History / What do Poles think about Turks? [761]


Correct my friend.


They don't at all. This guy RevokeNice is er...unusual... to put it diplomatically.

Obviously I can't speak for all the Irish but anti-Turkishness is not the norm, believe me! I've certainly never heard of it.

Genealogy / Polish looks? [1410]


Never heard this saying and wouldn't agree with either aspect really.

Although I think your experience may indeed have had a lot to do with your location!

News / Polish IQ ahead of France, USA, Canada, Israel, Ireland... [47]


Probably because the list is largely a load of donkey vomit.

By the same token: Ireland last?

When it is one of the highest ranked per capita nobel winners in the world & has contributed in science, the arts and literature to an extent greatly disproportionate to its population.

Life / Vasectomy in Poland is illegal? Why? [123]


Ok well at least I was half right then...


; )

Life / Vasectomy in Poland is illegal? Why? [123]


Just have. Ok, it's not illegal but still you must "have children".

This reeks of nanny type moral superiority and condescension to me and, yes, has the smell of the church about it.

Life / Vasectomy in Poland is illegal? Why? [123]


No, but if it is indeed illegal I'm struggling to think who would benefit except the church.

Surely there are plenty of things that could be regarded as self mutilating or whatever - e.g. ridiculous breast enlargement or bizarre piercings etc - which I assumme aren't illegal?

Life / Vasectomy in Poland is illegal? Why? [123]


Yes, but in this case, very closely related.

The catholic church is very influential in Poland is it not?

I don't think it's a coincidence that the countries with the strictest laws on abortion in Europe are also the "most catholic" (Poland, Malta, Ireland, Spain)

UK, Ireland / Corned beef & Cabbage are typically Irish? [98]


Sure, it exists but I wouldn't call it common or popular. Amongst farmers maybe - older farmers that is. Otherwise maybe as a pub lunch or something, almost for tourists.

If someone said "OK, so we're having bacon and cabbage for dinner", most people would be surprised, bemused - probably like haggis tatties & neeps in Scotland.

UK, Ireland / Corned beef & Cabbage are typically Irish? [98]


Most definitely not - very much an American thing. And yes, it's St Patricks or St Paddys but NEVER St Pattys as some Americans say. It gives me shivers down my spine it's so awful.


I've never had it and I've never seen anyone eating it.

Cabbage in general is popular alright but again, can't remember the last time I had it personally though.

And, hand on my heart, except in jest, I have never heard the word "begorrah" or the phrase "top o' the mornin' to ya" uttered in my life. Honestly.

UK, Ireland / What English food would you serve a Pole? [83]

Ha ha - didn't know they liked it that much!

Or are you referring maybe to the slobbier side of British/Irish closed curtain wasterism?

EDIT:

Sorry about the mini half rant above OP, in response to the question I would cook a good steak (ribeye or sirloin - superior to the overrated and overpriced fillet as any afficionado knows) and proper roast potatoes. Not sure about veg though - carrots & parsnips mashed with butter, pepper and a pinch of nutmeg maybe? Sticky toffee pudding for desert.

UK, Ireland / What English food would you serve a Pole? [83]

The big problem here is that Britain, like Ireland, Belgium, The Netherlands for example do not really have a national cuisine as such.

I think it's a misconception many Poles have. They are more likely to equate bad convenience food as being representative of British or Irish food but really they are just representative of bad diets - which exist everywhere.

In Britain & Ireland, you can go to a "themed" restaurant and have Italian, Indian, Greek - whatever. You can't really go to a British or Irish restaurant.

Britain and Ireland produce good quality food and world class restaurants but none of them are "British" or "Irish"

Yes, the food you mention is certainly associated with/invented in Britain but it's really just a nostalgic comfort thing - it's not that people up and down the country regularly eat stuff like this really. Plus - S&K pie, bangers & mash, fish and chips - they are far from unique.

More in terms of items/condiments, the Poles I know love salad cream and Branston pickle for example.

USA, Canada / Why are Polish Americans mocked in the American media? [226]

OK, can't answer from experience, but based on any US documentaries I've seen on any subject, movie credits etc, Polish surnames feature regularly - as least as much as Italian or Irish for example anyway.

USA, Canada / Why are Polish Americans mocked in the American media? [226]

For an easier life I'd say with respect to confusion over pronunciation etc.

E.g. Kietel is not Harvey's real surname, neither is Kinski the real surname of Nastassja

Life / Why Polish people should be proud of being Polish? [370]


You forgot coal.

The list is now complete ; )


Nor have I, fair enough.

But watermelon, cherry, chocolate, passion fruit etc gum - yep.

Teryaki, poppadom, garlic bread crisps etc etc Dozens of yoghurt flavours...

I'm not being deliberately argumentative by the way - just don't see much unusual in what you mention other than the hazlenut crisps.

Life / Why Polish people should be proud of being Polish? [370]

To sum up Poland very succinctly and to paint a picture that many others will understand and relate to it is necessary to resort to stereotypes - as BB has done.

I don't think it's very easy to do otherwise. Some of the stereotypes may have truth to them but they are ususally inaccurate on a few levels. To be pithy, you must overgeneralise - unless someone wants to submit a thesis entitled "The Magnificence of Poland" ??

But knowing this site, someone probably already has ; )

Life / Why Polish people should be proud of being Polish? [370]

OK, so Wedel is the one then - can't honestly say if I've had it or not. Maybe I just had the sh1te stuff.


What do you mean - that you can get lots of different flavours of the above in Poland?
Nothing unusual in that.


Well, not really. There are limited edition variations (e.g. blackcurrant, lemon, strawberry) and if you exclude actual McVitie's Jaffa Cakes, other manufacturers do all sorts of flavours regularly: cherry, raspberry, lime etc etc.

Life / Why Polish people should be proud of being Polish? [370]


Oh dear. Oh no. Many admirable Polish achievements but chocolate is definitely not one of them. Aside from American & German, the worst I've tasted I'm sorry to say. Tastes like cooking chocolate.

Life / Why Polish people should be proud of being Polish? [370]

It could have been a lot funnier and not at all offensive.

Life / Why Polish people should be proud of being Polish? [370]

Are you assuming that Poles in general are proud of being Polish then?

Life / Polish "prog" music? I'd be interested to know about bands etc. [30]

Thanks for that Stormzealot


Maybe not so minor it would seem!

History / Should David Irving, Holocaust denier, be allowed to run tours to Poland? [246]


Well he did - he certainly got some.

Travel / My visit to Poland - Likes & Dislikes. [137]

There are plenty of countries with attractive weather.

My point is that the two are very closely linked. If English wasn't spoken widely not nearly as many tourists would go there.

Travel / My visit to Poland - Likes & Dislikes. [137]


Well you heard wrong! ; )

Obviously not everyone can speak English, but many do and usually pretty well.

Not sure about Italy though - I would imagine there is a bit of the French syndrome there.

Travel / My visit to Poland - Likes & Dislikes. [137]


Depends on the country though. Often they are doing themselves and their country a favour in terms of tourism revenue.

E.g.The economies of Spain, Portugal for a start would have collapsed a long time ago if English wasn't as widely spoken as it is.

Law / Wish to start an Indian Store in Poland [34]


Are you sure Poles would go for it?

I've almost killed Polish people here with curries that I've made - and they weren't hot.

They don't seem to be that accustomed to spicy food from what I can see.

Travel / My visit to Poland - Likes & Dislikes. [137]


Way above basic. Mid-intermediate at least, probably upper.

Travel / My visit to Poland - Likes & Dislikes. [137]


In theory, yes. Not in practice generally.

I've met loads of Americans and have spent time there. Very few can speak anything but the most basic Spanish. My Spanish is possibly "mid-intermediate" let's say, but it's far better than the average American level as far as I can see.

This applies to non-hispanic Americans by the way and those not living near the Mexican border.

Travel / My visit to Poland - Likes & Dislikes. [137]


I agree and I do.

Travel / My visit to Poland - Likes & Dislikes. [137]


Well I think so, yes - do you not agree?

Take Ireland: crap weather, expensive, no outstanding attractions to speak of yet people come here in their millions - and it's not jsut the native English speakers. If we can reinvent the country this way I'm sure Poland can.


Other than to encourage tourism, no reason.


I know : )

Well I mentioned France was different earlier on. A few reasons:

France doesn't need to try very hard - it will always get tourists. Beautiful country with great food/wine culture and mostly good weather. Having one of the world's top city destinations helps too.

Many tourists in France are middle class English who generally can speak some French.

Actually many French people can and do communicate in English - they just won't if you don't make any attempt in French whatsover. The French are much more pleasant and accomodating than they are often depicted.

Travel / My visit to Poland - Likes & Dislikes. [137]

I don't think that even Americans expect that "almost everyone" will speak English in Poland.

Their expectations however are infinitely more realistic than the reverse situation of course.