Australia / Secret gems (Good places to have a beer) in Melbourne Australia [20]


You're lucky I live in the slums and can't get on a bus to rip your face off... ;)


Broady's fine... I think! How to compare it to.... hell!? Jokes! It's racially diverse and full of intriguing shopping centres... :S

Speaking of hell... I should be frequenting Hell's Kitchen in the next few weeks or so. If I can find it! I'll look for a barfly with dragon wings and a firey temper? ;)

Travel / Pics of Warsaw by the Guardian's David Levene [107]


Care to post some of your own pics and re-focus our minds a little...?

Are you bothered by the truth or the fact that it can be captured in pictures...?

Travel / Pics of Warsaw by the Guardian's David Levene [107]


What's your problem? They are photos. You know what that means? It happened. Whether it was photographed or not.

Deal.

Travel / Pics of Warsaw by the Guardian's David Levene [107]

I think they stimulate interest and are reasonably compelling..

It's not meant to be art.

Travel / How safe is Krakow for a single girl ? [35]


What are you on (about) man?

Travel / How safe is Krakow for a single girl ? [35]

It isn't... it's much safer to go out at night as a double act...

History / 6th annviersary of JPII's death [6]

Oh, well then that marks 6 years since I lived in Krakow. I was there when it happened... had nothing to do with it mind!

It also marks the anniversary of the orange revolution in Ukraine, no? That occurred around about the same time...

They made him a saint yet?

News / MORE ANTI-POLISH SENTIMENT IN GERMANY [280]


Quoted for truth!

Petty

Squabble

Wonder bums.

;)

Feedback / A Personal Request to all PF members [119]

Listen, all I can say is that we are all changed by the people we meet and the places we frequent. That is kind of unavoidable. But I think anyone who has been fortunate enough to visit Poland, be shacked up with a Pole, marry one, or have Polish in their heritage, would know as well as i do that there are good and bad aspects of the place, and they *are* somewhat uniquely Polish... that can sometimes get lost in translation...

And by way of shared human experience, your issues become mine by default, through the penetration of human consiousness. We immediately take on the issues of others because we are able to project ourselves into their shoes... but we still wear our own and live through our own experiences...

So if we have gone through life with a certain country or group of people entirely off our radar, does it mean we are entirely ignorant about them? It may just mean that own reality hasn't brought us in contact with them yet. Shame, yes. Poland's so great. :)

At the end of the day, does it matter what people think about Poland, if they base their opinions on rumour spinning and stereotypes..? Honestly? No. And who's opinions are valid anyway?

(Oh god, I *am* complicating this aren't I?) Oh well, I can't be stopped now...

But then what? How long should someone stay in a certain country to pick up an ''accurate view of it''? Some people dislike (for whatever reason) their native countries too, and simply can't wait to leave... *ahem, immigration, ahem*. (And then love them years later forgetting the bad bits.)

Truth is, there are many lives being lived in every country. You could end up living a not so nice existence as a visitor *or* a native in any particular place, and this can end up jading your view of that place, when in reality every place is ok unless you're trying to realise your aspirations in it.

Is this more accurate than someone simply retelling their negative impressions of that place after only a weeks visit?

And I don't mind to complicate things, because, really, everything's *rather* more complicated than we at first think... if you think about it. ;) But I can see how you may not agree, as you are the original poster with the strongest view on this.

You don't need to reply, I know I'm a headache... aneurysm, whateva!

Australia / Polish community in Sydney, Australia [93]

The latter

They will change and be changed. (And *definitely* no castration jokes!) ;)

Of course... they will learn how to drink, ski and do without with dignity. ;)

Yes and no... depends how much of it we *want* to keep?

Life / Is there something like a "Polish culture" or Polish national identity? [49]


Keep it simple.. I like it. Though I would say less Wodka. ;)

To the OP. Here you have people who like to think they identify with Poland... The louder they are about it the less they usually know in detail.

My opinion.

Ask some Babcias. They have lived their whole lives there. Poland is its history so the older the person the more informative in my view... Though whether they would like to talk about it is another thing...

This generation are widely dispersed and culturally disjointed in my view... but that is part of understanding current Poland too so cannot be discounted...

Good luck! :)

Australia / Polish community in Sydney, Australia [93]


Well you wont find many fellow Monotremes here... The odd Platypus maybe. ;)


What if you prefer Dogs? :S

Australia / Polish community in Sydney, Australia [93]

Oh please Patrycja... you think I wasn't offended by ''Renegade's'' outlook on Australia...?

The tricky thing is I didn't know which group of Aussies to identify myself with... :S Which is what made the premise of his argument meaningless in *my* view... I could be both!

I guess it's up to the individual to believe one-sided comments or not or to listen to anonymous and baseless views without any verification or understanding of the individual's postings...

Point proven. Thanks.

I personally thought his comments were Kaka.

Fact is, like many countries, here you live amongst others from many different backgrounds AND nationalities... it's hard for some people...

Feedback / A Personal Request to all PF members [119]


By the same token, do you think I can do anything about the reputation about my country through a forum...? No, but I can stand alone as fitting into a perceived stereotype, or escape it through my own distinct actions, beliefs, attitudes...

It really depends on the character spilling the views and the characterisation given by the interpreter.
We're dealing with human beings here first and foremost. Not everything you think can be interpreted through a veil of Polishness surely...? Just as what I say about Poland may be more indicative of my own cultural background than yours. ;)

You're asking people to hold general views about something when they may specifically be coming here to state and explore distinct and polarised views on purpose...

I mean if you think this little forum can harm the reputation of your country then I think you're a little paranoid. Don't worry, we all love Poland... one way or another... That's why we're here... one way or another. :)

I repeat. The views here say more about the individuals than the country in question. That's why we have usernames... we aren't interested in anonymous comments, we want to know who's behind them...

Because an intelligent person knows that no-one can speak for a country, let alone someone else's ultimate opinion about that country...

Feedback / A Personal Request to all PF members [119]

Or on a more intrinsic level, It's for those who want the book but not the cover...

Or am I completely off topic...?

Cause in response to the OP, I would say you can't divide sentiment as a byproduct of Polishness... it's no determinant of anything, especially as many here have, more or less, experienced life elsewhere. If they hadn't, why would they be attracted to a Forum exploring the views of an *international community* about Poland? This is the World Wide Web honey... likes it or not, views rarely exist on a macro scale to protect the image of any one person, any one thing, or any one country as a monopoly over any other...

And in response to Lodz... The Dalai Lama has been trying for 50 years... what makes you think you'll have more success where requests for tolerance, kindness or compassion are concerned? :P

But by all means you can try! But wouldn't it be boring if *no-one* injected a bit of cynicism into these dodgy affairs...

Is kindness something you can extend or truly interpret above any other sentiment...? Just keep in mind we are projecting ourselves at all times. So really what we say here says more about ourselves as individuals than about any economic or historic affairs, affairs of state, sexuality or regional Polishness per se...

Don't take it to heart basically.

Feedback / A Personal Request to all PF members [119]


You get all the best bits without any of the crap. You get to be who you want to be. And ironically, it's less confrontational than real life.

It's kind of a dream world... with illusory characters - the line begins to blur.

It's the church and it's the dungeon, the righteous and the ugly. The soap box and the launching pad as well as the green field of imagery and perception. It allows one to paint with colours more vivid? It's for those who don't like to waste time with the rigidity (and the rules) of reality. ;)

But hey, who knows! ;)

But yes, there is a danger of not being able to divorce yourself from this world... cause it only exists in yer head.

How much can one *feel* towards another without never having seen or met them...? It's the ultimate in emotional projection but exemplifies the power of words and empathy...

We humans are evolving. And this is for many an easier domain to function in in an increasingly complex world... There is a compelling argument for escapism these days... maybe always...?

Australia / Secret gems (Good places to have a beer) in Melbourne Australia [20]

Noted. :)


Aren't they everyone's...?

I like a bit of dinge, dirge and filth with my fresh beer and bass. :D Affordable... I like to settle in for the night. :)


You mean you want to keep them secret. ;)


How do you get there? ;P


Uh-yeah... mistake of a rookie. :S


Sounds promising!


Duly noted. :)


Are you trying to lose my thread?


Uh-no. I didn't work on it *that* hard... ;)

Australia / Places to live in Melbourne... [36]

Well it's the one thing I'm counting on...

;P

Australia / Places to live in Melbourne... [36]

Yes, but I haven't seen the size of your buckets. ;)

Love / 12 years of marriage my Polish wife still doubts me [74]


Well the idea that you can repeat doing something the same way and get different results. Try a new method. :)


Ok, so you make love and you laugh... what's the problem again???


A balloon flight... a speedy jet boat ride down a canyon??
Lose your breath? Exhilarate your senses??


Listen buddy.. why don't you just keep buying her flowers, f*cking her and making her laugh...? That way she'll keep whinging at you??? :S


Maybe her doubting is good...? It's her way of thinking that she still has to earn your love, and also her way of making believe that you are a good conquest???

Travel / Is Poland worth visiting? [35]

Nice.


You might find it goes feral...

And then we'll be hearing it on the TV. :)

Cute kids btw. :)

However I *do* think that this clip would do more for your national economy...

Love / 12 years of marriage my Polish wife still doubts me [74]

Sometimes you can squeeze the life out of an idea until its suffocated...

You know the best remedy for you both...?
Laughter.

Is it possible that you can, as a couple, go out and do something a little out of the ordinary? Where you both leave your comfort zone and say at the end of it... ''that was really awesome!''

Family life can bring you both a little under the weather and it's no-one's fault that you end up turning on each other. She may just need not to be so intensely focused on the relationship?

Cause it seems you have all the symptoms of a lot of boredom and frustration? And that can make you each feel unattractive, helpless, like a failure, whatever! Try to change the picture a bit instead of changing the people in the picture. Try to explore your (and her) wilder sides a little?


And some are like weeds that grow just fine without. :)

Expectation can lead to suffering... take care of yourself first. ;)

Australia / Places to live in Melbourne... [36]


Just enough to displace all the rain... ;)

Australia / Places to live in Melbourne... [36]


Thanks! Not the best place but not the least. (It's above ground...) ;) But the agent's still a tyrant!


Nah... I was forced to by default all during my youth and I enjoy the odd game, but everything in moderation. ;)


Well of course you'd be more than welcome!


I know little about the AFL culture down here, but if I was to say..

''Good old Collingwood forever,
we know how to play the game.
Side by side we stick together,
to uphold The Magpies name.
Hear the barrackers a shouting,
as all barrackers should,
Oh, the premiership's a cakewalk
For the good old Collingwood...'' Would that appease you...? ;)


Naked Beach Volleyball??


And the hair's no longer ridiculous!


I'm planted here for the time being... :)


Hmm... the flying missiles of impassioned supporters no doubt?


Exactly?? Close to a bucket full??? But they do their best to appear to you one at a time... ;)

(Close to 4 million).

How many are Collingwood supporters I wonder?

Australia / Places to live in Melbourne... [36]

I like Melbourne. :)

Yeah, I've noticed the lycra parade on Saturdays... They look a little intimidating...
I just muck around on bikes to get from A to B, but maybe if I wanted to take myself *really* seriously...

I'm right near the Etihad stadium so I've *practically* seen a game already... is that meant to be an insult...? ;) (This is the part where my cultural ignorance of Melbourne is to my detriment...)

Be nice! I mean we've got guys in short shorts in Sydney but they're usually heading out to Oxford Street! ;)

Anyways, I'm pretty much sorted... but any further insights or tid-bits of information will be warmly received.

Many thanks. :)

Feedback / How many hours a day do you dedicate for PF and how often? [21]


In other words, never... like now... ;)

Too often in the past, too little at present. But life (and PF) goes on... regardless...

(If I could have my life again I would be here from day one... as a nonsense speaking semi-Pole. ;))

Australia / Places to live in Melbourne... [36]


Hey, Ugg *is* an Australian brand... ;)


Hey, I'm not looking for factory outlets, I'm more looking for facts on inlets...? Scenic bike paths, places to take ferry rides, good kebabs, cheap oil heaters, street festivals, rousing AFL teams to support...???


Oh I'm sure Melbourne's got enough where that's concerned. ;)


Le life fantastique! :)


Advice heeded... I just wish I received it this morning... :S


I want Bikies at my doorstep and Underbelly in me backyard... ;)
Hey, where I'll be living, I reckon I'll get it! (The things we sacrifice for an extra hour in bed...) :S

Edit: And nobody told me about the wall of cars I'd meet on Citylink.. :S

I mean is that meant to be your idea of street art or did I just discover the weakness of your tram system???

Yes! I want answers!!! ;)

USA, Canada / Moved back from Canada to Poland:). Here are the reasons why. [868]


What, one foot in front of the other? ;P


Overpriced Tampons...

I joined the Union today... does that count? :S

Enough sarcasm... I'm going to bed. :)

Off-Topic / How would Poles react to a visit from Queen Elizabeth? [72]

Are we talking about the QE2..? Now *that* would be an official visit... People would come out in droves... ;)