Why This Reputation?
One of the questions that makes me grumble the most 😉 , as a Frenchwoman who left her homeland over 10 years ago, is: “Why are Parisians / the French always annoyed and grumpy?” In simple terms, why are we always in a bad mood?
A Tradition of Complaint
It’s true that we have a reputation for complaining a lot and never being satisfied with what we have. This reputation has been useful to us in the past. I’m thinking particularly of the French Revolution. Since this successful revolution, we’ve understood that if we keep silent, we’ll get nothing. So, perhaps, I say perhaps, we express our discontent to change the situation.
To add a touch of humour to this reflection on complaining, I invite you to listen to this podcast on France Inter. It explores with much wit how complaining is embedded in our culture and how it can even put us in a good mood. It’s a fun way to see how this tradition can blend with the Olympic atmosphere in Paris and maybe even influence the mood of Parisians.
The Benefits of Expressing Discontent
Another explanation, which also suits me, is that when you express what you don’t like, a weight is lifted from your shoulders, which is good for your health. Imagine, as a good Frenchwoman, I found studies proving this.
“On the one hand, a large study from the German University of Jena, conducted with 6,000 people, shows that among individuals who are ‘repressors’ (those who bottle up their negative emotions), accelerated heart rate could, in the long run, increase the risks of hypertension or problems,” writes the newspaper. On the other hand, “from the moment we express our anger, our resentment, we enter into a logic of possible change, because complaining is asking for change,” explains psychiatrist Michel Lejoyeux in Le Parisian.
France, the Country of Complainers
In any case, France is the country of people who complain, and Paris, of course, is its capital. Having lived all over France as well as in several countries around the world, I must admit that the French are the kings of protest and complaint. Imagine my surprise this morning when I came across this France Inter video titled “Everyone is Smiling”: Parisians Changed by the Olympics.
The Olympics and Mood Change
As you’ve heard from these testimonies, the mood in Paris since the Olympics began is said to have changed. But then, is it possible that the French are in a good mood because of the Olympics? I don’t believe it much. Let’s not forget that we’re in August, many French people are on holiday, and the others are at work. The metro is always much less crowded in summer for the reason mentioned earlier, and since the city is quieter, it becomes more pleasant.
Paris in Summer: A Transformed City
When I lived in Paris, I loved spending the summer there. Everything is much calmer, and therefore Parisians experience less stress, which reflects on their mood or bad mood. I remember having to go to work using line 13 of the metro. This line is always crowded during rush hour, except in summer (and during school holidays).
A Touch of Excitement: The Olympics and Snoop Dogg in Paris
This year, with the Olympics and the presence of celebrities like Snoop Dogg, Paris seems to be vibrating with a new energy. Although I’m no longer a resident, I can imagine that knowing Snoop Dogg is in town adds a touch of excitement and good mood. To explore how this effect manifests and influences the mood of Parisians during the Olympics, I invite you to read the article Snoop Dogg’s French Twist: A Summer Olympics Special. This touch of glamour could well be an additional factor of joy for the capital.
The Olympics or Summer?
So, what do you think? Do the Olympics change the Parisians, or is it simply that we’re in summer and people are in a better mood? Let me know in the comments!
