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Is sarcasm widespread in Poland?


masks98  27 | 289  
29 Jan 2013 /  #1
I can't stand sarcasm anymore, it's so overused and abused here in New York by people that think they're being clever, and often used as a shield by the highly insecure and immature. I was telling someone how during my time living in Poland one of the refreshing things was the lack of sarcasm - I felt like conversation was more earnest and straightforward, but turns out that person is Polish-American and disagreed that in her family, sarcasm is out of control and that she always attributed that fact to being Polish....

Any thoughts?
zetigrek  
29 Jan 2013 /  #2
Sarcasm is widespread in Poland but is considered impolite.
smurf  38 | 1940  
29 Jan 2013 /  #3
Jokes are considered inappropriate in Poland. Nobody jokes or smiles in public. It is a sign of weakness. Humour is not allowed.
Magdalena  3 | 1827  
29 Jan 2013 /  #4
Nice try, troll ;-p
pip  10 | 1658  
29 Jan 2013 /  #5
you do know he is joking, right?
zetigrek  
29 Jan 2013 /  #6
Nice try, troll ;-p

He was merely trying his sarcasm :)
smurf  38 | 1940  
29 Jan 2013 /  #7
Nice try, troll ;-p

Bah-hahahah

Dear Magda, please watch this short clip.

youtube.com/watch?v=Q27YiPRiewg

Hugs,
Smurf
xoxo
OP masks98  27 | 289  
29 Jan 2013 /  #8
Jokes are considered inappropriate in Poland. Nobody jokes or smiles in public. It is a sign of weakness. Humour is not allowed.

Well I know that's not true, you can joke a lot without being sarcastic - but I always thought of polish culture as being more earnest than sarcastic.
zetigrek  
29 Jan 2013 /  #9
It really depends on what people you come across.
smurf  38 | 1940  
29 Jan 2013 /  #10
Well I know that's not true

Ahh I do love sarcasm.

you can joke a lot without being sarcastic - but I always thought of polish culture as being more earnest than sarcastic

Indeed, well sure as the saying goes, "Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit...but the highest form of intelligence"

So you can say from your experience in Poland, since you encountered no sarcasm, than people were neither intelligent nor humorous?
That cannot be, can it?
Am I being sarcastic? It's difficult to tell when only reading isn't it? (^_^)

I agree tho, people aren't as sarcastic here as back where I'm from. But I find that when I meet Poles who've lived in Ireland or the uk, they 'get' my jokes far more than those who haven't travelled. I think humour in general is a bit 'stuck' here. Things like mother-in-law jokes are still common and stand-up comedy is almost non-existent. I don't know how many people I've spoken to who had no idea that Eddie Murphy and Robin Williams et al, were hilarious stand up comedians before they became film stars.

I find the humour here is less self-deprecating, like in English speaking countries, the focus of most jokes is on making a subject, or yourself look funny, or stupid, but here it's usually about someone else appearing stupid/funny, it's not unfunny, it's just different to what I'm used to personally.
Wulkan  - | 3136  
29 Jan 2013 /  #11
and often used as a shield by the highly insecure and immature.

talking from self experience?
Magdalena  3 | 1827  
29 Jan 2013 /  #12
you do know he is joking, right?

You do know what ;-p means, right? ;-P
pawian  221 | 24881  
29 Jan 2013 /  #13
smurf: Jokes are considered inappropriate in Poland. Nobody jokes or smiles in public. It is a sign of weakness. Humour is not allowed.
Nice try, troll ;-p

No, he isn`t yet. But he didn`t know what sarcasm is, and that`s as bad as trolling. :):)

But I find that when I meet Poles who've lived in Ireland or the uk, they 'get' my jokes far more than those who haven't travelled.

That`s a poor excuse. Your jokes are completetely flat and stale to everybody, no matter if they travel or not. :):)

I think humour in general is a bit 'stuck' here. Things like mother-in-law jokes are still common and stand-up comedy is almost non-existent. I don't know how many people I've spoken to who had no idea that Eddie Murphy and Robin Williams et al, were hilarious stand up comedians before they became film stars.

Don`t be silly. We don`t need stand up comedy so much (though it is available) as we have excellent cabarets with long standing tradition. Better check them out before you discuss this type of entertainment next time. :):)
Paulina  16 | 4338  
29 Jan 2013 /  #14
Is sarcasm widespread in Poland?

No, we Slavic peasants are too stupid for sarcasm ^__^

Any thoughts?

No idea ;) It probably depends.

Don`t be silly. We don`t need stand up comedy so much (though it is available) as we have excellent cabarets with long standing tradition.

True :)
I still remember my favourite cabaret from the 90's :)
Des Essientes  7 | 1288  
29 Jan 2013 /  #15
I find the humour here is less self-deprecating, like in English speaking countries

The Anglophonic penchant for disingenous self-deprecation is hilariously summed up in the following anecdote about Thomas Mann when he was living here in Southern California.

Mann was at a cocktail party and an American writer approached him, presumably to discuss literature, but before the American began he launched into a lengthy paroxysm of self-deprecation. After the American writer left Mann turned to the others present and said "Why does he make himself so small? He's not that big!"
smurf  38 | 1940  
29 Jan 2013 /  #16
No, he isn`t yet. But he didn`t know what sarcasm is, and that`s as bad as trolling. :):)

Your command of English is almost as good as your 'jokes' (^_^)

That`s a poor excuse.

Excuse? I don't need an excuse.

Your jokes

Ahhh, why can't you just be nice Paw, you're always so mean to us foreigners that live in your country. Why hate on us so much?

excellent cabarets

oxymoron

"Why does he make himself so small? He's not that big!"

Seems legit :P
Paulina  16 | 4338  
29 Jan 2013 /  #17
Ahhh, why can't you just be nice Paw, you're always so mean to us foreigners that live in your country. Why hate on us so much?

I think he's only mean to people like you :)

pawian:
excellent cabarets

oxymoron

Smurf, why do you consider it an oxymoron?

Mann was at a cocktail party and an American writer approached him, presumably to discuss literature, but before the American began he launched into a lengthy paroxysm of self-deprecation. After the American writer left Mann turned to the others present and said "Why does he make himself so small? He's not that big!"

Good one ;D
pawian  221 | 24881  
29 Jan 2013 /  #18
Your command of English is almost as good as your 'jokes' (^_^)

You will never attain such a good command of Polish as I have attained of English. :):):)

why can't you just be nice Paw, you're always so mean to us foreigners that live in your country. Why hate on us so much?

Come on, are you really sillier than I thought?? :):):) I have nothing against foreigners on condition they are a useful asset to this forum and are able to contribute sth valuable. You are certainly not the case.

smurf: oxymoron
Smurf, why do you consider it an oxymoron?

He doesn`t understand what he is saying, actually. A good illustration of what I have said above: a very poor asset, indeed.
smurf  38 | 1940  
29 Jan 2013 /  #19
You will never attain such a good command of Polish as I have attained of English.

It's such a useful language, spoken across the globe, how will I live without it? :P

You are certainly not the case.

Good comeback Paw. *slowclap

I think he's only mean to people like you :)

AH, I know what happened, I reset my cookies and the ignore button reset too.

Bye
pawian  221 | 24881  
29 Jan 2013 /  #20
It's such a useful language, spoken across the globe, how will I live without it? :P

Yet, you are staying in Poland, as you hinted.

I reset my cookies and the ignore button reset too.
Bye

Like a child in the sandbox.....
smurf  38 | 1940  
29 Jan 2013 /  #21
Yet, you are staying in Poland, as you hinted.

What I do love about this country is how people can take the pi$$ out of themselves, y'know not take things too seriously. <------- sarcasm right there boyo.

Get over yourself Paw, what's it like in on your high horse? Lonely I bet ;)

Like a child in the sandbox.....

Exactly, that is correct.
You win!
youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fGjOsfV3ar8
pawian  221 | 24881  
29 Jan 2013 /  #22
What I do love about this country is how people can take the pi$$ out of themselves, y'know not take things too seriously. <------- sarcasm right there boyo.
Get over yourself Paw, what's it like in on your high horse? Lonely I bet ;)

Sorry, my command of English isn`t so good as to understand that white trash slang. I was born, brought up and educated in Krakow, not in some fekking slums. :):):) :):):) Then I studied Shakespeare and a few others at the university. :):):):)
Paulina  16 | 4338  
29 Jan 2013 /  #23
AH, I know what happened, I reset my cookies and the ignore button reset too.

Bye

I don't get it... :( Is it supposed to be funny, self-deprecating or sarcasm? :)))

I can't stand sarcasm anymore, it's so overused and abused here in New York by people that think they're being clever, and often used as a shield by the highly insecure and immature.

Are you from New York, smurf? :P
:))
smurf  38 | 1940  
29 Jan 2013 /  #24
my command of English isn`t so good

That's OK, you'll get there. I'll never be as good at Polish, that's true, I'd rather speak po slasku anyway, far easier, less grammar/cases etc. :P

Then I studied Shakespeare and a few others at the university

Good for you, I'm more of a Chaucer kind of guy myself, but old Billy did certainly have some charming sonnets and plays.
pawian  221 | 24881  
29 Jan 2013 /  #25
I'm more of a Chaucer kind of guy myself,

I didn`t like his stuff, too much work with Old English-English translation.
smurf  38 | 1940  
29 Jan 2013 /  #26
Yea, it's tough going......and I'd to do it in secondary school too. Hardcore sh!t, didn't like it at the time, but had to go back to it during uni and the 2nd time round I really got into it.

Peace.
pawian  221 | 24881  
30 Jan 2013 /  #27
Peace.

Yes! Excellent idea. Let`s make peace, not war.

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