UK, Ireland / The secret Polish gay men in the U.K [133]

There are so many closet gays in Poland. I see it in their eyes and the way they look at me. They have this effeminate nature and posture which gives them away. I wondered when a thread like this was gonna start as it's very noticeable.

History / The Untold Battle of Britain [205]

So, what price for peace, BB? How about 20 other cities in there, would that be acceptable? Would you push the greater good argument right down to the letter and leave it at that? Maybe we should have nuked Italy too for supporting Nazi Germany? Where are the lines drawn?

History / The Untold Battle of Britain [205]

What's the sense in that, Ironside? All you need is one line to state it, or even one link from an authoritative source. There is then no argument but the function of a democracy is, as citizens, to question the underlying logic and rationale of those laws. Are you aware how unpopular the decisions to go to war in Iraq and Afghanistan were? When you go against the mandated will of your people, you are just taking the law into your own hands and murdering.

So you are telling me that innocent lives were taken unnecessarily, IS? In fact, that's exactly what you are saying. Was it by accident or intention? By dropping bombs, your intentions are clear. By sending in ground troops to intentionally kill, your intentions are clear. I think this 'kettle of fish' needs to be explored further.

Sorry, look at the bombing of Serbia. What did those innocent Serbs, who largely didn't support Milosevic by that time anyway, do to deserve being blown to smithereens? Why did they have to live in fear? I advocate what BB said, that we should send in units of elite fighting forces to take out those troublemakers and leave the people alone. They are for that kind of thing. They haven't turned the tables in Afghanistan so why employ them there?

History / The Untold Battle of Britain [205]

BB, why be so sure? You want to adopt the pre-emptive doctrine and strike him now, go ahead.

The repercussions need not be stated :(

We certainly do need those discussions :) :)

Ironside, I did this in my Masters international criminal law course. I'm arguing, based on the logic picked up from my Bachelor's, that I see inconsistencies here. It's a bit neat and tidy that they get off the hook, wouldn't you say? God wouldn't have sanctioned that nonsense so what gives the right to leaders to do so? Are they above God? Were Iraq and Afghanistan 'necessary'? No, they were mass murder, further rubbing salt in the wounds from the first Gulf War and the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. Put yourself in their shoes, watch your family die through targetted bombing and tell me then that it isn't murder.

Period!!

History / The Untold Battle of Britain [205]

Well, I can hardly disagree with that :)

Well, one piece was badly damaged (Hiroshima) but peace came, yes ;) ;) Although I dislike what happened to innocent people, it was an effective end to the war in those times. There were no ideal solutions.

Iran would be obliterated if they used them. Besides, they don't want to kill Palestinians.

History / The Untold Battle of Britain [205]

Well, please be so kind as to define it, IS.

That's nonsense, IS. Governments are not above the law. They can be summoned to court (MPs) and held to account or hadn't you noticed? Look at Tony Blair and the Iraq enquiry. Read up on the notes.

No, I'm talking about the definition of murder. The government is putting those soldiers in a position where it's murder or be murdered by those that have the mens rea to kill you. In Britain, for example, you know what you are signing up for when you join the army.

Happy garbing ;) ;)

BS, it's hot here too so we both have a ready-made excuse ;) ;) I don't want him to have nukes, BB. The thing is, we can't apply double standards and be hypocritical. He wouldn't be so stupid as to use them but this is another discussion.

History / The Untold Battle of Britain [205]

Of course I have problems with the needless killing of innocent civilians, BB. How many times can I repeat that to you? You got confused is what you got ;) ;) Those people did not need to die. It was a symbolic show of might which ended the war through surrender. I just dislike America hacking at Iran for allegedly developing a nuke when they actually used 2.

History / CONSIDERATIONS ON THE GOVERNMENT OF POLAND April 1772 [12]

Well, that's your opinion but I studied them in my first course and I can confirm that you are wrong. Nonetheless, you are entitled to your erroneous opinion.

Well that's good then, as that is what I've been telling you. Their ideas rubbed off on one another and they undoubtedly had a role in shaping modern constitutional thought.

History / The Untold Battle of Britain [205]

Of course I blame the lunatics. The soldiers protect the civilians, pilots too. Thanks to Spitfires and Hurricanes, we took the nasty Luftwaffe out of the skies and sent them back to Goering in tatters.

When you are dealing with lawless loonies, only force works as was found out when the Nazi machine was dismantled :) :)

You have to care for those innocent civilians who didn't see it coming, BB. The current world, of course. They had to be stopped, no question. My strongest wish is for the use of elite squads in the future to take out High Command. You could save a lot of lives with those who take out leaders. They did it in Serbia and they could have done it in Iraq.

Ironside, you are completely missing the point. Please read up on mens rea and you will see what I mean. War is government sanctioned murder, period!

History / The Untold Battle of Britain [205]

BB, I completely agree on the first point. Look at Dutchbat in the UN. They should have been quadruple in their numbers and told to sort it out in no uncertain terms.

You know what I think on this point, BB. Killing innocent civilians is just not on. Why should they be the victims of a war waged by lunatics? So many innocent lives have been taken through sheer lunacy. War is one tool of population control and a very unfair one.

I meant in the context of free will to join and free will to exit, BB. Obviously they carry out the great majority of orders given to them, that goes without saying. There is some degree of autonomy in some situations.

Given that war isn't a new concept (in fact, it's one of the oldest), of course it has historical roots but that doesn't change the fact that courts currently have definitions of murder to follow. They can be relaxed as pertaining to wartime activities but the mens rea of murder is still there. You are not going there for joint practice. You are going to murder your opponents.

History / The Untold Battle of Britain [205]

Well, one kind of soldier. Others go on peace-keeping missions (KFOR) and they try to avert killings. BB, you forget that I approach this from a legalistic perspective. 'Killing' is too loose in this context. Even motive is not the same as mens rea. Please be more specific with your questions.

Soldiers don't have to obey, they have free will. You are following the Nazi logic too much (I'm not calling you this, just saying that you follow that way of thinking). Sometimes we are more than cogs in the wheel and can desert. Your reference to Nuremberg shows this. Sorry but soldiers can be replaced. They can disobey if they have objections.

Ironside, I have studied the definitions of murder extensively and you can't limit it to 'connotations'. You have just shown me that you lack the critical judgement required to be a judge. Study murder cases and you'll see what I mean.

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]

It all depends on the school you are targetting. Some barely have half hours in the summer. I'm lucky that my school has close to full hours. It means that saving becomes that bit easier.

History / The Untold Battle of Britain [205]

Soldiers are supposed to kill, so it's murder as that is their stated objective. Never heard of a conscientious objector? Ever wonder why they are that way?

Food / WHY IN POLAND PEOPLE DON'T USE ICE? [142]

Absolutely! I have it at work. Without it, I'd wilt. The students moan so I turn it down a notch, then sneakily switch it back and they don't notice.

Love / the strange polish girl who broke my heart [30]

I can't for obvious reasons. I have a very good one :) Besides, I always found the clubber type here to be vain and snooty. They don't square with my way of approaching life. Even in Scotland they were the same. Far better to have a beer with a woman away from the clubs where the drink talks too much. The Japanese surprisingly weren't that way excessively. They still had the 'best in the world' thing going on but they were more approachable.

Love / the strange polish girl who broke my heart [30]

Casual sex must be understood for what it is. There cannot be magic expectations from it.

Life / Piwo or wodka has had greater effect on polish culture? [19]

I'd say a beer after work is normal here. It has a broader social appeal than vodka where a bed near you is recommended. I would drink vodka with my landlord, for example, but never anything too strong at a pub. Vodka can screw you up in this heat. I've had 3 kieliszki shots tonight and that's enough for me. In winter I can handle a fair bit more but I don't go in for it really.

Beer is really on the up here in Poland.

Love / the strange polish girl who broke my heart [30]

"Never trust a woman with your heart". Said by who? It was a woman, I can say that much :)

Food / WHY IN POLAND PEOPLE DON'T USE ICE? [142]

Oh, for sure. It happened in Paris but also in Scotland some years ago. My wife's car traps the heat sth awful and I should really suck on ice cubes to cool me down. My friend has some kind of coolant device in his car and it's great.

Food / WHY IN POLAND PEOPLE DON'T USE ICE? [142]

I bet you were ;) ;) Smyngus Dyngus came early ;) :)

My vodka needs ice but it has been in the freezer for a while now. Hmm...I love it REALLY chilled and it isn't quite that.

Food / WHY IN POLAND PEOPLE DON'T USE ICE? [142]

That surely breaches safety regulations, pgtx. There has to be sufficient ventilation to function, otherwise you can pass out.

Food / WHY IN POLAND PEOPLE DON'T USE ICE? [142]

Now there's a point ;) A bit like beans to underpants, right my friend? :) :) How's the heat up there with you anyway, wolf? Ice packs on every part of the body?

History / CONSIDERATIONS ON THE GOVERNMENT OF POLAND April 1772 [12]

Gee whizz, lad. I can see you are trolling. Go and look at the social contract theory. SeanBM knows that I mention it endlessly. I can also recommend Dicey to you for modern reading on Constitutional Law and provisions. I taught Polish constitutional norms to a senior legal advisor here, I think I know what I'm talking about.

Food / WHY IN POLAND PEOPLE DON'T USE ICE? [142]

Jabłko, funny that you have that name as I was just gonna talk about apple juice :) Some apple juice here needs to be diluted with ice. Otherwise, it's too strong and not refreshing.

Life / Why are the Italians and Polski so much alike? [90]

That's very true! They have way too many gestures, many with flailing arms. Poles might scare a few people with their drunken gesture, LOL. It looks like they want to behead you :(

Life / Why are the Italians and Polski so much alike? [90]

The Italians are far more expressive than the Poles. They gesture to get many things whereas Poles don't.

Food / WHY IN POLAND PEOPLE DON'T USE ICE? [142]

The Poles drink a lot of water anyway. I've been drinking a lot of Grappa which tastes icy if that makes sense. It's heavenly stuff!

Food / WHY IN POLAND PEOPLE DON'T USE ICE? [142]

You are supposed to put them in the fridge ;) ;) Or vodka in the freezer :) They have fridges in shops with chilled beer and drinks :) They use ice, at least my Polish family does :) My wife insists on it, as do her parents. It's just not as widespread as in North America.

Food / Eating Kielbasa - how do you cook yours? [119]

I don't think women would like the smell that it left between their legs ;) :) Still, it would be an improvement for some old women ;)

Grilled sausage, yummy :)

Love / All the good Polish men for dating are taken? [111]

Zetigrek's view squares with what I have seen and heard here. 25-30 is more mature and conservative Gliwice would approve of that age more than 21. Can't have men distracting women from their studies.