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[Claeyt]

Historically and currently, the French are not cowards. One government that surrendered and then some collaborators for a few years were. The current French government and the ones recently have been reasonable, if resolute and assertive.

Before that? France could be outright pugnacious and bellicose when it came to international policy. Which it could get away with because it was comparatively large and powerful for a European country (it still is, I guess when it comes down to it. It's GDP is very respectable and it has a large population) and it was pretty good at fighting. Of course, it could never go very far east because the Holy Roman Empire/Germanies were there, and the other directions because of natural barriers/the people there were pretty tough, too.

Then everyone got really good ships and used all the stuff they'd been using to TRY and take each other over or have petty spats over succession of which cousin (of everyone, it would be weird at that point in European history for a given heir to not be distantly related to everyone involved) got which throne to take over a lot of the world and hold it till very recently.

Always remember that there would be no America without French help during the American Revolution and that the Germans spent most of the last 2000 years being ruled by French and Italian kings.

[halfi]

Germans spent most of the last 2000 years being ruled by French and Italian kings.

This sounds like a little exaggeration... Do you count germanic tribes as germans?

[Ass_Kraken]

What a terrible thread.

[Zennoya]

Historically and currently, the French are not cowards. One government that surrendered and then some collaborators for a few years were. The current French government and the ones recently have been reasonable, if resolute and assertive.

Before that? France could be outright pugnacious and bellicose when it came to international policy. Which it could get away with because it was comparatively large and powerful for a European country (it still is, I guess when it comes down to it. It's GDP is very respectable and it has a large population) and it was pretty good at fighting. Of course, it could never go very far east because the Holy Roman Empire/Germanies were there, and the other directions because of natural barriers/the people there were pretty tough, too.

Then everyone got really good ships and used all the stuff they'd been using to TRY and take each other over or have petty spats over succession of which cousin (of everyone, it would be weird at that point in European history for a given heir to not be distantly related to everyone involved) got which throne to take over a lot of the world and hold it till very recently.

Yeah, the French were great nation of fighters, since France was formed till I WW. Just later they decided not to give a fck... when Poland was attacked despite the alliance, hiding behind Maginot Line, and hoping that noone goes around... duh...

[KruskDaMangled]

In fairness they were in a slump, just then. Have you heard of Elan?

Probably not. Because the Maginot Line was an overreaction in the opposite direction after the destruction that spirit inflicted upon the French military, which was large, brave, and dauntless.

And which basically battered itself bloody and insensible on the virtual wall that was the German trench lines. They suffered statistically significant demographic changes because of that. I mean, everyone in the war did, but the French took it hard. Them and Germany. Germany started a war over it, although they wouldn't have if the post war treaties and all. Which is why the Marshall plan DIDN'T stick it to them. Never say people don't learn from history. The other plan was to raze German industry to the ground and make it all pastoral farm land, which would have just embittered the entire country even more and left it poor and resentful and economically ravaged to this day. Luckily Marshall was recognized as having a good plan, even when some were very vengeful. Also why Japan is an American "pivot" or strategic ally and major trade partner in East Asia, not a complete mess/rabidly anti american. (They still don't LIKE America entirely as it is, but imagine if it had been as bad as they imagined it would be?)

Anyway, the French certainly aren't particularly timorous these days. They don't stick their nose in EVERYWHERE, but they still do, sometimes, even if they aren't actively imperialistic like they used to be and raring to get in another war with Germany, which they probably wouldn't imagine at this point. (No one would benefit, they do very nicely trading and exchanging tourists.)

[belgear]

french are *******.

[Rubberduckbandit]

[belgear]

minus the L's

[belgear]

on that note I support and respect the french.
I just wanted to make my grandfather proud with the comments above. His disdain for the french is unparalleled and I recently inherited his ring.

[RainbowMoostache]

Pretty hilarious how that unfolded considering Forungi just asked me to apprentice him in witchcraft a month ago.

Good thing I didn't. Every man for himself.

EDIT: Proof, because why the hell not.