We're not generally miserable so there must be another reason. Who are the smileys and why did PF remove them??? <insert smiley indicating that I'm not really taking the **** out of the post, just indulging in a bout of gentle messing cos I'm really rather bored this evening>
thx plk123, just joined (my excuse), but seriously what is it with people - whoever comes to the UK and before long they develop the 'stiff misery look' i mean i remember Jos... no i won't tell you his name real decent guy came over from krakow huge brilliant smile on his face for a few months very easy to get along with and suddenly his like... you know the film invasion of the body snatchers...., i mean what can i do to cheer him up?
I've seen Polish people smiling, and even laughing and joking both in Poland, the UK and some points in between. I'm English and in nearly 31 years, I've spent less than 3 months abroad. I smile frequently. I've never seen a Russian smile, but I have not observed many.
The Point is that every major capital city in the world is full of miserable buggers, London, Paris, New York etc, so please do not show your ignorance by saying all Polish people are miserable, try Gdansk or Wroclaw before making small minded judgments. As for the many Polish people in the UK well have a think to your self how many people from England Scotland & Ireland live all over the world (millions). I am one very happy Scotsman now living in Gdansk the only thing I do agree with is the people from Warsaw are generally miserable
Well anyway lets find a miserable face Polish or non-Polish and smile (not grin that scares people) at him or her! Alternatively any miserable people out there need cheering up email me - DO NOT TAKE ANY DRUGS... just hug somebody!
I totaly agree with the author of this post . Just look at the avator pictures all girl's faces look totaly serious miserable even, or ppl display animals - who can tell if that cat or dog is smiling .... I think polish ppl think that when one is smiling , loughing and happy in public one looks or is stupid . I remembr I used to laugh uncontrollably with my cusin about nothing - it always made her dad really mad and angry - told us to be serious and act with dignity and respect.
Mabe generally we smile when we are happy, not whenever whatever happens. This is sometimes annoying , as I live in UK, and anytime someone is tired , doesnt like something, wants to speak, wants to have a break, doesnt like a tea etc he smiles and says it ok..all the live of appearances, but such a culture :)
the polish are going through now what the brits went though after the war,i,m sure they come in time to the front, by sheer hard work as we brits did. nothing comes overnight,as for living in stonefaced gemany you might be better off keep nocking the polish ,anyway the germans and french have got sunbunrnt armpits and are to pushy to everyone else.
The Polish nation has been through hell for most of the last 100 years...Poland wasn't even a nation in the political sense until after WWI when Pilsudski stopped the Red Army at Warsaw...then, Poland was independent again...but then it was caught in the meat-grinder between the Bolsheviks & the Nazis, and was ripped up and divided between the two like a piece of meat...the country was ravaged & destroyed...at the same time,
you had a fifth column of another nationality living in Poland, who, even though the Poles had let them live peacefully for hundreds of years, spit in the face of the Polish
people and welcomed the Communists...but this is what happens when the criminals with the guns come and spread the fear...we here in America cannot even begin to com-
prehend such a history of events...so, after the fall of Communism, there appears to be a new dawn...but yet, the Polish people, trying to rebuild, are hit again with a new force, this time it's called Globalism...this is when foreigners come in and start buying up large parts of your economy, because you just don't have the money to compete...maybe there are improvements; some people who were broke before are making money and
now you have Starbucks in Poland...maybe you have inflation, and everything starts getting more expensive...it is a never ending struggle...so, perhaps, many Polish people
who themselves and their families have experienced such history, seem miserable or cynical...life is hard...but, hopefully, the younger generation will be able to make a new Poland, that is for the Polish people, who are a GREAT & honorable people...may Jesus Christ shower His love and mercy on the Polish people & nation.
I agree Poland been through so much that they are trying to get up own their own. of course with their goverment now and not good jobs they will not be happy. you know there are also a lot of miserable Americans. I can be one at times. we have a high depression problem here. there are so many anti depressents drugs here. Polish people are friendly. I think more of the younger generation. but you know I think how you act is all about where you grew up who was the goverment at that time and your family how they raised you.I hope Poland does better and the people will prosper.Amirah
Most of the Polish people I know here in the States are friendly and smiley....a bit more serious than the Americans, but not much.
It takes a long time to get over your history. Even some Americans who were always wealthy, if just one bad thing happened in their childhood, it takes them 40 years and a lot of therapy to get over it.
The main problem in life is learning to see life through happy innocent eyes, even if you've been hurt. Yet tomorrow really is a new day, and we can get up in the morning hoping for a great day.
Yeah, I sound like a sappy American, but there's a lot to be said for the earnest optimism that is part of this country.
Learning to have that child-like faith is why Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven belongs to little children.
hmmm... interesting debate going on here! I had a penpal in Polkowice who turned out to be such a manic depressive that I eventually broke all contact after more than a year of trying to be sympathetic. On the other hand, I've recently been in contact with new members at the trivago travel community where we have just launched a Polish platform and can honestly say that they are a very normal and pleasant bunch. In fact more so than many of the UK members... As a South African I am not biased either way - it is just fascinating getting to know these various cultures. (And, no, I'll not say which nationality I have in the process come to dislike with a vengeance...)
i wouldn't say that the Polish are miserable or unhappy all the time that would be silly. However i think that there is a certain amount of (over self defensiveness and paranoid) of course its not all Polish people that would be a stupid thing to say.
I am English and have never met a Brit who is so defensive or paranoid as i have the number of Polish that are.
As for smiling, a lot of Polish its fair to say are working in customer service (Coffee shops, Hotels, Fast food restaurants and any other job you care to mention.
My friend said to me 'well if you were working sreving coffee all day and not getting paid very much, would you be smiling, that isn't even taking into consideration the board factor' of dokng the same job again and again and again'
So i sympathise totally with those who don't smile all the time and are called 'miserable' etc. Surely it makes no sense to judge anybody let alone the Polish on their moods when they are working.
My friend looks dead board at work and not friendly at all but you get her out and about and she's wonderful to be with. Everybody has different moods in different situations
yes of course there are Brits that are defensive and paranoid its just i seemed to have met a large amount of Poles who are. maybe a better way to express it is that they are more conservative :)
totally agree, its just this thread reminded me of the 'Polish conservatism' i have seen a lot of. I usually don't pick on nation and Poland probably isn't the only one. ow what the heck never mind :)
It's Ok Torny. I was just thinking that the French people are very serious and rarely smile........even when they are smoking and drinking a coffee and chatting.........
Unfortunately, something gets said in the UK Media and suddenly people appear to notice 'things'.........e.g. Polish people don't smile a lot. But then a lot of Europeans don't smile a lot either.......but that isn't the news that sells papers over here ,lol.
Not seen you around for some time.......has been quiet in here I think <g>
j/k........I haven't been in here much either till now !!!
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