Language / Polish vs. Romanian [21]

Romanian doesn't belong to the same language group as Polish does. Even though it has obvious features of Slavic languages (for instance "yes" is "da" as in Serbian, Russian and "no" is "nu") due to being surrounded historically by Slavic lands, it has more in common with Italian.

P.S. Knowing any Slavic language will certainly simplify studying Romanian. Good luck! :)

History / Who lost WWII (besides Poland)? [42]


Marek, so you say the USSR has never reconstructed Poland, neither helped her, right?
(that's the way how other people see your message... I can't exclude though that it was the way how you initially got this point)


Merci!


Actually there're only two opinions on that: right and wrong.


Fair enough. :)

News / Dealing with constant insults against Polish [323]


Somewhere from RUnet. It's a Russian pic. :)

News / Poland among the greatest enemies of Russia [112]


Exactly. It's like "claw me and I'll claw thee".


And that's why I think she was put out of the way.

Study / Do I really need a bulletproof vest to study in Poland? [35]


I actually doubt you'll happen to experience it even if you're african. Caucasian are targeted in 90% of overall cases.

Study / Do I really need a bulletproof vest to study in Poland? [35]


There we go. I may not believe everything that's written and this is a basic difference. You gotta get used to it if you live in Russia (or anywhere else being frank).

Study / Do I really need a bulletproof vest to study in Poland? [35]


I think the real estimation may be only given by someone who has lived in the place for some time. In the past 5-7 years I haven't seen a single skinhead in Moscow where I live. Just to compare... in Germany I've seen three or four heads within two weeks (I was there in July-August). I do not want to any whitewash nazi elements even though I find the reaction on Caucasians considering their criminal rate natural.

Foreigners base their opinion solely on what they read in the newspapers/watch on TV. How comes that they can "especially estimate racism"? Enlighten me pls.

Study / Do I really need a bulletproof vest to study in Poland? [35]

The less reliable your estimation on our racism is :P

Runet is full of sad stories about how Russians were bashed in Poland for the only fact they were Russians. A few complained though. I'm not gonna complain either.

Btw in Russia mostly caucasians are targeted. Not black people or any Europeans.

Study / Do I really need a bulletproof vest to study in Poland? [35]

I probably agree it is bigger problem yet I believe you're not to far behind, particularly if we take into consideration the number or racial crimes relatively to the overall population. My point was in that there was no reason to dab with your finger. We are both not very safe countries in terms of racism. Get over it.

Life / Why do People spend half their lives complaining about living in Poland? [55]


Tilt at windmills I guess.


Yet there's a line beyond which things seems to be unacceptable any longer.

News / Bandera bike rally in Poland. [17]


I haven't seen any so far. Would you mind giving me an example?!


As the matter of fact same as you do for the Polish-Russian relationship. Everyone has its black pages in history. Some people prefer not to mention that, some do mention but try to be balanced, whereas you're obviously outweighed to Russia in criticism.

Study / Do I really need a bulletproof vest to study in Poland? [35]


I love the way you pass the buck.

Hmmm.... what should I say then.... Hhahah that is a bit dramatic, i dont think you have to resource to that. Maybe in Polska, but not in Rossija

News / Bandera bike rally in Poland. [17]


Being specific the minority thinks he was a patriot.


I don't see any connection.

News / Poland among the greatest enemies of Russia [112]

Hej, BB! Sorry for being late... I didn't see that message.
However I'm afraid I can't help you much. Generally I attend forums if they provide me with opportunity of both: learning something about a folk I'm interested in, its culture, people's turn of mind etc and practicing a language I don't want to lose. The PF gives me that chance although I'm now experiencing a period while I find the forum rather yawnful.

As for the Russian forums I do not attend them at all but I can look for some...
Here is Russia com forum. It seems to be pretty big board, yet I'm not sure you'll find there any sober persons. If I accidentally happen to run onto some Russian board I find readable, I'll let you know.


My guess is that Politkovkaja was killed because she'd stuck her nose too far in Kadyrov's business. She has never been that harmful for the government and putin himself, yet putin was aware of that she was to be taken out of the way and she finally was killed by Kadyrov's people under his protection and with his connivance. They're in minority everywhere. I may only share the point that they're being killed in Russia far more often.


As I already said friendly, open-minded people were in minority everywhere.


They think they can. lol I'm not sure if heard about that but they're gonna ban skype as it can't be tracked.


Different nations have their own, different weak spots and skeletons in closets.

Love / Polish man dating Russian women [42]


I'm sorry to hear the woman didn't work out but that's a life. Everything happens. Yet I hope you enjoyed staying in Russia. I've never been to Tula btw. :( Got to visit it someday.

Good luck with the Polish lady!

News / How do people react when you tell them you are Polish? [71]

Option #4 from the top.

News / Poland among the greatest enemies of Russia [112]

Socrates, there was one accurate and exhaustive observation in this thread. Here it is:


Moreover I'm convinced all people are prone to filter the incoming information so that it fits their perception of the world the best. Particularly you forget to mention that there're loads of other newspapers and boards in Russia which may see and as a result describe same events in a totally different fashion. Not to sound proofless I may suggest you reading things like grany.ru whose vision manner you might like a way more. But I would completely understand you, if you kept on reading "prawda" instead since as I've noticed your favourite stuff is argumentation and that would be hardly interesting for you to speak with people of about your views.

The other point is that "prawda" gathers mostly their own audience from usually not sufficiently educated social sectors who may post there all the day long. Practically "prawda" satisfies you both as it gives for some of Russians the picture of prospering&developing country (exactly the way they want it to be described) and for you Socrates the picture of brainwashed flock of Russian sheeps led by the government in face of gazeta prawda. I could easily make same conclusion as you had done basing on some of Polish resources. I didn't as I know people are different.

I'm afraid I can't share your statement on that everything has stayed the same in Russia. Thankfully there're noticeable changes in people's mind. Slowly but surely illusions vanish even though the government every single time tries to assure how fantastic everything is.

Since we slightly touched the subject of polonofobia and indoctrination it wouldn't be out of place to mention on more thing which is locayed in a mirror. Let's imagine for a second that an average Russian with no bullcrap in his head (oh I know how hard it might be to imagine) roved through the internet and ran into some Borrka's post about his friends from mongolian steppes or (God forbid!) our flying Halbgebildeter Lotnik. What would be his reaction on that? Would it be any different from that of any average Pole? I don't think so.


Boris, what are you asking for? What kind of "brilliant knowledge on the Russian society" does it take to say that people are different and how is it related to just being sober and logical which lesser has been demonstrating on this forum? You had a horrible experience in Russia? You feel uncomfortable in Russian society? Ok. My regrets. I wish it would be better when you visit us next time. What do years spent here have to do with the "knowledge of the Russian society"? Some like it, some do not. Or you're gonna settle their hash? I mean those who (OMG!!!) liked staying in Russia...

You might wanna just thank lesser for his brick in the base of healthy relationship between two our countries. ;)
Btw, borrka, how many "lessers" you think would it take to only compensate the damage you bring into Polish-Russian relationship?

Travel / Crossing Poland - Green Card Car Insurance for Kaliningrad, Russia [8]

Tristan,
I'm from Moscow. Past spring I drove to Finland and I purchased green card in Moscow in the insurance company in order to save time. However I could also buy it on my way to Finland (there are plenty places which offer it near the boundary... I'm not sure though about petrol stations). I don't know how it works for non-Russians but citizens of Russia can't cross the boundary unless they have a green card obtained.

The minimum days I think they could sell the insurance for are 10 days. So whether you want to stay for that long or just for couple days you will have to pay for at least ten days. The average price is about 1200-1400 rubles (35-45$). It shouldn't be more than that. I guess the price is fixed now. I'd checked three or four different insurance companies before I finaly got it. They had offered exactly the same price (some of what I mentioned above).

If you have somebody who speaks Russian, that would certainly be easier for you to find an insurance company but usually they have the word "insurance" dublicated in English. In case they don't - pay your attention to the word "страховка" which is "insurance" in Russian.

Good luck,
Sasha
:)

News / Poland among the greatest enemies of Russia [112]


Did I miss the poll on that?

History / THEY WOULDN'T LISTEN TO WISE OLD PIŁSUDSKI!!!! [67]


Come on, Boris. You were doing good as well. ;)


So you claim they signed agreement in Bielowezhskaja puscha? :) I wonder when you stop whitewashing UPA. Yes they fought "communists" but this was similar to how Soviets definition of "vrag naroda" (public enemy) - it might vary largely depending on particular conditions.

History / World War II - a tragic story for Poland and the World [489]


In the last ten years I guess they beat Joan Rowling with their muck for mugs.



100% but don't waste your time, porzeczka. There's a possibility he's not even Ukrainian.

History / World War II - a tragic story for Poland and the World [489]


How do you see the Polish government fled to Romania (if I'm mistaken, feel free to correct me)? This fact is largely used in Russia to justify Soviet invasion and to represent it as "liberation" (there was no invasion as there was n such a country as Poland at that time), however even official Kremlin doesn't deny the WW2-partition of Poland was kinda communistic revenge for the screw up of the earlier polish-bolshevik's war.


Btw, is it a name or nick? I've been always interested in the origins of Polish names as they don't seem to have any analogy in other languages. Does "Zbigniew" mean anything in Polish? Or is it just a name?

News / Poland among the greatest enemies of Russia [112]


I guess it's 4th of November. Official name is "den edinenija i solidarnosti" (the day of unity and solidarity).
4november.ru/history.html you may learn more if you can read Cyrillic.

History / World War II - a tragic story for Poland and the World [489]


You're confused. You even managed to surprise since I couldn't imagine your full of that sort of crap. :) Obviously those are some of Ukrainians who experience tough complex of inferiority due to being deprived of self-directed for that long (or maybe... forever). The Eastern neighbour turned out to be far more successful on that span. :((


I know, Bendera ;)

History / World War II - a tragic story for Poland and the World [489]

- The Ruthenians have nothing to do with Ukrainians genetically, so pls Mr. Bendera make up your mind on who you are... wait though... I know who you are.

- The term "Ruthenian" has nothing to do with the "Russian" or at least this theory is beyond the popularity


You're about to be right. Just to clarify... Before that all Eastern Slavs such as: velikorossi (aka Russians), malorossi (aka Ukrainians) and belorossi (aka Belorussian) had gone by one name - "Russians".

The origin of the ethnonym "Rus" has several versions. Here're the most plausible I think:

1) The Varangian one. Róþsmenn or Róþskarlar means "rower", "seaman" in old Icelandic. To back up the Varangian version some scientists note the word "ruotsi" which in Finnish and Estonian is "the Swede".

2) From Indo-European base "ruksa", "russe", "russa" - "white", "light", "golden" (mostly from Scandinavic people).

3) Slavic word for the color. "Rusy" - "bright", "white" etc. Somewhat of the #2 version.

News / Poland among the greatest enemies of Russia [112]

Hey, guys!
Firstly I have to mention that I've always been very skeptical about any kind of official polls especially about those with the overall participants of 1600 for such huge country as Russia. Particularly "Lewada centr" is notorious for that sort of polls. The less people they have, the larger area they cover the more room for forging on figures.

However I still believe these figures are close to what people may tell you. I'll explain... The average Iwan from the village Iwanowka has at best on his mind the household, at worst - where to get another bottle of samogon (home-brew) to survive the day. He's highly unlikely to ever go further the closest city, to say nothing about going abroad or specifically to Poland. Hence he can only get the info from TV set or radio which broadcast solely the governmental views; that in its turn defines his own views.

The result of such polls are often so unexpected that might be called ridiculous. For instance Germany has ranked two years in a row second in a list of Russians' "enfant cheri" (right after Belorussia). Not that I have anything against Germans, but I'd never believe in that Russians in average could place them second before other Slavic nations. Btw I think Belorussians will lose their leading position considering the recent conflicts in interest of Russian oligarchs and Belorussian batka (tov. Lukashenko).

If you want to get a real picture, you may go to some Russian forums about Poland. Really few of those Russians who've ever lived in Poland or been interested in country/language cherish hostile feelings towards Poland/Poles, even though many of them had to pay for the Soviet atrocities, experiencing cold attitude from locals or sometimes open discrimination for the only fact of being Russian.


Oh yeah. 110%. I've just come back home from the US. I manage to hate and love my country at the very same time, I ask myself "are we doomed to live this way?"... :( Well... maybe it's just a cultural shock + jetlag...

Nevermind guys... it's just a cry from the depths I wanted to share with you. :)

History / Russia: Poland responsible for WW II [300]


Of course that's the only thing you can get and that was quite clear from the very first words of yours. :) You could have just said "Russians are a**holes" and that would have been enough to get your point. Your new message had really nothing new in it to elaborate. It only showed:

1) Your dislike towards Russians (presumably because of bad things my country has done to Poland).
2) Your drastic absence of any will to comprehend Russia.

So first item I may try to fix asking for a pardon (which I easily do, not expecting any apologies of yours for Polish moves against Russia, since I do not have any inferiority complex) on my country's crimes. However I can't any help you with the second one.

History / Russia: Poland responsible for WW II [300]

Whatever you want... However if need an accurate view read more and visit once to say about "typical"? ;)

History / Russia: Poland responsible for WW II [300]


Not surprising at all, considering the ages under the "Iron Curtain" but thing are slowly getting better. More and more people go abroad, learn foreign languages, learn other people's culture. That opens both our mind so that we may take a sober look at what's happening in our country and yours so that you don't see us as barbarians living in place always buried under snow, bears and balalaykas. :)

History / Russia: Poland responsible for WW II [300]


And vice versa. Every "planet" after all has itc pros and cons. Certainly you can tell what works better personally for you but you never can generalize.