Polonia / Polish community in Switzerland [24]


Not sure even a fire extinguisher would have helped in this case, Looks like it became an inferno almost straight away once the soundproofing foam caught light. Probably released lots of toxic fumes too. Reports say the fire exit was blocked and only a narrow staircase to get out from.

Absolutely tragic and I can't believe people stood filming the flames and not immediately fleeing.

So many parallels between the Swiss and Romanian fires. I was in Brașov a couple of years after the Colectiv nightclub fire on its anniversary and there were wreaths and flowers everywhere commemorating the victims.

News / Will Poland help defend Greenland against US Imperialism [577]


That's exactly what he is and I don't know what else you would call the systematic destruction of the Palestinian people by indiscriminate bombing and starvation, other than a genocide. Nothing 'leftist' about it.


I was fully expecting for all the Americans on PF to be cheering but you've given me hope because what the US has done is unacceptable and very, very wrong. Scary to think what Trump will do next.

This has nothing to do with drugs or the US would be invading Mexico. Plus, how can he pardon former Honduran president Hernandez for drug trafficking to the US and then arrest Maduro on drug-trafficking charges. This is all about exploiting the resources in both Venezuela and Greenland and Trump sending a message.

Greed is a terrible thing.

Polonia / Polish community in Switzerland [24]


Reminds me of the Colectiv nightclub fire in Bucharest. That fire also started with sparkler firework candles which set fire to flammable soundproofing foam on the ceiling.

Off-Topic / Toxic Masculinity [89]


That just sounds like victim blaming to me.


I do.

He had trust issues because he had been cheated on before. He thought I would do the same despite the fact that I was never unfaithful or gave him cause to think otherwise. That doesn't warrant physical violence and why should I bear responsibility for his insecurities?


Hardly. I don't how you can say that to be honest. I was just unlucky and I certainly don't see all men in the way you seem to think I do.


People like that in positions of power gamble on patients not reporting it because of the fear they won't be believed. His abuse spanned 18 years before it caught up with him.

The 8 of us who testified are probably the tip of the iceberg. I'm damn sure there were more but giving evidence in a trial is an ordeal that many wouldn't want to do.


Because I was addressing you in particular and when talking about feminism you always follow it up with that term:



I would say so.

Language / New Years wishes in Polish? [56]

Happy New Year to all!

Off-Topic / Toxic Masculinity [89]


Depends on circumstances as Jon has said. Also on the age of the children and whether their interests are put first.


But it may end up that way. Till death us do part is a long time and people are not robots.

I know a Polish couple still together as neither will divorce, but the constant rows are affecting at least one of their children.
The husband had an affair over a year ago which his wife cannot forgive or forget about. Their 13 year old daughter spends as much time as she can at my friend's house because she doesn't want to be at home because of the atmosphere. She says they think she can't hear them from her bedroom, but she hears everything. I've seen her in tears many times. There is no sign of this abating. Those children are going to grow up nervous wrecks.

Sometimes a parting of the ways is best for all concerned.


Exactly.


I would say this is a matter of perception rather than fact. There are always going to be extreme cases but these are not the norm. Novi, for example, revels in posting those videos showing extreme examples of female behaviour and trying to have us believe that this what all females are like. Apart from his wife and daughters of course. Most women are nothing like that, at least the ones that I know aren't.


This I would agree with. and for many, I don't think marriage is even on the agenda. Traditional gender roles have shifted and the lines have become blurred over time.

I think young people today are a very confused bunch and social media has played a large part in that. Many lack direction and rather than having positive role models, they are engaging with influencers/YouTubers etc. It's given a platform to people like Andrew Tate. I actually feel for young people growing up today.

Off-Topic / Toxic Masculinity [89]


Thanks. I've no doubt that it will be wasted and most of the time I let the misogyny on here go over my head or it would drive me nuts, but now I feel men should be called out on it.

I'm not a man-hater, there are plenty of decent men out there who make good husbands and partners, but there are also many men whose views on women are abhorrent. In my opinion, misogyny and violence against women is increasing and men such as Andrew Tate, hugely influential amongst young males, are driving the problem.


I'm not surprised. For a long time it wasn't even spoken about.

As an aside, the judge who sentenced the doctor to a lenient sentence which was then increased on appeal, said in court when addressing the defendant, that he had suffered enough given that his medical career was over and that he'd been struck off the medical register. Imagine how his victims felt.

The final insult was that if he had been sentenced just one year later, then he would have been imprisoned for significantly longer as maximum penalties were revised due to the the law being altered and updated regarding sexual offences. I've seen similar court cases since involving GP's and breach of trust cases and 10 year plus sentences being handed down.

Off-Topic / Toxic Masculinity [89]


Or perhaps some men are very good at hiding what they're really like.

I rarely talk about my private life on this forum and the only reason I am doing so now is because I get sick of men like you basically saying that in some way it is always the woman's fault and she deserves a smack in the mouth for daring to open hers.

I have been the victim of domestic violence. I was 6 months pregnant when my partner attacked me. The only thing stopping him was the guests we had staying in the next room who heard the commotion. He had come home drunk and far from giving him lip, I kept my mouth shut because I didn't want to aggravate him in any way.

I didn't deliberately choose someone who behaved like that. I never saw any signs of violent controlling behaviour or I would have run for the hills many years before.

I was also the victim of a sexual assault by the doctor who diagnosed my pregnancy. I testified against him along with 7 other women in Crown Court. He went to prison for those offences.

Please don't try telling me that either of those things that happened to me were my fault or that I deserved them in any way.


In that situation you're going to end up with screwed-up kids. People whine about single parents but far better that than parents who are screaming constantly at each other.

No-one should stay together just because of the children. Two miserable parents = miserable and unhappy kids.

On those happy notes;) I'd like to wish all on PF a Happy New Year!!

Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku!!

Life / All Things Christmassy in Poland [457]

Merry Christmas to all!

News / Poland's aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 27 [1110]


In war there are always going to be civilian casualties. Russia, as opposed to Ukraine, is deliberately targeting hospitals, residential areas etc and not just military targets in what appears to be a scorched earth policy. They deserve everything they get.


Have you ever known him to be anything but?


Vile. Many 'hunters' have ended up being prey. Just desserts.

Off-Topic / Random Sports News [894]


Which is why I said accused and not convicted. Those charges didn't materialise out of thin air though.


I didn't. I consider myself to be a pretty 'normal' woman and using myself as the example, explained that I don't follow people like him or 'celebrities' for that matter.

If he's found guilty I hope they throw away the key.

Off-Topic / Random Sports News [894]


I don't 'follow' Andrew Tate and I didn't know anything about his boxing match until I read Paulina's post, but I am aware of his obnoxious views on women, so I did find his defeat amusing. He's hardly an 'obscure' guy either. He stands accused of human trafficking, rape, and sexual exploitation of women, and that's just the Romanian charges.

Off-Topic / Random Sports News [894]


Hilarious!!


I don't know why you always think that if women say something negative about men, they are automatically man-haters. Such stone age views! Given what Tate thinks and says about women, are you surprised that they're laughing at his defeat?

Anyway, Merry Xmas Iron :)

Off-Topic / Music Thread - part 2 [987]

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Off-Topic / Music Thread - part 2 [987]

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Life / All Things Christmassy in Poland [457]


Yay!!


Please do. Your posts will be a much welcome relief from all the negativity here :)


That's going to be us next week :(

Friends of mine are in Eastern Poland for Xmas. No snow there either.


Words fail me.

Off-Topic / Music Thread - part 2 [987]

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Life / All Things Christmassy in Poland [457]

Still hoping that Atch will stop by to contribute to her Christmas thread, but in her absence, here is a link to the winners of the annual szopki competition which took place in Krakow on December 7th.

I'm sure that most of you here will know what this is but for those who don't, szopki are miniature nativity scenes of historical places in Kraków such as Wawel castle. More information here:

culture.pl/en/article/the-marvellous-christmas-tradition-of-polands-szopki

This link gives a list of the winning entries complete with photos of these amazing creations:

radiokrakow.pl/aktualnosci/krakow/kto-wygra-dzis-poznamy-wyniki-konkursu-szopek-krakowskich/

They are also on display till March 1st in the Museum of History (Krzysztofory Palace),

Hopefully, one day I will get to see them!

• 
  Szopka example in Krakow
  

News / Was Charlie Kirk popular in Poland? [601]


Not sure what a murderer is meant to look like. Apparently Ted Bundy was a very affable chap.


He isn't. The suspect is Tyler James Robinson, the actor is Tyler Mackay Robinson. This Tyler Robinson was a student on an electrical apprenticeship programme at Dixie Technical College.


That's lighting. Look at the difference in colour of her jacket/top in these two links:

telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/12/11/charlie-kirk-alleged-assassin-tyler-robinson-court/

hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/tyler-robinson-wore-pro-trans-tie-to-charlie-kirk-hearing-in-court-viral-buzz-amid-bizarre-trump-claim-101765667354719.html

All of those clips, including in the video, came from his court appearance.


I watched the link and I'm not convinced. There is an assumption as to the gun being a modern version of a palm pistol. There is no actual sighting of it. Of course there would have been coordination between all members of Kirk's security team.

The 2 shooters scenario for me is beyond belief. Robinson wasn't catching some rays up on that roof and for it to be a set-up he would have to be convinced that he wouldn't be getting the death penalty if he was going to take the fall.

To me, Kirk is simply another sad statistic of America's nut jobs with access to guns.

News / Was Charlie Kirk popular in Poland? [601]


If that's the case then what you're saying is that the whole thing was a set-up.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. No-one's stupid enough to take the fall and gamble with their life.

Off-Topic / FIFA World Cup 2026 [84]


Not at all. Read it and weep:

theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/10/tourists-social-media-trump

Just one more reason why I won't be visiting my family in the US.


Nie dziel skóry na niedźwiedziu.

Off-Topic / FIFA World Cup 2026 [84]


Except the prize was awarded a few days before the Trump administration announced these new plans. Infantino should have waited before all that arse-licking! Actually, it shouldn't have been awarded at all because it flouted FIFA'S rules, but there you go.

Personally, I don't think it will come to anything like many of Trump's plans, but if he's serious about safety and security, then the World Cup is an event that would certainly demand heightened security.

The best hope is that it will take time to fully implement it and it will happen after the World Cup.

Off-Topic / FIFA World Cup 2026 [84]


One would think so but this is supposedly being implemented on the grounds of safety and security.

My guess is that football fans will be filling stadiums in Canada and Mexico....

It's going to cost billions in lost tourist revenue.

Off-Topic / FIFA World Cup 2026 [84]


If Trumps new US entry requirements means tourists will have to provide 5 years of social media history, 10 years of email history, phone numbers for last 5 years and information on family members, then people may well not bother buying tickets. Why risk being turned away after paying a fortune to go.

If it goes ahead it will be a logistical nightmare and too difficult to enforce.

Off-Topic / THE POLISH FORUMS CHRISTMAS TREE! [60]

It's that time of year again and so in the absence of Atch, I am reviving this thread. Maybe she will come back to give us her tree of choice but for this year, this is mine. Hopefully someone else will post.

• 
  IMG_2089.jpeg
  

History / Historic Photos about Poland with Context [37]


So why didn't they pass any laws then?

News / Was Charlie Kirk popular in Poland? [601]


If it's that easy then why, according to what's been written here about you by others, did you feel it necessary to commit fraud, grand larceny etc , and spend time in prison for it. You made money by stealing from others and then have the gall to come here and suggest that it's easy to make money if you work hard. Then you move to Poland and carry on with scams.


I'm pretty sure he didn't encourage criminal activity.

Travel / Advent weekend in Kraków – looking for local tips [6]

If I was in Kraków over the Xmas period I would go out of my way to see Szopki Krakowskie. These are miniature nativity scenes of historical places in Kraków such as Wawel castle. If your girlfriend is into architecture this way well appeal to her. I only wish I could go to see them as they look absolutely amazing!

On the first Thursday of December the szopki are brought to the main square where judging takes place. The winner is announced 3 days later and the szopki are displayed in the Museum of History (Krzysztofory Palace), also in the main square, until the end of February. You would probably have to book tickets to see them.

Here are a couple of links explaining more about them:

culture.pl/en/article/the-marvellous-christmas-tradition-of-polands-szopki

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krak%C3%B3w_szopka

News / Was Charlie Kirk popular in Poland? [601]


I presumed posters would click on the link provided to view the snopes fact checked Charlie Kirk video and transcript. Thought that would be easier than copy/pasting the whole interview. For anyone that missed the link:

x.com/snopes/status/1968465095828160630


A child giving birth to a child. How is that not harmful? It would be a high-risk pregnancy to start with and completely damaging to her mentally and emotionally. It isn't just the birth process that's risky, someone that age is more likely to go into labour early putting both her and the baby's life at risk. It's insane that Kirk would even consider it.

Anyone advocating something like that has a screw loose in my opinion.


I'd say it's largely irrelevant. He was asked a direct hypothetical question and he gave his answer.


But your hero is advocating that for a child, not a woman.

News / Was Charlie Kirk popular in Poland? [601]


I found this to be unreasonable and I would argue that it is divisive but I guess that depends on your view of abortion.

x.com/snopes/status/1968465095828160630


You keep banging on about this but not a single person on this forum has rejoiced or celebrated his death. You, however, have no problem in wishing ill will towards PF members:


I think you need anger management classes to be honest.