Language / Polish was chosen the HARDEST LANGUAGE in the world to learn... :D [1558]


Not quite on the first.
You must learn to distinguish dysorthorgaphia from misspelled words on keyboard or even haste. Thanks for a smart-ass comment.

Pofficer: I admit that that my post you took excerpts from was written lousy, due to haste. Try to focus on the message then;)

Law / Residency decision letter vs residency card and Poland Visa D [9]

Usually you are noticed by mail that the permit is issued and ready. You must come and pick it up. Issuing shouldn't take more than 4 weeks. The decission takes up to 8 weeks.

Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]


That's probably the issue. But I know a few exceptions that may keep the balance :)


I'd put it for his lack of awareness and no knowledge of intercultural differences. He probably intended it to mean: "oh, so you must already know a lot by now" - without meaning anything wrong. What he didn't know was that it could've sounded exactly like you recieved it. And (I'm almost afraid to ask)... did you leave him any tip? :))))

Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]


I see it was nice but it surely happens in Poland also. But not so often, that's true. Most common reason: not well qualified bartenders (or should I rather write "drink pourers").

Life / Do you think a smoking ban would be a good thing in Polish restaurants and Bars? [217]


- only the scale of it is different. Looking at a bigger picture you should go and sue heavy industry companies. Don't compare traffic and using cars to smoking in this context as this makes the argument illogical.


- illogical conclusion, sorry. I know you can make a real argument for smoking so stop making wrong conclusions.

Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]

Thanks a lot FUZZYWICKETS for that explaination!
I'd say more bartenders like that (professional) in Poland and it will be perfect.

Off-Topic / ANYONE HEAR A STRANGE NOISE IN WARSAW....? [45]


Dude! Seriously?

Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]


Well yes, but any way it looks better, doesn't it? When you're a regular client and every 4th, 5th or whichever is on house then you feel better. And I hope they do not pour water to cocktails - not to good customers. It may be naive, I know, but I'm sure it's not like that everywhere.

Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]


I really like that idea! The staff is pleased with tips, and you are pleased with 4th one on the house. Super! I haven't noticed that in Poland unfortunately (only once maybe, in a Poznań bar)

Life / Do you think a smoking ban would be a good thing in Polish restaurants and Bars? [217]


I really do not see a reasonable point here, sorry. At what point they invade your rights? What rights? Breathing your air?!
It truely is ridiculous to use so large cars (usually carrying one person inside), [b]but [/b]I guess that the petrol prices will regulate that sooner or later...

Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]

I don't think they'd be surprised. It is common in Poland. But not common to everybody to give tips. 10-20% is my standard too.

Life / Do you think a smoking ban would be a good thing in Polish restaurants and Bars? [217]

Check this out:
buzzfeed.com/henrymichel/new-french-anti-tobacco-ad-2n6
It subconsciously changes the perspective of how smokers are percieved:))


- well I do have such right. Gods-given actually:)). I am only not allowed to enter Area 51 as far as I know.


Am I really THAT bad:)).
Not quite - I don't go to places where people smoke and then demand to clear the atmosphere and stop smoking. I agree to that when I enter a place! I only wish they were more civilised i.e. not smokey, and you can do it by putting good smoke absorbers or this unpopular ban. I see your points, really. But since smokers are very subjective I'll keep my right do do the same and be subjective too. So do not imply such things, ok?

Following your logics, smokers do invade my rights when they smoke in private areas. Can non-smokers do that? Nope. So not to abuse ANYONE'S rights it is reasonable to me to regulate by law (to some extent) the places where people can and cannot smoke.

...or I can be around people who smoke Camels, Z_Darius :))) - that's a good one. Check my link - there is Lucky Strike ad too.

cheers

Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]

So for normal, decent service how much would an American tip in Poland?

Life / Do you think a smoking ban would be a good thing in Polish restaurants and Bars? [217]


If.

Ok, but when you're at a pub it's far from minimal.

I'd really be more supporting of private rights of bar owners, but can anyone suggest a better solution? Since I don't see one, I am for this one. I don't feel I should only have an option to stay at home (this would contribute to lower income of pub owners:)! ) or stay in thick smoke. Maybe it'll be best to install a good, efficient ventillation where possible.

Life / Do you think a smoking ban would be a good thing in Polish restaurants and Bars? [217]


Well, this report puts smoking on the 3rd position, but it is one that is caused deliberately. Sure ischaemic heart diseases can be caused by bad cholesterol levels but ALSO by smoking. That elevates smoking in that ranking. I could go on, but I know that you know smoking is bad:) for health and there's no point in arguing it is not actually so bad, don't you think?

I'll give you a final argument: it stinks! :))


Tried that. Well, not my problem to have to stand in freezing weather in order to smoke. I'll be waiting inside and having funn in meantime. Way better than having them blow their smoke on me.

Language / What are some loanwords in the Polish language? [24]

I had once in my hands a dictionary of loanwords from Arabic. Very enriching reading.
Generally most words beginning with al- come from Arabic. Algebra, alcohol, some geographical names (Gibraltar from gabal at-Tarik ) and cities (Alhambra, Spain), algorythm, tarrif/taryfa, hazard, calliber and loads of others

Life / Do you think a smoking ban would be a good thing in Polish restaurants and Bars? [217]


Listen, I'm not always trying to prove my point, this being an example. You implied it and that was what I concluded from your post, bearing in mind the relevancy to the topic. And I was asking further that's all. Where did I say you are wrong etc. :))


Maybe it was a perticularly clear sky and they wanted to see the stars. Every country has its customs. I wouldn't be sitting outside in freezing cold, anyway not when I went out to have fun. Or maybe it wasn't so cold. But that's just me:)

Life / Do you think a smoking ban would be a good thing in Polish restaurants and Bars? [217]


Ok, but when was it really? >2008? Do you think that the global economic crash started in the US that has hit Europe around fall 2008 did not have bigger impact on the fact you are mentioning?


- well that's a serious addiction!

Life / Do you think a smoking ban would be a good thing in Polish restaurants and Bars? [217]


I see your point, but what then is a democratic republic?


Yes, I've checked:). It is very interesting, thanks.
BTW: the name spells with either f or v, more often f I guess, but there are also other spelling versions of it.


I don't think so. 70.000 people die every year of smoking-related deseases.

I agree that it's possible to manipulate statistics/surveys. But I also wouldn't undermine this one. I assume it was done professionally i.e. objectively (just my hope).

And about fatty foods and alcohol: both these things are not affecting other people as smoking is. Paraphrasing the perfect metaphore put before in the thread: Cigarettes create smoke, beer creates urine. If someone smokes, and this smoke gets to some non-smoking bloke sitting in the cafe and drinking his beer, should he then go and **** on you? Silly, brutal, shocking but gives a perspective, doesn't it.


I can try but do some hard work first:
1. When was the ban imposed?
2. Is it a total ban or similar to the one passed yesterday evening in Poland (a "ban" that gives even more freedom than now actually, e.g. smoking in schools, hospitals etc.)?

3. 50 pubs in England? If you count how many there are being opened at the same time then maybe there's a balance.

Why would smokers stop going to pubs? Why should they?? They will just go out every now and then for a smoke, that's it. Not much harm and the non-smoking company is happy too.

UK, Ireland / Polish people in the UK using the English version of their name? [56]


Hopefully not pronounced with silent 'g' ???

The tendency to use other language's equivalents of first names is rather old-fashioned.

One of my favourites are: German name Ruprecht and Swedish: Björn.

Life / Do you think a smoking ban would be a good thing in Polish restaurants and Bars? [217]


- harsh word, but an addict is an addict, maybe should be separated from the rest especially in restaurants etc.


- I really think the reason for closing down was somewhat different than this.


- majority of people, surveyed in Poland. Maybe it was a street survey - I could find it for you if you want...


Hmmm.Can you elaborate on this please?


- I'm happy to treat this "ban" as a kind of government's health policy. If bar proprietors decide to have a smoking bar, then I really don't mind.

Life / Do you think a smoking ban would be a good thing in Polish restaurants and Bars? [217]


Yees! Do that. We are planning to take over the control of the world and you would be a great asset to our alliance:)))

Anyway, if it is not a "majority position" then why according to surveys 80% people support the ban? Democracy is unfortunately about majorities (or false-majorities) deciding about all...

Life / Do you think a smoking ban would be a good thing in Polish restaurants and Bars? [217]

That's true. But I see it a step forward, not sideways or back. It has to be done, and not all places on Rynek are over 100sq metres. Those bigger ones, if they think of the market and respect their customers should've done it long time ago by themselves. Now this regulation will help them. I know anti-ban people here are going to object strongly after this post, but for me examples of other countries that imposed a similar ban is good. Anyway it is not as rigid as in other countries.

Check out this article:

and other sources in English:

"As publicans and anti-smoking campaigners battle over alleged extensions to the public ban on smoking, it's commerce vs. health in what is likely to see Poland become the 11th EU member state to ban smoking in bars and restaurants."

Life / Do you think a smoking ban would be a good thing in Polish restaurants and Bars? [217]


I do not believe in voting, however, it has just been approved by the Polish parliament that THE SMOKING BAN IS INTRODUCED.
Well, addicts, you shall adjust now to the majority.

... but it is not a total ban like originally proposed, so everyone will have it their way...

Life / 3 reasons why you hate Poland. [1049]

I'd object to the third one, but if you agree i'd exchange this for not-so-good quality of service.
On the other hand there are exceptionally good services in other places.

Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]


Yeah, and never take a leak from the windward side (every sailor knows that!)

But comming back to the matter...

Over the past couple of years I've been practising a habit of giving extraordinarily high tips (>30%) at the first visit in a place I liked and planned to come again. In most cases it also worked for me as a client later.

Language / Polish was chosen the HARDEST LANGUAGE in the world to learn... :D [1558]

Nothing changes the fact "poszłem" sounds terribly. Same is with introducing yourself starting from your last name: Kowalski Jan. It is still common amongst low-educated people and mainly by older generation (I percieve it as a post-effect of communistic regime where it was a standard, like citizen Kowalski Jan). But now, and for a quite long time, it is always the normal form: first name first.

Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]

Ok, how about barbers? Do you tip them? Sounds a bit ridiculous to me to leave a tip if a friend of mine was getting her hair dyed and cut, paid 280 PLN for 2.5 hour service. For me tipping a barber was always not in the right tone, but maybe I is just me. A few books on savoir vivre actually say you don't tip barbers in Poland...

Work / Average monthly salary in Poland is around 1000 PLN (few hundred bucks). [387]


Why then plan 2 children if one cannot afford to raise them? Goracy Kubek diet??? :)) Besides, both parents working will actually provide sufficient income. Should plan accordingly. You just made an example, and it can be like that often, but it is not a rule.

Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]


People here do pay tips, not all however. But most of us here wonder if service should be subsidissed additionally (tip). Why doesn't anyone give a tip to e.g. a nice shop attendant/check-out lady? Their job is often far worse than servers' and nobody gives them extra money just for being good at their job. It also counts I think, as whenever I forget to weigh vegetables in a supermarket the check-out person goes to do it for me, which is not common in all places (they'd send me to the back of the line) - and I should tip them but I don't think they'd even accept it.

Check out Australia as King Sobieski wrote - US tipping is not probably the pattern to follow as it just spins the vicious circle, that's all. If waiters were paid decent money, the tips would be a reward, as they should be in the first place. In AMerica it went too far, and also the tax system there described above is supporting this. Since there's no such thing in Poland why follow artificial trends? Tipping for good, or even average service I'd say. But not as almost obligatory thing!