You forgot to say the magic words "Excusez-moi de vous déranger monsieur, mais j'ai un problème...." Be polite and others will help you. And as for Paris, it is like any other big city. Go to NYC and even as an American people won't help you. They think you're a mugger or whatever, and what i found to be most true... They just have shit to do. If this doesn't help alleviate your hatred, just don't go to France.