Just curious (really) - where do you see French smarting over the Minitel ?
I'm French and around me (including friends who are living outside France) nobody seems to be bragging about the Minitel these days (maybe 10 years ago, but now, no really).
We consider it mostly some outdated device that had its importance a long while back.
I think you may have misunderstood. "smarting over" is somewhat idiomatic English. It means to be embarrassed by something. In other words, you and the person you replied to seem to agree.
Yep, that's exactly what I mean. We British had Prestel of course, but the loss of that was no dent to national pride, since Tim Berners-Lee is a Brit.
"Smart" also means, umm, "a stinging sensation" I guess. The physical manifestation of embarrassment, or the physical equivalent of the emotion of embarrassment. You might say, "ow, that smarts". I didn't realize it wouldn't translate :-)
I'm French and around me (including friends who are living outside France) nobody seems to be bragging about the Minitel these days (maybe 10 years ago, but now, no really).
We consider it mostly some outdated device that had its importance a long while back.
Any links or feedback to provide ?