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Posts by Matowy  

Joined: 4 Jul 2009 / Male ♂ 		Last Post: 5 Jul 2010
Threads: -
Posts: Total: 294 / Live: 229 / Archived: 65 		From: United Kingdom.
Speaks Polish?: Only a little. Maybe 2% or so.
Interests: Few and far between.

Displayed posts: 229 / page 3 of 8
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Matowy   
4 Mar 2010
Life / COMBATING "POLACK" JOKES [460]

Even with modern technology and heightened social mobility, people can still find ways to be ignorant.
Matowy   
5 Mar 2010
Feedback / No joke, but how do I LOG OUT? [19]

You cannot escape.

But really, come to think of it I do not even know... if you use Firefox then a last resort measure is to:

Leave this page

Go to Tools > Clear Recent History > Make sure ''Cookies'' is checked > OK

This will erase all your website history, and clear stored usernames, passwords and form information (so don't use it unless you have all your internet info committed to memory). It will also log you out.
Matowy   
5 Mar 2010
Law / Using Paypal to send money to Poland [12]

Paypal deducts money for international transfers (sometimes), and the amount it deducts is something around 4% or so. This is reasonable compared to the standard rate of most banks.

I have managed to sometimes prevent Paypal from deducting this fee, by sending money in the same currency as it will be received as. I.e. sending USD to a Polish Paypal account will convert the money into PLN (this is what costs, I think) but sending zł to a Polish Paypal MIGHT not deduct any money at all. This is very hard to determine, because sometimes it does deduct and sometimes it doesn't. I don't know why.

EDIT: If you want to compensate for the deduction fee, then simply add 5% to whatever it is you will send. I trade on Paypal quite often, and usually I end up short if anything less than an extra 5% is sent.
Matowy   
6 Mar 2010
News / Mass immigration to Poland - article and response [479]

Britain should send them all back. Europe is for Europeans, not for Africans.

Similarly, Africa is for Africans, not for Europeans:

Europeans did eventually leave Africa, after they had raped it of resources and labour, that is.
Matowy   
7 Mar 2010
Love / Long-distance attraction. I am attracted to a Polish guy. [42]

In my opinion, being direct in this situation would pay off. You're both busy adults with little time to waste on games, and with this physical separation things can deteriorate FAST. Tell him what you feel, ask if he is interested... time is of the essence.
Matowy   
7 Mar 2010
Life / Mixed race girl in Poland, good idea? [149]

...but spoke about Poles and I wonder who these Poles want make a good impression on? The very people they don't like?

Different cultures will exhibit racism differently, even if they have the same amount of racism. He was commenting on the way in which racism is expressed in Poland. In some places, racism is subtle, and in others it is blatant, but ultimately it can be simplified into; some people are racist, some aren't.

I think it has little to do with where someone is from, as much as it is to do with what someone is like. There are good and bad people from every place, and there are open-minded and small-minded people from every place as well.
Matowy   
7 Mar 2010
Life / Mixed race girl in Poland, good idea? [149]

I don't deny that there are some REAL racists in Poland. But most of this so-called famous Polish racism is just a misunderstanding on the border of cultures and languages.

I don't agree. I've heard incredibly liberal, cultured, sometimes gay Poles from Warsaw casually drop extremely racist terminology in their speech with such stunning ease, and I don't mean words like "black" or "brown". These are people I would categorize as "open-minded". "Brown" is not a racial or ethnic designation anywhere, so it's not really racist to refer to someone in that way; it's mostly just rude. "Black" however, is a racial designation, so nobody bats an eyelid if someone is referred to as "black".
Matowy   
7 Mar 2010
Travel / Poland from a Persian Tourist's Perspective [269]

I have thought that Persia no longer exists?
Isnt it called Iran now?

Yes, but the people are still referred to as "Persian". They get rather pissy about it, actually. The language can also be called "Persian".
Matowy   
7 Mar 2010
Life / Mixed race girl in Poland, good idea? [149]

According to Western standards. You judge them by standards of other culture. This is racists.

I stressed "liberal, cultured, from Warsaw" for a reason, and they are mostly more knowledgeable about the world than I am. They DO know what they're saying, and aware that their casual terminology carries with it incredibly hateful connotation, they just don't seem to care. I don't often discuss topics of racism with the average Pole, so I don't know about general attitudes. I simply note that some of the most intelligent, liberal and worldly people I've ever known that are from Poland have no issues with being racist.

Seriously though - I don't pretend that we are innocent island of tolerance in the racist world. I simply state that even developing racism takes time. We never got that time.
Maybe in 20 years we become a racist nation - who knows?

Racism is not an acquired viewpoint, it is quite primitive and natural, hence why it is so common. Poland may not have racial stereotypes yet, but it's perfectly possible for someone to hold prejudices based on race.
Matowy   
7 Mar 2010
Travel / Poland from a Persian Tourist's Perspective [269]

The irony of life, Darius, there is indeed a member of this forum who is seems very racist ( an understatement) and who bears almost the same "name " as yours , he probably does not know that Darius is a typical Persian name and neither does he know where and what Persia is !
It is really funny!

There are two very racist members here who share his name, actually. ;) One has the exact same name, the other has the Polish equivalent.
Matowy   
7 Mar 2010
Travel / Poland from a Persian Tourist's Perspective [269]

You're right As I mentioned earlier we prefer the word Persian over Iranian.

I had heard that story before, but I was under the impression it was a bit fabricated. "Persia" sounds so much nicer, they should change the name back =/
Matowy   
7 Mar 2010
Life / Mixed race girl in Poland, good idea? [149]

Once more - they are racists in your eyes, and by your standards. They don't seems to have any problems with "racists" remarks simply because they are not racists in their own eyes.
Just for one second try to understand that your point of view is not the only one that exist.

There is no point of view to be had on it. I haven't even told you what terminology they use. It is not ambiguous terms like "black" or "coloured", it is VERY extreme terminology that implies hate and disgust. Someone who refers to gay people as "faggots" is referring to them with a derogatory name that implies hate, no matter if you're from Poland or San Francisco.
Matowy   
7 Mar 2010
Work / Learning Polish in Olsztyn... crazy prices for private lessons. [27]

I don't agree that you need to spend money to learn Polish. The internet is a more valuable resource than any book or DVD, because it gives you several perspectives while a book will only give you one. Plus you are living in Poland. If you can make some friends there, I'm sure they will help you with your studies.

It feels a bit silly advising this to someone living in Poland, but if you build up a contact list of Polish people in your Skype or MSN, it can be really helpful to have casual conversations, and you can ask them for simple help and pronunciations if you're stuck on understanding something online.
Matowy   
7 Mar 2010
Life / Mixed race girl in Poland, good idea? [149]

If there are black people living in Poland, then yes, it can be used to insult.

Btw - single out and ridicule is not racism according to The Great Polish Code of Conduct. :-)
Its good fun

Let's not be naive here. Racial slurs are just words, and they carry no venom in them on their own. Those words are used, however, to denote a dislike, disdain, or disapproval towards a certain group. There is no line in the sand here, that is simply how they are used. Use these words enough times, even if they carry no ill-will and are just for "fun" then you give the impression to yourself and others that it's OK to dislike a certain group, because the way in which you refer to them is derogatory. Derogatory language is what we use when we want to dehumanize any sort of group, especially in war time as it is then easier to kill them without immediate remorse.
Matowy   
7 Mar 2010
UK, Ireland / Photos about Polish Newcastle [4]

I know two Polish girls in Newcastle, but looking at these pictures, I think they are too young to be hanging out in those places ;)
Matowy   
7 Mar 2010
Life / Mixed race girl in Poland, good idea? [149]

That simply because as a Polish I see no shame in the fact that somebody is black. For that reason I can't see nothing wrong in describing somebody as such. And I've never said this is nice. The same way - describing some overweight person as "fatty" wouldn't be nice. But we are not talking about what is nice and what is not. We are talking about racism.

I have already said that the word "black" is not remotely racist in most contexts, as it is both a method of identification and a racial designation. In the UK you will find it on any form that asks you to state your ethnicity.

In my eyes (and I think I can speak in the name of majority of Poles) - racism is not about being nice or not. It's not about name-calling, liking or disliking. Racism started when someone dehumanize some group of people and deny them a status and right of human. This is non-existent in Polish culture.

No, that de-humanization is a specific type of modern racism that came about through slavery and pseudo-scientific ideologies such as Nazism. It is not the sole definition of racism, and certainly did not begin there.

And Matowy - I also think there is nothing wrong if someone dislike certain people or group of people. You don't have to love all the Humanity simply to prove that you are not racists.

There is most certainly something wrong with it. If I hate Polish people, simply because they're Polish, then I am basically saying that I hate 40 million people who I have never met based on next to nothing. There is nothing wrong with it in that it is personal choice, but you cannot say that it is right or proper.

The most common type of racism is assuming that someone's ethnicity determines what kind of person they are. This is obviously incorrect for reasons I don't even need to mention. This is not about "loving all humanity", it's about common sense and respect. It is both unintelligent and disrespectful to judge someone solely by their ethnicity. You can dislike them for all sorts of reasons, but race has got to be one of the dumbest reasons to not like someone.
Matowy   
7 Mar 2010
Travel / Poland from a Persian Tourist's Perspective [269]

The Sun is a HUGE symbol in esoteric mystic traditions symbolizing the great single one divine Being. Our Western concept of "God' doesn't come close to the significance of this "Sun" god. It is a very widespread and powerful symbol of divinity.
Matowy   
8 Mar 2010
USA, Canada / Dual citizenship - US doesn't care if you don't give up Polish passport [103]

Yea... but it's an oath. An OATH.

As long as this remains the 21'st Century +, I don't think an oath is going to matter. At all. It's pretty crazy that a modern country like the U.S still does oaths. The Pledge of Allegiance is nothing short of fascist, in my opinion.
Matowy   
8 Mar 2010
Life / Mixed race girl in Poland, good idea? [149]

French are nation of lovers.
Germans like everything clean and in order.
Czech are laid back - they love beer.
Italians are noisy and hot-tempered.
Poles are great at improvisation.
Gypsies are travelers and musicians.
Nigerians are good at marathons.

Which of this statement is racists and why?

Those are national stereotypes. Not racist, just poorly conceived.

You see - Matowy. You can't deny that people are different.

Never have done. I don't divide people based on country or ethnicity, though. I divide them based on personal merit. I realise that people who are lazy and naive like to divide the world into black and white extremes, but that is not how I choose to do things.

Western culture in order to fight "racism" pretend that all people are the same, robbing them of identity and individlity. Basically - the Political Correct answer to racism is: "Lets pretend that we all are white".

Race is a superficial detail, so I fail to see how it factors into "individuality" except as a fashion statement. In fact, conforming to standards set by your country or ethnicity is the very epitome of non-individuality. If some people are so boring and lifeless that they need to derive identity and sense of self from their country or ethnicity, then I would name that person a simplistic fool, and nothing less.

In Poland we see it other way. People are different and shall be proud of it. That is why we are freely call black guy a black. We expect him to being proud of it. Exactly the same way that I am a proud white Pole.

I have repeatedly stated that the word "black" is something inoffensive and acceptable as a common term to describe a black person. I do not know why you keep bringing it up.
Matowy   
8 Mar 2010
Life / Mixed race girl in Poland, good idea? [149]

Matowy - until you decide to stay on topic an refrain of expressing your opinions about myself - I consider discussion with you as closed.

I have expressed no opinions about you thus far.

Being rude, offensive and aggressive is not the same as being racist. Being nice and kind doesn't equal of being tolerant and open-minded. I am sorry, I have to repeat this. Few post ago I described precisely my understanding of phenomena of "racism".

That would be why I said this on the last page:

I think it has little to do with where someone is from, as much as it is to do with what someone is like. There are good and bad people from every place, and there are open-minded and small-minded people from every place as well.

Matowy   
8 Mar 2010
Life / Mixed race girl in Poland, good idea? [149]

In India there are "lower castes". In Japan - Buraku communities. They looks exactly like the rest of the population.

From an external perspective there are no visible differences. An Indian or Japanese person would be able to look at someone and immediately determine their caste from ethnic features and skin tone + colour. Incidentally, the lower castes have the darkest skin, and the higher ones have the lightest. If anything, the Indian caste system is everything to do with colour. Black Americans also get better general treatment if their skin tone is light, as opposed to an African type black.

Therefore a real racism is rather new idea in Poland.

Then why does Poland have a reputation for being a bad place for black people to visit? Even this thread is evidence of that.

Except some loony-psychos, this situation is non-existent in Poland. Even more - It never existed in the past.

A narrow textbook definition of a certain type of racism. That is not the entire definition of racism, it only describes a certain kind that has risen in the West through slavery and Nazism.
Matowy   
8 Mar 2010
Life / Mixed race girl in Poland, good idea? [149]

In our tradition (Polish, Catholic - I am not sure how to call it) there is no room for real racism.

That is so incredibly flawed. First you distort the definition of racism to mean only "considering others sub-human", then assert that since Poland is a Catholic country, nobody can be considered sub-human, therefore racism is not possible.

!!!
Matowy   
8 Mar 2010
Life / Mixed race girl in Poland, good idea? [149]

Your definition of racism is (as I presume) when somebody express contempt or dislikes someone of other race. Too broad IMHO.

You presume wrong. Racism is a prejudice directed towards people of a specific or broad ethnic group. Further meanings can include prejudice based on culture, nationality, or stereotype enforcement.
Matowy   
8 Mar 2010
Life / Mixed race girl in Poland, good idea? [149]

According to this definition - calling somebody "Czarnuch" .

I have no commentary upon that word, as I have not lived in Poland and do not know its context. If I ever meet a black Polish person, though, I'll be sure to call them "Czarnuch", if it really is as innocent as you say it is.