Cheesus

First of all, I'm not French, so take what I say with a grain of salt. My wife however is, and we've talked about this a lot aha. But no, I'd never be offended unless it was used in a way to belittle me, which has never happened. Both of us agree that continuing to use 'vous' with someone you know creates a certain barrier, even a statement if you will. In most situations, if you start to use tu with, for example a salesman/woman, they will reciprocate. It's kinda like as the customer, you've told them that you don't expect to be treated so formally and that you're more comfortable speaking as equals.

I have a great example of this, actually. My wife's parents are quite annoyed that their two daughters in law continue to use vous with them. We think they do it for a couple of reasons. My wife's parents are very Catholic, and all 3 of their children (and their spouses) are quite the opposite. It's almost as if they continue to use vous just to spite them for being so traditional. They also aren't married, tying into the theme. What's strange is my father in law has even said to them to use tu, and they refuse. In contrast, I think I started using tu after the second or third time of meeting them, because for me it's unnatural to speak so formally with people you consider family, and my father in law told my wife (then girlfriend) that it changed our (his and mine's) relationship completely (for the better of course.)

Anyways, as for Switzerland, I'm not sure. The Romands in the Geneva area tend to be a little more formal than the Savoyards in the bordering areas, but other than that I don't really know. This subject fascinates me so I'd love to know myself!

I'm in my 30s, and haven't lived here in France my whole life, but in general, yes. The only times I've been addressed with tu in a transactional situation was if either a) I knew the person, or b) in a very informal setting, like ordering a beer at a show that was in some farmers' field.

Only in Quebec would a cashier use 'tu' with a customer so freely... It's actually refreshing compared to the formality of everyday interactions in European francophone countries!

I also live in rural France, and agree. People with giant SUVs are becoming a huge problem where I live. Every day I see countless older people whose kids no longer live with them driving these gas-guzzling monstrosities to the supermarket. Often they have the same amount of seats as a sedan, yet they take up waaay more space in the parking lot. Just why? I don't get it.

As a north american who lives in Europe, agreed. However, the gypsies do not help their own case. They show up in my region every summer, illegally camp wherever they want on private property, and leave huge piles of trash wherever they've been. I've personally seen them getting into all sorts of debauchery, including breaking into people's mail boxes and stealing bikes in plain sight. I have nothing against them and I'm sure their culture is extremely rich and interesting, but no one has the inherent right to just rip off the rest of society without consequences. Also, of course they aren't all stealing and misbehaving, but I understand where people's preconceived notions come from.

Okay, cool. I live very close to Switzerland (close enough that my wife works there.) As I am also an anglophone living in a non-anglophone country, Lemmy is basically my sole source of English language news and whatnot. It's sometimes very difficult to be surrounded by another language and culture, and this place has become my escape in a way. Reddit was great back in the day, but I can no longer support the enshitification it has suffered.

Welcome home!

Where are you from?

Do you have children?

What do you think about your country's current political situation?

Totally. I forgot all about expanded tryna, as I almost never hear it outside of television. You may be on to something there.

Eh, it might be a regional thing, but I agree with OP. 'I apologize' feels kinda snarky. But then again, as a Canadian, saying sorry is kinda one of our national pastimes.

This might be a regional difference, but when I say it out loud, 'tryna not kill myself' is by far the more natural construction. But I agree that in writing, 'trying not to kill myself' feels more natural, while 'trying to not kill myself' feels stilted and intentionally awkward. Man I love language.

I will never understand why people put giant lifts on trucks, but don't install bigger tires. In the 4x4 world, you actually want a lower center of gravity so you don't flip, meaning that normally you only lift your truck enough to fit the size of tire that you want. These pavement princesses look like wrestlers with ballerina legs.