Parisians? Whiners? According to a study by Preply conducted among 1,500 residents of 19 major French cities, Paris ranks as the second city where people complain the most, with a complaint score of 80 out of 100, just behind Lyon. But what do we critique about the City of Light? Spoiler: it’s not the lack of tourists.
Complaining in Paris: An Art of Living
There’s something almost poetic about the way Parisians express their dissatisfaction. Endless lines, metro delays, noisy neighbors, and order mix-ups at cafés – these are all little grains of sand that can spark a storm. But in Paris, complaining goes beyond mere venting; it’s a form of expression.
According to the study, here are the typically Parisian situations that annoy us the most.
- The waiter who gets the order wrong. The café...e; cream arrives instead of a strong espresso, and the whole breakfast seems compromised.
- Delays. Whether they’re due to a missed appointment or the RER stuck in the middle of the tracks, they strike at the very heart of the punctuality that is so dear to the capital.
- Noisy neighbors. Whether they’re hosting a techno party on a Thursday night or decide to drill through the walls at 7 AM, their timing is always just right to annoy.
- Congested traffic, overflowing trash bins, and the dizzying cost of living add to this picture of everyday annoyances.
Why complaining can actually be good
Even though complaining often gets a bad rap, it doesn't mean it's a terrible thing. According to a study, two-thirds of respondents (66%) believe that complaining helps us make progress. When a Parisian grumbles about a crowded metro train or a street littered with garbage, it's not just to whine: it’s about expressing their desire for a nicer everyday life. Frustrations with politicians, public transport, high prices... these are simply reflections of a desire for improvement. After all, how would decision-makers know what's wrong if no one tells them? And let's not forget the cathartic aspect of complaining: venting can be a relief. It's a way to release pressure and feel better in the face of life's little annoyances. So yes, complaining can be constructive!
Parisian Complainers VS Other Cities
Paris isn't the only one on the podium. The first place goes to Lyon, with a complaint score of 81.7. There, frustrations take on all sorts of shapes: queue jumpers, noisy neighbors, and appointment delays are major irritants for the people of Lyon. Nice grabs third place with a score of 79. You’d think the sun and sea would soothe spirits, but it seems that even on the Côte d’Azur, it’s not all sunshine and roses. On the other end of the spectrum, Grenoble, Nantes, and Saint-Étienne bring up the rear with scores below 40. These cities seem to house more patient residents, or maybe they’re just less inclined to express their discontent.
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The study, conducted with 1,500 residents from 19 large French cities, looked into how often people complained about common situations (like delays, noise, and restaurant mistakes) as well as urban nuisances like traffic and the cost of living. Each city received a score out of 100, revealing which cities are the most (and least) likely to complain, while also pinpointing the main targets of dissatisfaction, particularly politicians and strangers.