History / This anti-Ukrainian propaganda for no valid reasons must stop [70]


Of course he does. the only people narcissists sort of admire are other narcissists (as long as they're not in direct competition).

History / This anti-Ukrainian propaganda for no valid reasons must stop [70]


Why do you think I said the second one is not free...... meanwhile....... you know. Deny all you want.... you. know.

News / Russian criticism of Poland - Soviet war memorial removal [332]


Only fools would play along your bad-faith word games.

Life is too short.

History / This anti-Ukrainian propaganda for no valid reasons must stop [70]


Below average, because at some level you realize all the russian war-mongering propaganda is stupid bait meant to disempower everyday russians and keep them poor and the corrupt government rich.

At some level you realize just how barbarous russians are acting in Ukraine and are mortified but afraid to be a non-conformist because russians do to non-conformists what they used to do to witches.....

At some level you realize the US has an attractive culture and russia has a non-attractive culture that repels those with intelligence and integrity.

I'm sure novi and velund and monty really believe russian propaganda and think some kind of constructive or glorious thing is being done by russia in Ukraine (rather than killing civilians and dehumanizing russians), but at some level (maybe unconscious) you don't and it kills you and you fight it but stilll...... you know.

Sidewalk psychoanalysis completed. This one is on the house, but you'll have to pay for the next session.

News / Russian criticism of Poland - Soviet war memorial removal [332]


stupid false choice.... anyone who plays your word games is a sucker


All the more reason to want the Soviets out....

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


then try to _act_ like human beings instead of violence crazed thugs.... (just a helpful hint.... you're welcome).

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


You're welcome!

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


...they don't always work though....

twitter.com/_hawkeyed/status/1690369662750531584

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


A friend was recently interviewed by reżimowa tv talking to attendees at a local event. After asking about the event (fun, people go there every year) they asked what he thought about raising the retirement age. He said that given the low birth rate there's no real economic choice but to raise it... and the interviewer got a sour look on her face and they ended up not asking his name (meaning they won't air it).

Is the iron electorate that economically illiterate that they don't realize that if they haven't produced enough children to work and support them they'll just have to work longer? How do they want the numbers to work... by magic?

News / Russian criticism of Poland - Soviet war memorial removal [332]


No matter how grateful you are to russians, no matter how much you love russian things.... you're still trash to them and they think they have a right to redraw borders as they like...

twitter.com/TheKremlinYap/status/1689939411138392065

Language / When do I use certain characters? [33]


they used to... I just checked and it's just phrases with no context... awful! They might reserve the grammar points for those who pay (dont' pay!)

You need some book with grammar, I found this very useful...

amazon.com/Polish-Teach-Yourself-M-Corbridge-Patkaniowska/dp/0844238163

Make sure the author is Corbridge-Patkaniowska there's a newer version by different authors that's... not good.

This book is dated (old fashioned language at times) but it explains grammar bit by bit in easy to understand terms and never hits you with too much at once.

I found it extremely useful in the beginning.

Language / When do I use certain characters? [33]


weird, if talking about a bag to put your purchases in the most common is probably (still?) reklamówka... though where I am 'siatka' is also often used. technically siatka is a net bag I believe (or just a net) but it's often used for shopping bags in general here.

News / What should Poland do with the problem of Belarus? [1800]


Akshally...... lots of reports on twitter that they're headed back to russia because lulashenka refused to support them financially.... orther reports are that lukashenka is kicking them out himself....

Life / In Poland on holiday - need help with bad case of homesickness [108]


Is it? Technically there are jobs for anyone who wants them... but they often don't pay enough to support a person on their own (hence all the Ukrainians and imported workers in factories).

The applicants probably hoped that the job was an entry position that could turn into something better.... was it?

News / Russian criticism of Poland - Soviet war memorial removal [332]


Amassing!

News / Polish Parliamentary Elections 2023 [933]


It used to be that when the countryside was mad at PiS they voted for PSL (according to a friend with family in the countryside). I'm not sure now.... I don't think the countryside is that happy with PiS but PSL doesn't seem to want them and Konfederacja is too crazy (and too full of figures that.... don't get along) to be viable.

I'm also not sure how Agrounia is playing in the countryside....

News / Russian criticism of Poland - Soviet war memorial removal [332]


That's very sad and a difficult rememberance to bear. Do you also blame Stalin for starting the conflict together with Gitler?

Life / In Poland on holiday - need help with bad case of homesickness [108]


When you're here you don't see it as much, like I said, you're just going about your daily business and only occasionally suddenly something hits you and.... wow! It's so different!

Visiting occasionally must make it even more obvious but that feeling doesn't last long before you're back to the daily grind and complaining about petty inconveniences (which never go away.... anywhere).


Smiling at strangers also used to be taken (by some) as aggressive... are you laughing at me? I'll show you!

The general lack of smiles from service workers doesn't bother me, it's a different culture and if anything I've assimilated and think of unmotivated smiling as a bit.... intrusive.

But general politeness levels in stores have changed a lot for the better from employees and also from fellow shoppers. I remember grabbing someone else's cart a few months ago in a store and both the other shopper and I just smiled over the mix up..... I can remember when that could lead to a nasty confrontation and accusations of trying to steal something.....

News / Russian criticism of Poland - Soviet war memorial removal [332]


The whole history of the Soviet army "liberating" Poland is a false history given what preceded it (and eliminating mention of lend-lease) not to mention what followed it (44 years of an unwanted military and economic 'alliance').

News / Polish Parliamentary Elections 2023 [933]


I don't understand what he even thinks he's doing....

I liked K-K and he was my preferred candidate for president last time but PSL is PSL they'll align with anyone for a small taste of power.....

News / Russian criticism of Poland - Soviet war memorial removal [332]


putain was talking a lot of nonsense as usual and he has no power whatsoever to change the western border.... which has also been accepted by Germany (which after WWII has a much better track record in keeping promises).

and it wasn't "a gift" (since he also carved off a third of Eastern Poland for himself). It was intended to provoke tensions between Germany and Poland... just like many other soviet borders


how so? I don't see it... I see it as part of a larger movement that spans many countries which had previously been polite toward russia and let it wallow in its delusions about how great it was in WWII when the record is a lot more.... mixed

I suppose a new monument will be built that doesn't glorify the CCCP (even indirectly).

News / Russian criticism of Poland - Soviet war memorial removal [332]


they weren't all that Polish before WWII.... but Germany is not an aggressive military power anymore so.... calm down.

russia's invasion basically ate away at any lingering politeness toward anything soviet.... predictable to anyone but a russian....

Life / In Poland on holiday - need help with bad case of homesickness [108]


It comes and goes and it's a good sign (for both you and Poland). The last couple of times I was in the states (very long ago) there were moments, some longer, some shorter, where I thought "I could just stay here and not mess with all the crap in Poland" but I didn't and I don't regret it.

Similiarly in early days in Poland there were a few times, usually in winter.... where I asked myself "why am I here? wouldn't I rather be somewhere where winter wasn't an ordeal?" but....

Overall it's been a wild ride watching the changes first hand and close up both material and social... you don't notice anything for a long time and then it hits you... wow! things are so different! and for the better! Lots of problems (cause that's the nature of everywhere) but generally getting better.

When I think of the US now... I'm a little homesick but for the US that used to exist because from all the info that I can gather.... it's dead and I have no desire whatsoever to even visit the rotting corpse right now... I'm on a couple of facebook groups about the history of the area I'm from and... yeah, parts of it used be pretty nice... but all that's gone. The political system has.... ended (both parties are very much to blame) and too much bad policy for too long... just not anything I want to be a part of.

Now when I think of possibly moving my thoughts are all just different parts of Europe... more south and east... not west.... but those are just idle thoughts.


thank bad policy.... turning housing into a financial investment and not keeping building up with population growth....

Travel / Poland's Super Hub Airport [17]


What about Bucuresti? I remember several years ago flying from Warsaw to Bucuresti and over half the passengers were russians speakers presumably transferring further East... the war presumably has gotten in the way of that but it seems like a decent location to be a hub.

Travel / Poland's Super Hub Airport [17]


Not from Germany they can't... saw this from a Ukrainian going the other way who makes the point that even in wartime Ukraine rail works better than the dinosaur known as Deutsche Bahn....

twitter.com/AseyevStanislav/status/1687464303786340357

News / Polish Silesian Autonomy movement [67]


The EU used to have special funds for supporting minorities... maybe that's why they do it? I think that's also partly the motivation behind Kaszubian... for generations they'd been trying to assimilate into being Poles but there's a handful of activists who try to prevent that....


Many years ago I became temporary friends with a German guy (we spoke Polish with each other which was good practice for us both). He was a social worker in Germany who became interested in Poland when after 1989 a bunch of Silesian "Germans" showed up on his list of clients... who didn't really speak any German.

News / Will PiS be happy if AfD wins elections in Germany? [1440]

I wonder how much play this story is getting in Germany and what it would do to AfD....

A German citizen of Ukrainian origin coordinated work with a russian agent to slow down German support of Ukraine...

theins.press/en/politics/264014

Travel / Poland's Super Hub Airport [17]

No way are they going to build a big hub like Frankfurt (10 minutes on the bus from the plane to one of the terminals) or Munich (similar)

Off-Topic / What's your connection with Poland? Penpals. [595]


For centuries 'foreign languages' were a foundation of education, it was less about actually ever using the languages in real life and more about the knock-on (extra) benefits of spending some time learning another language.

Basically, getting out of the cage of your own language, even in the context of a few hours a week in a classroom makes the mind much more flexible and can improve interpersonal and communication skills.

In Europe, ime, Brits are the worst cross-cultural or cross-language communicators going. They mostly don't seem able to do simple things like rephrasing in a more simple way....

History / Warsaw Rising 1944 - National Disaster or Triumph of Spirit ? [515]


What do you mean? I think the Polish approach to remembering the Uprising is far healthier than a bunch of doom and gloom would be.