Polish people more caring?

Hey,
why are Polish people so much into looking after eachother? And then I mean for e.g. that you care about people around you, even when it comes to strangers, ore you have a accident e.g. you always try to solve out the problem between you and the opposite driver, before the police arrives. In other countries, in Scandinavia for e.g. it doesn't work as this, situation would be that you try to be calm but it's never your fault and you will tell your story (but without any edits) and you let the police solve the problem, no matter what, you don't try to do this between you and the opposite driver.

Another example, if you are in a car accident and the driver is drunk, your friends look after you, in other countries - you will be glad for that person loosing his license (that he's a BIG ARSE driving and that he ore she shouldn't even have a license!! even if it is your friends!).

People in Poland are just in general more gentle and caring for eachother - and you try to solve problem man-by-man, and this rule is applicable even to strangers.

This is my first impression of Polish people, does it have any true in it?
and how come?

It depends in what part of Poland. I live in Greater Poland where we say hello with gentle smile to our neighbors but most of them are solving mutual problems officially. Thus our relations are rather correct but official, cold.

Poles from Eastern Poland are contrary, less formal, more nice and direct.

i dont think its depends from part of Poland... Kasia 24 is right i was in other countries and mostly they just dun care... in other way i have no idea why not just talk if u hit someones car there is no always need to call police instantly... i mean cmon sometimes it can save ur discounts, alot time and nerves cus cops prolly will not makes things easier specialy if both drives are young...


also im sure its dont work always liek this... ofc solving problems man by man is cool atleast for me... but still there is alot ppl that in case that cops take ur lincens will be rly glad just cu su have better car,suit or u just look better... :P like somone in other topic said " wyzej srac niz dupe miec" works in poland very often... so maby from one side ppl are more gentle and caring for eachother but from another alot ppl will take every chance just to show u that they are better/better-off then u....

The Polish culture from my experience is very loyal and close. Perhaps, due to historical occupation. My husband lived under Communism. Rations, tanks at the corner, censorship..it's fascinating how these factors cultivated an inner strength, will and religion- Roman Catholisism. Pope John Paul liberated Poles to have religion and churches. In the Northwest we have a smaller Polish population about 3,000 plus, two Polish Churches, and The Polish Home. This is a very tight community dating back to 1870-1880. Which is actually later than most immigrants 16th century. It's a wonderful place that carries on Polish traditions. In fact, that is where I met my husband. I admire the spirit and closenest among other Poles. They will always be caring to one another... Interesting topic... The Polish also, know everything about everyone. Why is that?

I'm Polish and I would do anything to make him lose his license

Many people would say that Poles care very much about people they know, but that they couldn't care less about people they don't know.

But what has been written in this thread is only generalizations of course.

If this concerns family members, relatives, close friends you're right. In some extent behavior of members minorities also makes such kindness and specific relations. Till the end of 1980's there was stronger mutual cooperation and support.

But emerging of consumptionism and income, standard of living differentiations, changed this in 1990's.

unfortunatelly

My mom was in trouble with her car last year, guess who cared? Only 1 Norwegian but he couldn't do anything, some indians but they just didn't understand the language and only spinned the wheel. But then guess who came by? Some Poles from a nearby farm! They called some more Poles and they got a tractor and helped my mom's car to get back on the road! Beat that one :)

That is a good point. I have noticed (please forgive the generalization, but this thread is based upon that.) Why do Polish people always have to try to out do each other? Who has more money and materialistic things. I have found that people who truly have these things don't put on a show. They know what they have and don't.

This is not the Poland I know.

Interesting points of view..

panienka
Thank you for agreeing. I do agree aswell, if there is a car accident and the driver has been drunk, I wouldn't like anything rather than him loosing his license, especially if its not the first time it happens.

Next time he/ore may not only loose his/her license and the car, but maybe the life of her/himself and other people.

Maybe the differenece btw how people treat eachother depends of the mentality of bigger/smaller cities. When I've been in Warsaw I feel the mentality so much "colder" and people do only care about themselves and don't mind other people's asses..Its so different and "hard/cold" mentality, in certain cases ofcourse(not all people, but just generally).

But when it comes to people you know - friends, family, relatives, even with less close friends, you are always supportive? among strangers too. Why? Because you have been a split country? Under occupation/communism rule? Has it anything to do with the Polish nationality/strenght/mentality? Catholism?

In Scandinavia, you can even be happy if someone lends you money, and about this closeness among people is like it doesn't really exist ...

You know you can always get help from government, social support system, e.g, maybe thats why you dont have to count on people? (And when it do comes to people, you cannot really count on them). And family isnt really that important either, ofcourse its important, but its more individualistic and once you move out from your home is like youre taking care of yourself, and like Holllidays, Christmas, Eastern hollidays, Birthdays, my friend didn't even stay for Christmas with her family, she rather went out spending Christmas with her closer than with her family!

(which usually in Scandinavia is a holliday you do spend with your family, but its becoming less important, like not even hollidays matter, those times when you should spend time with your family), and birthdays too...

And...
Yes, and I do think also that people who has it well materalisticially doesnt have to show other people what they got,and show up themselves, and when they don't ave to "fight" for things as much as other ore they ave succedeed to get some things (you don't ave to be colder to others when the concurrence btw u and others isnt so hard, because u already succeed to get what u want),and you really dont ave reason to show up yourself and trying to be better than others, because you know what you got.thx.

Sorry for the long thread...

Really Kasia I have never seen this Poland you talk of. In the place where I live, ppl would rather call the police to ask someone to turn down their stereo than do it themselves.

Poles walk past trouble with their heads to the floor. Its not their problem so why should they interfere. The Poles in the UK are even worse. Yes they will help their own knid to a certain extent but altruism is not really a quality i have seen among many Poles.

kasia24, where are you from? Scandinavia?

From my experience of Poland and Polish people, they only care about family or people they know very well. If you dont fall into either of these categories they couldnt care less about you. I sincerely hope I am never in an accident anywhere in Poland because I am confident they would walk right past me, eyes to the ground. Dont get me wrong, I love Poland and the people, but they are certainly not a caring people and generally keep to themselves and mind their own business. . . .I dont know where you got your first impression, but it couldnt be more wrong and Im sure a lot of Polish people would agree with me if they are being honest. Perhaps you have only met nuns and priests ;)

Hey, don't missunderstand me, I think you do ave right aswell. When it comes to friends and families, this rule is quite applicable. But strangers, no, not really. When I was in a car accident (in Poland), my friends and thoose who were in it really took care of eachother (me too ofcourse).

But in another circumstances, when being in a accident alone (and as a foreigner), and a lot of people around, rather recording the accident, than helping, not a single person could give a helping hand. And when youre asking for help, is like no one gives a ****, not even lending your phone for just making one phone call to ask someone for help. And when being in a accident, usually the first thing you would do (normally) is asking if everything is okay and offering some help to them who's involved. But when it comes to strangers, you cant even expect any help from the police. No, mind your own business and dont get involved with ppl u dont know.

But this only expection, doesn't make me generelize, I still 've good impression of Poles in general,even those I don't know..;)

And yes, Im from Scandinavia but living in Poland for the moment(and having Polish roots).

As friends might do in any country, certainly in any country Ive ever been in. Thats what friends are for, support . . its universal ;) I find that impossible to understand. . Friends are friends, they take care of eachother everywhere, thats what friends do! :S I doubt very much Polish friends are different than friends anywhere else in the world ??? lol


That would be what I might expect being in an accident in Poland, you will be ignored and people will walk past you. An Irish friend of mine was in Krakow over Christmas, he was in a car accident just outside Krakow. My friend was pretty bloody and shook up, and his car was in bits after crashing into a tree but nobody stopped to see if he was ok. Countless people kept driving past him, ignoring his pleas to slow down or to phone the emergency services etc. Finally he managed to walk to a nearby hostel / motel and he managed to book a taxi to the hospital. That would never happen in Ireland, and certainly no other country I have been to.

Another day my gf and I were coming out of IKEA just outside Krakow and noticed a woman broke down in the middle of the road in busy traffic. She was visibly upset yet instead of someone stopping to see if she was ok or needed help, car after car just drove past her angry that she was stopped in the middle of the road and slowing them down. Eventually I managed to get across to her and helped push the car off the road and my gf called her friend who is a mechanic. That also would never happen in Ireland or any other country I have visited, especially never to a lady in need of assistance.

I love Poland and Polish people, and see the greater good rather than the bad in both. However there are aspects of the Polish character that do not appeal to me and it isn’t just myself that have noticed it. So for me to read a thread about how caring Polish people are is surprising to say the least, you live in a very different Poland than I do, or indeed any of the regular Polish posters here

There are all kinds of people everywhere, some caring, some not.
But there is some truth to the fact that family is very important in Poland. Here in the US the elderly parents are sent to nuring homes, while in Poland the family most often takes care of them.

The same as me. But without the Polish roots.

Swedish?

i don't agree.. i think poles are not as caring as you seem to think they are.. americans are way more caring then poles, for example..

the example of the car accident you use as an example is really only that way because poles are freaking cheap and are trying to avoid all costs at all costs..


that's it exactly


see what i mean by cheap? that's the first thought.. always.. it has nothing to do with caring.. nothing.


the joneses complex.. it may be one of my top pet peeves about poles. i absolutely hate it.. such a waste of energy.


not as much anymore.