Life / Neoliberalism and family formation in Poland [100]


I think I am, though everybody I've told this laugh right in my face.

I can be pretty boisterous, especially after a few drinks.


Depends on the woman, of course. Sometimes, some
women have mislead me, by convincing me they fully embrace my interests. Then, later, I understood it was all a ploy and they have no interest at all. With men - few such problems.

Life / Neoliberalism and family formation in Poland [100]


First, a disclaimer: I am not married, and I don't have kids.

But I had girlfriends for very long periods of time. I really did not enjoy spending alone time with them, for extended periods of time. Like a vacation for example.

I also have many nephews and nieces, that are below 8 years of age. I also have limited patience and energy for hanging out with them.

In general, women and children have more in common with each other, than with men. That's why for most kids, their first love is their mom. They only notice their dad later, and then at some point the dad eclipses the mom. Such is the way of nature.

Regarding why men don't like "hanging out" with women, is because that's what they do anyway, the rest of the time. I see her in the morning, at night, on the weekends, and so when I meet my friends the last thing I want to do is spend more time with her. Meeting friends is a chance to decompress.

I feel it's somewhat unnecessary to explain why men don't like hanging out with kids for more than a few hours at a time.

Life / Neoliberalism and family formation in Poland [100]


Absolutely not. It exists in Russia, as well. I suspect it's true in Poland too.

The logic is pretty simple:

1) Such people are more stable and predictable. It is easy to understand their motivations. A person adequately fulfilling his family obligations is a sign of reliability and commitment.

2) Individuals with families may prioritize long term stability. This just so happens to align with the priorities of most large organizations.

3) Married individuals, especially with children, likely possess valuable interpersonal skills and a wider perspective, gained from managing family dynamics and responsibilities. This is very much in demand for leadership roles.

4) Finally... nobody likes spending time with their wife or their kids. If the other guy has a wife, it means it's easier to meet - because then the wives can entertain each other. The same applies for kids. If the wife and kids are busy hanging out with their friends, it means more time for you to discuss business, without feeling like you are betraying your family through negligence. In this way, you can even mask an important negotiation as a "family vacation" - killing two birds with one stone. Everyone wins.

Life / Neoliberalism and family formation in Poland [100]


Which is why it really doesn't matter what Paulina's or Lenka's mom or grandma did.

Eastern Europe, in general, is very special. You don't see a gradual tapering off in fertility rates like in the developed West, but an abrupt collapse between 1989-1991. The social tumult, and plunge into poverty delayed or entirely cancelled many people's family plans. By the time the situation stabilized, a huge demographic chasm had formed.


Only up to a certain level. If you start approaching the level of truly high net worth, or ultra high net worth, then people again have many kids. In fact, in a lot of top firms, like Goldman Sachs (to use a finance example) or Sullivan Cromwell (law), there's an invisible glass barrier against all guys that are not married or don't have kids. It's a symptom of other underlying undesirable traits.

You simply don't get invited to some functions if you don't have a wife. The only acceptable excuse is being gay.

So much of conversation revolves around kids, as well as so much of the vacation travel. If you don't have kids - again, you're not invited.

You can't really grow beyond a certain point in politics or business if you are not married or have kids (while being straight, which I am).

So the working and middle class maybe eating itself up over kids being a burden and a chore, but the upper class certainly is still very conservative.

Life / Fresh water fishing in Poland [31]


Also maybe because they only go a little bit up river in order to spawn.

They spend their life in the seas.

Life / Fresh water fishing in Poland [31]


For me, fishing is a great excuse to get drunk. Alone, or with friends.

Also, it's addicting, on the level of a casino roulette or a computer game.

I'm tired, I've been rained on for hours, my joints and muscles hurt, and I can imagine nothing better than going back inside and resting on the couch... but then I think - "One more cast".

In this way, I can stand in a single spot from 4 am, until 2 am the next day. Just switching my tackle appropriately.

Fishing can be obsessive. You never know when the next bite will come, and what will be sitting on that hook.

The funny thing is - I don't like eating fish. I like cooking it for others however.

Life / Fresh water fishing in Poland [31]

@dannytoro1

I love this guy. He is from an ethnicity I love, and he loves fishing.

If you like scuba diving and history - then we can be best friends.

I created fishing threads in the past, that got merged. I'm also very curious about freshwater fishing in Poland.

News / THE ARMY OF POLAND - THE REALITY [493]

@Paulina

If you don't train, you won't be able to fight.

As Russian Generalissimo Suvorov used to say -

"What is difficult in training will become easy in a battle."

Love / What to answer to the Most annoying phrase that EVERY and EACH polish girl always says? [58]

@Alien

Oh interesting, Alaska then.

They are cousins of our Chukchi and Koryak peoples.

The Chukchi and Koryak, are the closest relatives of all Native Americans/First Nations. Instead of crossing the Bering Strait and colonizing North and South America, they stayed in Siberia.

I'm curious to what extent the languages are still mutually intelligible.

Love / What to answer to the Most annoying phrase that EVERY and EACH polish girl always says? [58]


Are you from Canada or Greenland?

History / What should Russia and Poland do to become if not friends, then at least not enemies? [945]

Yes, like:

1) Misha/Masha Gessen (not sure how he/she identifies now)
2) Gary Kasparov
3) Vladimir Kara-Murza
4) Kamil Galeev
5) Akhmet Zakayev

... and a bunch of other losers.

It's fine if they, and their kind, never step foot in Russia again.

Somehow we will survive without them.

Food / What Polish foods and brands do you miss when you go to other countries? [216]

I don't mind getting along with you, so... this is fully a "you" problem.

Food / What Polish foods and brands do you miss when you go to other countries? [216]


OMG.

Mouth watering...

Love / What to answer to the Most annoying phrase that EVERY and EACH polish girl always says? [58]

@dannytoro1

Didn't you say your native language was Inuktitut?

I thought that was very interesting, and lucky for the forum.

I spent some time in Greenland at one point, laying a pipeline.

Love / How do I make a Polish guy fall in love and his family.( I'm American) [10]


In Russian: «Насильно мил не будешь».

What Ukrainians tell us every day.

Life / Poles - the Nation of Liars? [478]


Stop running ahead of the train.

These are things which can only be determined through empirical observation.

God willing, we shall have an opportunity to stage a live experiment.

Afterwards, you can tell all of us if your feeling of Russian patriotism has increased.

Until then - we wait.

Life / Poles - the Nation of Liars? [478]

You are lying.

Imagine tomorrow you are in Chita, beyond the Arctic Circle, in a general population penal colony.

Then I imagine your understanding of Russian will rapidly begin to exceed that of native born Russians.

Pawian, I will still teach you to love Russia.

Life / Poles - the Nation of Liars? [478]

Big question then - why do you understand and write in it so well?

Life / Poles - the Nation of Liars? [478]


I think something was lost in translation between Polish and Russian idiomatic language here...

What?!

Life / Poles - the Nation of Liars? [478]


To compare Johnny to Rich, as we say in Russia, is to compare the anal sphincter to the index finger.

I do not like Johnny, because:

1) He is a liar
2) A coward
3) An opportunist
4) A small, small human being.

Rich, on the other hand:

1) Has posted his passport photo
2) Volunteered to meet any as*hole that wants try kicking his ass
3) Got absolutely demolished for all his "open kimono" moments, by faggots that were too scared to reciprocate
4) He's still here.

One is somebody I would want to meet my future kids, the other is a guy I want to find in a quiet alley at night and provide a lesson in respect.

Life / Poles - the Nation of Liars? [478]


I actually agree. He's too smart to be a vanilla American.

He has that bit of bitter Eastern European flavor to him, whether he likes it or not.

Plus, the intelligence.

Life / Poles - the Nation of Liars? [478]


A true Slav respects only cold hard cash.

This can be hidden under a mattress, or inside a jar with other preserves.

None of these magical "credit" things.

Ask Poles that borrowed in Swiss Francs to buy their houses, how their acquaintance with "credit" went.

Our people are simply not prepared for this :)

Life / Poles - the Nation of Liars? [478]


Just as you constantly remind me that you don't give a f*ck if I will nuke you tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, but just wish I would get it over with...

Nobody cares about Americans. Nobody cares about what you have in America. Maybe this is not politically correct - but nobody cares about how much America invests/provides - because it is assumed it's done out of self interest.

If you behave like a white Christian missionary disembarking off of a ship in Tonga or Fiji, people will treat you like an idiot.

On the most practical level - many people in Poland/Russia are simply much more wealthy and well traveled than you. Despite you having a $2M home the mortgage on which is underwater, and driving a BMW X7 which you are financing for $900 a month.

Russia and Poland are cash countries :)

Life / Poles - the Nation of Liars? [478]


It's the same with all "Eastern Europeans".

Some American will tell me, "Such a gloomy people. No smiles. No hellos. I feel so utterly lonely."

Then I go home, and I can't get my taxi driver, bank teller, or doctor to shut up for just a few moments of peace.

I think people there are just inherently suspicious, or simply not confident around foreigners.

Between locals: b*tching and moaning about everything is totally the norm.

Off-Topic / Random Sports News [842]


The point is physical activity can take your mind off of depressing things.

Doesn't have to be sport. Can be chopping wood, clearing your driveway of ice, or working the garden.

Sitting on the floor and pouring ashes over your head is of course nice and desirable - but not everyone can do that, Paulina.

History / What should Russia and Poland do to become if not friends, then at least not enemies? [945]

Very funny Lenka.

5/5!

History / What should Russia and Poland do to become if not friends, then at least not enemies? [945]

Even though I disagree with what you wrote in other threads, for this post I will commend you.

I have been writing here about our blood ties for years, and my only supporters are romantic Poles and crazy Serbians.

Off-Topic / Random Sports News [842]


It's about giving a physical outlet for your grief.

Have you ever trained or participated in a sport for a long time? It can be amazing therapeutic.

Life / Poles - the Nation of Liars? [478]


This is the most honest guy on the forum.

I'm much more inclined to believe what he says, rather than your diatribes.

Coming myself from a country that's always accused of thievery, I have no sympathy.

Off-Topic / Random Sports News [842]


Some people go and play basketball the next day after their father was murdered, and play the best game of their life.

Some people go into the boxing ring, the same night their mother died, and exhibit superhuman feats of athleticism.

The afternoon after the morning that my grandmother died I went on an overnight alpinism trip with my friend. I couldn't stand to be in the house, and the funeral was three days away.