USA, Canada / How difficult is it to get a visa in Poland for an US citizen? [11]

"any adviceS"!!! You are not a "real" American, are you? ;)

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

It is "funny" that whatever the topic, almost any thread goes bezirk and becomes a violent anti homosexual or anti muslim tribune! Most people in PF have never met a gay/lesbian or a muslim but it does not matter, they'll keep on talking nonsense about what they have no personal experience with.

Of course no RELIABLE source! Maybe in ONE school (in the US? But where exactly?) a crazy gay misbehaved but here again a stupid generalization. Although I keep informed with reliable medias from several countries, I have never read/heard something of the sort.

Unfortunately there is so much misinformation in the net and the simple minded take it for granted! Yes, Pol, there is a huge international conspiracy from LGBT and consorts to destroy the whole world ;). (PS: if we compare the misdeeds of the catholic Church and of the LGBT's community, guess who would win???? ;))

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

Most Ukrainians say that it is just a matter of mafias, there are pro western mafias and there are pro russian mafias and I seriously doubt that some are better or worse than others ;). ALL the Ukrainians I personally know say that Poroshonko (spelling?) is much worse than Putin and all the others put together. The guy is most corrupt (also involved in the socalled Panama Papers; some will say Putin is but nobody claims that Putin is a democrat whereas Poro... has been introduced as a .... "democrat" by western politicians. Unfortunately, the definition of "democrat" is a rather weird concept among a lot of westerners, mainly from America, who have a very simplist view: the worst bastard will be considered a "democrat" (;) ) because he happens to be anti Russian.. Westerners, and especially Americans should grow up and realize life is not all white or black and nothing in between.

Ukraine is a huge mess and while supporting pro-western mafias, America and EU (don't they all have domestic problems to deal with instead of acting once more as the world's gendarmes??? ) make things worse. Ukraine is as corrupt as it used to be, most people barely survive and most have to go abroad for bread. What kind of country is this? Only mafias can thrive over there! My cleaning lady gets a monthly retirement of the equivalent of 20 ... euros and according to her some Ukrainians don't even get the equivalent of some 12 euros and at the same time Poro and co steal everything the country can have. Don't pretend this is ... "democraty"! I refuse to finance Ukrainian mafias with my tax money.

Sorry, financing mafias the way America and EU do with tax money ;) is wrong, this is not "helping democracy" but just to encourage crime and corruption.

Unfortunately the west (specially the US) is so dumb and blind and we all suffer from the results of their stupidity. Putin for sure is wicked but the guy is intelligent and makes all our western "leaders" look like jerks... As a matter of fact, in world affairs, Putin leads the dance and the western "leaders" try to follow.

Anyway, everybody (with nNO exception) should get the h... out of Ukraine and mind their own business! Ukrainians should take care of their things.

(As a democrat, I hate and don't support mafias)

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

@Pol: do you have reliable sources? Of course, this is wrong but do not believe that most gays/lesbians behave this way. In ALL social groups, there are bad and good people.

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

@Pol: I will not crucify you or anyone else. I'm a decent and responsible citizen living my life and letting others living theirs as long as they are no threat. What happens in a bedroom between consenting adults should not concern you... ;). Believe me, there are more interesting things to do....

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

Yes, Delph! It would fit me as they (Austria, Finland, Sweden) are in fact compatible. Yes, a big mistake in 2004. Having countries like Poland has resulted in millions of jobs lost in the west and hundreds of millions euros or whatever else currencies to their taxpayers. If the EU were to organize referenda in all western Europe, we would see huge scores against EU but of course they would never organize referenda. In western Europe, only the multinational companies are in favor of Europe (great for them to pay salaries of for instance 3,000 ZL instead of 3,000 euros or pounds) and average citizens are against since nothing positive, only problems (jobs leaving for cheaper labor countries, open borders letting anyone entering and we see the results....). There was a referendum this week in the Netherlands but the media have been discrete about it. I'm sure that most western Europeans cannot take it any longer.

If only the UK could vote against the EU, it would be the beginning of the end as most western countries would demand to get out. Although I doubt they will, I hope UK voters will vote 'no" to EU. If so, believe me, I'll buy Champagne ;)

In EU, it is easy, there are countries paying and others receiving with NO effort. As as to the socalled free circulation of workers within EU, it's pure BS since it is East-West and not both ways When a guy from Luxembourg or Finland (for instance) will immigrate to Poland, Romania or Croatia because similar (if not better) conditions (salaries and welfare) than at home, it will really be EU but it will happen when pigs fly...

EU should be an economic and a political union and not a welfare agency to those who cannot make it on their own

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

@Pol: how do homsosexuals bother you PERSONALLY? You know, I'm sure that "homos" don't give a d... about you so why are you so obsessed by them? You know, being obsessed by them gives them importance. Why don't you ignore them and live your life? You are smart, well read, very knowledgeable (I am impressed by your answers re Polish names) so why do you waste your time on people you don't like? You know, time flies very quickly and better to do something useful and interesting rather than wasting it....

Do you remember the American sitcom with a NY loud mouth black drycleaner George Jefferrson? I don't remember the name right now but I loved it (just like I loved "all in the family", with Archie Bunker while I was in school in the US). I remember George's mother) saying all the time that when she does not like someone she does not say anything about them and that's why she "never talks about Louise" (Louise is George's wife). Why don't you do same with people you don't like (I do it in real life) and trust me, you'll feel better.

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

@Pol: live your life and let the others live theirs! ;). Homosexuals have as much the right to live and to be happy as you do and vice versa.

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

@Pol3: where does your obsession re homosexuality come from? However, since Poland is no.1 recipient of EU's funds (over 50% are paid by Germany, France and Italy respectively), Poland will do as being told. Beggars are no choosers.

History / Is 5th partition of Poland possible? What kind? How? When? [73]

what about Poland's participation to Irak war in order to follow their friend bush? ;)

For sure, Poland is not Russia and vice versa! Pure common sense! Just looking at the map and also at Putin's vs Duda's (Komorowski's or whomever in Poland) part in world affairs confrms it. Putin no matter what is together with the President of the US, the German Chancelor, the President of France, the UK Prime Minister and to some extent the President of China, a top player. Russia, is among the 5 nations with permanent seat at the UN (the others being the US, China, UK and France). Russia also has the atomic bomb etc etc..

(PS: I hate Putin. However I don't hate Russia and the Russians. As also I have never been to Russia and I don't speak Russian, I don't dare talking about Russia. Yet, I cannot ignore Russia's power)

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

Nope! The only ones in western Europe to get any benefits from Poland are the multinational companies firing at home in order to hire cheaper labor in Poland (and elsewhere). The "normal" western guy/woman gets nothing and is even worse off than before, because losing their jobs as they are "too expensive" and through their tax, they subsidize everybody in the rest of EU. This week, further to referendum held in the Netherlands, I heard several Dutch policians saying that all the Dutch had more than enough of the EU. I don't know whether ALL the Dutch but I am sure MOST of them do and it is the case in ALL western countries, the huge majorities of people are fed up and want to get out of EU asap (unfortunately not so easy to do..). Should the British vote to get out (which I doubt since even if people are not happy, they often prefer the "status quo" rather than the unknown), it would be the end of the EU as it would encourage anti-EU parties all over the place. I would love it if the British (or anyone else by the way) could help end this huge and expensive mess...

EU is also TOO weak because NOT united. How can we have a common strategy for a whole continent with so many completely dfferent countries? Larger Europe = weaker Europe.

EU should have remained at the stage it was when it started in 1957 (Germany, France, Italy (these 3 countries pay now over 50% of EU's budget), Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) and it would fit me...

Letting poor countries into EU only makes EU weaker and its people poorer.

The EU does NOT work with 28 countries, so how the h...ll can it be expected to work with 30, 32, 40 or even 95 countries? The more the merrier ...

News / German government tells journalists how to badmouth Poland [42]

@Mafketis: yes, BUT do check his WHOLE speech and not only the first sentence ;) He said, they MIGHT become like Molenbeek but "contrary to Belgium, the French government (tries) to fight against problem ",). That is what he said If you want to be credible, use the whole thing and not a few words thereof ;). This is called being dishonest intellectually

It's just like former French ("socialist") PM Michel Rocard who once said "France ne peut pas récupérer toute la misère du monde ... MAIS elle doit en prendre sa part" "France should not pick up all the world's misery .... BUT should contribute to its relief" but all far right extremists (like you) only uses the first part of the sentence ;)

PS: trust me, in countries where more than 95-98% of people are of one kind, the remaining % don't have much impact but in order to do so, it is necessary to live in such places instead of relying on biased sources ,)

Well, Ineed to go so continue your bashing alone!

@Mafketis: ps: what I mean is in order to be intellectually HONEST, one needs to read/understand WHOLE thing and not to stick to a title, the first sentence or part thereof or to a few words....

To me, pure common sense but ....

News / German government tells journalists how to badmouth Poland [42]

Absolutely Michał! :) I agree 100% but what do you expect to read and to hear from people who have no PERSONAL knowledge of (any) subject? When sole source of info is Daily Mail or Daily S###t, YouTube and fascist sites, it is obvious that it is NOT reliable. Anyway, as you say, when a population is 98 (or like it)% something, the 2 (or like it)% won't be able to change it. Well, pure common sense, but most PF people are not only ignorant but also (and worse) (intellectually) dishonest!

Have a nice day! :)

Love / Turkish girl is going to meet her Polish boyfriend's family - needs tips. [47]

Yes, mariage is not for next week! ;). In case you guys stay together and get married, maybe you could live in a 3rd country, other than Poland and Turkey where things would be easier for a mixed couple. Well, you have time...

All the best in the meantime! :)

Love / Turkish girl is going to meet her Polish boyfriend's family - needs tips. [47]

Absolutely, Istanbul! Have a nice weekend! (I'll be out)

Love / Turkish girl is going to meet her Polish boyfriend's family - needs tips. [47]

Absolutely, Istanbullu! Sooner than later religion will be brought up.... Grandparents will be concerned about their grandkids. As you also say, although religion is number 1 aspect, cultural differences (it is not only for Turks and Poles but for all mixed couples) are vast and often hard to handle.

Anyway, the girl is just going to meet some Poles, not (yet?) to marry their son and bear their grandkids ;).

News / Poland directly threatened by ISIS. Do Islamists planning terrorist attacks in Poland? [390]

@Adrian: Of course, not! ;). And it says "REPORTED" because authorities know that not all victims seek police help. Personally, if I had been raped by someone I know, I don't know whether I would have had the courage to report it ....

Love / Turkish girl is going to meet her Polish boyfriend's family - needs tips. [47]

OK, good luck! However, if you later on think about getting married and having kids, then parents may feel different. ;)

News / Poland directly threatened by ISIS. Do Islamists planning terrorist attacks in Poland? [390]

Yes, REPORTED so different from reality ,). Good that you admit it! ;). Re Sweden, Belgium and Poland, I'm sure it is easier to report rapes in Sweden and in Belgium (more liberal and no religious impact) than it is in Poland. Also be aware that when a man does not use a condom although the girl would have wanted him to do so, it is considered a rape in Sweden (cf. case of Julian Aussange) and I doubt it is so in Poland.

Love / Turkish girl is going to meet her Polish boyfriend's family - needs tips. [47]

It is not a matter of helping washing the dishes or kissing their hands, cheeks or feet. Since you guys are from cultures and religions that are very different, Polish parents may mind.... Poland being a closed society, people are not used of being in relationships with people from different backgrounds and that is what Polish parents may not be "comfortable" with.....

News / Poland directly threatened by ISIS. Do Islamists planning terrorist attacks in Poland? [390]

Basically, I don't know re Africa but as to Western countries, in some it is harder and in others it is easier to report rapes. When it is hard, very few women do ;). It is not "pleasant" to be questioned about one's personal and sexual life, to be physically examined, to face the guy in court and when the police and other authorities don't make women comforable and treat them like "slu...t"s, many women who have been raped don't bother to go ahead. In some cultures, such women would then be rejected by other men. Like they say, they mean REPORTED rapes, which is different than rapes PER SE. I suppose it's easier for a woman to report rape for instance in Norway than in Albania (just to mention Europe) ;))

It is the same thing re domestic violence. Surpringly, (until recently?) Spain was the country where wives/partners victims of domestic violence reported the most. Does it mean that Spanish women are more often victims of domestic violence? Nope! Simply because most probably women in Spain are encouraged to and also helped by authorities. On the other extreme, I'm sure that few women in Turkey or in Saudi Arabia dare reporting violent husbands ;).

Believe me, numbers have to be considered carefully

PS: only men think it is easy for a woman to report a rape. It is NOT and that's why a lot of women don't.

Work / Filing tax return from outside of Poland? [5]

According to my accountant, being abroad is NO excuse! You just find Polish tax office's site, print out their document, fill it in and return it on time so they have it by May 2, 2016. If you don't know how to fill it in (I do not and that's why I have an accountant), maybe check with Polish consulate, they most probably have someone who at least can explain how to do it

News / Poland directly threatened by ISIS. Do Islamists planning terrorist attacks in Poland? [390]

Absolutely, Doug! besides, fewer rapes reported does NOT mean fewer rapes ;). In some countries, women reporting rapes are seen as sl@@@@ts and as a result they don't bother seeking police's help.... Logical but I think men cannot understand that.

News / What kind of Poland do most Poles want? [101]

Absolutely, Pol3! The big majority of Poles just want better material conditions and they are not concerned with KOD, TK, terrorism and consorts.

News / Poland directly threatened by ISIS. Do Islamists planning terrorist attacks in Poland? [390]

@AdrianK: as to rapes, they are often NOT reported and as a result they keep statistics lower. I assume that in countries like Sweden, Germany or France it is easier than let's say in Poland, Romania or Malta. In countries where women will be considered "sl..ts" by the police, by the judges.... and by society in general, few women dare reporting rapes. FEW rapes reported does NOT mean few rapes :). Also, in some countries, the idea of rape is particular. For instance, in Sweden, in case a guy did not wear a condom whereas the girl would have preferred him to wear one, she can claim to have been raped....

Last night, on tv, I saw the interview of a 20-year-old girl from Chad who had been gang raped by several officials while on her way to university in her country. The girl dared making her case known and guess what, she and her family have been threatened to be killed and they had to escape to France where she keeps fighting with lawyers against her country's officials... I suppose in Chad no girl goes to the police to report having been raped ;).

It is "nice" to copy-paste statistics and numbers but it is worthwhile knowing about the way to understand them ;)

News / Poland directly threatened by ISIS. Do Islamists planning terrorist attacks in Poland? [390]

@AdrianK: good to read your comments! As you understand, the situation is far from brilliant and there is no solution in view. For sure, W. Europe (and the US ;)) are responsible for the whole mess because of our foreign policies and at home, in our W. European countries, we believe in democracy, in human rights and justice and as a result we've been had by islamists who don't see things the way we do. Yes, they do represent maybe 2% of the muslim population but even a few of them are too many. These people are fanatics and have tons of money. One day, I read about their financial sources in some American (reliable) medium (@Pol3: singular form of "media"), and it was "amazing".

What to do? Of course, Poland is not on their list but should the situation worsen, which would lead to an economic crisis, Poland would of course be in the same boat. At the time of the Nov. 13 Paris attacks, French Prermier, Manuel Valls, made a comment according to which he was scarred that islamists attack .... nuclear plants (there are several of them in France alone). I don't exactly remember what exactly he said but I really freaked out when listening to him. I don't even want to imagine. Believe me, in such a case, the whole continent of Europe (including of course Poland) would blow up...... Poland would suffer because the others suffer but would not suffer alone because islamists don't give a d#### about a country like Poland...

Just heard on TV (Belgian sources); the Bruxelles terrorists first were aiming at attacking a .... nuclear plant. Hard to understand that some people in PF are completely disconnected from reality and show NO compassion to victims and to potential victims.....

News / Poland directly threatened by ISIS. Do Islamists planning terrorist attacks in Poland? [390]

@Smurf: am I to understand a ... second degree? ;) "lol" ;).

News / Poland directly threatened by ISIS. Do Islamists planning terrorist attacks in Poland? [390]

@AdrianK: in Bruxelles there were a dozen nationalities (including 10 French, among whom 2 were survivors from Nov. 13 Paris attacks ...) but this was NOT against Poland and Poles. Terrorists don't ask for people's passports and nationalities before shooting ;).

Since you don't know (but ask nicely ;)), a "muslim" is someone who follows muslim religion whereas an 'islamist" is someone who is fundamentalist and sees religion as a political weapon and uses violence against people who don't think the way they do. Most of what you call "muslims" in Western Europe are secular or even atheist and they live according to laws of their countries of residence (of which most often they are citizens). IOf course, in Europe, only a tiny minority are islamists but even if 1 or 2%, they are already too many ;). In Paris there were only 10 terrorists and in Bruxelles 3 atlhough now Belgian sources mention a 4th. Bear in mind, that "muslims" are the no.1 victims of islamists and in terrorist attacks in Europe (and elsewhere). In Paris and in Bruxelles (just to talk about current situation) a lot of muslims have been killed or wounded by islamists. Islamists consider muslims who are not radical as enemies and they deserve to be killed.

Well, without being an expert, I am sure I know about situation better than those (in PF and elsewhere) who have only seen muslims and islamists on tv.

Also, not all Arabs are ... muslims ;). Some Arabs are Jewish, Christian or even atheist.

I know all this may be complicated to a lot of you ;) but to make it easy: ALL islamists are muslims but only a tiny minority of muslims are islamists....

Well, I'm sure those who have never met any will insult me but never mind!

@AdrianK: Absolutely re Polish "muslims"!

I understand that nobody in thread has realized that the Bruxelles guys are NOT refugees, they were all Belgian born and are Belgian citizens (although they don't really consider themselves Belgian) and therefore completely irrelevant to mention refugees. In Paris, there was only one who came as a refugee.

The Polish government using Bruxelles as an excuse not to take in refugees is pure non sense as they would not have accepted Merkel's order in the first place and in the second place, in Bruxelles, all the 3 (or now 4) guys are Belgians ...

News / Poland directly threatened by ISIS. Do Islamists planning terrorist attacks in Poland? [390]

Poland in danger? only in the imagination of those not living even in Europe. Obviously Warsaw Airport authorities think otherwise and they are right because there is no danger in Warsaw and in Poland.