The French

[mckirdy-services]

I agree but they're still a bunch of cheese eating surrender monkeys!

Just because the streets in paris are lined with trees so that the Germans could march in the shade and that old french world war 2 rifles are often advertised for sale as in very good condition and only droped once...dosent mean we need to remind them of it. It was a few years ago now

[s car go]

I agree but they're still a bunch of cheese eating surrender monkeys!

I think thats very unfair-the French are great at peace keeping roles!!!

[Predictable Bob]

I seem to recall that there were French troops doing UN tours in the former Yugoslavia - they insisted on wearing berets rather than steel helmets and had very little trouble ...

That may have been entirely due to their habit of shooting back at snipers immediately and with excellent accuracy - for some reason the locals weren't keen on taking on the Foreign Legion !

[mckirdy-services]

I seem to recall that there were French troops doing UN tours in the former Yugoslavia - they insisted on wearing berets rather than steel helmets and had very little trouble ...

That may have been entirely due to their habit of shooting back at snipers immediately and with excellent accuracy - for some reason the locals weren't keen on taking on the Foreign Legion !

yep they dont mess around. I recall French special forces taking back a French flagged ship by force off Somalia. I don't remember it ending well for the pirates.

[s car go]

yep they dont mess around. I recall French special forces taking back a French flagged ship by force off Somalia. I don't remember it ending well for the pirates.

French society is still very disciplined.The Gendarmarie are ex military and demand utmost respect,but that respect runs through life.French children are taught to shake hands with adults they are introduced to, teachers are addresed as Maitre or Maitresse,but if a child falls and hurts themselves in the playground,they may still get a cuddle or the reassurance that a 5/6 year old may need.
It's a very different society from that in the UK,one I am told, is reminiscent of 1950's Britain.

Regards

Mark

[Rustinho]

French society is still very disciplined.The Gendarmarie are ex military and demand utmost respect,but that respect runs through life.French children are taught to shake hands with adults they are introduced to, teachers are addresed as Maitre or Maitresse,but if a child falls and hurts themselves in the playground,they may still get a cuddle or the reassurance that a 5/6 year old may need.
It's a very different society from that in the UK,one I am told, is reminiscent of 1950's Britain.

Regards

Mark

Do the French still have national service? I remember a mate of mine (admittedly just under 20 years ago now) going back to do his national service cos he had a British/French dual passport and wanted to keep it.

He went into the paratroop regiment, much to his parent's annoyance from what I recall. Something to do with ex-cons getting a reduced sentence if they joined the army and the paratroops were supposed to be the regiment of choice for them?!

He enjoyed it so much that he had trouble settling into life at Uni when he came back to the UK and he ended up signing up as soon as he graduated.

If it's still the case that they do national service it'd explain why all the coppers are ex-military!

[s car go]

No national service is finished,but I would'nt object, if it were still around, for my boys to "do their bit"

[TOYOTATONY]

Do the French still have national service?
If it's still the case that they do national service it'd explain why all the coppers are ex-military!

National Service in France ended back in late 2001.

There are 2 poilice forces in France:

1. The Gendarmerie, local police force.
2. The Police Nationale, formerly the Surete Nationale, national police force, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior.

[Rustinho]

No national service is finished,but I would'nt object, if it were still around, for my boys to "do their bit"

I reckon it'd be a good idea over here for national service to be introduced. Not necessarily conscription into the army but a requirement for people to do some service for the national good, and with good strong discipline as part of the deal. In hindsight I reckon I could've done with a bit of a kick up the arse at that sort of age and being made to do my bit, whether it be with the police, fire service, health service, army, or even doing some community work of some description.

And it'd certainly be a good influence on the jobless wonders you see wandering around with a can of stella at 9 o'clock in a morning...

[KERRSURF]

When was it suddenly ok to openly attack other nations on this forum, closet nationalism on show here.

I'm French and take offence to most of the remarks here.

[Predictable Bob]

When was it suddenly ok to openly attack other nations on this forum, closet nationalism on show here.

I'm French and take offence to most of the remarks here.

I always thought you were a sweaty !

[KERRSURF]

I always thought you were a sweaty !

a what?

[mckirdy-services]

When was it suddenly ok to openly attack other nations on this forum, closet nationalism on show here.

I'm French and take offence to most of the remarks here.

Je suis désolé si mes propos causé toute infraction. Il n'était pas prévu.


It was all said in good jest, I'm sure nobody meant any harm

[KERRSURF]

Apology accepted on behalf of French people everywhere.

I'm not actually French but can't be arsed with bigotry.

I'm a Scotsman and sometimes even proud of that fact, I know your original post was lighthearted but that's how wars start you know! Or shooting a Czar.

[KERRSURF]

As for Bob calling me a "sweaty" I'll treat that with the contempt it deserves and the sympathy he deserves.