One of the first things future visitors to France learn (if they read the guidebooks or listen to advice from seasoned travelers) is to be polite to French people, especially merchants.Greet them with a pleasant "Bonjour!" and say "s'il vous plait" and "merci," advise the travel guides. They are correct. The notion that the French are rude is a myth. They just want you to be polite.
So do I. So do most of the nice people who visit this blog regularly.
Sadly, not everyone is polite. In just eight months in the blogworld, I've run into my share of rudeness. The most painful for me was when I sent a highly complimentary e-mail to the owner of a well-written and interesting blog. Oh, I got a polite enough response. I was so excited with the find that I posted a link here. Sadly, the blogger only deigned to visit my blog once and made a comment I found belittling. Frankly, I was hurt by it. I soon removed the link, but I doubt the blogger even noticed.
Adults should know better.
I know someone who is rude. She's not an evil person, just self serving and inconsiderate. As a result, no one really likes her very much. Too bad, because she has many fine points. But it's hard to see past the rudeness.
Same thing with rude bloggers. Snobby bloggers, too. (I should hasten to add that there are many kind people out there in the blogword, and many who posted comments here when I was starting out and really didn't understand what it was all about.)
Which brings me to the subject of Bisquit Baking Mix Day on March 15, a day that should call attention to the need to be polite and not snobbish and snarky.
If you agree this is important, your charge is to make something using this plain-Jane, rather ordinary ingredient that many bloggers snub.
You can use any version of this mix, Jiffy, Bisquick, homemade, generic. I'm using a Hodgson's Mill whole wheat product. I usually use the "Heart Smart" version of Bisquick.
E-mail me by Sunday, March 10, and I will post a link to your blog on that day. If you have aready contacted me, there's no need to do it again. Please let me know if your recipe is up-market or down-home.
And the photo above? It's a side street in Cahors, leading to the cathedral. We found exceedingly pleasant shopkeepers in downtown Cahors. Of course, we were polite.
17 comments:
It should go without saying but...
My mom always said
Don't say anything, if you can't say something nice.
She was the most gracious of women and followed her own advice.
I'm working on my Bees-Queeek dish.
My father said that, too.
Also, "You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar,"
Hmm...think I'll work honey into my recipe...
How sweet it is.
Now you are giving me another taster a lovely photo of Cahors and we won't too far away at Carjac staying at Moulin de Lantouy, if you Google it there are some beautiful pictures. I can honestly say I have never found any rude French people, I have always found that if you are polite and make an effort even though my grammar is not always correct, they like it and will always chat back. I wonder if there are any gluten free biscuit mixes, not that I would be able to get them here in England!! I look forward to seeing what you come up with. I totally agree with you about manners.
Anne
Anne, I don't know if these shops (in Cahors) are still there, but we found great merchandise and friendly clerks at Chose et Autre Choses on Boulevard Gambetta and lovely scarves and jewelry at Grain de Folie, which is on one of the side streets leading to the cathedral.
After reading your post, I consider myself lucky that I haven't run into much blog rudeness on my own blog. Rudeness is such a waste of energy.
I don't think I'll have time to do a biscuit recipe, but I will definitely look forward to reading your round-up and getting some new recipes. Biscuit Baking Mix Day is a great idea!
I find that even when my old bad habits creep in - and I don't say Bonjour upon stepping across the threshhold...If I then look up, startled and say it, most people laugh or smile and 'Bonjour' me back...probably recognizing (the Americaine) me.
As my mother said - better late than never!
Sorry I'm not participating in your Bisquick Day - we're running away from the rain for a few days and time ran out. I promise I'll come and read all about it tho! (she said, politely).
If I could do anything at all with Bisquick, I would! I LIKE Rachel Ray. She is so cute and peppy, and she is very good at showing very easy-to-prepare food with just a little twist to it.
I did think and think for your Bisquick day, but we were raised in a very from-scratch household, and so I really never have any ideas for mixes. Plus, I am not a Real Cook, like all of you. :) I just fool around.
Of course, any support fellow bloggers have to offer in the way of links, kind words and random acts of niceness will be appreciated.
Thanks, Lydia, Katie and Laura for your comments.
Bottom line is, you are already nice people to begin with!
Interesting note on honey and vinegar...I baked a bunch of chocolate chip cookies for comparing. The cookies with 2 T balsamic vinegar added beat all other comers in my taste test with 6 testers and 4 recipe variations.
Wow! Who would have thought of putting balsamic vinegar in cookies. Cool!
I agree that rudeness should not be part of any traveling. We should treat people as we want to be treated - that is a rule I apply to pretty much everything. By doing so, you will find that most are very eager to share their stories so it's a great way to learn about how locals live.
It is interesting that you noticed how people in France greet you when approaching them. For what it is worth, it is the same way in Quebec. When entering a boutique or even, at the cash register in the grocery store, people great you and you can feel that they are happy to do so, versus forced. Perhaps it is part of their culture? Regardless, it makes you feel special and happy to be there! And that is a great bonus to travel!
As for the bisquick part, I have to say that I have NEVER cooked with it... Perhaps I should try! Aside from biscuits and pancakes, I don't even know what else you can do with it! It's time that I experiment with this product!
You must experiment with it, at least once. Get the Heart Smart stuff.
It got me through many hards times as a student. And since I was a student for so long, I've consumed my share.
BTW, on the train going back to Paris, a little girl who looked so much like my niece Molly it broke my heart sat a few seats in front of us. As she and her family left the train, I told her mother how beautiful she was. Her mother just glowed! I have heard you should not speak to French people on the street, but this lady was charming, as was her daughter.
Well, Mimi, I was stunned that someone would write something offensive to you-you do not attract offensive people to your site-how rude of this person!! I am sorry for your hurt~hopefully, that will never occur again.Most of the time we bloggers are just talking-blogging away,it is never meant to be anything personal, just plain fun! I'll get busy and dig up my recipe for the 10th....
Oh, Jann, I suppose I am too sensitive! I would never deliberately say anything to hurt anyone, and I guess I expect too much of people. I got over it!
I was raised in a small town by parents who worked at a local hotel. I'll never forget how snobby the guests seemed to me! And I vowed when I traveled to be extra considerate of people - and also never to wear white socks with sandals. (-; When I visited Paris I was admittedly a little scared because of the reputation, but people there were lovely! I just made an effort to speak the language, be respectful, and smile. While there are certainly wackos out there, I've met the nicest people when traveling - and in blogging. And I count you as one of the nicest, Mimi.
Thanks, Ronnie! We were just delighted at how nice the French were. Even when we did not realize that at the gas station in Cahors, actually in Croix de Fer, you have to take American cars to a certain pump. No one got really mad at us. (At least in Paris, we don't have to worry about driving.)
After my husband put the wrong ticket in the composteur at the gare, the conductor just smiled indulgently and dated and initialed the ticket. Probably thought we were very stupid, but he was nice about it. Or maybe he was laughing at my accent. I liked him!
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