Life / Why is circumcision not practiced in Poland? [701]


Oh, come on. 6-legged babies are, of course, where something went wrong - but they are not the plan, not how Nature actually intended. Breast cancer is due to chemical pollutants and stresses that we have imposed on ourselves (it doesn't exist in primitive societies), so unfortunately a reaction of our bodies to generally unnatural things. And bad teeth? Do you think Nature intended us to eat sugar by the bucket-load?

I don't know quite why there is such a gung-ho approach to a delicate physiological mechanism. What, is it easier to keep clean if you are circumcised? Frankly if I were a guy, I think I'd rather stay intact and make a bit more effort in the shower ... but I am not a guy, so can't say. Only would say from a female point of view, that I prefer the uncut version. I guess the Polish ladies do as well ...

Love / Polish women are the most beautiful in the world! [1718]


Oh boy, are you right there ... I will never forget how shocked I was when I discovered that anti-Semitism was the open norm in Poland ... I had naively thought that after what happened in the war, the Poles would be sympathetic to the Jews. Very naive.

But to keep on-thread: do we think, then, that Polish women are considered the most beautiful by Polish men because they are racially pure? I know Polish guys really don't like Polish girls going off with ethnically-different guys in the UK ... especially if of a skin-colour not entirely white ... and there is a kind of international Polish sperm donor bank, but it is only open to those of 'pure' Polish origin ... (I know that's not exactly relevant, but it is quite an interesting little nugget of info, I think).

Oh, and also because Polish guys are macho and WANT their women to be considered the most beautiful in the world ... there is great loyalty to the Polish female among Polish guys, however much make-up and however orange she is. So long as she is thin, she is beautiful.

Love / Polish women are the most beautiful in the world! [1718]


Sorry ... I must have been tired. I didn't mean that everyone is like that. I just met a lot of (older) people who had that sort of opinion. Anyhow, nothing to do with how pretty or otherwise Polish girls are.

Polish women are often mean because they are hungry/have drunk too much strong coffee. So maybe that explains the thin/beautiful but b**chy ...

Love / help needed to warn off troublesome pole [25]


This is, I think, a technique employed by Polish women in particular (as opposed to the men, although some do it as well, but usually only on their girlfriend/wife's instructions). I'm sure other nationalities do it as well - not saying it is a peculiarly Polish trick - but just that I have only seen it in action among Polish women: the bad-mouthing of a woman, especially a foreign woman, is a common tactic to get her off the scene. And it won't just be turning things so that they are wrongly interpreted - it will escalate to downright lies. And anything the woman does will be picked over for days, sifted through for yet more angles on how dreadful a person she is.

I should know. I have been on the receiving end of it, not once. It astonished me at first, because it is such an underhand trick, and it is strangely effective. Your son, though, is English, and will presumably just not listen to anything said, and isn't interested at all in this woman.

I think he should speak to her, tell her her doesn't want her, tell her to leave him alone, and say that if he hears from her again, he will go to the police. Police will usually work (just the threat).

Love / help needed to warn off troublesome pole [25]


Glad to have helped but ... are you related to the guys in the original post, or in another situation? Sorry ... getting mixed up here about which girl/guy is which!!

But if you have been on the receiving end of this kind of blackballing ... you have my every sympathy.


yep, that is the form. You will bend over backwards to help, make phone calls, fix up jobs, do basically all sorts of things that yr English or otherwise UK friends wouldn't ever dream of asking you to do ... and then you will anyhow be the biggest s*k* in the world (especially if you ever stop helping so much).

I was once literally physically attacked by an older woman I had been pressurized into helping because there had been a day where I'd been at work and my phone had run out of battery, and during the 2 hours without phone contact, she'd needed to discuss something with the person whose house she was cleaning, and she hadn't been able to get through to me. Suffice to say, that was the end of my helping ... now know how to say no. It goes against the grain for me, as generally am ridiculously sympathetic ... but the rules are different, and I didn't realise that.

Important to wise up. And with this crazy girl, some kind of enforced restraint is needed. Threat of police will hopefully do it. Oh - and the CUTTING OFF COMPLETELY. That is very important. Totally blanket refusal to answer calls, say hello to her on the street, etc. Sounds draconian, but that is again the form. That is what you must do to indicate that she has been zeroed from yr lives.

Life / Teenage Pregnancy in Poland [108]


nice


I'd rather sterilise people than kill babies ...

Life / Teenage Pregnancy in Poland [108]


The zygote is the one-celled organism that results from the fusion of the two gametes, ie, the very first fusion of the two. By the time anything is 'flushed out' (actually, hoovered out, if still hooverable, and if not, hauled) it is much much more than just one cell ... if you think that the D & C version of abortion is regularly used up to 12 weeks or so, and think about how big the fetus is then, we are not talking about one little fused cell. The baby is about 5 or 6 cm long, and has had a beating heart for some weeks. I saw both of my children on a scan at 8 weeks, and they were very much alive - bouncing around, moving, even though so very small. Life is unmistakable, and anyone who has seen a scan will not tell you they saw anything other than a live creature.

But I guess I shouldn't be boring about this. The point is, of course life begins at conception, it is quite ridiculous to try to hold to anything else, and so if this life is not wanted, then it shouldn't be created. If teens are getting pregnant, then their life will change forever, whether they have the baby, or an abortion. Abortions are no picnic. They are a death and the ensuing grief in themselves. Ask any woman who has had one. So absolutely vital that teenagers are locked up and not allowed alone together.

But what hope is there for them, especially in Poland with all that pûrn on the telly??

Life / Teenage Pregnancy in Poland [108]


Absolutely. Totally agree. They shouldn't need locking up if they have been taught respect for life, themselves, etc. ...


As far as the woman's hormonal system and the way her body is operating at 3 months into a pregnancy, to remove that pregnancy is catastrophic, and in a significantly large number of women, has serious and, in some cases, life-long effects. It is a very traumatic intervention, and to be avoided at all costs. And that is just in terms of the woman's wellbeing. As for the unborn child, will have to beg to differ on when it becomes a life to be protected. Most women's bodies would tell you from the moment of conception. You are a guy ...

What is pretty heart-breaking, and at the core of this discussion really, is that whether or not the unborn child is considered of value and a child depends entirely on the circumstances of the parents. So, it is convenient in a teen pregnancy to say 'it isn't a baby', but when someone has been desperate for a child and paid thousands for IVF, they are cracking the champagne and crying with joy when they see it a few stages after zygote in a petri dish.

Re: this question here, though, a new one:
Is it ok to be pregnant and a teenager in Poland?

Because I actually think there is more tolerance of it in Poland, as women are generally much younger when they have children, and getting married/having kids at 20 or 21 isn't such a big deal, so a couple of years earlier isn't so bad.

Life / Teenage Pregnancy in Poland [108]


Erm, afraid you are wrong there. The 1968 abortion act is constantly and deliberately circumvented in order to offer abortion, and it is a big business. Can't quite believe how naive you sound. (In the UK, abortion if not on medical grounds is only supposed to be carried out if signed off by two doctors who have seen the patient, and if it will cause more psychological or physical harm to the woman if she were to have the baby ... actually, in abortion clinics frequently women don't see any doctor, and they don't even have the procedure explained to them. Post abortion, as they lie crying, etc, they are told to be quiet in case the ones coming in hear them ... and that is just the tip of the iceberg.)

Sorry, but I think only those who have been through the procedure are really in a position to be able to judge what it is or isn't. And it certainly isn't something I would want any teenage daughter of mine to go through.

So if Poland judges that teen pregnancy is better than teen abortion, I think I am with them.

Life / Teenage Pregnancy in Poland [108]


Again, not quite right ... rather for all who are told it is the 'sensible' option, and are too young/naive/inexperienced to understand even what they are doing, until it is too late ... for people who trust that system, and do what seems to be the suggested best option. Let's face it, almost everyone talking here also thinks that if a young person gets pregnant in an unplanned way, then the pregnancy should be removed - isn't that what the whole 'flushing out a zygote' means? So ... no, not at all just people who ask. People who are conditioned, and often pushed, in this direction. Of course some also ask, but a lot are just doing what they are told.

Again, I think that especially in Poland, it is fine to be pregnant and a teenager, if that situation occurs. Families are child-orientated, everyone has children if they can, and they have them young.

It also means there isn't a generation or several of deeply depressed 30-40 something women with no children, and desperate for them, as in the UK ... I think I'd rather be mother to a 16 year old at 34 than sobbing my heart out into a glass of chardonnay, as the unlucky ones do ...

Life / Teenage Pregnancy in Poland [108]


Wow, everything is so simple and clear-cut, isn't it?
Has it ever, ever crossed your mind that information is one thing, and experience another?


We are all entitled to an opinion. Mine happens to be based on experience. So please don't be so rude and call it 'tosh'. Frankly it has a better foundation than your posturing. And getting away from topic.

Life / Teenage Pregnancy in Poland [108]


Have you had a sex change?

Life / Why is circumcision not practiced in Poland? [701]

Saw a pic of a circumcised ahem appendage recently and it was all labelled up, in medical fashion. One label, pointing to a jagged-looking ridge of scar tissue, said 'Scar'.

Call me crazy, but it really didn't look good, and I would question a procedure that mutilates someone's arguably most vulnerable part in this way ... sorry to say mutilate, but it did look a bit drastic ...

Life / Why is circumcision not practiced in Poland? [701]


It sounds like it might have some health benefits re: in particular the HPV which can cause all sorts of awful things.

However, as a female, I will put up my hand to say that I prefer the uncut, uncensored, untouched version ... sorry ... perhaps that should be the next discussion ...

Life / Things that annoy you in Poland. [114]

I hate the mixture of snow and dog sh*t ... really hate that dog sh*t. And the old ladies who stand holding the little red leads of their tiny pooches as they relieve themselves everywhere ... and then when the snow MELTS ... jeez ...

Life / Why are Polish so conservative and religious? [240]


The most important point. And the liberals came over here first, and were my first wave of Polish friends, and then the rest came over later, and gave me rather a shock ...

Life / Why is circumcision not practiced in Poland? [701]


Yeah, I have to say that I imagined the ones saying that circumcision is the absolutely necessary thing to make the otherwise naturally-imperfect male PERFECT, are the ones who unfortunately, when they were tiny babies with only their parents to protect them, were handed over for the snipping.

I am really sorry that happens. At least the practice could be changed so that boys only do it aged 18 plus, with consent (of course!!) ... and the signature of two (impartial) doctors ...

So yep, trying to convince us all that Poland is backwards because they don't do that to babies routinely and don't exert cultural pressure on all parents to do that to their little boys is ... not gonna work, really.

End of thread.

Life / Why are Polish so conservative and religious? [240]


The Poles I know who have pûrn on a big screen TV while little kids and grandmas are running around/sitting on the sofa (respectively) right in front of the telly don't seem so uptight ...

Life / You are Polish if... [433]


absolutely. and if:

you truly believe that not wearing slippers is far more likely to kill you than smoking 40 Russian-made Marlborough Red a day
you hold firmly that children can only safely eat ice cream if it has first been microwaved
you secretly believe Coca Cola is a natural vegetable drink with significant health benefits
you know for a fact that lard with fried onions, kept in an old jam jar out on the balcony, is a delicious and nutritious snack

you own an undernourished yorkshire terrier, and regularly kiss it on the mouth ...

... oh, and so much more. But don't get me started on what it is to be ENGLISH ... ; )

Language / Is the term 'Polak' derogatory?? [254]

Not in Polish. But if you say it in English ... yes, it is totally derogatory, and especially if preceded by 'effing' ...

Life / You are Polish if... [433]

and if ...

you have a home-made attachment for you vacuum cleaner for hoovering out the noses of your children

...

(I think that one deserves a line all of its own ; )

Life / Why is circumcision not practiced in Poland? [701]


I was only trying to put my point across, as well - that apart from the health and medical benefits, there are other considerations. The point about Poland is just that this discussion is clearly angled towards 'Poland is backwards/somehow prejudiced because it doesn't circumcise its males routinely, as part of its national institution' - and I was siding with Poland, because I can see some strong reasons for not doing it.

Let's face it ... however much medical evidence is proposed (and there is always counter-evidence), the main issue is one of culture. And the sub-text of this whole discussion is something along the lines of 'Is Poland's refusal to circumcise, despite the obvious health benefits of this practice, not yet another example of its racism/anti-semitism/imperialism?' ... isn't it?

And I was just saying: maybe they don't circumcise because they don't like the idea of it, and it's unnatural, and seems rather cruel? And not because they are anti-semetic?


I should hope not, especially given the health risks ...

Love / What am i to do knowing i can't get to see my Polish daughter [10]


I'm afraid he's right.

Everyone will just say how awful your ex is, and how it is not fair. But also, they will be right. It isn't fair. And you are being so fair - 600 quid a month in Poland is like £2K in the UK.

You are giving your all totally selflessly at the moment, and risking your life every second. I'd agree that your daughter has the absolute right to know and love her daddy, who is an amazing person. Nobody can deny you or her that.

I think you have to just ignore the ex trying to get you out of the picture, and try not to be hurt by it. You must keep visiting - just take no notice of her saying you don't need to, or you don't speak Polish, etc. And as for interrupting exams - 6 year olds don't have exams.

But also, when you get back to Germany, I think you need maybe to get sorted with some kind of permanent arrangement.

Looks like the only way you will get to see your baby is if you spend time often in Poland.

I know someone who goes every other weekend to see his kid in another country. He has a small flat in that country, and he always goes. And sometimes his kid comes over here to stay with him. You need an arrangement like that.

She hasn't actually tried to stop you yet - she's trying to put you off. But don't be put off.

I don't know what else to say really, because I just feel so much for you out there. You deserve all the support anyone can give you - not someone putting you off. But I guess if you can face Afghanistan, you can face this. Good luck.

Life / Why is circumcision not practiced in Poland? [701]


I don't think you really meant that.

Are you American by any chance? Because my response above was actually a joke. I was joking about not forcing an uncircumcised item down someone's throat, especially given the health risks.


You get root canals because of tooth decay. You get wisdom teeth pulled because of similar problems. Do you really think that a healthy foreskin needs removing like a rotten tooth ... blimey. I am sticking with the Polish guys here. In their entirety! Even if we all get balanitis and die ... we're all going to anyhow, however many preventative medical procedures we have ...

Have as nice a day as one can have, given our mortal circumstances ...

Life / You are Polish if... [433]

Pawian, I hope you are joking about the nose-hoover ... I really do ...

And another one:

You are Polish if you become physically excited at the thought of car boot sales on rainy Sundays.

Life / You are Polish if... [433]

You are an English girl if ...

You order a double-vodka and orange in a Polish bar.

When your guy gets drunk and throws up, you stroke his hair and tell him you love him.

Sometimes your shoes don't match your nail varnish.


With a real hoover, on full power? Or with the puffing device? Please say not with the hoover plugged in ...

Life / Why is circumcision not practiced in Poland? [701]


I still feel that likening the removal of the foreskin to having a bad tooth removed (forget the wisdom teeth - of course I know they go for a number of reasons, not just decay) - and likening the Polish attachment to the foreskin as a 'superstition', and their 'refusal' to listen to good advice a 'bad habit' - is a very loaded way of talking about this ... and, as someone else said, it isn't just Poland - this is how Europeans generally view the subject.

I think what you are saying is that it is backwards and verging on the dangerous not to see the facts for what they are and oblige families to have this done as routine. Which is fine. That is your opinion, and it is a reasonable one. I think the issue, though, is to do with cultural practice - the business of circumcision is heavily allied to certain cultures, and has been almost forever ... see, for example, Shakespeare, where Othello talks of how he had an altercation with with 'Turk' once, and 'took by the throat / The circumcised dog, and smote him, thus ...' .

These sensitivities are probably the most interesting part of the discussion as far as the Polish angle is concerned.

My comment that I prefer the natural version is simply that - a comment. There are lots of things that it would be more sensible for me to do, but sometimes one has to express one's unfettered appreciation of something beautiful. At the risk of sharing too much, I think the operation of the foreskin is poetry in motion, and it makes me sad to think of that being interrupted. But you're right - probably much more sensible to chop it off. Actually, my brother is one of those very adults you speak of, who opted to have it removed due to problems, and is glad he did - but perhaps the important thing here is that is was his choice, as an adult. To be fair, babies and small boys aren't given the choice. Which is why in a previous comment I suggested the fairest thing might be for only 18+ men to do this, of their own free will. Hopefully they wouldn't have been excessively sexually active before this point, and given lots of women cervical cancer.

And my comment about how nice a day one can have, given our mortal limitation, wasn't sarcastic, actually. It was another pretty sad reflection. To be honest, not sure whether I'd rather have more time, and no foreskins in the world, or less time, and foreskins. It all adds up to the same in the end. We have a time limit. I guess up to us what we do within the time.

Life / Why is circumcision not practiced in Poland? [701]

I'm sure Dodgefan might have something clinical and appropriate.

Actually, Urszula is right: why bother with just chopping the end off - why not the whole lot? Problem then totally solved!

Dodgefan? Is that not an indisputable argument? Is that not the absolutely safest way to ensure none of us ever have any medical problems or illnesses or anything unpleasant as a result of contact with such a thing? Given that your argument for circumcision is that the foreskin causes problems, would not so many more problems be solved by total removal of the entire item??

History / The story about German- Polish reconciliation [194]

Oh, come on - the Poles really quite love the Germans. It is not even so secret a love. Look at all the Mercedes and BMWs in Poland ... Poland wants to be Germany. It doesn't want to be Russia.

Life / Why is circumcision not practiced in Poland? [701]


Are you crazy?

How many of the 10 women are going to prefer the one with the sleeve that covers the end UNTIL the (great) moment when the end decides to come out ... and then the fun begins. And afterwards, it goes nicely back into its (specially designed, protective, neat, tidy) cover, until required for use again.

as opposed to ...

one that is always out, always naked, regardless of whether it wants to be or not, and can never reveal itself, or retreat, as that option, and mystery, has all been taken away from it.

And one that has (by all accounts) a jagged ridge of scar tissue all around it. Wounded.

It is designed to come out when it is ready, and go back when it is done. Simple. Effective. Cool.

Even if I was 1 out of 10, I wouldn't care.
But I don't think I would be.