*Places where Italy came out on top, are in *'s* Europeans: Who Are the Sexiest? Rudest? Funniest? Our exclusive survey of nearly 4,000 people in 19 countries has some surprising answers The European family just got a whole lot bigger, with the accession of ten new states to the EU in May. But in every family some get along better with each other than others. So we thought it was a good time to ask Europeans what they actually felt about each other. To find out, Reader's Digest dispatched researchers to 38 towns in 19 countries across Europe, from the UK to Russia, inviting nearly 4,000 respondents to comment on any country but their own. We asked them such questions as which Europeans they liked most (and least), who were the sexiest, the most efficient, who had the best sense of humour and the best food, and where they'd really like to live. And according to our survey, we Europeans are in love with Italy, its people and its food. The Italians are the most popular and the sexiest (maybe there's a connection), Italy was the country we'd most like to live in, and Italian the nationality we'd most like to be. Yet Britons might be pleasantly surprised to hear that we're top of the poll on two fronts. We have the best sense of humour, say our fellow Europeans—it seems they judge us by Basil Fawlty, Monty Python and Mr Bean. And we're thought to have contributed most to the world, with respondents citing football, medicine and industry among others as the reason. Our survey does support one or two of the sturdiest stereotypes about national characteristics, though: the Germans are rated the most efficient (and the rudest), the Dutch the most open-minded. Here's how Europeans voted in detail, in a dozen categories. *Which country's people do you most like?* Italy topped the poll out of all respondents with 26 per cent Which country's people do you least like? There was another clear winner: 22 per cent nominated Germany. In Hasselt, Belgium, a middle-aged woman complained, "The Germans make too much noise and are too chauvinistic." Which Europeans have the best sense of humour? Good to hear, then, that Britain generates the most laughs, taking an impressive 30 per cent of the votes. Our closest rivals Italy took 28 per cent, and France and Spain seven per cent. *Which Europeans have the best food?* Another triumph for Italy, dominated with 40 percent to 23 for France. "Italy has contributed so much to food," enthused a middle-aged British male interviewed in Luton. "Where would we be without pizza and pasta?" Which country has contributed most to the world? The British may be thought of as insular and our food may be panned, but our influence abroad is widely recognised. We topped this section with 28 per cent, for a variety of reasons. The Italians came in second with 22 percent for such contributions to the world of art in the Renissance (Leonardo DaVinci). *Which Europeans are the sexiest? * Yet another gold medal for Italy with 44 per cent. Commented a young British man: "The sexiest people have to be the Italians. They know they're sexy, which is annoying, but it makes them even more attractive." The silver medal went to Spain with 15 per cent and bronze to France with 14 per cent. Which Europeans are the rudest? Germany came out worst with a 27 per cent rating. A young mother in Prague had no doubts: "They are too noisy and inconsiderate. They shout all the time." Next rudest were the French with 14 per cent. Which Europeans are the most open-minded? Notably relaxed about sex and drugs, the Dutch came top in this category with 21 per cent. One Hungarian man visiting Amsterdam was stunned to find himself in a cafe where he could "order grass and hash from the menu". Another young male visitor to the Netherlands from Slovakia was similarly startled to find a gay club next door to a Catholic church. "This must surely mean that the Catholics and gays do not mind each others' presence." Second was Sweden on ten per cent, followed by France, Italy (again) and Germany on eight. *Which country would you most like to live in?* Most Europeans would head south given the chance, above all to Italy (21 per cent), which beat Spain (15 per cent) and with France third (11 per cent). One woman from Cardiff summed up her passion for Italy: "I'm fascinated by the language and their family values." *If you couldn't be your own nationality, which other European one would you choose? * Once again, Italy came out top, with 23 per cent. A young Spanish shop assistant in Avila explained his choice: "They party and have a great sense of humour. Also, they don't seem so driven to work." Which is your favourite European city? Paris was the most desired destination, with 22 per cent; Venice and Rome gained 13 per cent, Prague and Barcelona got six and five. A 55-year-old Dutch man rhapsodised, "I love Paris for its beauty, romance and the historic buildings. There's so much to see, it's marvellous." And in the Netherlands, a 25-year-old female psychology student insisted, "There is nothing in Rome that is not beautiful." We won in 5 of the 10 catagories and they were all good catagories.
<div class="quote_poster">echo369 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Australias better..</div> lol better in what sense
<div class="quote_poster">echo369 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">lets just say Australia > the world</div> lol ur fiercely patriotic echo? except football, Australias 42. Mali is higher
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">To find out, Reader's Digest dispatched researchers to 38 towns in 19 countries across Europe, from the UK to Russia, inviting nearly 4,000 respondents to comment on any country but their own.</div> Right in the first paragraph.
