Life / Can I sell my used clothes in Poland? [21]

There are recycling bins for clothes, but they aren't the best place to put good ones in.

Are you in Warsaw, Shizuka? If yes, why not take them to the Sue Ryder shop on ul. Bagatela? Just off plac. Unii Lubelskie.

If you leave them there, they will sell them and the money from the sale helps to pay for a special home they operate in Piaseczno for old people and disabled people.

History / How come Polonization never works? [87]

It is trolling really, and I do not believe the 'bigfoot' character is either from Poland or living there.

He just seems to concentrate on backward and stuff. Simply inaccurate and designed to annoy.

News / Roman Polanski accused of unlawful sex with a minor [403]

He does maintain that he was stitched up by a prosecutor who went back on a deal. How true that is, is probably only known by him and the prosecutor in question. On the matter of whether he did it or not, or what he did, he doesn't say, nor does he deny it.

UK, Ireland / Sugar tax in the UK. Polish friends addicted? [55]

I just read Paulina's last post and it actually has some very good points. I'd add though, about eating out, that it isn't so rare in cities - some of the restaurants are packed. But yes, many people can't afford to and those restaurants that are busy tend to be the ones selling the least health food. Even the old Bary Mleczny do a roaring trade in macaroni with sugar on.

Worth mentioning that a decline in physical activity among the young and the rise in car ownership is responsible for a lot.

A sugar tax might be the way forward - salt more so. But that's only part of the story. I'm not convinced about the value of healthy eating education unless it's done properly either (and that costs a fortune in money and a hell of a lot of effort). The way to encourage people to eat less stodge is by a carrot not a stick. 'Thinspiration' and 'pro-ana' will never catch on, and some governments want to ban websites about it.

In Poland, it seems to be more a male issue. I was really surprised when I first arrived to see couples in cheap restaurants (there were hundreds of Vietnam bars round Warsaw in those days) where the man was tucking in to a huge meal and the woman was sitting there with a glass of water. The answer is to sell the benefits of being slim (I've been both fat and slim in my time'and feel much better when below a certain weight) to men.

News / Roman Polanski accused of unlawful sex with a minor [403]

There are a couple of issues here. Firstly the way extradition works is that the American courts have to contact the Polish courts and they make a decision based on the law as it stands. Secondly, it's up to the politicians to change the laws that the courts apply. And finally, politicians trying to interfere in the work of the courts, police etc (other than making the laws which is their right) is usually a disaster

News / Poland's election winning party: PIS proclamations [229]

Interesting that PiS did nothing before and have suddenly announced this in their first week of office.

News / Roman Polanski accused of unlawful sex with a minor [403]

For myself, it isn't about locking him up. Guilt (which he admitted) and punishment are a matter for the courts in the appropriate jurisdiction, not public opinion or legal systems elsewhere. It's just a shame that France, Poland etc haven't responded to the extradition requests - if it was the other way round, politicians of every party would have been squealing in outrage.

But good that PiS have finally come round to a point of view that was ignored during their last ill-fated term of office, even if it may not be for the right reasons.

UK, Ireland / Sugar tax in the UK. Polish friends addicted? [55]


The problem is that it wasn't great before and has been increasingly based on convenience foods now - just look at what's in the average smallish food shop.

I don't bother to read Paulina's posts and haven't for a long time, it would be like watching a cat thrashing about with fortunately blunt claws while you wash it under the tap and still trying to use its teeth as well - that or Vikki Pollard with a couple of A levels, but the first couple of points are a fairly standard response to perceived criticism of the country based on a national myth that the diet in Poland is somehow very healthy, natural etc. The reality is that they're Europe's largest consumer of frozen chips and pot noodles and have huge sales of quite a lot of other nasties too.

And though she may deny it, wędliny (basically embalmed flesh) is horrifically unhealthy and is also the staple diet. Plus the very fast rise of fast food without the cynicism based on longer exposure to it. The pizza shops do a roaring trade and there are actually queues in the Warsaw kebab shops.

When people eat healthily, it's either because they make a conscious effort or because they can only afford veg.

Classifieds / Polish Business Opportunity [11]


Unfortunately with pyramid selling schemes, "no" is rarely an adequate answer for those touting them.

I forgot to mention Herbalife. Also some of the U.K. Xmas hamper schemes are interested in moving into the Polish market. At least it isn't payday loans.

UK, Ireland / Sugar tax in the UK. Polish friends addicted? [55]

I wouldn't rely too much on Internet stuff, Paulina, including what people say here. A better way is to analyse what's actually eaten, the amount of sugar, salt and processed meats (wędliny is the real culprit - there's nothing good about it either for nutrition, health or very often flavour).

Chemikiem is right about the diet being different in poorer areas. In the UK the very poor are fatter and better off people are slimmer. In Poland the opposite is often true.

Also good healthy, low sugar/salt food is more easily available in the UK when eating out. If you analyse what goes into an average Sphinx meal, you'd be surprised.

UK, Ireland / Sugar tax in the UK. Polish friends addicted? [55]

Lol as much as you like Paulina, write long studenty diatribes but it all comes down to how reliable the stats supplied by Poland are.

Get as touchy as you like, use as many emoticons as you can squeeze out - it doesn't alter the fact that the traditional diet of Poland is extremely unhealthy, with high levels of salt, sugar, extremely high levels of processed meats.

I doubt you've had much chance to compare people. There are a lot of fact people in Poland, especially the men, and more worryingly, some of the highest levels of stomach cancer in Europe.

Classifieds / Polish Business Opportunity [11]

Arbonne, Oriflame, Avon, Amway (or network 21 or any of the other names to disguise that it's Amway), all annoying.

UK, Ireland / Sugar tax in the UK. Polish friends addicted? [55]

Absolutely sure, Paulina.

Don't rely on things you've found on the Internet - observe for yourself. Do you spend much time in both countries?

You may also note that none of your internet findings talk about nationality - and any results in the UK include a million Poles...

And yes, the Polish diet is among the least healthy in Europe and the inhabitants of Poland are among the least physically active in Europe.

Feedback / ATT MODS: HOW TO EMPTY A OVERSTUFFED BOX? [12]

Left hand side of the screen.

Life / Halloween or Andrzejki - which is more popular in Poland? [14]

If you go out in the city centre (Warsaw anyway) there's plenty going on at Halloween in the bars.

Where I'm from, we have neither Halloween nor Andrjejki but Mischievous Night. Something that would not catch on in Poland...

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]


A lot of commentators are saying this and it would be true to JK's past form.

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]


Far from it. It's just like watching a car crash from afar.

One mitigating factor in the PiS thing is that they're so disorganised and lacking in concrete ideology that they can't actually do that much damage. Yes it will be bad for businesses, however the EU aim protections against the effects of weak governments.

Kpc21's analysis is a good one, and yes, Razem is something to watch...

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]

I wonder how your post actually adds to the discussion. Lastworditis at best.

So tell us how you pretend the PiS economic programme will create jobs in Poland?

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]

Also Google the phrase "the lowest form of wit". Though even a fool sometimes gets it almost right, and yes Wulkan, you almost got it right since there may well have to be an election should some political camp decide to go it alone during the term of office.

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]

Exactly. Middle managers in state-controlled concerns are already tidying up their CVs. People doing manual jobs will of curse be hit worse, as ever.

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]

Rumour? Google it...

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]

Doubtful, WielkiPolak, since the last wave of emigration occurred when PiS were in office for a while and the returns started after they were voted out and the economy started to pick up.

Not having a credible economic programme or in fact being in any way business friendly means we can look forward to more people having to uproot their lives to escape the turnip taliban.

UK, Ireland / Sugar tax in the UK. Polish friends addicted? [55]

It rather depends on how/when/who/which gender or age group and by whom it's measured, as well as which statistics are more reliable.

Certainly there seem to be many more men with fat bellies in PL. As well as a diet much higher in sugar salt and (the real danger) wędliny.

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]

Rumour has it that Ryanair are laying on extra flights to London to make some ones from the expected exodus from Poland.

Work / What is deducted from a salary in Poland apart from Income tax? [155]

About 4000 zl in tax and national insurance. It does vary from month to month (they use a weird system), and it also depends on the type of contract you have but assuming it's a full contract of employment, most months you'll get about 9000

wynagrodzenia.pl/kalkulator.php

UK, Ireland / Sugar tax in the UK. Polish friends addicted? [55]

If anything, I see more obesity in Poland, especially among men.

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]

A very good assessment of it here:

politico.eu/article/5-takeways-polish-election-2015-law-justice-civic-voters-kaczynski-tusk-eu-pis-szydlo

Life / Is "Polish person - Atheist" an oxymoron? [24]


Some of them are so crazy that they would. Fortunately if anyone is well protected by spiritual armour it's the Pope.

Some of these conservative Catholics (and others) always see it as an and/or either the person agrees with their point of view, or they're an atheist.


We'll take our chances thanks. Better to love one's neighbour and break other 'rules' than follow the rules pharisaically yet be full of hate.

Life / Is "Polish person - Atheist" an oxymoron? [24]

He loves everybody, Levi, that's his job.

Life / Is "Polish person - Atheist" an oxymoron? [24]


No need to. Some certainly do and the church has admitted this, albeit grudgingly. As John Paul II said, "God may forgive them, I don't".


Spot on, Danny. People are free to follow any religion or none.


And when people say that, even an internet troll like yourself, is it any wonder that more and more people are choosing none.


Would that be the same Adam Mickiewicz who was a keen Freemason, or are you thinking of an obscure namesake?


So you don't like John Paul II who was heavily involved with the Second Vatican Council and author of so many reforms? Or the current Pope Francis who is firmly in the tradition of Vatican II...