News / How will BREXIT affect the immigrants in UK and Poland. [1114]

No, before Poland (and others) joined the EU, other Europeans needed passports and not just their national ID cards (but NO visa) for touristic visits and work permits in case of employment. "Normally" if UK got out, other Europeans would need passports and work permits to work in Britain and of course same would apply to Britons in the other EU countries. In addition, re Britons, a lot of them buy homes in Spain, France, Portugal .... and if UK gets out, things could change regarding purchasing real estate and land.....

(I am of course using the conditional tense since UK is still in the EU and nobody knows ;))

(However, should UK get out, it'd be the end of EU since several (main) countries want to leave and they'd for sure use the UK example to do so.. ... In one word, a "No" from UK would be a bomb! ;))

News / New 2016 poll. The attitudes of the Poles toward other nations [26]

@Pweeg: at least (reliable or (probably) BS) source should be mentioned as well as criteria - if any - used ;). Nothing serious and nothing "official"! Just material for Fakt or SuperExpress ;)

News / New 2016 poll. The attitudes of the Poles toward other nations [26]

Most probably, like Atch says, they (who????) asked 100 people getting out of ..... Biedronka ;). Also, what are the criteria? There are none. Why would for instance Poles like Italians more than let's say the Dutch???? 99% of Poles have never met any ;). I understand that Poles on the whole hate some groups but the majority of the groups in the "poll" don't mean anything to Poles so why likes and dislikes? No sense!

Terrible that media manipulate simple minds with BS!

News / New 2016 poll. The attitudes of the Poles toward other nations [26]

@Atch: absolutely! I too am not "crazy" about so called "polls" for which, like you say, they take 100 people getting out of .... Biedronka. It should not be treated as very serious but just for fun although we all know that Poles hate whomever is from the East and not white/catholic. True what you say about their using the word "Jews".... Well, another BS poll !

@Szalawa: Trust me, the comments (not so numerous - last time was last night - because Poles are not obsessed) I have received from Czech Republic (I went there several times and I really like Prague and although I find Czech people generally sad and boring, I like their distance from religion) were rather negative and re Slovakia they were even worse. Re Bratislava, at the time, I may have asked more than 20 Poles (since I live in Poland, not too hard ;)) not connected to each other and all of them discouraged me to go there and as a result I didn't go because (at the time) I was convinced they were right about Bratislava (I know, very stupid of me since I had and still have never been there and obviously how can one like/dislike something unknown ;);)). Anyway, I'll try to go there some time soon, just for 2 or 3 days. As to prices, it's funny, you say it is expensive (for Poles) because they now have the Euro but all the Poles (I know) say it's very cheap. I don't know since I have never been there but maybe prices are the same as in Poland but in Euro. Don't know but Slovakia and Bratislawa are not Monte Carlo so it must be affordable there ;).

News / Foreign investors fear Poland's instability [26]

Foreign investors are no philanthropists so they won't mind leaving Poland and it won't be very good for Poles ;)

News / New 2016 poll. The attitudes of the Poles toward other nations [26]

"lol"! Very different from what we read in PF! ;). Anyway, what did they base their answers upon? I understand that Poles may hate Russians for instance but why would they like or dislike others they have never dealt with (pure stupidity)? Poles like Spaniards for instance because they had good Sangria while on vacation in Spain.... It is just about it no nothing "scientific". However, true that Poles don't like Russians and basically whoever from further East and also whoever is not white/catholic..

As to the Czech, I'm very surprised that Poles see them in a fovorable manner (although no big deal since only 50%) as the (numerous) comments I got from Poles re the country and its people were only negative. Whenever I dare saying that Prague is much better than Warsaw, Krakow or whatever city n Poland, they get p..sed and start with the Czech attitude during the war ;). It is also suprising because the Czech Republic is a ... "goodless" more liberal society ;) .... Since it is easy to draw the parallel, I can say that most Poles don't like Slovakia. ONE example among a lot: I remember a few years ago when I was thinking about spending a couple of days (Majówka, I suppose) in Bratislava, all the Poles I asked told me it was not worthwhile going there, ugly city, nothing to do/to see, nasty people, expensive (since Euros)..... and as they were so convincing I went elsewhere ;)). Now as I have seen several things re Bratislava on (not Polish of course) TV, I think it can be worth a couple of days' visit; if anyone in this forum (among others) can give me tips re Bratislava, I'll appreciate.

In conclusion, the poll (how "scientific"?) shows that the no.1 country only gets 50% of favorable opinion, it means that yes, Poles ARE xenophobic...

Life / Whats that thing when Polish people take a shot of vodka by locking arms and after saying first names? [20]

I don't know how you say it in English, I meant from what we formally call the "oldest families" (= connected to Royalty).... And what % do they represent in popluation so obviously their lifestyle does not represent the whole population's ;). It would be as stupid as to pretend that all Britons do, live and talk like the Queen does ;).....

But nevermind, there is so much ignorance in PF that it is even hard to believe...

Tchao; leaving for work (some do here! ;))

Life / Whats that thing when Polish people take a shot of vodka by locking arms and after saying first names? [20]

@Ziem: VGE and Mrs. (not he who is a cool guy)) are very old and very old fashioned and aristocratic people (Mrs. Chirac is an aristocrat but VGE is not, his father who was a diplomat bought the title, and so did Dominique Galouzeau de Villepin's father) and such people represent 0.0000000000000000000000000000000000000001% of population so please be smart enough not to generalize out of a couple of examples.

If you knew 21st century France, we would know that people call others by their first names right away and switch to "tu" very quickly too (maybe not those aged 95 but up to 50/60 it is the way)! ;).

No, Ziem! It is very rare and only among very very old and very old-fashioned aristocratic families. I have met several younger aristocrats (including from "best families") and trust me, they just say "tu" to each other and the younger ones .... swear like sailors...

Life / Whats that thing when Polish people take a shot of vodka by locking arms and after saying first names? [20]

@Terri: sorry, B. Bardot who is over 85 years old and coming from a very unusual family is no generalization and also no criterion ;). Anyway, yes, the formal way of addressing people is more often used in Poland than let's say among Latin and Scandinavians. Since I am from a culture in which people get to first names very quicky instead of Mr. X or Mrs. Y and then to "ty" forms, I do say that Poles are MORE formal. On the other hand, people from places such as Spain, Portugal, Italy, Romania, Belgium and Sandinavian countries (as what I personal know) are much more informal. It is NOT usunusal for them to even use the "ty" form in their respective language in the first meeting. During numerous stays in Belgium, I have also noticed that and was not always comfortable ;).

@Terri: my (Polish) husband when he met his biological father for the first time at the age of 10, called him "Pan" so if we go by the way you do, does it mean that Polish kids do it?????? My husband at the time knew that the guy was his father (but in a old bourgeois/aristocratic and I expect very cold family, it was maybe to be expected). In my husband's case, it was ONE instance and in B.Bardot's, it was also ONE instance and nothing to do with the way 99.99% people react ;).

Life / Whats that thing when Polish people take a shot of vodka by locking arms and after saying first names? [20]

@Ziem: did you read or you just want to be nasty? I just said that Poles when addressing each other are MORE formal than let's say Latins or Scandinavians who use the "ty" form in their respective language very quickly (including for some of them in the very first meeting). For sure, "Pan/Pani" corresponds to "Sie", "vous", "usted"... but French (in Belgium and Quebec even more so than in France) and Spanish speakers DO switch to "tu" very quickly (to talk about what I know) Other Latin populations as well as Scandinavians are very quick too.

Life / Whats that thing when Polish people take a shot of vodka by locking arms and after saying first names? [20]

Poles are (except for the very young ones) very formal in their way of addressing each other compared to Latins and Scandinavians who very quickly switch to the "ty" equivalent in their respective language (including sometimes in the very .... first meeting (without need to drink, sleep or whatever ;) ). I know quite a few Poles aged 50 or older who still use Pan/Pani with colleagues (of SAME level) they have been working with for over 25 years in same office ;).

News / World's 'most wanted man' (a Pole) found working at British Subway restaurant [43]

for sure, the guy killed (one person) but there is much bigger fish at large!

News / World's 'most wanted man' (a Pole) found working at British Subway restaurant [43]

Good that the guy will be dealt with but come on, he was not the "world's most wanted man"!!! The terrorists who attacked Paris and Bruxelles were and still are since some still at large (today a 23-year old Swedish national was arrested in connection to Bruxelles attack)..

News / Poland -- Europe's only counterweight to Russia [271]

@Cms: just for info, the "d' of "de" does not take any capital letter. Only American talk about wars all the time. In Europe people are peaceful and want good relationships with everybody and that was the idea behind the EEC in 1957. How many wars on European soil? As to "nato", although since 2002, French has had pro-American goverments, most people are against nato and want France out (de Gaulle had the cojones to get out of nato and to close American bases in France, which was and is still approved by at least 99.98% of the population) and quite a few prefer .... Putin and Russia (financing Front National - fully acknowledged by FN's leaders ;)).

The western world is threatened by Islamist terrorism and nothing else!

News / Poland -- Europe's only counterweight to Russia [271]

@Johny: no need to be a Nobel Prize winner to understand that you are an extremist with a narrow mind and full of prejudices. Not only you hate whole groups of people WITHOUT knowing them (pure stupidity) but also you hate women. When MEN have the guts to disagree with you, you don't insult them but since I am a woman, you feel free to show me that you don't have ba... ;). Well, I know, you and your fascist buddies have no b... ls and they don't dare insulting men ;).

UNRATIONAL hatred always reminds me of Hitler's hatred towards the Jews. Well, it had something to do with a traumatism during his childhood as part of his family was Jewish and he was from a broken home.

Law / How to bring your savings to Poland [9]

Hi! It depends!;) It 's a matter of 200 ZL, euros, dollars, pounds, Swiss francs or whatever, it's ok to keep money on you but it's a matter of thousands or of millions, best to leave money in your bank and to withdraw it as needed. In Poland, it's the same as everywhere else, it is not safe to walk around with large sums...... You can also lose it....

News / LGBT hate speech to be banned in Poland [208]

@Pol: I took a look and in my opinion, it's rather unfortunate that special attention must be given to gay students because of intolerance. for sure, some may be "overzealous" but you cannot condemn a whole group because of the misdeeds of a few of them, can you?

Democracy will be reached when we won't need special associations to protect rights of any minority ;).

News / Turkish invasion on Polish TV - Poland's opinion on Turkey [30]

Turkey was more secular (2nd country after France to separate state and religion) until Erdogan and co arrived to power. Unfortunately the secular parts of the society are rather limited and limited mostly to educated and urban middle classes. I remember when I first time visited Turkey in 1995 (or something like this) that in Istamboul, around 50% of women were dressed the Europan way and that the guide we had (a retired colonel who was at the time 52 years old) told us that during his childhood in Istamboul, it was very rare to see women not dressed like in Europe. I suppose that now, most women even in Istamboul at least cover their heads.

With Erdogan, Turkey has forgotten about Atta Turk's perception of modern Turkey. I for sure am no expert on Turkey but I used to be almost fascinated by Atta Turk's reforms (even the writing was changed into latin alphabet). I was also interested in country since I used to have very close contacts through work with some big shots from Embassy so from them, I learnt a lot ....

News / Poland -- Europe's only counterweight to Russia [271]

yes, poor Grzegorz! The army is to protect from terrorist attacks. Do you know what a "civil war" is??? I doubt! How do you expect to have one part of the population against another? Terrorists are only a handful in each case (I know even 1 is too many) whereas the whole population is on the other side. So basically it would be let's say 10 against ... over 66 millions. Do you call that a ... "war"????? I have a (Polish) client who went to Paris 2 weeks ago with her boyfriend and she said to me that he had been amazed (it was his very first time there) to see that people are mixed, that they all interact in their daily life no matter their origin. Yes, contrary to what you believe, people are used to interact with each other (at work, in schools, hospitals, administrations, sports, etc etc...) . I'm going there shortly (I'll visit places, I'll do shopping .. because it is the normal life). What do you think, that I'm going to risk my life??? "lol"

I know that media's work is to make money so they need attention catching titles and articles to sell. Last January, right after the attacks against the Charlie's journalists, one (very educated) Polish guy was surprised when I told him that most of what you call "muslims" are (secular (some are even atheists) and respectable citizens as he expected them to be ... terrorits. There are also a lot of mixed couples (including muslim and jewish) and NO problem.

Of course, terrorism is a huge problem (and nobody is in "favor" of it) but neither Belgium nor France nor anyother country can "collapse" because of a few attacks. Israel is in a much more dangerous situation and people lead normal lives there.

Geez! How ignorant a lot of people are in PF!! Pitiful

News / Poland -- Europe's only counterweight to Russia [271]

poor ignorant who of course has never lived in Western Europe! Without Western European money, what would you do? ;)

News / Poland -- Europe's only counterweight to Russia [271]

The problem johnny is that you are a typical "ugly American" with no respect for other countries unless they are run by American puppets.

Do realize that in western Europe, a lot of people get near Russia as a result of Us policies. I'm sure that your us media don't tell you about it and about Russia financing political parties.

Trust me, things are not as simple as you believe

Yes, Delph, the "ugly American" as called in Europe gives the US a bad reputation all over the world. The "ugly American' is usually a fat-a.... guy with a IQ of a 6th grader and has been brainwashed from birth on that the US have a "divine mission" to be the world's gendarme.

In France (since I know the place) Putin is seen with a more favorable eye than .... Obama is... and most of the French believe that Putin has the right approach in Syria...

News / Poland -- Europe's only counterweight to Russia [271]

Johnny: you may have lived longer than I in the Us but you have never lived in Europe and also knows nothing re whole European continent.

You are what in Europe we call an ugly American. You believe that the Us should rule and impose their will to the whole word and whatever country disobeys, it'll be bombed. This is imperialism.

As to NATO, France was out for many years until sarkozy joined again but most French are against NATO and more generally against wars. As to Russia, if you inform yourself, you'll know that Front National is financed by Putin...

Well as lack of knowledge, you'll go again with your xenophobia and racism

News / Poland -- Europe's only counterweight to Russia [271]

@Johny: who is brainwashed???? I lived almost 10 years (altogether) in the us and all my life I've been around Americans (thank your god, they are not all like you).

You have never lived in Europe, never lived in France (don't speak any European language other than English) so how the ...can you know about Europe? Come to Europe and meet us instead of swallowing fox sh@@@t

News / Poland -- Europe's only counterweight to Russia [271]

For Americans, it's either white or black, they are the good ones and the others are bad. Start traveling and meet people so you'll get clear picture of the reality!

News / Poland -- Europe's only counterweight to Russia [271]

As to me, when I wrote Poro will be out, I mean by his people. Putin - whom I put into same bag as Poro - will not need to do it.

Hard to talk with Americans who know nothing re other countries but what I am saying is that Poro is as corrupt as the others. I don't care about Putin but Americans should open their eyes, Putin is getting very popular in western Europe

News / Poland -- Europe's only counterweight to Russia [271]

"lol" only rednecks from America believe that Americans do things for free. If they came to Europe in 1944, it was only to avoid Russia tt take all Europe. France had to wait till de Gaulle to be free and independent from the us. there is even a statue and rondo de Gaulle in Warsaw so even Poland had and has respect for him

As you have never been to Europe, normal that you are so ignorant about our things.

News / Poland -- Europe's only counterweight to Russia [271]

just like choice between having right or left eye pulled out! ;). A "bastard" is a "bastard" and there is no hierarchy. When Poro will be kicked out (just a matter of time), he'll be replaced by someone anti-west. Western "leaders' are too stupid and too blind to realize that they are responsible for chaos and for dictators. Once more, the west will fail. Supporting corrupt bastards is wrong and nonsense! Putin knows that in the long run he'll win because he thinks like a chess player whereas westerners (especially Americans) don't think, they just act on the spur of the moment and then they observe the s### they have produced but as they don't understand, they continue elsewhere and we all suffer the conséquences). Putin is getting more and more popular among a lot of Europeans and I understand why.... I am NOT saying it is good or it is bad; I am just saying the way it is.

Life / About Poland - famous subjects Polish people like? [6]

Not a problem to start a forum re Poland if they don't know anything about Poland! They'll simply copy-paste any BS they will be able to find in YouTube, Wikipédia and consorts! Some people in PF do it all the time for topics they personally know nothing about so nothing new "under the sun"! an example please? we don't allow copy-paste.

News / Poland -- Europe's only counterweight to Russia [271]

So you confirm what I have just written! Did you think that Ukrainians were kind of stupid and masochists? For sure, they cannot stand their mafias and their current government. The country is most corrupt, nothing works there, most people barely survive (for instance the cost of living is much higher than in Poland inspite of close to starvation wages whereas a handful mafiosi steal everything) and have to go abroad for bread and you would have expected them to be "happy" ;). Ukrainians are just like any other population, they want a prosperous and democratic country in which they can live properly but unfortunately foreign "'leaders" don't want to understand.

News / Poland -- Europe's only counterweight to Russia [271]

Where do you live to be so ignorant and not to know that a small clique of oligarques steal everything they can while the rest of the population just survive and have to go abroad for bread?

Yes, Ukraine is ruled by mafias and nobody can deny it!

PS: I don't care about Putin! Fr me, Putin and Poro are same sh### although I believe that Putin is really intelligent. If you knew about western Europe, you would know that Putin finances far right parties there (including and not only France's front national party - it's official) and that Putin and Russia are "popular" and even liked more than the US ....