Off-Topic / The "Anglicization" of Europe [132]


Then learn the local language. I really hate it when native English speakers complain about foreigners who are willing to go the extra mile to help them.

Genealogy / Birth in Lviv in 1926: Polish or Ukrainian nationality? [29]

diffen.com/difference/Ethnicity_vs_Race

Genealogy / Birth in Lviv in 1926: Polish or Ukrainian nationality? [29]


Ethnicity

Genealogy / Wrong age on 4 marriage certificates [9]

Did any civil registration records from the town your grandparents were from survive the war? Those records are far more accurate than any church book entry.

History / Warsaw Rising 1944 - National Disaster or Triumph of Spirit ? [395]

Well, most people think "Holocaust" when they hear "SS". It's a bit more complicated than that.

History / Warsaw Rising 1944 - National Disaster or Triumph of Spirit ? [395]

Only until the end of April 1942. After that the SS-Postschutz was part of the Waffen-SS.

History / Warsaw Rising 1944 - National Disaster or Triumph of Spirit ? [395]


Did you know that every new postal worker under the age of 35 was automatically a member of the SS? New employees had to join the so-called Postschutz, which was part of the SS organization.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postschutz

Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]

Blessing some water?

History / Modern myths and legends about communist past in Poland [227]

Thanks, Pawian. Interestingly, the East Germans below the age of 65 couldn't travel to the west either, unless they were high(er) ranking party members. Much like the Czechs and Romanians for example. Seems the Poles were comparatively lucky in that respect.

Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]

Antoni Wiwulski?

History / Modern myths and legends about communist past in Poland [227]

Speaking of transportation: I always wondered how the Polish communist government managed to get past the Soviets and let their citizens travel to and work in the West. Just remembered the fully loaded Polski Fiats on the highways.

Life / Political correctness in Poland [210]

Dunno, that seems to be a stretch.

Life / Political correctness in Poland [210]


So why do some people consider it racist, as Ziemowit claimed? I find this whole PC thing rather annoying, I have to admit. The latest and greatest here in the US is the so-called "cultural appropriation". When white kids wear dreadlocks for example, some clowns think that's offensive because it supposedly copies black culture. The world has gone mad.

Life / Political correctness in Poland [210]


As I said: nowadays it's considered offensive, but up until the 1980's nobody would even care. The same word was used in Dutch as well by the way, and in several other languages, too. The political correctness is a child of the 2000's. It goes too far very often.

Life / Political correctness in Poland [210]

Similar thing happened in Germany. A company had to rename their "Negerkuss" product (French: tête de nègre) to "Schokokuss" (Chocolate kiss) because a few people had complained that it was offensive. I can't see how an established, rather harmless word that dates back way over a century can all of a sudden become "racist".

History / Modern myths and legends about communist past in Poland [227]

They are in B/W because color film was very hard to find and even harder to get developed in those days.

History / Modern myths and legends about communist past in Poland [227]


What about clothing, shoes, and such? Why wasn't it possible to buy certain simple food items without lining up for half a day?


That is very true. I remember the mandatory 1:1 conversion of Deutsch Mark to (East German) Mark and also the "entrance fee" you had to pay when you wanted to visit East Berlin. The taxi drivers over there loved it when you paid them in DM because the black market demanded hard currency.

Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]

I'm not familiar with European species, but as a wild guess: Birch Bolete (Leccinum scabrum).

History / Modern myths and legends about communist past in Poland [227]


It wasn't. The apparatschiks pretended to be successful, but the people never saw the results. Lines at grocery stores, empty shelves, a decade waiting time for a crappy car ... you name it ... while the surplus (if there actually was one) was often shipped to the USSR or some proxies like Cuba, Angola or Vietnam.


That was probably more a political decision as they wanted to avoid "westernization" of their populace.


Which is why it came crashing down in the end.

Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]

That looks like a bolete.

History / Modern myths and legends about communist past in Poland [227]


Quotas were always exceeded - at least on paper. The party leaders needed something to celebrate and pat themselves on the shoulder.

History / Modern myths and legends about communist past in Poland [227]


Well, they concentrated on the fields that their central planning told them to focus on. The economic activities within the COMECON were coordinated and based on each members' Five-year Plan, if I recall correctly.

Off-Topic / Social Media - who uses Facebook or similar? [45]

Yes. Please read post #6.

Life / Everything this guy says I feel about Poland [69]


Why would they have to change? Just because a certain behavior is the norm in Anglo-American countries doesn't mean that others have to copy it. Think of the queueing in Britain. Time-honored tradition. Now try the same in France and you will see how far your manners get you. After 10,000 people have skipped the line you will capitulate... :)

Life / Everything this guy says I feel about Poland [69]

@Miloslaw

Why do you say that? Interpersonal behavior that is expected in the Anglosphere is considered strange elsewhere. That's the main reason why Brits and Americans believe that the French, Dutch, Germans and Poles are rude for example.

Life / Everything this guy says I feel about Poland [69]



It's a cultural thing. In the US for example, people will smile at you all the time, wishing you a great day while being over the top friendly. Especially in restaurants and shops. If you do the same in central European countries, people will think you have a screw loose. They consider such behavior fake and shallow.

News / 'Fort Trump' Military Base in Poland [537]


Are you saying that the Americans are in Poland to protect the country from a German attack? Sorry, but ... ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ...


What about the expats living in Poland? I believe that everyone is capable of learning a second or third language. The question is, are you willing to.

News / 'Fort Trump' Military Base in Poland [537]

@Miloslaw and Lyzko

Come on guys, how good are your Serbian language skills that you are in the position to make fun of Crow's English?

News / 'Fort Trump' Military Base in Poland [537]

I quoted your president and his useless administration, you goon. Is asking whether Mexico has already paid for the wall as promised also considered "hate" in the twisted mind of a right-winger? Or when one asks why self-proclaimed patriots believe that America isn't great and we need Trump to make it great again?

It would be in Poland's best interest not to trust anything that comes from the current American administration. They can only lose with this president.

News / 'Fort Trump' Military Base in Poland [537]

You disagree with your president all of a sudden? Tsk, tsk.


Anger issues?