News / Do Poles take Kaczynski seriously!? [199]

JK doesn't even attempt to speak English (I'm not saying that he has to). Tusk did alright when Condo was here. JFK was laughed at for saying he was a doughnut/donut :)

Life / Uptight Poles [262]

LOL, superb retort! It speaks a million words :)

Life / Did you see John Porter on Kuba Wojewódski [5]

I heard it more than saw it as my wife was watching it in the other room. He sounded proficient and witty.

News / Do Poles take Kaczynski seriously!? [199]

Safety isn't a European interest? Cultural exchange isn't a European interest? Doesn't he take such things seriously?

Life / Uptight Poles [262]

Some do. Some appear to be backward but that was just my impression.

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]

I agree with that. They should have sth like the JET system in Japan whereby the native of the land and the native speaker work in tandem. I operated that way in Profi Lingua and it was one (of the only) plus from the school.

News / Do Poles take Kaczynski seriously!? [199]

Yeah, I call them birds or aircraft.

The same in most places, Sok.

How can you take little JK seriously? The man is a relic from The Stone Ages.

News / Do Poles take Kaczynski seriously!? [199]

Better PR, fair point.

Polish or not, I can form an impression so quit the crap (I'm a translator now, isn't that enough?) What you said is NOT an exclusively Polish phenomenon so start to see that, please.

I'm not a fan of either of them, tbh.

News / Do Poles take Kaczynski seriously!? [199]

But people seem to take Tusk more seriously, wouldn't you say, Sok?

Personally, he comes across as being deceptive but Poles seem to like him. JK is viewed with suspicion and it would be hard to change that broad perception.

Life / Uptight Poles [262]

We have to conclude that there are tense and loose aspects to virtually every culture. There are days when I'm visibly more uptight than the Poles around me but, sometimes, I'm much fresher, looser and in my stride. We are just people and that's all we'll ever be. Tense, loose or sth inbetween, it's just what we need to work with to do what we do.

News / Do Poles take Kaczynski seriously!? [199]

In relative terms, Sok, he did come across as bellicose but maybe his electorate expected no less. Some could see it as him merely fulfilling his manifesto pledges to be a strong leader but the likes of Sarkozy and Merkel are meeker in comparison. Sarkozy is like the quiet assassin, the passive aggressiveness which Polski Moc talked about.

News / Do Poles take Kaczynski seriously!? [199]

In this day and age, measured pragmatism is key. A certain stand has to be taken at certain times but many might say that JK oversteps the mark when it comes to the EU. He needs to ask all those affected by the EU (I have big businesses foremost in mind here) what they think rather than battering out his preconceptions and populist rhetoric, laden with slogans.

Life / Uptight Poles [262]

Laid back as in slack or laid back as in mellow and carefree, PMoc?

It depends what type of German or Frenchie you mean. The cafe goers tend to be chilled out but the administrative workers much less so.

I think it all comes down to set and setting as Timothy Leary famously once said.

Life / Uptight Poles [262]

PMoc, you are again speaking for a whole group and it's just not on. I find many Poles laid back but many uptight too. I imagine more Irish folk to be stressed now.

Some Poles have a little of the 'mańana' in them, that's true. Some can lose chances that way. Some are more generous and some are just plain stingy. How can most Poles not be uptight about money given the modern realities here?

It depends what store you go to, PMoc.

News / Do Poles take Kaczynski seriously!? [199]

He was perceived as the barking little dog which unfairly gave Poland the title of 'Awkward Partner' in Europe. Obstinance can be a positive trait when confronted with those that want to get their own way but, in politics, just characters are often 'dealt with'.

Life / Uptight Poles [262]

Many people are boors when on holiday or away from home generally.

Anarchistic? I'd say that, whilst quite a few Poles live in emotional turmoil, many are not anarchistic in the sense that I understand that word. It just depends on the Pole, really.

News / Do Poles take Kaczynski seriously!? [199]

I think you'll find that PO have more Jews in their ranks than PiS, PMoc. I understand the rest of your logic though.

History / Why did Russia attack Poland in WW2? [178]

One word alone should speak volumes here, assuming you follow the logic. 'Katyń', that's the word. See the logic in that and you will understand the rationale. Then there's the Soviet mentality which shines through in the Katyń debacle but not fully.

Life / Uptight Poles [262]

FP, they are way across in the more mongoloid part of Russia, not in the slavic western part.

Anyway, let's not digress into that. Slavs can be broody and stiff but so can anyone really. They have reason to be uptight here in Poland. I happen to think that the Poles are similar to the Japanese in the sense that they want to create, as best they can, this 'My Polacy' idea. Part of that means that they try and fit in with the general flow. In Japanese they say that 'the nail that sticks up gets hammered down'. Poles can be similar in that way. So, when they are in administrative centres they tend to behave in a similar fashion to those there. That often means being uptight and impatient.

History / Why did Russia attack Poland in WW2? [178]

I meant to impose it here in Poland. Sure, Poland had some commies within their ranks but it wasn't stamped on in the same fashion as the Soviets did it. They sought to firmly embed it within the political and, indeed, social fabric. It was to be felt by the people and not just talked about.

Which is why the Baltic states want to maintain cordial ties so they don't have to poo their pants every day. The KGB needs a role and many Poles will remember the wrongdoings of the NKVD, its predecessor.

It isn't in the Polish character just to turn over and be trampled on. Stalin, for example, really had to work hard to impose communism here. Most Poles stubbornly refused his offers and, in hindsight, they were right to fight.

Life / Uptight Poles [262]

Well, he did but should he have? There is so much that we can ignore. Being drawn to uptight people is wearing and they are best left alone. I think some people here get frustrated when reality sets in and they can't just bumble along.

History / Why did Russia attack Poland in WW2? [178]

It was more to impose communism rather than assert themselves as a global superpower. Indoctrination continued unabated in the Soviet Union. They brought many officers back from Berlin to inculcate new 'virtues' into them. Defensive they were but they also kept an iron grip on Poland and still looked outwards.

The pickings were pretty easy given the powers involved.

News / Kaczyński wants a people-friendly Poland [64]

Most people can reform themselves, though maybe not JK ;) ;)

I wonder where JK stands on inflation. If the prices were to come down closer to what they were in 2005 then people could breathe a little more comfortably and sleep that bit better. When people vye for position, the jostling can be vicious. There are certain places where people just aren't going to be friendly such as post offices and busy milk bars.

History / Why did Russia attack Poland in WW2? [178]

In times of war, respect for territorial jurisdiction and integrity diminishes. Just look at Obama and Pakistan.

The Soviets' main advantage was their sheer numbers. For such well-trained soldiers, I feel that many died too cheaply but there were always more on the way to replace them. Poland was easy pickings after the Nazis ploughed through from the west. Many battlelines were drawn in Poland and the Soviets played the game.

News / Kaczyński wants a people-friendly Poland [64]

Delph, one ex-hooligan is in a prominent position in the Polish govt. Watch Ross Kemp's documentary on Polish hooliganism.

I think JK should go around the country giving out 'bądź szczęśliwy/a' badges :) :) Maybe stickers would be cheaper for him :) He should personally go to tell clerks to be happy and see the reaction he gets. I think he would leave not long after entering and trying his spiel out on them.

USA, Canada / I'm seriously considering moving from the US to Poland because... (I'm young) [4]

Ask a babcia to wear pigtails for you :) :)

You just have to keep looking. At least you have a target, that's invariably a good thing in life :)

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]

I think Pawian is right here, delph. There are plenty teachers (qualified) that should be filling those positions rather than native speakers. I think PO could be doing more to put more Poles into teaching positions in state schools.

Life / Uptight Poles [262]

CP, you can't define a Pole in that way. Many are like you described, yes, but there are many that don't fit that description.

History / Why did Russia attack Poland in WW2? [178]

Mr G is right. 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend' applies here. Read Armageddon by Leon Uris about the immediate aftermath of the war and how the Soviets wanted the biggest share of the spoils.

Russia didn't want to be seen to be inept by Nazi Germany. A show of force and sacrifice would sound the warning bells in Hitler's mind.

News / Do Poles take Kaczynski seriously!? [199]

Some do and some don't. I'd say that many 'healthy' Poles consider him to be deluded.