News / Communist era 'newspeak' appeals the most to Poland PiS supporters (what a surprise) [89]


The simple answer is that they weren't hunting down corruption, but rather hunting down political opponents. The way that Kaczynski boasted about spying on his coalition partners - well...what can you say?

The other answer is that they pretend to be anti-Communist, but anyone who actually takes time to look at their platform sees that they're about as socialist as it gets. These days, they're definitely more left-wing economically than the SLD - much of what they propose amounts to huge amounts of direct interference in the economy. They are very much in favour of huge social transfers - and worse still, they're in favour of transferring the money to people like miners. I still remember Kaczynski's refusal to support nurses, too.

That, and they've been seducing football hooligans.


What's even more amusing is watching all the PiS supporters go on the attack instead of talking about the topic. Par for the course, and nothing surprising.


It's certainly far more of a success than a Government which spied on everyone, including their own coalition partners and who led Poland to international ridicule.

News / Communist era 'newspeak' appeals the most to Poland PiS supporters (what a surprise) [89]


Of course, we all realise how utterly brainwashed you guys are - all it takes is the mention of "Gazeta Wyborcza" and you're drooling at the mouth.


It's not his studies. Then again, it's no surprise that the average PiS supporter wouldn't understand the difference between "journalist" and "academic".


Defending PiS again? ;)


It's what we all know here - that PiS are really just Communists under a different flag. The language, the tone - much of it is borrowed from the PZPR way of doing things.

Genealogy / Are all Poles blue eyed and blonde? [450]


Actually, in Polish, you'll find that "ciemny blond" is quite wide. As Jonny said -

Genealogy / Are all Poles blue eyed and blonde? [450]


I've just found a picture of Emma Watson on a Polish website, being described as "ciemny blond" -

Quite clearly not by English standards, but clearly so by Polish standards. Different language, different place. Meaningless, except to those who deliberately choose not to understand this.

Genealogy / Are all Poles blue eyed and blonde? [450]


...

Des. I know you've never been to Poland, nor do you speak any foreign languages - but let me explain something to you. What might be logical or sensible in English isn't necessarily the way people think in different languages. Concepts can be different in different languages - what might sound "odd" to us in English can be perfectly acceptable in a foreign language. The best example is with "ciemny blond" - which translates to the commonly heard "dirty blonde". It's not blonde - it's mousy brown. But they call it blonde because in Polish, the phrase is "ciemny blond" - which translates nicely into "dark blonde" - or the more common variant, "dirty blonde".

It's a fantastic example of where English speaking Poles have taken a Polish concept and translated it directly into English - and as Wroclaw has tried to explain to you, it's incorrect, but it's due to a lack of vocabulary. No-one is bothered by it, everyone knows what they mean - it's in common usage here, even among native English speakers - hence why I say that it's "Polish" because it is - the concept is very much dependent on the translation.


They're not uncommon, sure - though thinking about it now - I know one who has stunningly Nordic-esque hair. A friend of mine (who..er...let's say has knowledge of this) confirms that it's natural, too.

Not that it means much really - I even know one Polish carrot-haired girl.

Genealogy / Are all Poles blue eyed and blonde? [450]

Des, please read.



The mods are certainly watching this one, I'd wager.

Genealogy / Are all Poles blue eyed and blonde? [450]


You've already had it explained to you by several posters that in Poland, Poles will use "dirty blonde" to refer to a specific shade that isn't actually blonde. It's just the way that the language works - and if you actually spoke a word of Polish, you'd soon understand that you can't always apply the English way of thinking to Polish concepts.

I suppose you'll tell me next that "kominować" actually means "to combine something".

Genealogy / Are all Poles blue eyed and blonde? [450]


Oh Des...if only you'd come to Poland and actually learn a thing or two about this country.

Genealogy / Are all Poles blue eyed and blonde? [450]


Are you really from Poland, Ironside? I'm starting to wonder, given that "dirty blonde" is in almost universal use by Poles in English as a translation of "ciemny blond".

Genealogy / Are all Poles blue eyed and blonde? [450]


As said above, "dirty" blonde is a term used here, and anyone living/in contact with real Poles would know it. It's not offensive, it's not a big deal - it's just the terminology used. The hair colour isn't the same, hence the need for some terminology. Perhaps you might want to familiarise yourself with the concept of "ciemny blond" (like Jonny asked you to) before resorting to abuse.

Nice of you to call Polish people "idiots", though.

Genealogy / Are all Poles blue eyed and blonde? [450]


Your ignorance of Poland knows no limits, does it?

Anyone who actually lives here, or knows anything about Poland would know that "Polish" dirty blonde is quite characteristic for Poland - hence the quotation marks. It's a Polish trait.

Genealogy / Are all Poles blue eyed and blonde? [450]

It's strange that you have such indepth knowledge of Nazi racial theories, isn't it?

However, as someone living here, it's rare to see genuine blondes. I don't know many - plenty of dirty "Polish" blondes, but nothing like you'll find in Sweden or the like.

Then again, I actually live here and know a thing or two.

Real Estate / Residential real estate values go down in Poland [455]


More than enough. Most Polish people don't live in big cities, and right now, 260k will buy you a lot.

260k is certainly more than enough for a 3 bedroomed flat of 80-90sqm in a commuter town for Poznan. A 45 minute commute is hardly the end of the world, and work isn't concentrated in the centre of Poznan too. For example - let's take a couple who work for Allegro. It's located near the airport, and with the opening of the dual carriageway past Lawica, living in a small town about 20km away isn't a big deal. With 6000k a month in their pocket, it's perfectly possible for a young couple to do well in such areas.


This is one of the real problems - very often, women are studying something useless for 5 years, getting a worthless bit of paper - and then getting that first job. They get the "umowa o prace" - and suddenly fall pregnant. Their career is finished, because no employer will trust them again - and they stagnate, if they even go back to work.

Quote and personal remark removed

Life / Poland - abandon all logic [25]


I got served in English by an elderly chap in Daventer at 6am in the morning - which blew my mind away.


In Berlin Hauptbahnhof, Paris Gare du Nord, Madrid Atocha and Rome Termini - they're going to speak English.

Life / Poland - abandon all logic [25]

It's quite shameful when it's the main train station in the capital city of a large European country, actually.

Life / Poland - abandon all logic [25]

There's a great chap who works in Poznan Glowny that speaks English - gave me a hell of a shock. What's more, he also recommended better routes/ways to save money - I actually wrote them a letter of praise for the service, because it was so utterly unexpected.

Life / Poland - abandon all logic [25]


Not exactly so - but here are my comments.


True, and absurd. The current situation where public universities are opening more and more "directions" without any logic, just to provide more jobs and power for their own is absolutely ridiculous. Much of the blame has to lie with the employers demanding papers for everything, however. Polish people seem to be shocked that you do things "without education" - for instance, working in a kitchen. Yet - most of the top chefs in the world are completely unqualified.


That's not true, is it?


Doesn't seem to be true. Poland doesn't have much of an issue with personal debt.


And yet this is far more than most of the world earns.


Not true. Average wage is now what, around 45k a year. As for parking - I can't talk about Warsaw, but I've never had any problems finding places in Polish cities.


Applies to every country. You'd go insane if you tried to understand the German way of life.


This is changing rapidly - at least in Poznan, language skills are obligatory if you want to be hired to work in public administration.

Real Estate / Residential real estate values go down in Poland [455]

He called me a ******* Tory, I should be allowed to abuse him as much as I want!

(former card-carrying member of the SNP)

Real Estate / Residential real estate values go down in Poland [455]


Oh dear. Do we have to start with the history lesson about how poor Poland actually was in 1989-1995?


I'm still waiting to hear where in Europe you can find "Easily available affordable housing". There's some in East Germany, but absolutely no work - hence why Poles bought up property there, because there was plenty of work in Poland.

By the way - I was in Media Markt a few days ago, and there were plenty of people carrying out huge TV's and all sorts of expensive stuff. The same shopping centre was packed full of nice cars and people buying nice things - often in cash. Could it be that your image of Poland has been tainted by the fact that your own family are non-achievers?


Now you're just trolling.

If you want to talk about "affordable accommodation", ask yourself why many Spanish people stay at home for years and years. Or, or - ask yourself why there are such few locals buying property along the Croatian coast. Or or or - why not - ask yourself why people live 2 hours from their work in London! Or even - why not ask yourself why people are buying property 100km away from Dublin despite working in Dublin.

So - tell us - what's different in Poland with young people?

Real Estate / Residential real estate values go down in Poland [455]


Simple economics of what? You're trying to apply American economics to Poland - which means either you're trolling, or you've gone native.


I'm not aware of most Europeans living in such living conditions as you describe.

Still - please - tell me where in Europe you can find "cheap, affordable housing".

Real Estate / Residential real estate values go down in Poland [455]


All of those people usually have incredible work ethics though - I've never met a successful person yet who worked 'only' 40 hour weeks. I do know one guy who has a rule of '40 hours and that's it' - but he cheerfully admits that his British boss won't reward him for it, even though he gets more done in 40 hours than others do in 50.


True, but I was just talking about success in general - of course, certain careers require papers and so on.


Are there really that many hard working types who stay digging holes their whole lives?

When I walk round here, I see plenty of fools in holes not doing any digging.

Still wondering where Milky's imaginary 5 bedroom houses are for 3x salary in Ireland, though.

Language / Polish language would look better written in Cyrillic Script? [212]


A bit off topic, but is it the same for Ukrainian?

Interesting that Russian fits Polish ortography so well though - I wouldn't have thought so, but that's with me not knowing any Russian at all.

Real Estate / Residential real estate values go down in Poland [455]


Actually - in Poland, they normally are. Stupid and lazy people tend to have crappy living conditions, while hard working people tend to have decent accomodation. it's actually nothing to do with education, but everything to do with hard work. One of the richest people I've ever met was entirely self made - didn't study a thing, dropped out of school at 16 - but instead of sitting around, he worked every minute of every day. Now the guy, at the age of 42, is absolutely filthy rich.


In Poland? There's plenty of accommodation - I mean, have you looked at a Polish property website recently? But people want flat screen TV's, nice holidays by the sea and so on - and they put that as being more important than housing. Their choice.


You've really gone native over there, haven't you?

I'd love to know where there is "Easily available affordable housing" in Europe! About the only place that I can think of is the former East Germany - what with 20% unemployment and no hope. Fantastic.

I don't remember the Polish word for people like you, but you often read them on the gazeta.pl forums - people who have gone abroad and who think their adopted country pisses all over Poland because they've got a nice telly and the stupid kid from school doesn't.

News / Is there anything Poland won't do for money? "Wolf's Lair" - up for rent" [59]


The fact that many PiS-supporting people are behind such things should tell you the story.

Also ask yourself who the State Forestry Service supports politically. It ain't PO.

Real Estate / Residential real estate values go down in Poland [455]


You mean he's comparing the richest and most powerful in the country with a poor European country that was bankrupt 20 years ago and suffered two devastating wars, as well as having much of its resources exploited by a "brother". That's "saying how it is" allright.


No-one sleeps in the sitting room - their flats are all 2/3 roomed, as is normal for young couples to have. As for kids - plenty of time for that later.


27 is very young in Poland, given that you need a Masters degree here to wipe your nose.

As for "overtime" - well -

Law / Weapons laws in Poland. Carrying a concealed handgun? [918]


I'm still amazed at the reports from that capital of crime, Puławy!

Real Estate / Residential real estate values go down in Poland [455]

None of them are rich - they've all got 25 year mortgages and they work long hours - but we all have the same thing in common - we work for it. No-one makes up excuses - in fact, tonight, two of them have to spend their Friday evening stuck at an exceptionally boring meeting of stakeholders in the business. That's why they're going somewhere and milky...isn't.

The difference between them and milky is that they actually leave the home to work, as opposed to pretending to sell crappy flashcards online.

Law / Weapons laws in Poland. Carrying a concealed handgun? [918]



Where's ukpolska? He's from Puławy and never mentioned SHOOTINGS!

(this whole post is incredibly funny if you actually live here, simply because it's so absurd)

Real Estate / Residential real estate values go down in Poland [455]


So you're comparing a country which went through two vicious wars on her territory, went through several regime changes and was bankrupt in the late 80's to a country which by the time you had moved there - was a superpower and incredibly wealthy. It's really not a fair comparison, is it?

(and bear in mind - property prices are a hell of a lot lower there than in Europe, simply because there's much more space). Comparing apples and oranges, here.


They still live with their parents? That's obviously a lifestyle choice in today's Poland.


That's normal the world over - what's new here?


Your friend didn't do well in life, did she?

Perhaps I'll give some examples.

I work with several people, all under 30 but with 2-4 years work experience. All of them own their own flats - while not big by American standards, they're still a decent size for young couples - all over 50sqm in good locations. There's nothing special about any of them - all of them worked hard for it, and as is common with young people worldwide, they put in the hours too.

I know one girl who earns a salary of just under 11k a month at the age of 27. How did she do it? Simple - she worked her ass off and gave up parties and beer for ACCA textbooks.

Meanwhile, I have some neighbours who live in the conditions that you describe. All of them are uneducated, lazy (they go to work and come back at the same time every day) and clearly have no hope in life. Should they really get help to buy a flat, given that they aren't really economically contributing?

Sorry, but Poland is just like any other European country - you get what you work for.