Travel / From Krakow to Auschwitz (transportation) [29]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Yes, I will spend an entire day there and want it to be at the end of my trip. Also I would rather not drive there and back as I may be distracted. Though not Jewish myself, I have some Jewish ancestors, who came to the UK from Russia in the late 19th century and one who came from Austria in the early 20th (some time before Hitler came to power) so for me this is not simply about seeing somewhere famous from TV...

Travel / From Krakow to Auschwitz (transportation) [29]

I looked on Google Maps and for a journey starting at 9.30am it looks like a journey of about two hours on public transport, about half that by car. Does that sound about right?

Travel / From Krakow to Auschwitz (transportation) [29]

Merged:

Auschwitz travel advice please

I'm visiting Krakow in early February and would like to take a trip to Auschwitz. Most of the packages offered seem to consist of transport, a guided tour of the camp/museum and a minimal amount of time to explore at one's own pace. I'd like a couple of hours for the last of these items. Can anyone recommend a company that provides this?

News / Polish MEP Korwin-Mikke's latest outrage, insulting women [216]

@ Paulina, thanks for your well argued and entertaining defence of women. You rock!

I apologise for assuming those who posted offensive comments about your half of the human species were Polish. While I suspect that some Polish men are less inclined to support feminism than men of some other nationalities, I'm sure that very few are remotely like the handful of cave-dwellers who've posted misogynistic comments here over the past couple of days.

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

There are some medical benefits to circumcision, and a lot of women who've experienced both say they prefer circumcised. But I think it's rare in Poland because the Catholic church has often opposed it, perhaps because of its historic antipathy toward Judaism.

News / Polish MEP Korwin-Mikke's latest outrage, insulting women [216]

I think it's sad that so many men from Poland, a country that celebrates International Women's Day and where the gender pay gap is the lowest in the EU, should have spent much of IWD criticising women. As Atch rightly points out, their under-representation in so many fields until recently is the fault of men who denied them education and opportunity. We men are the fools, for denying half the human population a chance of fulfilment, and of contributing to the advancement of humankind.

Life / Professional feminists' of Poland meet-up [631]


You come across as a rampant misogynist.


'Unladylike vulgarities'? Admirable and principled political demands, more like.

News / Abortion still under control in Poland [2986]


No, the foetus is not alive until it has developed sufficiently to live independently from the mother. Until then, it's part of her body, so she should be able to decide what happens to it.


A key difference between us is that I'm very much bothered about women's beliefs. I believe in respecting their right to choose and am against imposing my will, or anyone else's, on women.

Is that controversial? I hope not.

News / Abortion still under control in Poland [2986]

It seems to me the only argument against abortion that's based on morality rather than misogyny is the religious belief that life begins at conception. I say it's a religious belief because science doesn't support it.

Women who hold this view should not be forced to have abortions. And they're not. They, and men who share their views, should not be allowed to limit the freedoms of women whose views differ.

News / Abortion still under control in Poland [2986]

I've noticed that many of those who oppose women's right to abortion are male. They should remember that one of the permitted categories for terminations is rape. Deny women the right to choose for their own reasons and some, in desperation, who can't afford a 'short holiday' in Germany, the Netherlands or the UK, might see no alternative to making allegations.

Really, the only moral solution is to say that a woman's body is her own, and for as long as a foetus is part of her, it's her decision what happens to it.

News / Abortion still under control in Poland [2986]

I'm in awe of the amazing Polish women who marched, went on strike and wore black to assert their right to terminate unwanted pregnancies. Those who oppose abortion should never be compelled to undergo terminations; they should show the same respect to those who might one day want to exercise that right.

Love / What do you like most about Polish girls? :) [120]


I haven't heard of American feminists advocating rape and abortion (obviously the right to have abortions, but not the idea that they should be part of everyday life). Are you sure you weren't having nightmares?

Love / What do you like most about Polish girls? :) [120]

@ Szalawa, my point precisely - many third-wave feminists have reservations about the label, which is why the description I gave of Polish women (which Wulkan describes as simply 'independent') amounts to feminism. In my view any woman who believes she is entitled to the same respect and opportunities as any man is a feminist, and that description applies to most Polish women, especially younger ones.

Love / What do you like most about Polish girls? :) [120]

I'm pretty sure I do :-). What's your definition of feminist then?

Love / What do you like most about Polish girls? :) [120]

Are you sure? Most of the ones I've met have been. Maybe they wouldn't call themselves that, I don't know, but they were all into being well educated, having good jobs and being independent of men.

Love / What do you like most about Polish girls? :) [120]

There are about 20 million Polish girls and women so it's impossible to generalise about all of them. However, I've noticed that Polish females are naturally very beautiful without being showy/fake (think Russian/Ukrainian women with fake tans, bleached blonde hair and extreme heels), well educated, quite feminist and independent-minded and interested in culture and politics. A class act, in other words :-)

Love / Woman 28 single, too late for a relationship with a Polish man? [67]


Actually I think most modern, educated, independent women DO care about a man's opinions. If he comes across as a cave dweller when it comes to the role of women, only a small minority attracted by money and the prospect of being 'kept' will want to know you.

I'm not saying that every man who treats women as equals is drowning in interest from the opposite sex, but at least we stand a chance. This is especially true of Poland, where educational standards for women are high and young women are very happy to explore career options that weren't always available in the past.

Life / Single mothers in Poland [175]


Actually the very high level of mortality of women in childbirth meant that multi-generational and extended family units in which children had only their fathers and not their mothers were depressingly commonplace until the 20th century in even wealthy countries.

Likewise hunting, wars, starvation and sickness could kill men, forcing women to live without their mates and children without their fathers.

The nuclear family may always have been an aspiration, but it reached its zenith as a reality in the 1960s, as early mortality waned and divorce and elective single parenthood hadn't yet become widespread.

Life / Single mothers in Poland [175]

I think there is a lot of stereotyping and anger in this debate. Surely we can all agree a few points.

In a perfect world, every child would have two parents who are together, love each other and the child very much, are good parents and also good providers and role models.

However we don't live in a perfect world. Sometimes, one parent dies, the parents stop loving each other, one changes in personality and creates an unpleasant environment for the other and any children so there is separation. Some other times, a woman becomes pregnant and doesn't know who the father is, or the father is not interested in being part of the child's life, and she does not have an abortion (possibly because she has seen some of the comments on forums such as this about women who make that choice, or because she lives in Poland where the procedure is illegal in almost all cases).

For all these reasons and more, sometimes children live in homes where there is a mother but no father. In most instances, this happens for unavoidable reasons or because the mother is trying to provide the best life she can for her child, given that she cannot provide the 'ideal' I described at the very beginning.

In some other cases, there is only a father. I notice nobody is condemning men for bringing up children on their own...

Life / Single mothers in Poland [175]


Do you mean you're an independent, feminist woman who therefore attracts men who like feminists (i.e. straight), or that you are a groupie for such women (i.e. that you're gay)?

Life / Single mothers in Poland [175]

@inPolska, maybe I'm weird but I prefer the idea of dating a woman who has lived alone some of her adult life. That way I'll know she's with me because she wants to be, and not because she's afraid of being criticised for being alone. Plus it shows she can be independent and self-reliant. Yes, it seems I'm a groupie for feminists :-)

Life / Single mothers in Poland [175]


I've heard that said about Poland. Despite it being quite a feminist country in some ways, there is a feeling that single women in their 30s are ostracised by other women who feel they will 'steal' their men, because women could not possibly be happy on their own. This sets women against each other, when they should be supportive of their own gender, and I wonder if it also makes women reluctant to walk away from bad men because they fear the stigma of being alone.

Life / Single mothers in Poland [175]


I agree with both ideas. But I also think that the selfish men who get girls like this pregnant should also be made to take responsibility. They too are foolish. Do other things that please a girl sexually but don't involve ejaculation, or wear a condom, unless you want a child to come into the world that is yours, so your responsibility.

Love / Polish - Pakistani relationship. How it works in reality? Are Pakistanis a good men? [79]

I agree with InPolska. Typically, Muslims and Pakistanis in particular exist in a culture that treats women badly. While no country is perfectly equal, the rights and status of women in Poland are better than in most countries, even within Europe. So unless the OP's Pakistani man has consciously rejected his upbringing, religion and culture and wants to live as a Northern European, or the OP is prepared to be a virtual slave, this relationship is unlikely to flourish for long.

Life / Single mothers in Poland [175]


Someone who leaves a bad marriage isn't necessarily being selfish. They may be doing it because both partners are unhappy (they've grown apart) or because one is behaving unreasonably. That behaviour may be having a negative impact on any children they have. In fact, far from being selfish, someone who ends a bad marriage may be doing it to protect their children from an abusive spouse. Would you want a woman to remain married to a paedophile for instance, if they were being abused by their father?

I agree with you that marriage isn't always smooth sailing, but it should generally be a supportive and life-affirming experience. If one person is unhappy and religion, the legal system or pressure from family keep them in it, it's a form of imprisonment for them.

As long as people have the right to divorce, it creates an incentive for spouses to behave more considerately, helping make marriage a much better experience for most people.

Life / Single mothers in Poland [175]

Most human beings want to love and be loved. So if a woman leaves her partner or husband as Rozumniemnic did, it's because she no longer felt that way. Would you rather women stayed in loveless relationships out of legal obligation or economic necessity?

IMO suggesting Roz didn't know how to listen is offensive. She comes across as one of the most reasonable and engaging people on this forum, someone it would be a pleasure to exchange views with. Unlike some of our more blinkered and dogmatic members...

The idea that other men would see a divorced woman as 'a ball and chain with attitude' and 'avoid [her] like a plague' is also very hurtful. I look at divorced women as women who have the self respect and independence necessary to walk away from a bad situation, who deserve our respect. I could easily fall for one :-).

And as for the suggestion that a woman in such a situation would become a lesbian... I don't know whether you're in a relationship, but if you're single and take this view of all divorced women you're missing out on some decent and loving women if you think divorcees are like this. Why not be a little more open-minded? You might find love - or at least some new friends :-)

Also I'm not aware of any evidence that boys bought up by single mothers become gay. I grew up in such a home, and I'm 100% straight.

UK, Ireland / My bad experiences with Polish neighbours in UK (not meant to offend) [173]


I think the problems you're experiencing are down to chavs. It just happens that some of them are Polish.

As others have said, the solution is to get a decent job, earn more, and move somewhere better.

Love / Polish women and fertility [28]


I think this is right. Academic studies have shown that the most effective way to reduce family size is to educate girls and give women opportunities in the workplace. Poland has been good at this, which is why it has one of the lowest numbers of children per woman in Europe, especially among those who've grown up in the post-Communist era.

There is also evidence that smaller families mean higher survival rates, less poverty and longer lives for the next generation. The fewer children we have, the more we can invest time, effort and money into helping them prosper.

News / When will Poland take on the EURO? [47]


The countries that were in the EU before the Euro was introduced have the option to join or not. The UK came close to it in the early 1990s, joining the Exchange Rate Mechanism, but fortunately we did so at too high a value and the market spotted this and bet against us. So we came out. It lost us a lot of money in the short term but in the medium term our economy picked up and thankfully now any politician who suggested it would be out of a job permanently.

Norway is not a member of the EU so is not obliged to join the Euro.

All countries that joined the EU after the Euro was introduced, including Poland, in theory have to join the single currency 'when the economic conditions are right'. In practice, given the mess the Euro is in, it's unlikely it will ever be imposed on a reasonably well-performing economy. Poland has achieved some of the best economic growth in the EU since 2004; I would be amazed if the EU risked you leaving by trying to impose its crackpot currency on you.

Travel / Poland or Philippines? Which is better for a vacation? (sex tourism) [39]

Not sure where to start here. How about:

1. Poland is not a third world country. It is a middle-income European democracy
2. Poland and the Philippines are both Catholic countries so few women will sleep with you without love and commitment
3. You come across as a hugely ignorant man, with your third world comment and also your disinterest in tourism and culture. Why not get yourself educated, then visit Poland because you're interested to get to know a fellow NATO democracy. Spend some time in the country's beautiful cities and countryside, explore the museums and galleries. Who knows, you might then meet an intelligent, educated, independent young Polish woman, and get to know her as an equal, and perhaps one thing will lead to another...