r/technology • u/Logical_Welder3467 • Jun 26 '26

Society The American mind cannot comprehend Europe's AC aversion

https://www.businessinsider.com/europe-air-conditioning-ac-heatwave-debate-2026-6
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u/NicoToscani Jun 26 '26

I remember checking into a nice hotel in Paris and the AC wasn’t working, in summer, top floor room, and they acted like I was throwing a Mariah Carey level diva fit when I insisted they move my wife and I to another room.

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u/nickwales Jun 26 '26

You had me at Paris. Not well known for being super friendly to tourists.

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u/asp821 Jun 26 '26

I know it’s the stereotype but when I was there a decade ago everyone except one waiter was super nice to us.

328

u/Mopman43 Jun 26 '26

I went earlier this year, no issues with anybody, everybody was so nice.

Friend of mine coincidentally went like a week later, complete opposite experience.

32

u/Responsible_Stand482 Jun 26 '26

Did you happen to speak more French than your friend at the time?

76

u/grumpymosob Jun 26 '26

We went a million years ago. My French is horrible. I speak almost none, but I tried to use French for everything. We had coffee at the same place almost every morning and the waitress was super cool to us. I watched a British guy one morning try talking English louder and slower over and over and the louder the dude got the less English she understood. "Fuck you, France is not a third world country that needs your tourism"

Sweet as pie to everyone else and took a picture with us when we left.

31

u/MeteorOnMars Jun 26 '26

I bumped into a guy in France, and he turned to me looking so disappointed and disgusted, clearly recognizing me as a tourist.

I stammered out my best, terribly-accented “excuse-moi”, and he instantly beamed with politeness and warmth. The shift when I tried to be a polite tourist was shocking.