Genealogy / The typical Polish look, or all Eastern Europeans [656]


There are plenty of Polish people with pale skin! Look at Izabella Miko, she's paler than me.

USA, Canada / Chris Gets Dumped on the Bachelorette for Being Polish! [52]

She never looked Jewish though, even before she had plastic surgery. If there are, they certainly don't come in large numbers. ;)

USA, Canada / Chris Gets Dumped on the Bachelorette for Being Polish! [52]

Yes, he calls himself boocowski.

Off-Topic / I am a Pariah: My Horror Story [44]

I think that I'm too old to learn a language to really speak it in any useful way. I'm not saying I can't learn it, I'm just saying it's not worth it to me at this point. Polish is a very interesting and fun language to speak, but it's not of any use here (maybe if you lived in Chicago). Haha Polish was certainly never spoken in my home, and I don't even think it was spoken in the 1st or 2nd generation families either. We do, for example, use pet names (my nickname when I was very little was "bah") and add a "y" to many words though. I don't think it would make me feel closer to my heritage, or that I even need to but it would have been a neat thing to learn as a teenager.

I think I am considered 3rd or 4th generation, but I inherit 1/8 from my dad's side and possibly another small percentage from my mom's. The reason I know this is because on a genealogical test I keep seeing distant relatives (4th to 6th cousins which I estimate are probably not my dad's) with small amounts of Polish in their ancestry finders. People also say my mom looks East European and on the genealogical apps which break down the sub-groups of different races I usually get values of 37% for the East Europeans categories. If I am truly 1/4 or more Polish and other Slavic groups, I think it's reasonable to see West Slavs or Poles as my people or my identity. Most non East Europeans score some low values of that anywhere from 0-10% so there's probably a pretty wide error margin though.

Language / Polish baby talk [16]

My brother calls my niece lulu. haha!

Off-Topic / I am a Pariah: My Horror Story [44]

Everyone these days has problems with men :) When you are not socially affiliated, guys avoid you because the girls control the guys, and they forever ostrasize other women who try to run their own ship. If you are meek and desperate and cooperative but you're a boring person or something like that you might get some social affiliation. I like other people and am interested in them, but I'm anti prosocial. Having female friends requires commitment to cooperation, women who think on their own terms are always alone. It's a no brainer when you consider the circumstances, my personality, and understand what the people are like around me.

Also, most men could care less if a woman is intelligent. In fact, I know that a lot of guys intentionally pursue women they think are dumb.

The only reason I feel bad now is because I'm alone and I'm stuck here. My experience growing up was both a strengthening one and a miserable one, which shaped my outlook on life in a negative way. Don't worry, I can't forget my past, if I try to it comes back to haunt me with a vengeance. I'm proud of who I am and my FAMILY is and I don't care what people think. I don't need to go to a Polish fest or talk about Polish stuff to be proud of who I am (although it would be fun and interesting) my whole thing is I want to be around people who are genetically like me (share the same mannerisms, do things in a similar way etc.) so that I can truly feel connected to other people. I'm sick of being too white so that people hate me, and then not waspy enough I mean I just can't win. I'm not that Polish by blood, but I'm a lot more similar to them in every way than other group in my ethnicity. Its impossible to understand the stress and misery of growing up in an environment where you are considered abnormal and everything seems alien to what you are taught at home and what you are naturally accustomed to. Genetics are everything. They influence behavior, appearance, personality, what you're good at and what you're not. The Polish element in my ethnicity is strongly pronounced in me genetically for some reason (maybe it's because they're closely bred, that I have more than I think who knows) so I believe I should try to surround myself more with those other people in order to be happy and feel normal and have a strong sense of belonging.


You like philosophy and religion, so we'd probably have some good conversations. In a perfect world...

Deep down I was never ashamed of my Polish background, but I was associating my differences from other people with my misery. My grandfather was the only one of his family to change his name out of shame for being a polack. One gets all weird and desperate when they were in the situation I was in. It's like a surivival instinct to try to assimilate into the crowd.

Life / Why are Poles in other countries called "Plastic Poles"? [168]

It means you look Polish, but you're not really an authentic Pole haha. It's like, if you saw a manly looking guy who was really domesticated by feminism, he would be a "Plastic Male."

Life / Why are Poles in other countries called "Plastic Poles"? [168]

I am a Plastic Pole.

Off-Topic / I am a Pariah: My Horror Story [44]

Yes, and so does Chicago.

USA, Canada / Chris Gets Dumped on the Bachelorette for Being Polish! [52]


Like Scarlett Johannson plaster face.

Off-Topic / I am a Pariah: My Horror Story [44]

Yes, I'm about a year away from finishing up my diploma (it took a couple of jobs and some careful thinking to figure out a skill that I could put to good use) and about another semester after that from finishing my Associate in Applied Science degree. I'm worried about being considered "overqualified" so I may not finish my A.A.S. I will have to do some more research and put some thought into it and maybe consult a career counselor. I just wish that I had more spare money so that I could travel to prospective places I might want to live. It will probably be at least another 2 or 3 years before I move though because I have to get some job experience where I can get hired and I have to save up money for moving expenses and all the stuff I'll need for my apartment.

Oh I know I will have a lot of opportunity to live where I want being either a medical secretary or a medical records technician, that's part of why I picked that job. I'm not saying the US isn't a diverse place, I KNOW that traveling in the U.S. can be like going to a different country sometimes lol. There's every kind of people in America. I've lived in the city before where all the black folk are, and it gets very bothersome after awhile. Most don't even want to associate with you anyway. Why do you think there is so much white flight into the suburbs? I don't mind if there is a black community, I just don't want them to make up a really large percentage of the population. Actually, I'll have to say though, the poor latinos are almost more annoying than the blacks, so I would rather there be a larger black population and little or no hispanic population than a little bit of both like you get in the south. I know that these people have culture and education, but when you go somewhere with a high minority population there are more undesirable people than the educated ones make up for.

Of course Pittsburgh is charming, upstate NY has some really nice spots, there's some things I like about Chicago, Virginia Beach could be a possibility because the economy is good. Unless I could get over the idea of moving West, that's pretty much it though so I guess I don't have too much to pick through.

Genealogy / The typical Polish look, or all Eastern Europeans [656]

It's just the lighting, mine is like one degree more pronounced than hers.

Genealogy / The typical Polish look, or all Eastern Europeans [656]

Yes, it is much more subtle in her than it is in me. Mine got more pronounced into adulthood.

Genealogy / The typical Polish look, or all Eastern Europeans [656]

You're probably right, but when I see that chin defect I always think Slavic hehe.

Off-Topic / I am a Pariah: My Horror Story [44]

Sometimes, especially when they're immature.

Off-Topic / I am a Pariah: My Horror Story [44]


I already said they are not the all the same. But there are some weird breeds of them, and around here is one of the places.

Believe me, I have tried to think of everything in existence that could possibly rub people the wrong way.


Uuum yes. Maybe not every single one, but I've had countless people target my ethnicity in a semi-derogatory way. Some don't even have any idea that white ethnicities exist outside of Irish and Pilgrims. They think you're un-American if you're not just like them. This part def is not an exaggeration.

For example, I've been called a ditz, a white geisha, had one guy as me if I'm Polish and laugh (this was in history class) and had to deal with people whispering right in front of me, "She's a chuck", "I know."

Who knows, maybe they weren't talking about me, but they would look over at me and laugh.

They probably were calling me chuck because I have a jewish sounding last name (but is not really jewish). So they are probably not targeting my polish ancestry in particular, but they get the idea that I'm not all waspy like them and I'm treated as an outsider that gets demeaned and humiliated.

Genealogy / The typical Polish look, or all Eastern Europeans [656]

I think I definitely have the "slim heart face" with pointy cheekbones that the OP described. It's odd, some men are really into this and some not so much at all. I had a crazy guy lusting after me one time who would always comment on "what beautiful sharp features I had." At the time I thought this was an insult but I discovered that this is definitely a compliment. It can give the face kind of a chaotic look, but these features really emote.

I think on average Polish people tend to be taller and slimmer. Women also tend to be bigger up top (I am proof of this hehe). I know that my body is a rather slim to average type and I'm a tiny bit taller than average (5'6) but most of my body structure is quite robust despite this. I have big knees, thick ankles, and shoulders. I know that my grandmother with Polish influence on my father's side had the thick ankles, not sure about the other traits though. I think she was more of a slender, less robust type.

Is it a typical Polish Slavic thing to have rather course, bushy hair or is it probably a sign of jewish influence? I don't have any genetic Ashkenazi markers but I think it is likely thick hair probably meant they had a small amount of jewish ancestry.

I sympathize with the OP. Junk food makes me get fat easily and if I don't exercise and eat normally I can put on a lot of weight, but I tend to be pretty slim. Some of that stuff with all the saturated fat I can't even digest properly, like Chick-fil-a. It just goes right through my system.

Don't you think this model looks Polish? She has a slight dimpled, uneven chin that is common in Poles. You can still have that chin defect like me and be beautiful! youtube.com/user/LiveRunway

Off-Topic / I am a Pariah: My Horror Story [44]


Well you definitely haven't run into any southern baptists then haha jk.

Off-Topic / I am a Pariah: My Horror Story [44]

What a bunch of lame bigots. :( Kasia is a pretty name.

Language / Your favourite Polish proverb? [16]

"Under capitalism, man exploits man; under socialism, the reverse is true."

USA, Canada / Where could I go in Pittsburgh that has a high population of Polish-Americans? [39]


That would be Polish hill, it's a nice deal for the money, good views and in a convenient location close to downtown, but there still aren't a lot of young people. It's a target for black people with a lot of kids who have a low income and retired folk. It's a dying neighborhood and some say it's going to grow, but I don't think it's going to any time soon, probably because it's a little too dumpy. South Side would be the second choice I think, but they have more of the people I'm trying to get away from here, bohemians and hipsters. I'm doubt Pittsburgh is going to work for me, but there are some things I really like about it and it has a nice feel.

USA, Canada / Where could I go in Pittsburgh that has a high population of Polish-Americans? [39]

Exactly, the job I am going to have experience in is pretty fast growing so if there is a big doctor's park in that suburb it could definitely be a possibility.

The important thing is that I can find friends that I really like and have things in common with. I want to be in a neighborhood with a lot of young professionals like myself, not college students, or retired people. Suburbia may not be a good idea, it could be lonely, but I feel that Pittsburgh is a little too small for me. A population of 500-700,000 would be best.

USA, Canada / Where could I go in Pittsburgh that has a high population of Polish-Americans? [39]


Oh no, It's not near as hot here in the summer as it is in Chicago.


I could easily get used to Pittsburgh, it's only a zone colder than what I'm used to.

If I worked in a hospital or doctor's office, do you think I would have to commute into the city everyday? It all just depends on whether I could find a job that is close so I wouldn't be in traffic everyday.

If I worked for a few years, got a promotion, got married, then maybe someday I could live in one of the rich neighborhoods.

USA, Canada / Where could I go in Pittsburgh that has a high population of Polish-Americans? [39]


I mean people who are influenced by that ethnicity, not actual Central Europeans, I should be more clear.

Eeew Florida is a horrible place, I wouldn't even live down there for two weeks. There are a million Floridians moving up here from there. I like the high in the summer to not go above 80 lol. I can't adjust to the heat like I can to the cold. I don't like the Florida people (no offense) and they have too many insects. It's not my style there. I dated a guy from Florida and he was a dork.


They call it filthydelphia.


I doubt my salary as a medical records technician will pay for that haha. I'm just a quirky version of your average joe schmoe.


That one actually looks promising, the problem with Chicago is that it's VERY cold in the winter and very HOT in the summer. I'm used to a very temperate climate.

USA, Canada / Where could I go in Pittsburgh that has a high population of Polish-Americans? [39]

If you know Chicago, what suburbs do you think would be good for me? My reservations are the following:

1. Is reasonably safe and a low crime rate
2. Has a 10-20% population of integrated Poles and recent immigrants
3. minorities don't take up more than 25% of the population
4. Has a diverse mix of Northern Europeans
5. at least 30-40% of the population is under 30
6. The people are friendly, and will not beat you up when they hear you're from the south.

Lol I know I want like an impossible place haha


I know my dad thinks it's ridiculous.

USA, Canada / Where could I go in Pittsburgh that has a high population of Polish-Americans? [39]

I don't have an elitist attitude. Have you ever tried living alongside blacks all the time? They look at you menacingly, they're loud, their pants are falling down ugh. Unless they're integrated and professional, it gets really old seeing that all the time. My sister went to a mostly black school when we were in the city and she was tortured. I just want to be happy, that's all. I don't choose to stick my head in the sand and avoid the truth.

USA, Canada / Where could I go in Pittsburgh that has a high population of Polish-Americans? [39]

I don't want to live in like a little Polonia necessarily, I wasn't raised catholic or with any kind of religion for that matter, so I'd probably stick out like a sore thumb. Ideally, I would like there to be some Poles (10-20%), some Germans, some English. I just want to be around a few of my type of people so that I feel familiar with someone. I don't need to live in an ethnic neighborhood. Chicago is really dangerous and hard to get around in.

Even though the old culture is mostly gone, there is still a population of Poles in Pittsburgh if what I'm gathering from wiki is right. 8% is pretty good, but the question is what percent are less than 30? It's a lot better than nothing. As long as there isn't a high black or jewish population (not more than 20%) along with that it's great.

USA, Canada / Where could I go in Pittsburgh that has a high population of Polish-Americans? [39]

I can adjust to the cold, just not the heat. It's only a little colder there than it is here, except there's a lot of snow. I live in a moutainous area so... Chicago is too big.

USA, Canada / Where could I go in Pittsburgh that has a high population of Polish-Americans? [39]

Woah, you're from Boston, yep.

USA, Canada / Where could I go in Pittsburgh that has a high population of Polish-Americans? [39]


Because it's nice there, and it's a big enough city to feel connected with everything, but no so big there are all these crazy regulations and you feel trapped like in NY. It's also farther North so you're away from the rednecks, but not so far north that you have to deal with crazy yanks. I've heard a lot of people who like it there, it looks like my kind of place. They have a lot of Central Europeans I've heard.

I want to stay in the East and I don't want to go farther south, going far west or south are not options.