Assignment: In Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong, read the chapters assigned below. Write a response, following the Reader Response Guidelines. React to and comment upon at least 1 of your classmates' responses.
Tip: If you are short on inspiration (or simply stuck!), the following questions will help guide your critical reflections.
Chapter 3: Using specific examples from the chapter, describe the French notion of privacy and compare and contrast it with your own cultural norms.
In the reading of chapter 3 Sixty Million Frenchmen Can’t Be wrong. The privacy in France is different from here in America. Communication in France is more private. The questions Americans ask here are considered to be rude in France. Example would be “What do you do? French talks of other things while departing from one another like food, culture, politics and arts. To ask a Frenchmen of “What is your name” is considered to be rude. Frenchmen don’t consider speaking of someone’s name or occupations in public. In America that is a way of greeting one another. The French openly kiss in public. In America kissing is to be done in private. The word bonjour in France is a way of getting good service. You may get a frown if you don’t say bonjour or au revoir. In America stores are public places. In France business can be like an owner’s home. Handshaking is a routine of French secure respect. Kissing is done to complete strangers before and after meeting. In America you can see on in the inside of people’s homes, while in France homes are private. Homes in Paris have shades and thick curtains that shun out the world. Money is a part of the private sector in France. The Frenchmen hate money to say even though they are luxurious. I mean they don’t like to talk about money. They don’t publicly discuss salaries. The French don’t believe in discussing sex publicly. They will discuss it doing dinner parties but don’t have the same urge like Americans. The French don’t investigate sex scandals. They considered it to be private. Adultery in France is appalling but in America it is a breach of contract. In France there is no such thing of a company keeping private records of credit ratings. In America a company is allowed to keep credit records. Lastly the Frenchmen rarely talk about economy. It is considered to be apart of France private life.
ReplyDeleteThe fascinating thing I find about the privacy in France is the section where the relations they have with their couple reflects their relations with politics in other countries. Their perspective relys on conflict because it's more interesting plus if the relation is strong it should overcome however with politics that's not always the case.
Deletei found it fascinating that in France you have to listen for context clues basically to learn simple things about an individual.
DeleteI find it especially interesting that you mentioned that the French do not investigate sex scandals. Mostly, because a our American tabloids are almost exclusively about current celebrity sex scandals. American pop-culture is so heavily intertwined with sex and the gossip that surrounds it. I find it refreshing that I won't have to hear about it everywhere that I go.
Delete-Larry Lesniak
David Gibson September 20, 2016
ReplyDeleteFrench 101 Mrs. Leal
Reader Response
In the reading of chapter 3 Sixty Million Frenchmen Can’t Be wrong. The privacy in France is different from here in America. Communication in France is more private. The questions Americans ask here are considered to be rude in France. Example would be “What do you do? French talks of other things while departing from one another like food, culture, politics and arts. To ask a Frenchmen of “What is your name” is considered to be rude. Frenchmen don’t consider speaking of someone’s name or occupations in public. In America that is a way of greeting one another. The French openly kiss in public. In America kissing is to be done in private. The word bonjour in France is a way of getting good service. You may get a frown if you don’t say bonjour or au revoir. In America stores are public places. In France business can be like an owner’s home. Handshaking is a routine of French secure respect. Kissing is done to complete strangers before and after meeting. In America you can see on in the inside of people’s homes, while in France homes are private. Homes in Paris have shades and thick curtains that shun out the world. Money is a part of the private sector in France. The Frenchmen hate money to say even though they are luxurious. I mean they don’t like to talk about money. They don’t publicly discuss salaries. The French don’t believe in discussing sex publicly. They will discuss it doing dinner parties but don’t have the same urge like Americans. The French don’t investigate sex scandals. They considered it to be private. Adultery in France is appalling but in America it is a breach of contract. In France there is no such thing of a company keeping private records of credit ratings. In America a company is allowed to keep credit records. Lastly the Frenchmen rarely talk about economy. It is considered to be apart of France private life.
What I find interesting is how they say bonjour and au revoir while in stores to get good service. I work in retail and most of the time I'm not even saying hi or goodbye to the customers because I'm too occupied with my own work or don't even want to interact with the customers.
DeleteThat's an interesting point, Meg. While reading through that, I thought it had two uses. One, it helps the owner (or their regulars) to notice your presence, and to check for a person's quality. Since most people would know that, either from hearing it or at least that word. Not saying so would indicate impoliteness, from my p.o.v. Brandon Aspan
DeleteIn this chapter they go over a lot of the do’s and don’t’s while in France. Both the US and France have things they like to keep private but they aren’t always the same things. Specifically, when you start off a conversation in the United States, you always introduce yourself and then try to get to know a little about the person you’re talking to. In France it’s a little different. While speaking to a French person you will just start almost having an intense conversation right off the bat. You could be having a debate about politics and not even know the person’s name you are talking to. In France this is normal and it is almost rude to ask whomever you’re talking to for their name or occupation. You wouldn’t think that keeping your name private would be a big deal, but that is what the French do. Another difference in privacy is that the French always keep what happens in the bedroom private. Here in the US, many people are public about it especially if the person is famous or well known. The book gives the example of Monica Lewinsky. The French thought this scandal was crazy but not for the same reasons Americans thought this was crazy. Because the French keep things that happen in the bedroom private, they were taken back by the fact that the media was talking about the president's personal privacy. Here in the US we were freaking out because our president had a mistress, not caring about their privacy. Before I go back to France I would like to know all the do’s and don’t’s so I don’t offend anyone while I’m there.
ReplyDeleteThe component of their culture is always circling around their idea of meals. There's a bit in the chapter that shows the french are rude to those who eat in public or on the go because it's a form of selfishness. That also works with their idea of treating businesses more like a home environment which is why they are keen on getting a greeting and goodbye in their shops.
DeleteAnthony Liace
ReplyDeleteFrench 101
Reader Response 3
In chapter 3 the author touched on the aspect of what the French consider private in their culture while sheading comparison on the North American private culture. We learned that the French are not friendly with names and discussions about money. However, they have a deep privacy for the bedroom activates of others. Also the French form a society that has a more public and homier environment than that of others.
The notion of privacy in France does differ from America. The French to me are just like any European country and by that I mean they’re less restricted in physical gestures like kissing to greet someone for example. From what the author is suggesting is seems that France has pinpoint around their stores and shops which provide their culture of social warmth that comes from a traditional setting. For example, the bit about the many reason the French close their shades on their windows shows me that they are a people of welcoming hospitality than that of others.
The privacy of money and affairs was another topic discussed. In these lessons I learned that things are a bit ironic in comparison to America. For example, money is a case where the French find the dialog revolting, whereas in America the rat race of our society seems to love to boast and show off. In addition to point out the fact that French care more about the policy’s their politicians rule rather than the affairs they have is outstanding to me considering the current state of our 2016 election. It’s almost ironic in a sense but in a way the French seem to have values of a republican with their need for privacy with their names and money, and democratic in the sense of their nonchalant attitude towards the sex orientation of others.
It is very interesting to see what the French value as important to them. It really does give a different point of view on what we as Americans usually view as important. Wouldn't it be interesting to have a culture more like France's? Where it is more important to feel secure and welcoming, than to worry about what everyone is doing and accomplishing/failing.
DeleteIn the third section that logged Nadeau and Mrs. Barlow’s experiences with French and their culture, the following scenario was brought up. One time, a friendly couple the authors met offered the use of their car, but never volunteered their personal info. An example like that brings us to the topic covered in this section.
ReplyDeleteThe thesis for this time is ways that cultural practices, such as what matters are private, or not, differ. The first point that the authors made is more clarification on the matter of kissing. This has very noticeable ways that they differ. As one of the pictures in the introduction of the textbook depicts, in French culture, it’s a natural way to say farewell to someone.
This also shows what’s emphasized in the cultural practices, and both are distinct. From examples of movies developed in this country, a notable indicator of a culture to onlookers from the outside, it only is done romantically, and in full detail. It’s a strange point to even have such a marked difference at any rate, since the authors’ example even says in France it’s actually mild. From page 35, it’s stated about kissing, “It’s a prudish thing that involves a mere rubbing of cheeks most of the time and very rarely extends to anything like a hug.” (35) While this still doesn’t help answer what happened to develop the habit to do this in France, it’s still interesting to consider the reasons for it. Regardless, this section onward demonstrates clearly the opposite nature when comparing the result of French culture to ours. Brandon Aspan
the differences in North American culture compared to the French way of privacy is so different that judgement across North America can be mistaken by what we don't know or see as normal in our way of living when we compare it to the french way of living. in fact they judge us on what they see how we handle our privacy here in the United States. hopefully since reading this we can say that us as a group can be appericate what the french have to offer us and what we can learn from them and much as they can learn from us.
DeleteThe idea of intimacy is viewed differently. As the reading touched on, intimacy is an abstract idea, but the details are never discussed. As opposed to us, we've suppressed intimacy in our culture, making it more private.
DeleteThe french notion privacy compared to the united states are entirely how we view privacy here in the states. one example from earlier chapter explained how having dinner sparked how the authors felt about what is polite or rude when speaking to a fellow Frenchman." what North Americans consider polite, to the point of being banal or scandalous, are sometimes considered rude in france; especially what do you do? what's your name?"( Benoit & Barlow pg.32). a way to not come off rude you would ask the french man cutrual, arts, or food to get an idea of who they are instead of here in the states we are more forward with who you are. losely Americans and the french have communications differences and by all means have different ways of how you treat strangers. the first difference is greetings in a grocery store where the french say bonjour and Au revior entering and leaving " Because it is an extension of the owner;s home"(benoit pg.35). the next difference is the discussion of money and the advertisement of what your worth isn't discussed in public. the one thing that i take from this text is that the french might seem more guarded but are more welcoming than we North Americans are to strangers.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely agree with you on this point. Making me recall all that the French are doing for the Syrians right now in their crisis...making me wonder, how many of us would open our homes to an unknown people, with a tarnished reputation?
DeleteRachel M.
DeleteI agree with your point that the French appear to be much more welcoming that North Americans. I find it really interesting how in America it seems like we value privacy as an extension of ourselves, yet after reading this chapter, I realized how much more open we really are than a lot of other cultures. What we consider polite would been seen as prying to many French citizens. I like that you brought up this point!
Mathew Dumay
ReplyDeleteFRN 101
Prof. Leal
9/23/2016
Journal #3
In the opening of the chapter, the authors start off by giving us multiple examples of what it means to be “private”. They explain by saying that privacy in France is not personal space, or even legally protecting information. By this they mean, “...each cultures intuitive sense of what’s intimate, and what’s public” (Barlow, Nadeau p. 33). In France it was described how you could be invited into someone's home and even offered to drive their car for a day, but never know their name or what they do for a living. Or even, how in American culture, we tend to keep conflict between someone private, but in France, it is encouraged to constructively disagree, because it is believed that strong communicators should be able to handle that. So with some of these things, in our American culture, it’s intriguing to see some of the similar things and differences. Something that rang true, was the idea of a mutuality of respect in the place of commerce. In this country, you only make contact with a sales associate if you need them, but in France it is custom to walk in and say hello, and then leaving while saying good bye. What I also found interesting is that in France, their homes are completely covered from the outside. Depending on where you live, you might even have a fence surrounding you. It’s just truly interesting how a person’s name, job, and home are all tied to their culture, making culture the discretion, meaning that’s what’s most important.
Hi Matt I agree that privacy in France is much different in America. They are polite but still private. The most informative to me was the fact they are open about sex but keep sexual affairs private. Naked bodies but no business. David Gibson
ReplyDeleteI found the fact they they wont talk about their job or give their name very different because they will openly kiss and hug. i also found it refreshing that the french say hi and bye when they walk in and out of a store, because it shows respect and in America there is less respect for stores, store owners, and even employees.
DeleteThe French notion of privacy is very different from what American’s view as “privacy”. To start of, in America it is quite rude to not introduce yourself when starting a conversation with someone. The very first thing we start off with is our names, which is usually followed by our occupations. On the other side of the spectrum though, to French people it is quite frowned upon to introduce yourself with your name. To them your name and occupation is part of your personal life which is very private and only shared with intimate individuals. Following this concept, the French also view talking about how much money you make as vulgar. While to Americans, talking about the amount of money made is often a time you can flaunt and feel superior. Another example is that, they feel fighting with your significant other in public is reassuring to everyone that you two have disagreements as well and are normal like everyone else. While, Americans tend to have disagreements in private because that is a matter that should only involve the two people are fighting. American couples have to show others in public that they are doing well and have a great relationship because otherwise they are seen as catastrophic and disfunctional. Throughout the chapter, a majority of concepts we as Americans make public, are private to Frenchmen. It is really interesting and intriguing to find out why such things are rather be kept private to them. In some sense, it makes you wonder about changing things that you usually make public, private.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to think if we would be considered polite or rude in France based on our daily actions. It is also interesting to think about how other cultures find actions disrespectful and frowned upon. You hit some great points on public versus private information in France.
DeleteIn America we have different cultural norms than in France or other countries. For example in America it is considered a polite cultural norm to ask someone's name and what they do for a job. In France it is considered impolite to ask for a persons name or job at all. Likewise it is considered very rude or impolite to enter a store in France and not say bonjour when entering and au revoir when leaving. This is considered rude because they are considered an extension of the store owners home and so must be treated as private and respected. In America though we as a society very rarely say hello or goodbye to store owners or even employees. Money in America is talked about too much, while in France people almost never talk about their salary or if they are rich or poor. If they do they claim to earn less or have less than they actually do. The French also are very private about what goes on in the bedroom. For example Bill Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky was a huge deal in America because we as Americans believe we deserve to know what the people in power are doing behind closed doors. In France though they didn’t see what the big deal was because "it was Clinton's private business.
ReplyDeleteI love how you explained how it is when entering a store in France. I found it interesting how the customers greet the workers, than the workers greeting the customers. Also how you explained how disrespectful it is for them to talk about their money and the salary a person is earned. They find different things to be private than we do.
DeleteIt is awesome that you included examples because it makes understanding the information so much easier and it really shows that you went a step further than comprehending the culture. It is also interesting that these are the specific points on privacy that you chose to discuss.
DeleteThe French concept of privacy is a paradox – they are simultaneously very open, inviting and very private, restrictive. The authors state that “in some ways, the French are more guarded than North Americans are, but in other ways they are definitely more open” (41). From what I have read, it seems that the key to understanding the French notion of privacy is to understand what is private and what is not. In France, people may appear to be very welcoming and nonchalant in their demeanor with their routine traditions of shaking hands, kissing cheeks, and always remembering to say bonjour/au revoir, yet the rules of privacy hold strict dictations over what is considered appropriate behavior and conversation topics. What the French perceive as being private vs. public contrasts sharply with the American view I was raised with. Reading this chapter I was honestly a bit shocked by just how different French privacy is from the privacy I understand. For example, two topics that this chapter offered as examples of highly privatized topics in French culture are money and sex. These topics are considered to be vulgar and inappropriate for day to day public conversation. When it comes to money, the French may even go so far as to lie about their salary to appear as if they make less (37). The author’s observed that to the French “it’s as if talking about money tarnishes things” (38). As an American, this is nearly the direct opposite of my experience. From what I have observed, American culture loves money rather openly. It is common place for people to boast about large salaries and show of flashy expensive items such as luxury cars and large houses as physical symbols of status. In America, those who have money tend to be very public about their wealth, not bashful or modest. Additionally, Americans tend to be much more open to the topic of sex. In France, sex is considered private business. It is a topic that may be expressed in the abstract such as in art and music, but it is impolite to divulge into the details of one’s personal conduct. If anything, sex is a topic for gossip over the dinner table but not the basis for public forum or large scandals. This is displayed through the example of former president François Mitterrand. In the U.S., his mistress and illegitimate daughter would have caused a huge scandal, but to the French it is not the business of the public. Contrary to American culture, the French also consider eating to be a public activity. The dining room is considered the most public room in the very private French household. Because it is so different from what I am used to, I find the French concept of privacy very interesting. I think I would have a hard time getting used to their cultural rules. Overall, I think the author did a fantastic job backing up all of their claims and giving a glimpse into another aspect of French culture.
ReplyDeleteIn the reading in chapter 3, it is discussing the privacy space in France. It compares the differences of privacy between America and France. The authors write about how close strangers would get. On page 33, they explain how strangers would greet them, invite them to their homes, and even offer them to use their cars. Americans and the French have different ways about what you share with strangers. Americans find personal space to be considered more privacy as well. French clearly are less finicky than North Americans are about physical proximity to strangers. In France, they publicly show their intimacy for each other. On page 33, it says, “The French freely kiss and argue in public, while North Americans consider it more appropriate to do these things in private”. The communication is a nonverbal asset in France. There are certain questions we ask each other here in America, that we aren’t allowed to ask in France. The communication is stores are done differently as well. In North America, no one usually helps you, except to help you find the items you need. The French tend to treat their businesses as part of the privacy sphere. When you walk into store in France, you must say bonjour/au revoir, it is more politely done that way. Money is also considered as a privacy good in France. The French has an uneasy relation with the idea of money (page 37).
ReplyDeletePrivacy is so important to the French, even where politics are concerned. The French aren’t worried about what’s going on in politicians’ lives outside of politics, because they are wanting someone who just has power. For example, on page 39 “In 22001, when France’s head of their Supreme Court, Roland Dumas, was charged in a corruption case involving his mistress, not a single French talk show asked Dumas’s wife how she felt about her husband having an affair”. I appreciate how private they are in France especially with politics. As difficult as it is for us Americans to stay out of the drama, it is also better if we did. Americans and the French have different meanings of privacy and both can be understanding. In class, we’ve talked about the French finding Americans to be disrespectful, and it could be because we have different ways of privacy. I find it to be interesting how different we are from the French, and I would be willing in expanding information about the French and what they think is private.
Yes the French seem more open about their relationship and more private about their work and names.
DeleteI found it very interesting that not only do the French not consider the private lives of their politicians to be something for public consumption but that once a politician was convicted of corruption, they might still be reelected!
DeleteI found it interesting about the whole ideal of the politicians because here in the United States all you hear lately is about how the other candidate is bad and you hear about every little bad thing they have done but yet in France that information is kept from the public and they could be elected or reelected for office even after committing a crime.
DeleteI find myself to be on the fence, when it comes to privacy. More often than not, I have no issues with sharing anything about myself, if someone is interested; but sometimes, I like to keep to myself. It may deviate from the topic, but I believe it is important to be fine with a little bit of both. Moving on to a slightly different topic, I love that personal drama is tossed to the way-side and they actually focus on pressing matters.
Delete-Larry Lesniak
In Chapter 3, we learn that the privacy of conversation is much more valued in France than in the Americas because they are much more formal than we are. Many of our conversations would be considered offensive to many Frenchmen because of our casual style of language. Phrases like "How do you do?" or "What's your name are considered rude in the French speaking world. The reason being is quite simple, if they don't know somebody they approach him/her with more formal language than we would. Also, personal space is huge in the French speaking world due the inti ate nature that close proximity brings. Subjects such as names and work are not to be had in normal conversations. Those things are to be had with people that are familiar with one another. The French however, are less private when it comes to things that relationship based. Take for example you and your significant other are out at a restaurant when a fight breaks out between the two of you. Most of the other people there wouldn’t feel disrespected or put off because the fight shows that you guys are human and struggles are no different than theirs. We here in the Americas would likely try to find a private setting to air out an argument and feel shame if the argument would happen in public. The contrast is very intriguing to say the least. The difference in how our two countries socially is fully displayed in chapter three and gives us all a new prospective on how we communicate with one another.
ReplyDeletePrivacy and respect are two important factors in the French culture. A kiss hello and goodbye on the cheek is a tradition in France and many European countries. Even strangers greet and embrace each other with a handshake or a kiss because it is a custom there. In America, most strangers would not be exchanging a kiss in public because they aren’t comfortable with the other person that they don’t know. Many people in America would also not exchange a hello or goodbye in passing a stranger on the sidewalk or even when entering a store; however, in France everyone greets each other with bonjour. Failing to say hello or greet someone is considered extremely rude. This standard is not the same in America. Many stores in France are private and could be home to the owner, whereas stores in America are public and open to everyone and anyone. The housing situation in America is similar also because people will occasionally leave their shades or blinds open to let light in. Homes in France are covered with shades and curtains to block out the public and create a private setting. The French seem to be more conservative of information, especially private information such as a career or even their name. To ask a French person what their name is or what they do is considered rude. On the other hand, Americans are generally more open with information but hesitant to approach strangers.
ReplyDeleteTo the French notion of privacy, I found quite interesting certain characteristics that are bizarre to Americans. First, some French people when meeting a stranger will be nice to him, but others will not introduce themselves, which might be very odd to an American. Second, according to the reading, something that the Americans found puzzling about the French was the “Bonjour/Au revoir” habit. If this everyday greeting is not used, it will affect the service one might get when going to any store to shop. Moreover and now regarding money within a private realm, the French do not like to talk about money; it is something they avoid discussing in public. However, what impressed me a lot about the French is that they do not pay attention to immoral issues that happen within the government. Immorality is something that is highly discussed and investigated in the United States. Something I liked from the text is “The French expect people in power to run the country, not to set moral standards.” On the contrary, when personally talking about sex, the French provide graphic details. That is why the French are considered the most lecherous people in the world. To sum up, I liked the reading and found it very interesting and better yet, I have learned a lot from the text regarding the French. I think that everyone should be proud of his or her culture and the accomplishments of their nation.
ReplyDeleteI also found the Bonjour/Au revoir habit really interesting. Here in the US, the only time we ever really greet people in stores or public places is if we need something from them; whereas in France, greeting people in a public place is customary. I like the polite aspect of it!
DeleteIt is bizarre to some Americans including me that there were some questions in conversation that you just don't ask. The immorality section of the reading was very interesting to read because it is so different than in America.
DeletePrior to reading chapter 3, I never truly realized the extent to which the French notion of privacy differed to that of our own here in the United States; they almost completely contradict one another. Barlow and Nadeau start by discussing the concept of asking a person their name or place or origin at the start of a conversation. As Americans, we have always been taught that it is customary to introduce oneself to someone you do not know when conversing. Asking someone’s name or where they are from is not considered personal information, and is instead seen to be merely a conversation starter or an attempt to get to know the other person better. However, in France, such information is considered private, and the only way to find out this information is to subtly ask within a conversation. Barlow and Nadeau state, “North Americans freely discuss names and occupations in public, but these things are considered extremely private matters in France,” (pg.33). Because we as Americans are so accustomed to asking these sorts of questions in an attempt to get to know someone new, it was really surprising to read about how taboo they are in France.
ReplyDeleteAnother concept that was discussed in chapter 3 that came as sort of a shock to me was described by Barlow and Nadeau as what happens in the bedroom. In America, sex and sexuality are constantly discussed within the media, leaving no room for discretion or confidentiality. The lives of public figures are scrutinized, and every detail is relayed to the public in an effort to entertain and enthrall them. In France, however, these sorts of details about a person’s life, no matter how well- known they are, are known to be private, and are not explored further. Because these concepts are so prevalent within the media in the United States, it was almost hard to believe that French citizens weren’t as captivated by such scandals, and actually respected the privacy of one another.
I agree with you, it is not necessarily anyone's fault that one might be rude to the other, but Americans and the French were just brought up differently. I like the point you brought up with the media in the U.S. and how everything is exploited.
DeleteAndrea Claeys
ReplyDeleteChapter 3 talks about the public vs private spheres of French culture. Some of the cultural norms that are mentioned in the book are shaking of hands and cheek-kisses to say hello, saying bonjour/ au revoir when entering or leaving a store, not exchanging names or occupations, and meal time norms.
The authors compared/contrasted a couple of French norms with their American counterpart. I disagree with the authors on two of them, I think there is less of a difference between France and America then they say there is. The first was the talk of money. While America is currently very obsessed with money (how much someone paid for something, what someone gets paid, etc.) we were not always so. I was taught that it was very rude to discuss finances with someone, from how much your car is worth to what you get paid, to do so was bragging or asking the other person to brag. Only with your most intimate friends does one speak of finances, and sometimes not even then! The other norm that I disagree about is interaction in a tight space. The authors say that American, when crammed together in a limited amount of space such as an elevator or a train car, talk to those around them to ease the awkwardness. I have never found that to be true. Beyond an “excuse me, this is my stop” or a “push 4 please”, we tend to not converse when in a stranger’s personal space. The only time I’ve seen others talk when in enclosed spaces is when they are either intoxicated or sometimes with the person sitting next to them on a plane, both of which I assume happens in France as well.
I agree with your comment about the discussion of money within the United States and France- I feel as though a lot people in the US are hesitant to discuss their financial situation with others, and so that part did seem a little exaggerated within the novel.
DeleteI agree with your comment on the whole money situation. I also grew up being told talking about others finances and/or money was rude and it was something we shouldn't do unless it is someone you consider close enough to know your finances. So I agree with you on that point.
DeleteJordyn Konar
ReplyDeleteReaders Response 3
In this chapter it talks about what we consider private and public matter in conversation in North America, and also what the French consider private and public matter in conversation. This chapter also goes into talking about the French and their privacy. I agree with the authors’ thesis and I do believe that they support their claims really well in this chapter. In the text the authors’ state the differences between Americans and the French. One of those differences that they show is when meeting new people. Americans when meeting new people, we tend to introduce ourselves, we can sometimes find it disrespectful when we do not introduce ourselves. But for the French it is the other way around. They do not introduce themselves when meeting new people. Asking for someone’s name in France gets you some strange looks. Another difference that they make is the usage of window shutters. Americans use window shutters more so for decoration on the house. The French though use them for privacy, they open them every morning and close them ever night. My reaction to this chapter was that I was surprised by the differences between the French and the Americans when it came down to privacy and what they consider to be private matter and public matter. I learned about how the French find it disrespectful to ask for someone’s name where here in the United States we do that all the time. I also found it interesting about the whole window shutter thing. I had always thought they were decoration and nothing more. I would love to learn more about the stuff that was mentioned in this chapter. I would recommend this reading to others.
Tim Kirby
ReplyDeleteIn this chapter, the authors illustrate the differences of conversation and privacy in French culture than in American. “Americans and the French simply have entirely different ideas about what information you share with strangers, and what information you don’t share” (33). As a result of these differences, certain questions and notions in one culture may seem inappropriate or even rude to the other. For example, the custom of saying bonjour and au revoir when entering and leaving a store is one that if not done, causes some hostility. A person unfamiliar with this custom, just like the authors when first entering France state that, the “owner, his employees, and sometimes even the regulars will frown at you-when they’re being polite” (34). The authors also state that that is just one example. Another is in conversation and it is rude to ask “what is your name?” or “what do you do?”. There is certain information that is considered public and private. One must be aware which is which. If I ever visit France, I will be sure to incorporate these customs so as to not provoke hostility. It is very interesting to me that even though, like said in the book, that there are these “bubbles”, they are very different than in America. For example, it is normal to give kisses when meeting and before leaving the conversation. “in some ways the French are more guarded than North Americans are, but in other ways they are definitely more open” (41). We should not view them so differently because their culture differs from ours.