Can foreigners really understand Poles?

I wounder whatever is possible for a foreigner to really understand other cultures.
I know that they can be insightful sometime but if is possible for them to understand deeply nation psyche - if there is such a thing?:)

What is your opinion?

Define "understanding" please...

Well, I would say -intimate knowledge !

Or you can find the answer in :
en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Seven_gifts_of_the_Holy_Spirit&oldid=338932863

or

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Understanding

Is that answers your quarry ?

Well (thanks for the links *grin*) I would say knowledge, even intimate knowledge, isn't the problem here. One only needs to live between, immersed in the other culture or at least have a huge interest to learn.

Understanding is something else (hence my question).

In my opinon it needs at least a huge part of empathy and even similiarity (in outlook, values and attitude to life) to understand the other.

For example even if one knows why the other culture did what she did in one event, in one time (or members of it), it doesn't mean that you yourself, with your roots in another culture, would act the same...

But to answer the question, yes it is possible for a foreigner to understand another culture...sometimes even better than his own if the adopted, even preferred, culture is much more fitting ones own values and attitudes..

No.Poles seem incomprehensible to foreigners except maybe Russians and Czechs.

without profound knowledge, real understanding is not possible!

thanks for your opinion!

Well how about a reversal of the question.
Are Poles able to really understand other cultures?

If you're Slavic you might understand the Slavic countries' psyche. If you're from the West - probably not. It would be hard too because they'll always view you as a foreigner no matter what.

If such a thing was possible we wouldn’t have wars, discrimination, etc. We wouldn’t view others with suspicion, as alien or threatening. Just one look at any ethnic or racial joke should give you an idea how far we have evolved in that aspect or how well we understand one another or even if we’re capable to do so. No matter what culture we come from. Our intellectual capacity to understand others stopped at the tribal stage and even that’s not always the case.

Some can, some can't

I disagree heartily! ;)

Closeness, similiarity is one of the main reasons for wars!
If for example two people feel the same strong feelings about something, stemming from similiar values, similiar outlooks, it's hard for one of them to step back if they fight over something, so they have to clash...

Nobody there to keep a "cool head" or to look for other ways of compromise etc.

Understanding why the other has this opinion and feels righteous isn't going to help if you feel exactly the same, only for your side, and you always want your side to win!

Can you?:)

Anyway, welcome back form your self-imposed exile!

That’s because one side can’t comprehend where the other side is coming from. It’s true even at the relationship level ie. Husband wife and supposedly they are together because they have so much in common. Like I said; even at a tribal level it’s not always the case.

No, even if both know exactly where the other side is coming from...it doesn't matter as both because of their similiarity are unable to compromise, to step back voluntarily regarding a fight over something...they are to similiar.

But that’s not always the case is it? And if you take it further to a national level that understanding and willingness to compromise (understand the other side) diminishes even further.

We are closest to understand one another at the basic unit family than nationality etc, etc, but the further you move away the lass willingness to understand you will encounter.

"unable"! I meant unable to compromise

*darn typo*

I had no real problem when I came here, but was brought up by a very traditional Polish dad in the UK. Most of the problems of identifying and understanding stem from me not being very typically either UK or Polish :)

The word usually used about me is "sympatyczne" so I am not going to worry about it too much :)

First off, Ironside, thanks for the welcome back :)

Secondly, I'm a big fan of judging individuals and not whole countries. I think I can quite clearly, yes. Maybe begin by asking me specifics about the Polish psyche and I'll let you know my thoughts. I don't believe such issues should be shrouded in mystique as all it uncovered last time was the Polish psyche consisted only of anti-Russian sentiment and, in reality, it goes a bit deeper than that.

What is there to understand that might fox people, Ironside? Let's systematically flesh out the issue rather than see things that may not be there.

So how is Polish psyche different from say the British psyche (since you're British and all).

Poles have unexpected reactions ups and downs many times.You never know what is going on.Only Czechs suppress a bit these elements.

Not everyone is at war.
Apart from that small fact I don't think that your assumption can be applied to all humans.


Why not also ask what are the similarities while you are at it.

Am i going to have to be rude again or are you going to give a proper reply?


There are no similarities, British people killed Mel Gibson, we would never kill Mel Gibson.

In general, I generally don't believe in generalisations ;) ;) ;) But that's just a general thing :)

British psyche is just ridiculous. The English are different from the Scots who are, in turn, different from the Welsh. Sorry, it makes no sense to talk of the British psyche to me. There are huge differences within a country.

The Poles are more rugged which more broadly aligns them with the Scots. I care not to find commonalities beyond that as I'd just be going into stereotypes.

Mel is Scottish, ain't he?

Can foreigners really understand Poles?
Can Poles really understand Poles?
Can anyone every really understand anyone else?
Can anyone really understand themselves?
Can I understand what I have just typed?
*scratches head*

No idea but you still gave him away to Longshanks.


Fixed it:)


You're such Scot sometimes, by all means stereotype the hell out of Poles, i'm curious:)

"Romantic" springs to mind...

Poles are (I think) much more romantic...everything clear cut good or evil, black or white, loving fairy tale struggles with happy end of the white knight in the shining armor...always asking to be disappointed because pragmatism and a more realistic outlook is not so popular.

Stereotypes I know...but I don't know if they are that off!

Good about that is that it means a high value about honor and loyalty.
Bad about that is that it often leads to annoying (for others), stubborn behavior, often not helping if it is about international relationships.
Problems to compromise...It's often either "all" or "nothing", being sensitive like a Diva!

*ducks*

Longshanks asked me if I really knew him and well I got confused and they took him while I was trying to work it out.


I was trying to be deep and meaningful hahaha, I know, I should know better ;p

Yes,they can be quite passionate about sth without any desire to understand the other part,the other side of the hill.Love or hate absolutely.

You. Are. Not. Getting. A. Corridor. To. Gdańsk.

Period.

:))

Ach Manno!

:)