News / Polish magazine causes outrage with cover showing white woman being sexually attacked by 'migrants' [57]


That's the PO/Michnikite style. In the the tape scandal they weren't concerned about how top PO politicians had compromised themselves by badmouthing their government colleagues at top-notch champagne and caviare repasts at the taxpayer's expense, but who did the recording. The PO have always done things a*se-backwards. Same with the Michnik camp. Trying to expose the truth is usually described as "rummaging about in people's biorgaphies" (grzebanie w życiorysach) or some such.

News / How would Poland change for the better (or worse) under a PiS government? [257]


You never mention the reckless freebie policy of PO. Are you opposed to foreign corporations paying their fare share of taxes like everyone else? Yes or no? Of course, if you're on their payroll as a crypto-lobbyist, what can you say?

Life / Polish culture versus rotten West [279]


Either you're pulling my leg or I've overestimated your intellectual capacity. Unless you're just taking the stuffings (which I strongly suspect), you've consigned yourself to the ranks of ignoramuses who say things like "my aunt liked Red Zepplin and she turned out OK." Anyway, it's too naïve to reply to.

Life / Polish culture versus rotten West [279]


You're confusing entertainment which has always existed from today's all-pervasive popculture which goes beyond simple amusemetn and impacts peoples' entire lives. Entertainment was kept in its place like work, meals, family life, worship of other human activities. It was not all-pervasive or ubiquitous nor 24/7. Nor as extreme as commerpop. Punch did not drop his trousers and take Judy from behind! And the foul language and coarse jokes heard in a seaport tavern were not broadcast countrywide.

Commerpop as the expansive, ever-present commercial brain-washing and exploitation machine is a post-WW2 thing that really started in the mid-1950s with the emergence of rock'n'roll. (One of he first was Bill Halley & His comets). It still was pretty tame back them but it gradually grew in intensity and prurience all the way to today's rap music that openly advocates hatred, violence, vandalism, crime, drug-dealing, promiscuity, woman-beating and the foulest imaginable language. A great example for young children and a great rearng aid for parents, innit?

Life / Polish culture versus rotten West [279]


The use of that phrase means you also differntiate between true art which enriches, inmspires and broadens one's cultrual horizons and popcultural tripe & crapola which downdumbs and caters to the lowest common denominator.

Life / Polish culture versus rotten West [279]


Commerpop = Commercially driven pop culture whose sole purpose is to achieve maximum profits by downdumbing and exploiting the gullible massses and cleverly convincing them that this is what they should want.

Life / Polish culture versus rotten West [279]


But it is commerpop (not real culture but gabagey fly-by-night popculture) that drives a wedge between parents and kids. Just imagine if someone launched a fashion fad where the left buttock was fully exposed, how many parents would be happy about that and rush down to the shops to buy such a thing for a 12-year-old boy or a 14-year-old girl? Years ago commerpop urged kids to have long hair, now they want to shave their again thanks to some commerpop-driven fad. Being a parent in the commerpop era (which began in the mid-1950s) is no picnic.

The introduciton of outrageous lifestyles antagonises the generations and often brings two-way communication to a halt.

News / How would Poland change for the better (or worse) under a PiS government? [257]


Paying their fair share of taxes (which the banks and foriegn corporations did not do under tusk) is not handing over money but paying taxes like everyone else.

Life / Polish culture versus rotten West [279]


Let's go beyond the "I listened to" and "my aunt knows a bloke who..." To what do you attribute today's high rate of crime, juvenile deliquency, violence, family break-up, fatherless kids, substance abuse and OD deaths? Does the glamourisation of the pathological and dysfunctional or the example set by celebrities have absoltuely no impact on anyone?

Would you want your 5-year-old to learn about love from Internet porn? Do films dripping with graphically saddistic cruelty including decapitations and cannibalism not affect young minds? That's what the discussion is about, not that this one likes techno and someone else prefers Pepsi.

News / How would Poland change for the better (or worse) under a PiS government? [257]


There are also those giving Poland a bad name at home and then sending it abroad. Their name is KOD, the trough-defending mafia.


Piotrowicz, the single entry in Delph's "ENDLESS" ex-PZPR appointees in PiS. The 30 SB informers and PZPR types among PO MPs could theoretically be termed as endless. But they yare never mentioend by him. Neither now or over the past 8 years. Wonder why? It couldn't be sheer anti-PiS hatred and spite, could it?

Life / Tacky commerpop and the slob chic in Poland? [24]


I agree with you 100% as to the diagnosis. We differ only in regards to the prognosis. People are the way they are and we should let them remain troglodytes (your version); my version: yes, but we must do everything in our power to englighten, edcuate and hekld lift our fellow-man out of his troglodytism.

The amazing thing is the host of defenders commerpop has on PF.

News / How would Poland change for the better (or worse) under a PiS government? [257]


Don't condemn a plan sight unseen before it's been implemented and allowed to develop out of pure anti-PiS hatred and spite!

News / How would Poland change for the better (or worse) under a PiS government? [257]


This is the first post-PRL plan in 26 years that is truly pro-Polish. It must therefore be the bane of all the Delphs, KOD-ists, nomenklaturites and foreign interest groups that want to keep Poland down as an exporter of agricutlrual produce and unprocessed goods as well as a pool of cheap manpower for foreign assembly sites.

Long before I ever heard of Morawiecki I had often wondered how is it that the Mazowieckis, Wałęsas, Bieleckis, Millers, Pawlaks, Kwaśniewskis, Buzeks, Belkas and Tusks had done next to nothing to promote Polish entrepreneurship, orginal designs, manufacturing and recognisable Polish brands. PiS and their Two Stooges coalition of 2005-2007 also didn't but lacked the time and had to contend with the likes of Lepper.

To what extent Morawiecki's plan succeeds (although the Delphs of this world already wish him dismal failure on principle!) remains to be seen. But the very concept of finally something native, inidgenous, original, Polish-deisgned, Polish-owned and Polsih-branded is in itself heartening. (Not to Delph and his ilk of course; their motto is: "Keep Poland down at all costs!")

News / How would Poland change for the better (or worse) under a PiS government? [257]


Not perceptibly. KOD was rightly described as containing many PRL castaways, and Mrs Kiszczak has only just now been exposed for wanting to cash in on her late hubby's private writings. Investigative reporter Cezary Gmyz reports that Wałęsa's entire personal file has been placed in safekeeping for future reference.

Life / Tacky commerpop and the slob chic in Poland? [24]


To be an expert one would have to have a degree in sociology and the necessary research facilities to conduct proper stuides. No, it is more a question of interest in the human experience and a belief that homo sapiens is a thinking person, not a mindless, go-with-the-flow troglodyte sucker exploited by the capitalist greed machine.

News / How would Poland change for the better (or worse) under a PiS government? [257]


So you don't like crypto-Marxist Bernie Sanders?

Life / Polish culture versus rotten West [279]


Not at all. I never suggested the government, parliament, police or whoever should get involved but more in terms of a grass-roots movement. More people seeing that the run-away profit motive which will sell anything (drugs, porn, guns, terrorist suggestions, etc.) to anyone just to make a buck is detrimental to families and society as a whole. A groundswell of public opinion can work wonders, so education is the main tool required. And in a serious discussion on any subject let's rise above "self" and anecdotal evidence ("my brother used to listen to metal and now he's a successful doctor and family man"). This is not about "liking" of "disliking", not about personal preference, but about the content of commercially-driven popculture and its social consequences.

Do you really believe that rap music which glamourises and normativises drug dealing, violence, theft, vandalism, woman beating and other offences has absolutely no effect on anyone?

Life / Polish culture versus rotten West [279]


Probably the heavy metal thing has blown over by now but for years it was all the rage.There was an ironic saying back then "as much good manners as at a heavy metal concert". Heavy metal promoted and gloried the rough, rude, crude, vulgar and outrageous among a generation of young people. Now as adults do you think they have acquried excellent manners are super polite, considerate and avoid foul language like the plague?

Dunno if you know Polish but there's an apt saying: Czym skorupa za młodu nasiąknie tym w starości trąci. (Roughly: what the shell absorbs in childhood it exudes in old age.)

It's not a queiton of doing away with TV sets but cleaning up what is shown. Preferably not by government decree but thanks to common sense. If more people took the time to study and analyse the situation and relaised how toxic commerpop can be to young impressionable minds, there could eventually be a groundswell of public pressure among the thinking segments of society.

Remember how once most everyone smoked. It was sophisticated and fashionable, or so we were told. And yet years of campaigning have convinced people that it was a health hazard. The same can take place with regards to commerpop if there aren't people who thoghtlessly defend it with excuses like "one person likes this and another likes something else." This is not about tastes but about toxic content and the clever propaganda that glamourises it.

Life / Tacky commerpop and the slob chic in Poland? [24]


A great many Hollywood films, rap music, celebromania, much Internet content promoting gossip, violence and catering to the basest human interests and then convincing the gullible (the comerpop-promoting media) this is all very cool, trendy, cutting edge and up to the minute. I know you know exactly what I mean. But since you don't have any kids maybe you're less concerned about the downdumbing and depravatory feaures of commerpop.

Life / Tacky commerpop and the slob chic in Poland? [24]


This isn't about tastes -- beer or cola, pizza or Big Macs, Harlquins or Gogol. It's about something that downdumbs people, detroys their sense of critical analysis and channels their interests down to the lowest, basest, most vulgar common denominator as long as someone can make a financial killing from it. Destroying the human spirit is a crime in my books. Not in yours?.

Life / Tacky commerpop and the slob chic in Poland? [24]


No alternative is a 100% solution, but if there was more investigative reporting exposing the machinations of commerpop and its harmful consequnces, at least some educated people would be more wary of its omnipotence and threat. Any system, especially but nto exclusively its rap-crap segment, that pollutes innocent young minds by glamourising violence, theft, vandalism, addictives, drug dealing, guns, promiscuity and woman battery lacks any redeeming social values. It only providers the filthy rich with more ill-deserved riches than they've already got.

History / "Poland's Concentration Camp" ?? [570]


Send me a copy with your autograph and I'll read it. I've heard you're so famous that your signature and 5 złotys will get you a cup of coffee in any Polish McDonald's. And it's supposedly 100% Arabica. Bon appétit!

Life / Polish culture versus rotten West [279]


I agree and that's precsiely why they should be made more aware of things. "You don't like Rihanna, dont' listen," you wrote, but this is not about liking. No-one likes anything they're not exposed to. It is repetitive exposure that leads to liking. Back in the day in the US there was a big payola scandal. DJs were getting paid to play a given selection over and over to make it popular. Now that is standard practice. You don't get played on Radio Zet or RMF without a juicy gratuity for the station.

If interested check out: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payola
BTW Artistotle was speaking of high-minded idealistic and altruistic youth who lack the experience and realism of older folk. Today instead of idealism we have mindless, selfish hedonism, vandalism, devil-may-care promiscuity and and a total lack of concern for other people's feelings and interest. And all that is being officially glamourised and peddled by the financial powers that be.

History / "Poland's Concentration Camp" ?? [570]


Był internowany w obozie stworzonym dla przeciwników politycznych Władysława Sikorskiego na wyspie Bute[27].
First time I've ever heard of this -- learn something new every day. Anyway Bereza Kartuska was a detention camp whereas Brezść was a normal prison.

All in all, there's no reason to single out Poland since even the most democratic countries such as the USA have built such camps at one time or another.

Life / Tacky commerpop and the slob chic in Poland? [24]


The initial alternative is to alert people to the danger. Presumably normal, decent, fairly educated or even well-educated people should be able to make rational, well-considered choices and choose what is superior and culturally enriching over that which is inferior, downdumbing tripe. And yet the loud, brash, all-pervasive commerpop propaganda machine turning over 24/7 has effectviely dulled many people's sense of perception and ability to make intelligent choices.

Secondly, education should do more to promote higher ethical and aestethic values, encourage people to think before they act and cultivate an abiltiy to evaluate the true worth of the things being proposed by the idea, lifestyle and physical-product market.

The major stumbling block is the profit motive taken to extreme: namely sell anything you can make a buck on regardless of the consequences for individual consumers and society as a whole. The capitalist establishment will not willingly part ways with such a golden goose. Probably the only way is through a massive education campaign which has worked as regards cigarette smoking. Once demand starts falling, even the biggest corporations can be persuaded to clean up their act.

Life / Polish culture versus rotten West [279]


The main difference is its omnipresence and pervasivenes, backed by big money and high technology which give it power and influence far beyond any of the periods you have mentioned.

Enterainmetn of one sort or another has always been with us. Centuries ago, villages were visited by jugglers and gipsies with dancing bears. The villagers gathered watched the ursine performance, tossed a coin or two and off they went on their merry way. None of the spectators wanted to become a gipsy or emualte the bear!

Today's celebrity system has created a pattern for emulation. More and more people these days are taking their cues from showbiz types, who often lead the most convoluted and mucked-up lives around. To a large extent they have replaced genuine authorities. Culture and a sense of aesthetics have been largely displaced by tawdry, tinsley crapola, and in place of ethical values we get ego-tripping and narcissism. Celebromania and other aspects of commerpop impact much of the lives of a growing number of people in Poland and world-wide. I don't know about you, but I feel this stunts people's cultural and intellectual development. The more so that most people do not realise what is actually happening to them and behind the scenes.

Life / Tacky commerpop and the slob chic in Poland? [24]


Only if you define life as an assualt by a small but powerful, influential and heavily bankrolled elite (the movers and shakers of commerpop) on hapless, gullible society for the express purpose of toal exploitation and maximum profits regardless of any consequences suffered by the said society. Those consequences incldue the general downdumbing of society, especially guillible youth, normativising addictions, violence, subcultures and mindless fads and crazes.

History / "Poland's Concentration Camp" ?? [570]


It must be a BB contagion, because lower-case twists words to fit his sick psyche (he defines top support as decline). You in turn are the master of hyperbole. None of the above have ever been sent to a concentrtation camp unless for some weird reason you have deicded to apply that very specific term to every form of detention. Witos did time in Brześć prison, also not a concentraion camp. Just think of all the non-Polish and non-Poland-based posters you and your ilk are constantly miselading by such distrotions.

Life / Tacky commerpop and the slob chic in Poland? [24]


What does this have to do with modernity. Gullible fools and suckers have existed since time immmeorial as have sharpies and crafty conmen ready and willing to exploit them. Except it was never as institutionalised as it is in today's commerpop era. Do you equate modern Poland with brainlessness? Commerpop is the scourge of modern Poladn and every other country where it has taken root.

History / "Poland's Concentration Camp" ?? [570]


Can you list them?