History / Cars made in Poland - during communist and post-communist times [23]

These articles might be of interest:

lemoncars.co.uk/fso-polonez.html

mywifehatesthiscar.com/the-unloved-forgotten-fso-polonez/

"During the time I was looking for a UK based Polonez I came across the FSO Polonez Fan Club. It's primarily Polish based but when you see the guys and their cars - regardless of the language barrier - you start to ask yourself a question. If this car was really was that bad, would it have this loyal of a following?"

News / Referendum to decide about exotic immigrants in Poland [559]


Exactly. The wording of referendum questions has to be precise. People have to understand what it is they are actually voting for or against. It can't be vague and general.

News / Polish Parliamentary Elections 2023 [933]


Wrong as usual.


If you find me boring and want to have a lively discussion about politics, domestic or international, see how you get on with other Irish people. Here's a statement by an Irish person back in 2021:

"The Party of Lincoln" is dead, but that died when Barry Goldwater and then Ronald Reagan became Presidential candidates."

Agree or disagree?

If you want to discuss US politics with an informed, opinionated Irish public, try your luck on the forum linked below. I've linked you to the thread on US politics. You should be able to cope with that one.

politics.ie/forums/us-politics.50/

or perhaps join the discussion on Wokeism.

politics.ie/threads/different-wokes-for-different-folks-what-is-woke-and-is-it-bad.287407/


It's written by a Pole. He's a professor at the University of Warsaw.

A pity that the result of the election is inconclusive this morning - it's now a case of who will manage to form a coalition. Fingers crossed for a brighter future!

News / Polish Parliamentary Elections 2023 [933]

Well then, you need to entice the young Polish demographic with children to return to their homeland. How would you suggest that could be done?

News / Polish Parliamentary Elections 2023 [933]

The following is a very interesting article which hits the proverbial nail very firmly on the head:

verfassungsblog.de/polands-elections-free-perhaps-but-not-fair/

@Novi, go away, the grown ups are talking. I'm Irish - we actually understand politics, real politics, not the joke pantomime act that you have in America. Come and visit us and you'll see what I mean.

News / Polish Parliamentary Elections 2023 [933]

Well now Gumi, we have referendums all the time in Ireland but they're the real McCoy, not cheap gimmicks like the thing PIS has cobbled together. What PIS has done is to trivialize the referendum process - perhaps intentionally. If the Polish electorate thinks that's what a referendum looks like they're not likely to have much faith in the process for deciding important issues in the future. That way PIS can enact any legislation they like on the basis that 'the people don't want referendums'.

News / Polish Parliamentary Elections 2023 [933]

And here's the news from the Polish community in Ireland.

Long queues have been forming since early this morning at 11 polling stations around Ireland. Thousands are queuing outside the Polish Embassy in Dublin. Voter registrations have increased by 10,000 since last year. However considering that there are about 120,000 Polish nationals living in Ireland, it's very disappointing that despite the increase only about 25,000 are registered to vote. But gradually I think Polish people are beginning to become less apathetic about the voting process and beginning to realize that your vote can actually make a difference.

Polish voters explained why they had turned out in such large numbers to vote.

"because we can lose access to be part of, the possibility to be part of the European Union, if the current government would be still in power."

"We're just trying to help all the people who are in Poland and my family and friends to change what their situation and what the political situation is in Poland right now, because its pretty bad and I think we're all here to change it."

"That referendum is a joke, I think is the best way to describe it, so I'm not planning to participate in that."

"Its a very decisive election so I think people turned out. I didn't bother in previous years but this year it just feels like it will make more of a difference."

rte.ie/news/world/2023/1015/1411018-polish-dublin/

News / Polish Parliamentary Elections 2023 [933]


Free they are, but not really fair. You need proportional representation with the single vote transfer system (PR-STV for short) to have a really fair result in an election. In the EU only Ireland and Malta have that system of voting. Europe needs electoral reform at this stage.

Travel / Krakow during Easter - good or bad idea? [19]

The markets 'targowisko' or 'bazar' are a great place in any Polish city to really mix with the locals and get a feel for the real life of the place, as opposed to the touristy stuff. In the week running up to Easter they're really busy and full of locals doing their Easter shopping. You'll love it! :)) They don't just sell food, you'll see stalls with table linen, bedding, Easter decorations, flowers, old watches, glassware, clothes everything really.

visitmalopolska.pl/-/place-targowe-miejsca-z-niepowtarzalna-atmosfera

Hope you have a lovely holiday!

Travel / Krakow during Easter - good or bad idea? [19]


Yes, it absolutely beautiful. But it's primarily a religious festival so things are fairly quiet over the Easter weekend. Polish families tend to celebrate at home or visit each other's homes. I'm not sure if many would go to a hotel/guesthouse for Easter. However, if you visit a church on Easter Saturday you can witness the blessing of the baskets of eggs and sausages which people will eat for Easter Sunday breakfast. There is actually a big basket blessing ceremony in the main square in Krakow.

You could go to Mass on Easter Sunday morning. Many families go for a walk in the afternoon so if it's a nice day you'll see plenty of them in the park. On Monday you could try this:

inyourpocket.com/krakow/Emaus_546e

Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation [1756]

It's what Jesus said to the horned one :) Puts an upstart back in their place.

Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation [1756]


May I suggest 'thou very paltry knave!" in place of traitor? Has a nice Shakespearian ring to it.

'Get thee behind me Satan!' is another nice one.

News / Polish Parliamentary Elections 2023 [933]


Well, he believes that UFOs have landed on Polish soil ..........

And he once advocated storming hospitals with pitchforks and torches.

If Frankenstein ever creates another monster Korvusz (or Korvku, take your pick) will no doubt lead the lynch mob. I bet he keeps the pitchfork by the front door, the points nicely sharpened.

News / Should Polonia and expat Poles lose voting rights in Polish elections? [85]


That's a good sign. It's mostly the younger demographic presently living and working in Europe. Some countries have issued warnings to expect very long queues if you're intending to vote, Denmark, the Netherlands, Ireland, Switzerland, Sweden and Luxembourg. The Polish Embassy in the Netherlands even suggested that voters there could instead register in Germany and Belgium! Ireland is expecting a fairly massive turnout.

In total it's over 600,000 which is double the number of the last parliamentary election.

"In western Europe, the Polish diaspora tends to vote for parties currently in opposition. For example, in 2019, the main opposition group, Civic Coalition (KO), received 43% of the vote among Poles in Germany while the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party got 24%. In the UK, KO got 37% and PiS 20%."

Life / Public transport in Warsaw [10]


I haven't looked at the details but I know that it's going through areas already pretty well served by trams and buses. Some of the trams are a bit of a walk, maybe 15 minutes but I think that's acceptable. People don't like it though, especially in bad weather. However some of the more outlying districts beyond the end of the tram line are the ones that really need the Metro as they rely entirely on rather infrequent bus services.

Life / Public transport in Warsaw [10]

Best thing about public transport in Warsaw is the frequency and relative punctuality of trams and buses. Worst thing is the overcrowding. Buses need their own dedicated bus lanes because they frequently crawl along in heavy traffic. Metro needs expanding. The east side of the city is not very well connected with the other side. A journey across the river can involve can involve at least one tram and a bus or even two trams. However the new Metro line will help.

Love / Question about Polish dating/women [42]

You said


and then decided that


Make up your mind.


Listen to them and judge for yourself.

Love / Question about Polish dating/women [42]


Really? That's not what you said to begin with. But anyway ..........

There are quite a few songs about abortion.

Love / Question about Polish dating/women [42]

Well, the US avoided it as long as they could, only coming in 1917 if I remember correctly, and not deploying any actual troops until 1918. They only saw action for about six months.

Love / Question about Polish dating/women [42]


In Poland, it's understandable. In the English speaking world or anywhere that English literature is studied, then their relevance is considerable. Every educated person will be familiar with the term 'First World War Poets' including anybody who has studied English literature in an American university. High school students in the the USA should have heard of them but largely haven't because you don't have a proper national curriculum and basic education is deficient and dumbed down.

In fact, war poetry is an entire genre of literature and every nation has produced its war poets.

"war poetry was produced across Europe, by poets as diverse as Giuseppe Ungaretti, Georg Trakl, Guillaume Apollinaire and Anna Akhmatova, and further afield from countries such as Australia and New Zealand, Canada, India, the West Indies and Turkey."


But not all of those poets died in the war. Many came back.

Love / Question about Polish dating/women [42]


Who were decorated for bravery. You said poets were girly men. You were wrong - as you so frequently are.

Wilfred Owen: 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in the attack on the Fonsomme Line on October 1st/2nd, 1918. On the company commander becoming a casualty, he assumed command and showed fine leadership and resisted a heavy counter-attack. He personally manipulated a captured enemy machine gun from an isolated position and inflicted considerable losses on the enemy. Throughout he behaved most gallantly.'

Siegfried Sassoon: 'For conspicuous gallantry during a raid on the enemy's trenches. He remained for 1½ hours under rifle and bomb fire collecting and bringing in our wounded. Owing to his courage and determination all the killed and wounded were brought in.'

Edmund Blunden: 'For conspicuous gallantry in action. He displayed great courage and determination when in charge of a carrying party under heavy fire.'

The fact that you had to look them up speaks volumes. Ignorance, thy name is Novichok.

Love / Question about Polish dating/women [42]


Etiquette means basic manners and norms of behaviour which are the foundation of a properly ordered society. Maybe it's because there are so many like you with no respect for etiquette, that your society has become such a mess.


Here's a few poets for you:

Siegfried Sassoon - awarded the Military Cross.
Wilfred Owen - awarded the Military Cross.
Edmund Blunden - awarded the Military Cross.

Plenty more to choose from. Look them up.

Love / Question about Polish dating/women [42]


I sense you're being tongue in cheek but just in case ..........no, you shouldn't do that either, not in public anyway but plenty of people do.



That's my point. An adult human female is the definition of a woman. A 'female' without any context can be anything. Therefore a female sheep is called a ewe, a pig is a sow, a female human is a woman and entitled to be referred to as such. Otherwise you accord her less respect than a farm animal. That's what the author of the etiquette book had to explain to Americans over a century ago and they still don't get it.

Love / Question about Polish dating/women [42]


Not true. As I just pointed out in the previous post, this usage has existed in America since long before LGBTQ rights. You're using this thread as an excuse to start going on about your fixation/obsession.

Love / Question about Polish dating/women [42]


Referring to women as females is a vile Americanism :) I came across a book years ago which was published in America during the late 19th century, explaining the basic etiquette of polite behaviour for the newly rich and prosperous American man. It actually referenced that usage saying something, loosely paraphrased as 'Do not refer to ladies as females. The term female should be used only for animals. Women are human beings and the female of the human species deserves the dignity of being referred to as such.'

Other gems included 'You should refrain from chewing tobacco in company' and 'You should not spit in the street' :)) Also you shouldn't tear bits of your bread and throw them into your soup!


Which means that that three quarters of the Polish population are not.

Love / Question about Polish dating/women [42]


I'd advise you not to refer to Polish people as 'Eastern European'. They don't generally like being referred to as such and with good reason.

As far as finding one in her twenties to marry you, the older man/younger woman thing is not especially common in Poland. Most women in their twenties marry guys of a similar age. As others have commented, you can have a child with a woman in her thirties. Plenty of women have their first child in their late thirties these days. But a woman in Poland who is over thirty and not married, may not fulfil your ideal of the 'Eastern European' woman as she's more likely to be highly educated ( a Masters degree is pretty common for Polish women), career oriented, wanting to continue working if she marries and has children, a fairly typical modern European woman.

News / Future of Polish-Ukrainian relations [669]


Yes, but a certain amount of diplomacy can be good there too especially if your party needs to form a coalition in the future. You can also exhibit diplomacy in how you deal with the electorate.


I was wondering whether it could be a mis-translation of what he said.

News / Polish Parliamentary Elections 2023 [933]

I'm not following it that closely either but when I'm trying to enjoy my YouTube viewing campaign ads keep popping up. Utter nonsense from PIS such eg. actors playing 'ordinary folk' looking disgruntled and saying things like 'last time Tusk was PM I lost my job' as if nobody has lost a job under PIS. From the PO side we have ridiculing of Kaczynski, taking clips of him and messing with them to make him look even more of an old codger than he is with the voiceover 'Dwarves are running the country'. It's stuff for a satirical comedy show, not a serious political campaign.

News / Future of Polish-Ukrainian relations [669]


Always check the 'about us' section of websites. I thought the site looked a bit 'un-Irish', I'd never heard of it and the source of the news was RT.

You can listen to the original interview here:

economist.com/podcasts/2023/09/11/volodymyr-zelensky-tells-our-editor-in-chief-about-how-ukraine-is-preparing-for-a-long-war


Up to point but in many ways they're cut from the same cloth, at least as far as internal/domestic politics is concerned. Plenty of mud-slinging and childish lampooning going on from both sides in the present electoral campaign.

News / Future of Polish-Ukrainian relations [669]


Unfortunately this is a bit of a Slavic trait - not very good at diplomacy.

Btw, despite the name, the source is not an Irish newspaper, just in case anyone thinks it is. It's Australian. They say they report Irish and European news but I also go straight to the horse's mouth for local news myself.