Law / Buying steroids in Poland? Is it legal? [4]

Used to be, not anymore.
They can only be got for medical use now.

Available illegally, but you'll need to go some some dodgy gym and ask the local neo-nazi/football hooligan meatheads.

Work / Muslim woman in Poland trying to get a job (do Poles like hiring 'different' people?) [17]

WTF are you on gibbering on about?


Yea, they are repressed by a male dominated sexist 'religion'.


OK, so women who don't wear a special magic piece of fabric on their heads will be seen as a 'sex object'? You really think that? Really?

Also, this magic fabric stops women committing adultery? So, why don't men wear it too? Are men not able to commit adultery in Islam?

What a load of brainwashed nonsense.


So, you think Muslims are only good in this life coz their afraid of some 'god' living in the sky and they aren't just good because it's the moral and right thing to do?

More brainwashed BS.

Work / Muslim woman in Poland trying to get a job (do Poles like hiring 'different' people?) [17]


Yea, I'd ban those in public too.


Religious people are dimwits. Unthinking sheep.


Yea, and the human race would be far better off without any of them.


Lol, I'm not in fear, I feel nothing but pity for the gormless idiots.

Work / Muslim woman in Poland trying to get a job (do Poles like hiring 'different' people?) [17]

I'm with France on this, ban the hijab and all other restrictive, regressive fundamentalist clothing.
Europeans go to Muslim countries, we must obey their traditions. We should apply the same across Europe.

Islam is a dangerous religion in the wrong hands (Sharia countries) and must be kept away from our democratic/progressive tradition.

Study / Advice needed for a French student on living in Katowice for a semester [7]


It won't be easy to find something for such a short period, but try gumtree.pl.

Do not rent in these places: Zaleze, Zawodzie, Szopienice, they are scumholes, lots of crime, hooligans etc.


Yea, most young people can converse in English, anyone over 40 though and it's a problem.
French isn't really a popular language here, most people learn English & German in school, but you'll find people who speak French of course. Capgemini have a huge base here so they have plenty of foreigners working for them.


No, people don't do that anymore. If you did it, it would be pretty weird.
In Silesia men shake hands/fist bump every time they meet, and kiss a girl on the cheek once. 3 times if family, or really close friend. Or you can shake hands with a woman if it's the first time meeting them.

I don't think there are so many cultural diffs here.....Poland certainly isn't as relaxed as France, you French know how to enjoy life, people here are a bit more obsessed with their work/family...boring stuff y'know. The Church has far too much power here and racism/homophobia is rife too. So that might be a bit different for you.


Won't be a problem, most people in your age are the same.

Kato's fine, I've been here for 5 years. It has a bad image in Poland, but it's nonsense. People say it's polluted, but it actually has the lowest pollution of Polish cities....in the early 90s it was different though.

Kato doesn't have a lot of tourist, but it is very used to having foreigners. Many companies have their bases in Katowice so people obviously often come here for business reasons. People are helpful on the streets, but y'know, don't bother asking the skinheads or the punks.

The school of Medicine is full of foreigners and there's quite a few foreigners working for schools as teachers and working in call centres, so don't worry, you won't stick out. For the France -Germany match I saw many French people wearing the football shiirt and with flags on ul. Mariacka (that's the street where everyone hangs out on during the weekend.


I reckon people won't care.
Online poker is fine. Poland's tax is weird, you're supposed to pay tax on winnings, but because you're French you won't need to declare.


Yep, they are stunning. A little different from the French though. They don't dress as elegantly as French women but they are still awesome.

Best of luck

Life / Sports tv and UK tv channels in Poland ( via box connecting to TV and Internet ) [33]

Sky sports and BT sports?
Also Irish channels?

Life / Mall Madness in Poland? [8]

Think about it, you can park your car in one place and get all your shopping done, even go to the cinema.
Or you can go to the city centre and walk around for half the day looking for the shops with the things you want.
Shopping centres have everything under one roof. Handiness, simple as that.

Life / Which is the best mobile network in Poland? [29]


Try using it in the countryside, it's dire.

My missus has Play, I'm Orange. Down in Wisla last weekend, she had zero 3g, mine was full.
Same in bieszczady a month ago..worse actually, she didn't even have phone reception, let alone 3g

Life / Public Transport Woes in Poland [11]


Yep, best thing to do would be burn every bus, or get a car and never have to deal with the public transport losers again. You'll only have to deal with crazy drivers then, but at least you won't have to put up with smelly armpits on the bus. Tis the season for that.

Life / Which is the best mobile network in Poland? [29]


They're all pretty similar........except, Play, Play is useless. Heyah is cheap, but you'll be bombarded with spam, I'd go for Orange or T-Mobile.

News / Polish Pope, John Paul II has been canonized today [with John 23rd] [85]

OK, so the Bible is based on fact?
Lol, lol and even more lol.
My favourite fact from the Bible is a child being born of a virgin. No doubt a fact. Yes, a fact. For sure.
But don't forget that this myth was also present in earlier religions that were knocking about and popular before Christianity, a little reseach will show you that........but why am I telling you, you're far too close-minded and blinkered to take the initiative and try to learn for yourself.

What you're saying is ludicrous, you believe that we should believe everything written in a book, that's at least 2000 years old, but shouldn't believe the fact-filed, research-based media.

Yea, seems legit.

Life / Are Polish people the most patriotic people of the world? [8]


Yea, like you've never complained about your hosts on the following day or as soon as you've left.
I smell BS.


Yep, the great oxymoron that is the Polish character.

News / Polish Pope, John Paul II has been canonized today [with John 23rd] [85]


I'm not sure if you're trolling or serious.

It's really quiet easy to understand.

Travel / Driving in Poland, are there any rules at all? [149]

Another hard-hitting road safety advert to be shown on Norther Irish tv.

How would a Polish audience react?
Why do we never see road safety ads here?

youtube.com/watch?v=MD8BkIgp9Fo

News / Poland's interior minister and the central bank chief recorded [28]


Seems logical yea, looks like PO will weather the storm though or will this vote of no confidence from PiS lead to the govt falling....and probably being voted back in?


Yep, actually all the more reason for them to hack it if they suspect that more corruption was involved.

News / Poland's interior minister and the central bank chief recorded [28]


So, you think they tried to blackmail those involved and then when that didn't work they went to the press?


That's a wee bit different though ain't it, that was journalists invading privacy. A newspaper printing info that came from Hugh Grant's voicemail isn't exactly earth-shattering info.

However, if they 'hacked' a politician's voicemail and got information regarding him closing down a case involving his family then the journalist would have to be praised.


Yea, long enough for those. Don't think I'll be changing nationality just to vote in elections. I'm useless, I usually vote for the most unpopular guy on the list coz he usually looks like he needs the numbers....unless he's with Sinn Fein, I'd never vote for those faux-Marxist headbangers.

News / Poland's interior minister and the central bank chief recorded [28]


How long ya gotta live here before you can vote in Polish elections?

Food / Where to buy British mature Cheddar Cheese and salted butter in Poland? [289]

Kerrygold Vintage is available in Alma, mighty stuff. got bit stronger than the normal stuff.

News / Polish Pope, John Paul II has been canonized today [with John 23rd] [85]


Yea, don't believe the modern media, believe a book that was compiled roughly 2000 years ago.

Seems legit.

News / Poland's interior minister and the central bank chief recorded [28]


It's certainly interesting.

I reckon it's because journalism in Poland is a tight, closed-shop. Particularly political journalism. I've seen it on other countries. When the government tries to f!ck with the media they close ranks and support each other. Poland for all its faults enjoys quite a free media, so threatening to bring journlists to court to reveal sources will not go down well and I would presume two things here.

a) the Wprost author/editor would rather serve jail time than reveal sources, if it comes to that.
b) no judge in his right mind would send the author/editor to jail...not while under the watchful eye of the EU anyway.

Or, on the other hand, the traditionally pro-PO side of the media might have come to realise that it's time to move away from PO and get behind Palikot. That would be interesting

For me, the Parafianowicz situation is more worrying. But because the law here is so bat-sh!t crazy he'll get away with it. Immunity for politicians must end.

The Belka thing isn't really that important, it's day-to-day politics. The head of the bank ask a politician whether another politician will find himself in a position in the future. That's about it.

The printing money thing would have helped to lower inflation, which would keep foreign investors interested in Poland and helped to keep interest rates down. Sure, it devalues the zloty for us living here, but when have they cared about us? They want foreign money to 'go further' and while the EU is still pumping money into Poland, those in power will continue to want to line their pockets with Brussel's money.

Have a look around the internet for successful tendering processes that have been awarded to brother/uncles/in-law/close (or distant) relatives of ministers. Corruption is still rampant in Poland and will continue to be so for a long time.

The question is what will Polish citizens do about it?
The answer is they'll do what they've always done.
Nothing, just accept it and get on with their lives coz they're so apathetic towards the boot that's firmly placed on their necks they barely even notice it's there anymore.

News / Poland's interior minister and the central bank chief recorded [28]


That's basically it, and thank heavens most people don't want those PiS clowns back. They'd drag the country back into the doldrums within 6 months.

PiS have no economic policy to speak of and their social policies are ludicrous. All they have is a somewhat 'charismatic' (slightly-deranged) leader who doesn't know his arse from his elbow.

However, the worrying thing in this case is this:
"The goal of this well-organized crime was not the public good, but eavesdropping on politicians of the ruling party," Mr. Tusk said. (From the NY Times link above)

If PO is helbent on censoring whistleblowers then they are no better than PiS. While I don't really think that Belka did much wrong, it would be perfectly common in other situations with the government to ask about future cabinet ministers etc, it's quite worrying that PO are attempting to bring the whistleblower before the courts and I well done to Wprost for not revealing its sources.

Another worrying aspect is the Andrzej Parafianowicz situation. If he used his power to stop an investigation then he should be called before a court.

But, let's not forget, for some idiotic reason, Polish politicians enjoy immunity while in office. And until that is written out of law then this lovely corrupt country will remain as it always has been. Corrupt to the bone with a feckless elite running the show, be that PO, PiS or whoever.

Career politicians couldn't care less for their constituents in Poland, believing that they do is just swallowing their nonsense.

Travel / Polski Bus experiences in Poland? [17]

Unless you're getting on at the last stop before Warsaw then yea, it will stop in other places and for breaks.

Travel / Poland is unsafe for visiting British Citizens ! - so I've been told ... [18]


Well in fairness, Poland is still incredibly conservative. Gays have no rights basically and the religious still sent the agenda.
if you aren't racist and/or homophobic then you're very much in the minority.

Women are treated like slaves, who once married must immediately spend her time focusing her energies on keeping her husband happy and/or producing sprogs for overzealous grandparents.

Imagine a country where artificial insemination divides opinion. For western countries it's a human right, in Poland it's a can of worms coz some religious clowns cannot understand its actual workings.

Politicians are too scared to hold a referendum for abortion , they are happy to allow women cross borders to have it done instead.

The roads are dangerous, as we've seen in other threads, Poland has one of the worst ratios of roads deaths in the EU. That's a fact and cannot be argued against.

Drink driving is an accepted norm.

Political corruption is rife, there's nothing that cash cannot get you here.
You can even get an operation in a hospital faster if you're willing to hand over a cash-filled envelope.

Tourists are welcome in Poland, white-skinned Western immigrants are too, others not so much.

That's why there's so much Poland bashing, there's so many things that it needs to improve on. From my years of living here things are improving........but not nearly fast enough.

I feel like I've moved to Poland 20 years too early, there's plenty of potential, but until the older generation and their (old Communistic) mentality disappears I doubt things will improve vastly.

Life / Driving Offences in Poland - How Fast can you go without being arrested? ;) [56]


Yea, the look on his fat skinhead face was priceless.

Crossing a pedestrian crossing this morning with the hound, 3 cops strolling along the opposite street. Tried to cross as a car was coming, a$$hole didn't stop. When I did get over I stopped the cops and asked them were they going to do anything about the car not stopping. One of them asked me did I get his number, I said no, it's not my job to stop people breaking the law. They weren't impressed. Tossbags.

Life / Driving Offences in Poland - How Fast can you go without being arrested? ;) [56]


I need to look it up some more, but I've heard that in the states, along the '3 strikes' rules that after been caught the 3rd time a breathalyzer is installed and during a journey will ask for random tests.

The aerosol thing sounds like a good workaround, I wonder how do they combat it?
Will certainly look it up.

Is there a transport minister in the current Polish govt, who is it and what do they actually do? Anything to fight road-deaths?

Life / Driving Offences in Poland - How Fast can you go without being arrested? ;) [56]

I've a similar story to Harry, ended up calling the cops about the ****, cops met us along the road where upon we were told we could bring him to court, but as a civil case as it was our word against his. Got home that night and bought a dashcam.

Have had a few similar things since then, have had 2 d!cks overtake me dangerously and stop in front trying to get me to hit them.

When they get out of the car, all angry, typically they're bald p!icks with no necks, I get out with the camera and say something like 'k!rwa, mam ciebie i numer samochodu na mojego camera'.

So far they've sheepishly skulked away, but like Doug I've got a hurley in the boot in case they get brave.

I don't really understand why Polish men are so aggressive, other than maybe coz they live at home till they're 30 with their overbearing mothers or else coz they're pi$sed off coz they've ended up marrying a younger version of their mothers in some freakishly-mental Freudian twist.

It's a mess though here, I long for the day that breathalyzers are installed in cars and won't start unless zero alcohol is found. These can be cheated by passengers, but if they're again done 5 minutes into the journey then the passenger cannot reach across and do it.

News / Polish Pope, John Paul II has been canonized today [with John 23rd] [85]


Really horrible, there's been calls to make it into a crime scene so that the ones guilty will face prosecution.
Hopefully, but being Ireland I'm not holding my breath.

Life / Many Problems with UPC Broadband in Poland - Anyone Else? [20]

Been fine where I am, have you asked them to call out and fix the problem?

Law / Setting up small business in Poland? [191]


You can do that, but it's not legal.


Yea and when you set up a place with all the proper equipment you'll be subjected to various health and safety inspections which you must pass before you can start production.

It won't be cheap to set up but you might still be able to avail of the EU grants for establishing a business.

But you'll need to speak to someone who knows more about it than me...maybe you have a lawyer you can advise...or just a Polish-speaking friend who can go with you to the relevant government offices to find more info.