News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]


I'd say very disrespectful. In fact an absolute lack of respect and good old-fashioned manners.


So would you describe somebody very short as "a midget" to their face? Or would you say "a cripple" to a disabled person?

Po, if this is your vision of the world that the PiS junta want to create, then no wonder they're doomed.

Law / Lost without my daughter - father rights in Poland [32]


You need concrete proof of any and all payments. In Poland, if there isn't a receipt or other written/printed/printable evidence of a payment, it didn't happen. Unfortunately.


You really do need a lawyer, even the CAB may be able to point you in the right direction.

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]


Not nowadays, not for a long time. Disabled people themselves dislike it.


Likewise.

Even the PiS junta do not favour a return to the disrespectful terminology of yesteryear.

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]


Since when has


been a "deceptive euphemism"? Saying (as you did on the previous page) that you prefer words like "cripple" and "retard" is doing your PiS political polemicising no favours at all. It just sounds nowadays like words which would only be used by someone who is bitter and vile.

Even the most rapacious of PiS loud mouthed politicians has not suggested returning to using the Polish equivalent of "cripple" or "retard".


Indeed, though they tend to prefer the term "cross-dresser" unless or until they're transitioning on a longer-term basis.

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]


No, Po. Just nasty.

And not a part of Poland's current politics or ways of thinking here. Just nasty.

If the type of politics you wish to see in Poland involves the return of expressions like 'cripple' and 'retard', it is as vile and worthless as anyone who would use those terms.

Food / What Polish foods do foreigners generally not take to? [140]

A good one is ok - what do you prefer it served with?

Another soup that looks surprising to visitors is Ogorkowa.

Food / What Polish foods do foreigners generally not take to? [140]


It rarely is. Even restaurants use instant or concentrated.

Food / What Polish foods do foreigners generally not take to? [140]



Years ago, it was probably much better and safer than drinking plain water - rather like small beer in some other countries.

Now botwinka is a wonderful soup - the colour could be off-puttting to a visitor, however the taste is excellent.

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]


That's actually rather nasty.

And nothing to do with your imaginary


Your comment is however a sad reflection on the followers of political current you extol.


That or it just isn't a very good film.

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]

How can someone 'sever ties' with something that exists only in your mind.

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]


Any of them diplomats?


No sacred cows, and he does after all proclaim himself the leader.

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]


Evidently you don't think the PiS appointed Honorary Consul who posted the vile pictures was disgracing her office.

Love / Looking for a Polish love song [78]

Try 'Zawsze tam gdzie Ty", originally sung by Lady Pank back in the early nineties and very well known to Poles. It would probably need transposing if you're female and was originally written for guitar but is easy and could work well on a piano.

Food / What Polish foods do foreigners generally not take to? [140]

I had exactly the same experience. Personally I love the stuff. One of the nicest soups I know and certainly the best cold one. 100x better than gazpacho or vichyssoise.

Food / What Polish foods do foreigners generally not take to? [140]


Most sold there is heavily sweetened and this shapes tastes. Most of the Polish stuff is heavily sweetened too, however a visitor used to creamier products would find zsiadle mleko a challenge.

Kefir is more accessible, but at its best in a chlodnik litewski. For visitors, the pink colour is less offputting, though I've had guests from abroad who didn't like it.

People who come to Poland from the Middle East are fine with kefir, unsweetened youghurt etc - they're used to similar products. For a visitor from Japan, you'd have a hard time persuading them to touch it.

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]


You must have been on a different march. I just saw boring middle-aged conservatives.

Life / Poland's Prison System Compared to America's [36]

Well, regarding your post here in the thread on Polish and other prisons, remember that life isn't always plain sailing, some of us have been around longer than others, been in a lot of places, done a lot, known a lot of people, had so far very interesting lives and are the 'real deal'. And are known personally in real life by several other posters, some of whom can confirm what the specific interest in prison reform is about.

If you're genuinely interested in prison matters, have a look at the website of The Howard League for Prison Reform. If you contact them (ask for Frances or her secretary) they can send you an information pack aimed at kids doing school projects. There's also (it's in Polish so you'll need to put it through google translate) agb.waw.pl/cms/ concerning specifically Polish matters. There's also a forum for people supporting loved ones who are currently in the prison system.

About the difference between Polish and other systems, there was an excellent occasional TV series here about Polish citizens who are incarcerated abroad, including in America. Several had experience of both systems. Some of the episodes are available online (unfortunately no subtitles so you may need to ask someone to explain) and there's also material on YouTube.

Food / What Polish foods do foreigners generally not take to? [140]

Here's a fish jelly. I suppose I'm long used to eating it out of politeness by now, though I've seen visitors recoil. With some of the chicken ones, the jelly is dyed slightly pink.

Food / What Polish foods do foreigners generally not take to? [140]

Definitely a soup Roz!
przyslijprzepis.pl/przepis/tradycyjne-flaczki

I can't abide the stuff and would never eat it unless I was desperately hungry and there was no other option. My granny used to sell it and I had enough put in front of me years ago. Basically tripe is poverty food that isn't especially healthy or nice and on it's own doesn't have a lot of flavour.

Foreign visitors have either never eaten tripe or have bad memories of it, so unlikely to catch on with short term visitors or tourists.

Food / What Polish foods do foreigners generally not take to? [140]

Galaretka used to be popular in Britain, something of a treat or a small luxury. That was before the days of fridges, which became widespread in Britain earlier than in Poland.

Basically, Brits (probably Americans too) lost the taste for it a couple of generations before Poland and it seems strange to visitors.

Hard to imagine it being very popular in Poland for very long now people don't need to use wobbly jelly from boiled bones to keep food from decaying.

Life / Poland's Prison System Compared to America's [36]


Yes. There are no restrictions on smoking in cells.

Life / Poland's Prison System Compared to America's [36]

See above ;-)


Probably far worse, except there's no federal/state distinction. Prison inmates in Poland often get relatives to move to one of several towns in order to qualify for a transfer there to a local prison where they have a greater chance of release under licence due to overcrowding or allegedly a discreet bribe that certain lawyers specialise in arranging.

Life / Poland's Prison System Compared to America's [36]

Some of the very best people have, others have supported loved ones inside (you maybe know about this), others have worked in them :-)

Life / Poland's Prison System Compared to America's [36]


Yes, similar in most of Europe. In America, the system of elected judges and prosecutors is also a factor.


Same in Poland. Plus the organised criminals and their gangs have connections that put them almost above the law. That and the fact that some of the worst offenders have or have had mental health issues that the prison system doesn't want to deal with. These people have a card that mentions this. They are just driven to hospital by police and discharged a couple of days later.


I don't think so. Polish prisons do try to rehabilitate people, however there are vested interests among bureaucrats to keep things as they are and an unpleasant prison culture. Plus low staffing levels, low budgets and corruption.

In Germany and Holland they do it very well.

Life / Poland's Prison System Compared to America's [36]


So you want to bring transportation back? We stopped that in the Nineteenth Century.


Decades in Sing Sing certainly doesn't.

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]

I suspect you'll find the people there are a broad cross section of people who dislike the PiS junta's attempt to turn Poland into a National Socialist state.

Food / What Polish foods do foreigners generally not take to? [140]


I haven't tried that yet - I like the stuff from Bury market.

Same with kielbasa wiejska. The shop-bought ones aren't always very nice, but actually made by a farmer it's excellent.

I like chlodnik litewski, however I've seen foreign visitors really struggle to finish a bowl. Also very 'wet' salads with peas etc in. I suppose it's down to taste.

Life / Poland's Prison System Compared to America's [36]

Rehab and/or legalisation is almost certainly cheaper and more humane in the long run. When we think about someone sent to prison for whatever, we often forget about the effect it has on the whole family.

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]


Indeed. Worth mentioning that out in the countryside where 500+ has had a huge effect, people are worried about how long it can last.

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]


Basically attacking the most vulnerable in society.