Real Estate / Polish landlord - Walks into my apartment without asking or when i am not at home and wants half rent in cash. [36]

Typically, when most nationalities encounter a fellow countryman abroad, especially one in dire straits or in an unfamiliar environment, they will show a little mercy. Were

Optumem8 a stray Pole rather than a Norwegian, that is, a foreigner, we wouldn't be having this exchange now, would we!

Real Estate / Polish landlord - Walks into my apartment without asking or when i am not at home and wants half rent in cash. [36]

And yet, Lenka, the younger Poles whom I know from Poland would seem to uphold older values of solidarity with their own. According to them, such behavior as befell Optumem8 would therefore appear the exception rather than the rule.

News / Kaczyński stirs up hatred between Germans and Poles. [20]

Whilst I can well understand Kaczynski's frustration, such loose, impetuous talk is inappropriate in a world in which conflict over small stuff can easily escalate into damaging public relations.

Real Estate / Polish landlord - Walks into my apartment without asking or when i am not at home and wants half rent in cash. [36]

That's not been my experience, gumishu! I think you're simply trying to give me a hard time, that's all. Where would I have gotten this notion from anyway, huh? Clearly it must have come from somewhere, besides, all stereotypes are rooted in truth way down deep:-) Poles are no exception.

Real Estate / Polish landlord - Walks into my apartment without asking or when i am not at home and wants half rent in cash. [36]

Apologies for appearing forward, Optumem8, but what in G-d's name ever brought you to Poland?? It looks as though you did next to no investigation prior to booking your accomodations/flat.

Did you forego any research whatsoever on where you were visiting before you left Norway?

Perhaps the next time, you'll be more careful. It's not your fault entirely though. You're probably very young and simply got caught up in the spirit of adventure.

Real Estate / Polish landlord - Walks into my apartment without asking or when i am not at home and wants half rent in cash. [36]

"Naturally they seem by some as an easy target......"
'Course they do, mate! It's cuz they are!!! LOL

On the other hand, it's hard for me to imagine a run-of-the-mill Pole, Slovene, Romanian for instance, gladly screwing over another fellow countryman with impunity.

Poles particularly, always talk about their strong sense of solidarity with one another.

Real Estate / Polish landlord - Walks into my apartment without asking or when i am not at home and wants half rent in cash. [36]

...at the expense of some poor, foreign schnook, too naive to know better??
'Don't buy that. Rather surprised you do.

Real Estate / Polish landlord - Walks into my apartment without asking or when i am not at home and wants half rent in cash. [36]

Perhaps not, jon. Yet nonetheless worthy of the old college try.
Surely not everybody or -place in Poland is riddled with corruption and untrustworthiness.
Niech zyje Czarny Rynek! LOL

Real Estate / Polish landlord - Walks into my apartment without asking or when i am not at home and wants half rent in cash. [36]

@Optumem8, I take it somehow that you don't speak Polish, is that correct? English doesn't always work abroad, I'm afraid. That being said, might I suggest that in nearly any country, natives will occasionally attempt to extort sums of cash or extract favors from foreigners who come from what other believe is a wealthy country, thereby easily able to be shaken down.

My advice would be that you always try to rent responsibly from a known quantity, say, a church or travel club-linked organization whose reputation is know both to you as well as to others in your circle.

News / TVP producer fired for allowing rainbow flag on the air... [244]

Rich, would we really all be better off if "people" such as yourself, Donald Trump, Idi Amin, Adolf Hitler, Jeffrey Dahmer etc. could reproduce, and your type rants and raves about homosexuals who never harmed anyone???!! Allright with NAMBLA, I will make a flagrant exception and admit that their agenda is revolting, I'm givin' ya that one.

It's never the quantity of humans, rather the quality. We no longer live in the Bible Millenium, when becoming pregnant was not yet poisoned by environmental toxins! Read Rachel Carson's SILENT SPRING, why don't you.

Furthermore, prior to the Second World War, our planet desperately needed to multiply and populate the world we live in. The food supply was purer and our country encouraged having children, more or lessas a matter of course.Parents weren't interested in enjoying their parenthood twenty-four seven; self-sacrifice was in general the order of the day.

In our time, the world is simply not ready to overpopulate any more.

News / TVP producer fired for allowing rainbow flag on the air... [244]

As always, Johnny, it's all merely a knee-jerk reaction to what had been repressed for centuries prior.
Perversion has always been with us, it's only now being given free reign. Don't forget though, G-d created LGBTQ and transgender adherents too.

Classifieds / Kebab business [43]

@Johnny, whatever happened to some nice rare roast beef w/Grey's mustard at Simpson's on the Strand?
LOL

News / TVP producer fired for allowing rainbow flag on the air... [244]

Ever since the demise of the Eisenhower and the advent of the Woodstock Era, matters concerning personal vs. public morals and convention have all but spun completely out of control!

The post-Hippie Generation surely didn't invent poor to non-existent manners, foul language galore, public displays of filth and prurient behavior with impunity, but they certainly enabled it so that we've gotten to the point we have.

I'm no fan of LGBTQ or transgender culture either. All I ask is that it be contained where it belonged in the first place....in the BOUDOIR or someone' private restroom!!

News / TVP producer fired for allowing rainbow flag on the air... [244]

The purpose of marriage is the sexual union between a man and a woman, not solely for reproductive purposes! We are not all the same as in ancient times and barreness is no longer a stigma, save among the ignorant or the privileged.

Classifieds / Kebab business [43]

Thanks, Cargo pants!

News / TVP producer fired for allowing rainbow flag on the air... [244]

Naturally Poland, as practically everywhere else throughout Europe, has an LGBTQ community!
While perhaps neither as vocal nor even as visible within larger urban centers in comparison with Berlin, Madrid, Stockholm, Amsterdam or Copenhagen, for example, Polish gays do indeed have an uphill battle, fighting to maintain both their Polish-Catholic identity in the same breath however, their independent selfhood as non-conformist men and women.

Off-Topic / Pop A Cork - Wine [440]

Thought Zubrowka was more of a type of Schnaps.
Not as strong though as bimber:-) I might well be wrong.

Life / Polish Music. [303]

If you include the toe-tappin' music of the goral in Zakopane, you're probably right, at least in Europe.

@Miloslaw, I think my post answers at least part of your question, to be honest.

Life / Questions about living in Poland [8]

My pleasure, Milo!
You see? We have indeed found common ground:-)

News / TVP producer fired for allowing rainbow flag on the air... [244]

False once again!
I NEVER stated that Poland is "mono-ethnic". I did say that the presence of Ukrainians, Ruthenians, assorted Slavs along with other white Europeans living and or working in Poland is scarcely comparable with contemporary urban areas such as Berlin, Paris, Stockholm, Amsterdam or London with a truly multi-ethnic assortment of colors, non-Western languages and religions. Of course Poland has her share of Muslims, but they are far fewer in number than in many neighboring countries.

Please don't continue playing the Devil's Advocate on this matter because we all know it's just a game.

Life / Polish Music. [303]

The answer's fairly self evident!
No thanks to Poland's historically richer and traditionally more acknowledged neighbors such as Russia and Germany, Poland as well as Polish culture, sadly, became viewed until not too long ago, as a mere backwater, inferior (if you can believe it!!) to fellow European societies.

Need I list the names and accomplishments of Poland but once again??

King Jan Sobieski - helped drive out and keep out the Turks from Europe Nikolas Kopernikus - proved that the Earth revolves around the Sun Adam Mickiewicz - penned one of the greatest epic poems in any European language Frederic Chopin - made the piano sing as none other before or since Mme. Marie Curie (nee Manya Sklodowska) - pioneered uses of radium Dr. Kazimierz Funk - discovered uses of the vitamin supplement ...etc. etc. etc.

Life / Questions about living in Poland [8]

Knowing the language though is already half the battle. You ought to specialize rather than diversify your skill set, as being an outside puts you in direct competition with native Poles.

Decide what you can do which your fellow job seekers can't and you're more likely to secure a position, perhaps even a permanent one!

When I was thinking about moving to Europe myself umpteen years back, I realized that merely knowing the local lingo wasn't enough, I needed to specialize.

Powodzenia!/Good luck!

News / TVP producer fired for allowing rainbow flag on the air... [244]

@Maf, Milo,

Not everyone is able to visit Europe every year or so! What with family expenses and work, I'm rarely able to drive up to Boston any longer, much less visit my former student and professional haunts in Germany, Poland, Denmark or Sweden, so cut me some slack.

I rely on the Polish press of varying political persuasions just like everybody else.

Moreover, there is nothing "fairytale" about any posts I've written on Poland, so quit lying merely to prove a point.

Classifieds / Kebab business [43]

Yes, I've heard that as well. Serious competition from Berlin in particular though.
Wonder about Greek food in cities such as Warsaw.

Life / Polish Music. [303]

Along with many areas of culture, including world cinema until not too recently, perhaps the last twenty to thirty years.

In books on film, often directors such as Wajda, Andrzejewski along with many others would get perhaps a few pages, if they were lucky. Even Polanski's sometimes not credited for his early Polish work. French, German, and Italian directors would have entire chapters devoted to them.

Theater's another matter though. In stage design and direction, for a while, names like Jerzy Grotowski and Tadeusz Kantor loomed large, as did Krzysztof Penderecki in the area of experimental music.

News / TVP producer fired for allowing rainbow flag on the air... [244]

If you know Poland, I presume your native country (or that of your family's origin),
you'd have no need to play the Devil's Advocate, but rather accept what we all know
about Poland...from other Polish natives!

We all know what I posted is the truth, albeit not always pleasant, and so kindly deal
with it as one deals with unflattering criticism.

It's not easy to accept captious comments about the US from foreigners, yet acknowledge
them I must or I'll never grow.

If criticism is warranted, then it should be heard, so why so defensive, Kaszub?

News / TVP producer fired for allowing rainbow flag on the air... [244]

Kaszub,
Poland was far more isolated and for a long time
almost hermetically sealed off from non-Caucausian outsiders
within their midst.

While not desirable in a broader spiritual sense, this is simply
the reality with which Polish people have had to contend, and
the inroads of the larger world face resistance from many as
they're ill prepared for the slow, if inevitable, coming together of this
planet!

An apt analogy would be of a large, homogeneous, heretofore contented, family,
a spoiled brood now being asked or rather being forced by their elders to share.
As with most children, they really don't want to and often throw a tantrum if at
first they don't get their way.

In this case, the parents are represented by Bruxelles and the children by the Poles
themselves.

Life / Questions about living in Poland [8]

Secure a permanent position somewhere, learn at least the basics of the language,
and you should be fine.

News / TVP producer fired for allowing rainbow flag on the air... [244]

@Maf & Milo,

Poland has comparatively few foreigners integrated into the total population,
particularly in smaller cities, so I've read in local newspapers. Large urban
centers practically anywhere in Europe will always continue to be the exception.

The occasional kebab stand or the like does not a "diverse" society make! -:)

Kaszub, the Swedes as well as the French, although not for the same reasons,
view themselves as bastions of both democracy and progress. The lack of diversity in
places such as Sweden, especially the more rural or outlying areas, Norway, including
Finland, has more to do with their geography than with their demography.

Stockholm, Paris or Helsinki are poor examples against which to measure the success of
multi-ethnic populations.

Even in the US, New York, Boston, Washington or Los Angeles will neve be bellweathers of
change.

Think some of y'all out there are just playing the Devil's Advocate, frankly. Even if I made
a decent point, some of you wouldn't ever admit it.

News / TVP producer fired for allowing rainbow flag on the air... [244]

Thank you, Johnny.
Add to my prior remarks the plain fact that Poland remains one of the
most ethnically homogeneous nations on the continent of Europe, logically
making drastic, indeed culturally and socially jarring changes, almost Draconian
punishment to impose on a historically monolithic populace.

"Diversity" 's all well and good in politically liberal societies such as France or Sweden,
with long histories of either colonial or advanced progressive culture. Therefore, it's easy
for Bruxelles to say, "Hey, Poles! Get with the program and welcome LGBTQ into your
living space....OR ELSE!" The actuality of the situation though is far more complicated and
this must be born in mind in the midst of our sounding off about this affair.