Friendly is as friendly does

Oh I do love a good survey! Nothing like a few stats to tell you what you're supposed to agree with. So how delightful to open my daily e-update from the Mail & Guardian with the results from a British survey proclaiming once and for all, apparently, that the French are rude and boring. (And here we all were expecting the Brits to say "we're sorry about Waterloo, come over here and give us a hug".)

So yes, 46% of the 6 000 people surveyed by travellers' website Where Are You Now (Wayn) said the French were the most unfriendly nation on the planet. But if this is the case, I just have to ask, what about the people who travel on public transport? Were they not surveyed?

You see my confusion is this; on the two trips I've made to Paris this year, one of the things that strikes a visitor coming from Britain is that unlike the silent London Underground, there is the constant buzz of conversation to be heard throughout the Paris Metro system. To a pukka Londoner it must seem positively dirty. I mean really, talking on the train - disgusting. And all that eye contact; makes me shudder.
The London Underground by contrast is a place where, so long as a station announcement isn't being made, you probably *could* hear a pin drop. And if it fell near you, you'd probably see it too because your eyes would be focused on the floor - just where the Brits like 'em!

But it's not all bad, there is one thing sure to provoke a smile and a bit of friendly banter.

A spot 'o crime.

Yup, in the land where everyone understands the meaning of ASBO, there's nothing like a bit of drama to bring out the smiles. I saw this in action just this afternoon when a train was held at Great Portland Street station so that the police could contain a 'violent customer' in carriage one. As if by some miracle, people on the platform started smiling. And then talking. To eachother. And I did it too. It was just so 'kumbaya-ish without the hand-holding. All of us there together, all tribal-like and smiling, bound by curiosity and just a little bit of vulturous glee. Heck, I even took my earphones out my ears!

True, this is not a trait wholly attributable to the Brits - have you ever had to pass on bad news to someone and found it hard not to grin? Still, when one comes from Africa where even the most unfortunate members of society seem only too ready to offer a smile, it does seem rather hypocritical of the Brits to be labelling the French in this way.

Now what was that saying about a pot and a kettle?