Work / BEWARE of K&S Krakowska Szkoła Języków Obcych!! [41]

Besides which, a native speaker would not only know where on the internet to post information about a potentially rogue school, but also wouldn't even think of working somewhere where they:

History / Poland did reasonably well in land terms out of the postwar settlement [270]


Exactly, repeated ad nauseam on here as if people with better things to do actually care about them.

Work / BEWARE of K&S Krakowska Szkoła Języków Obcych!! [41]


Or plenty of time sitting by a computer watching people work, waiting in airport lounges, overcoming writer's block etc ;-)

And I still think this thread is as fishy as an old pair of tights.

Travel / Visiting Poland - A bit worried about social attitudes and racist inclinations.. [80]

You shouldn't worry. Most of the racist stuff is written by people from the US/Canada, Ireland, Australia, UK etc who've rarely or (more usually) never actually been to Poland. People here are generally friendly, even if they don't always look it!

Work / BEWARE of K&S Krakowska Szkoła Języków Obcych!! [41]


A swype typo is different - and yes, this thread is still dodgy.


Something tells me the alleged native speakers on here are Polish enough.

News / American soldiers beat up in Torun, Łódź [141]


Not so much neighbourhoods but more bars or anywhere alcohol is involved.

My own feeling was that this was a typical barroom brawl. The fact that the two attacked were foreign would certainly have been an exacerbating factor as would one of them being of Korean heritage. If they weren't foreign but were from Warsaw - maybe that would have been too.

Certainly anyone who appears a little different is more vulnerable.

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]

And that's so much of the issue - colloquial words describing races or distinct groups of people are rarely positive. As far as judging nuances is concerned, the examples you gave are so obvious that there is no great subtlety involved.

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]

Actually I haven't watched your link, since the staff at Starbuck's in pl. Trzy Krzyzy might not appreciate it competing with their background music, though you may sleep safely in your bed knowing I've seen enough live to know how weak it generally is.

However you are trying to sidetrack since your examples of usage of the word murzyn clearly show that it is far from being complementary - and for that reason it is best avoided.

I'm surprised you haven't used the expression 'PC Brigade'!

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]

Or simply using language as positively as possible, to affirm not condemn.

And no 'Gumishu' the word murzyn is not neutral, especially with the connotations you describe.

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]


More than some, thank you very much.


There would actually have to be some humour in the first place, beyond slapstick and hackneyed political satire.


Now what would you know about either my level of either Polish or any other language as well as my ability to feel a nuance in that language?

After all, if you think the word 'murzyn' is inherently positive you can't be a very good judge of language, can you?

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]


No difference at all. The phrase is still used.


Nonsense and double nonsense!


Which proves my point perfectly. That it is a word with no positive connotations.

Travel / Which SIMcard to buy in Poland for two week usage [11]


Yes. Every kiosk including at the airport. Ask for one specifically for the internet.

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]


This is the point really. When I used to do factory work back in the eighties, the crappest job in the factory was always called the 'Irish job'. A similarity in many ways.

Genealogy / What are common Polish character traits? [417]


Very true! Everything right away, full (and usually joyful) enthusiasm to have it all right now and offended if someone is more reserved but no sense of next month.


More passive-aggressive.

Life / Television in Poland - embarrassingly bad? [44]


But that was on the outside, and things are different then. Its on youtube, the singer is called Lynn Hamilton.


Agreed. And when you stop watching TV, you never really go back to it.

News / FEMI-FASCISTS MARCH AGAIN IN POLAND [126]


Agreed, but at least in the EU someone can just drive to a clinic across the border without even showing a passport. I read a while back that 20% of abortions in the UK are for Polish citizens - seems a lot, but plausible given that its a country of 40 million, many of who have legitimate reasons to visit a friend or relative in the UK without attracting gossip about going there.

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]

Nothing sudden about it. And easier to feel decent if language works towards that not against it. Al living languages are always changing so let them change for the better rather than allow whinging about 'perfectly good words' to cloak some of the less desirable attitudes of the past.

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]

That sounds pretty derogatory to me.

What isn't derogatory about associating a group of people with basic grunt work. If you disagree, why not propose that factories should henceforth refer to workers doing the most basic, repetitive unskilled jobs as 'Poles'. Would you consider that derogatory or not?

Come to think of it.......

Work / BEWARE of K&S Krakowska Szkoła Języków Obcych!! [41]

Everything about this thread, from the proliferation of guest posters through the semi-literate post from and alleged English Teacher and right through to the sheer implausibility of people claiming staff at a language school weren't paid for months (but stayed there) suggest all is not as it seems.

Work / BEWARE of K&S Krakowska Szkoła Języków Obcych!! [41]





hmmm


Something doesn't quite ring true about this whole thread.

UK, Ireland / There's not a lot wrong with Poles in the UK. There's just too many of them. [72]

Some estimates say that it's up to a half.

USA, Canada / Would like to move back to Poland from New York after living in USA for 20 years. [155]


Given the choice, I'd prefer Warsaw. A manageable size, lower cost housing, a much lower crime rate (you can walk safely down every street at any time of the day or night), fewer traffic problems and a more relaxed pace of life.


That's on the high side.


This is all true.

Life / Television in Poland - embarrassingly bad? [44]

Very sensible. The quality of television has declined in a lot of places. In Poland it was never very good and is unlikely ever to improve.

News / FEMI-FASCISTS MARCH AGAIN IN POLAND [126]


Weird.


Nonsense.


How do you know - you hardly ever come here?

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]

The origin of a word odd irrelevant. The use of a word is all that matters.

By the way, who are the 'PC brigade'?
.

Life / Television in Poland - embarrassingly bad? [44]

I however do speak Polish and although I don't own anything as tacky as a television I do see it from time to time and the quality here is low. Far too many political discussions and far too little original drama and all too quick to jump on the bandwagon of inane talent competitions.

News / FEMI-FASCISTS MARCH AGAIN IN POLAND [126]

Evidently those women feel they aren't free. Since they're doing something about out, all power to them.

Every change in womens' rights over the past hundred years or so has been positive, and all were hard won by women who went out and shouted loud until they got it.

News / FEMI-FASCISTS MARCH AGAIN IN POLAND [126]

It does rather sound like a fear of change.

News / FEMI-FASCISTS MARCH AGAIN IN POLAND [126]

So you object somehow to their right to free speech? If you had the ability to do so, would you have banned the march?

History / Should Poland be given ANY credit for ALLOWING Jews into Poland for 1000 years? [195]

Why the capital letters?