-humor/#comment-177235 jeanerz Fri, 27 May 2011 02:15:11 +0000 http://jeanerz.com/blog1/?p=156#comment-177235 très drôle, twingocerise, merci bien! très drôle, twingocerise, merci bien!

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