[throwaway5959]

My wife and I were plenty polite, like I said many of our interactions with everyday people were fine. It was some of the workers in restaurants and hotels that were rude. There was also the pickpocket at the train station impersonating a station worker (thankfully we ignored them and the attendant in the booth told them to go away).

It’s OK though. It’s your city. We’re happy to visit elsewhere and I’m sure you’re happy we’re not there, silly Americans that we are.

[29083011397778]

While I'm sure you knew to say please and thank you, and at least try to use their language, you also can't really deny some of your countrymen have given you a poor reputation. It's come to the point that your reputation is so bad, the common advice is to impersonate Canadians.

Were the Parisiens wrong to be rude? Probably. Could they have simply learned from other Americans that being rude is the default? I would assume so. I'm not saying it's your fault, just that it can be easier to assume the next Americans will be as loud and obnoxious as the last ones.