# The fucking stupid fuck French **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 5, 2005, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fucking-stupid-fuck-french/329577 "2005-11-05T00:13:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2005, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fucking-stupid-fuck-french/329577/21 "2005-11-05T02:04:49Z")
OK, can you give me a slightly longer version? Like the one that would justify rioting? 'Cause that version ain’t it. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2005, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fucking-stupid-fuck-french/329577/22 "2005-11-05T02:06:37Z")
You know, that’s a good representation of what bothers me most about liberals today (yeah I’m going to use a blanket generalization because I’ve gotten nothing but generalizations from the left for about 5 years now.) The incessant bleating of COMPLETELY irrelevant points because the left feels they are “zingers” that just eradicate any possible argument anyone from the right could have. “Oh, you have a problem with FRANCE? WELL FRANCE FREED YOUR ASS BACK IN 1781 SO YOU BETTER JUST SHUT UP YOU HYPOCRITE!!” I’m starting to increasingly feel like the left side of the spectrum has absolutely nothing to offer, mainly because of the crap I read on message boards like this. You know I’ve been a registered Republican for a long time, but I’ve regularly voted for Democratic candidates. I voted for Clinton in 96, I voted for Warner here in my home state. I’d say my voting record is something like 60% Republican 40% Democrat. But it’s getting to the point where the shrill generalizations, inane arguments and over simplified insults the left has basically taken up as their war cry has me to the point where I may just start voting straight ticket because ideologically I don’t want to associate with the other side even if some of their individual candidates may be superior. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2005, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fucking-stupid-fuck-french/329577/23 "2005-11-05T02:23:43Z")
> [@Martin Hyde](#): > > I’m starting to increasingly feel like the left side of the spectrum has absolutely nothing to offer, mainly because of the crap I read on message boards like this. Go to a conservative message board. You’ll learn that the “right side of the spectrum” also has absolutely nothing to offer. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2005, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fucking-stupid-fuck-french/329577/24 "2005-11-05T02:29:44Z")
> [@Martin Hyde](#): > > You know, that’s a good representation of what bothers me most about liberals today (yeah I’m going to use a blanket generalization because I’ve gotten nothing but generalizations from the left for about 5 years now.) The incessant bleating of COMPLETELY irrelevant points because the left feels they are “zingers” that just eradicate any possible argument anyone from the right could have. > > “Oh, you have a problem with FRANCE? WELL FRANCE FREED YOUR ASS BACK IN 1781 SO YOU BETTER JUST SHUT UP YOU HYPOCRITE!!” > > I’m starting to increasingly feel like the left side of the spectrum has absolutely nothing to offer, mainly because of the crap I read on message boards like this. You know I’ve been a registered Republican for a long time, but I’ve regularly voted for Democratic candidates. I voted for Clinton in 96, I voted for Warner here in my home state. I’d say my voting record is something like 60% Republican 40% Democrat. > > But it’s getting to the point where the shrill generalizations, inane arguments and over simplified insults the left has basically taken up as their war cry has me to the point where I may just start voting straight ticket because ideologically I don’t want to associate with the other side even if some of their individual candidates may be superior. I do see that the zing against conservatives about fucking things up in yet another country was not needed, I think also that your “counter” zinger is more insulting. [http://www.centcom.mil/Operations/Coalition/Coalition\_pages/france.htm](http://www.centcom.mil/Operations/Coalition/Coalition_pages/france.htm) > [@](#): > > France > > Support to the Global War on Terror (Operation Enduring Freedom): > > Historical perspective: > French commitment to OEF has been strong and resolute since the beginning of the operation. > The French liaison team to HQ USCENTCOM was established on 10 October 2001 to coordinate all matters/issues related to the French contribution to OEF. > As soon as United Nations Security Council Resolution 1378 was issued on 18 October 2001, France forces were sent in Afghanistan. Since October 21, French reconnaissance aircraft and air tankers have contributed to the air campaign. They were reinforced between the winter of 2001 and the summer of 2002 by French naval aviation forces and French air force transport planes and fighters. Indeed, France was the first country, along with the United States, to have flown bombing missions over Afghanistan in direct support of American ground troops. French forces arrived on the ground as early as 2 December 2001, securing Mazar-e-Sharif. > > In total, some 5,500 French service members were sent to the region. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2005, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fucking-stupid-fuck-french/329577/25 "2005-11-05T02:31:18Z")
More depth [over here.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=343016) ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2005, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fucking-stupid-fuck-french/329577/26 "2005-11-05T02:36:04Z")
Don’t forget that they also gave us the Statue of Liberty. That was pretty nice of them. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2005, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fucking-stupid-fuck-french/329577/27 "2005-11-05T02:37:38Z")
And they tried to bring us to our senses about invading Iraq. I appreciate that. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2005, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fucking-stupid-fuck-french/329577/28 "2005-11-05T02:53:05Z")
And if the French hadn’t invented champagne, what would championship-winning teams douse each other with? Huh? Beer? How mundane! And it doesn’t spray nearly as far as a bottle of well-shaken bubbly. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2005, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fucking-stupid-fuck-french/329577/29 "2005-11-05T02:53:08Z")
There is a GD thread on this as well though surprisingly not much participation thus far. Appearently if it doesn’t happen in America (for good or ill), or if America isn’t at least partially involved (a la Argentina) then its not really news worthy…or worthy of deep discussion on this board. As for what the French could or should do…no friggin idea. It actually sounds like they are trying to discuss things with the folks who are rioting and I’m unsure what more they could do except ramp up the violence by cracking down. So…I’m not sure they are taking the wrong tact though it doesn’t seem to be working yet. I do find it ironic that France is having racially/religiously inspired riots because of economic and social factors. In fact my irony meter is off the scale with this story, though appearently I’m the only one who thinks this. 😉 BTW, for anyone interested, Tamerlane gave a brief but interesting take on the riots in the GD thread. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2005, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fucking-stupid-fuck-french/329577/30 "2005-11-05T03:08:06Z")
Why can’t they do anything? Doesn’t anyone remember Watts? It was a traffic stop that set the city on fire for a week. Detriot? Cops breaking up a party. Rodney did get is has thoroughly beat on camera for the LA riots. I guess that’s a good a reason as any to start burning shit up. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2005, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fucking-stupid-fuck-french/329577/31 "2005-11-05T03:14:30Z")
Okay, well other than champagne, the Statue of Liberty, safe milk, cooperation in the War on Terror, oxygen, and our freedom, what have the French ever done for us? ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2005, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fucking-stupid-fuck-french/329577/32 "2005-11-05T03:20:29Z")
> [@Metacom](#): > > Go to a conservative message board. You’ll learn that the “right side of the spectrum” also has absolutely nothing to offer. Fiiiiiiiiinally! Someone admits that this is a liberal message board. Thank you. Proceed. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2005, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fucking-stupid-fuck-french/329577/33 "2005-11-05T03:21:24Z")
> [@Wolfian](#): > > Okay, well other than champagne, the Statue of Liberty, safe milk, cooperation in the War on Terror, oxygen, and our freedom, what have the French ever done for us? And this has…well, what to do with the riots? Or do you think that in an orgy of love for France the US should send in troops to help with the riots? 😛 -XT ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2005, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fucking-stupid-fuck-french/329577/34 "2005-11-05T03:21:56Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > And they tried to bring us to our senses about invading Iraq. I appreciate that. Yeah, it would have been so much worse if they stood with us and Great Britain. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2005, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fucking-stupid-fuck-french/329577/35 "2005-11-05T03:26:09Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > OK, can you give me a slightly longer version? Like the one that would justify rioting? 'Cause that version ain’t it. They are poor, unemployment is high and they don’t feel like the government gives a rats ass about them. Add in a fair amount of perceived or real racism and cars are burning in the streets. Few things really justify rioting. There usually is some incident that pisses people rocks are thrown a cars is burnt and things go down hill from there. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2005, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fucking-stupid-fuck-french/329577/36 "2005-11-05T03:28:44Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Yeah, it would have been so much worse if they stood with us and Great Britain. They did what they could to stop the U.S. and the U.K. from embarking on a fool’s errand. I do appreciate that. You did note that they stood beside us in Afghanistan, didn’t you? ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2005, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fucking-stupid-fuck-french/329577/37 "2005-11-05T03:33:36Z")
> [@Martin Hyde](#): > > You know, that’s a good representation of what bothers me most about liberals today (yeah I’m going to use a blanket generalization because I’ve gotten nothing but generalizations from the left for about 5 years now.) “I’m gonna use a tu quoque fallacy, and y’all can’t stop me!” > [@Martin Hyde](#): > > I’m starting to increasingly feel like the left side of the spectrum has absolutely nothing to offer, mainly because of the crap I read on message boards like this. “And when I get done with my tu quoque fallacy, I’m going to employ the fallacy of hasty generalization!” > [@Martin Hyde](#): > > But it’s getting to the point where the shrill generalizations, inane arguments and over simplified insults the left has basically taken up as their war cry has me to the point where I may just start voting straight ticket because ideologically I don’t want to associate with the other side even if some of their individual candidates may be superior. “And then I’ll cut my nose off to spite my face and screw my own country over! That’ll sure show them!” ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2005, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fucking-stupid-fuck-french/329577/38 "2005-11-05T03:43:54Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > You did note that they stood beside us in Afghanistan, didn’t you? And America stands by France as the cars burn in Paris (and throughout the country). 😉 -XT ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2005, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fucking-stupid-fuck-french/329577/39 "2005-11-05T03:49:06Z")
BTW thanks to **Biggirl** for a very relevant answer. This is France’s Watts. It doesn’t take that much provocation to send a marginalized community over the brink, and if the population/area is large enough it’s not a simple matter to stabilize the situation. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2005, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fucking-stupid-fuck-french/329577/40 "2005-11-05T04:09:26Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > Since when is Chirac conservative? Wow. You really are clueless about French politics. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fucking-stupid-fuck-french/329577.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fucking-stupid-fuck-french/329577.md?page=3)