Strangely enough - it only sounds like that in Holland.
In Belgium it sounds like someone being rude about your mother while he's smiling.
Maybe a crude way of putting it - but it doesn't sound so aggressive and the people really are nicer.
<hr width=100% size=1>Fair winds.
If not... reef early!
Yanita - there are equally unpleasant-sounding accents in the UK. I'm sure people find my West Country/American accent unpleasant. It's all in the ear of the beholder/forums/images/icons/smile.gif
I have some very good Dutch, Belgian and Swiss friends, nevertheless.