Why are Poles always so miserable? Why do they never smile?

Yes it is in't it? And you probably don't appreciate it on half as many levels as I do. heh heh heh!

Oh I think I do!

Poles don't smile to much?
Well, we should sue them ;-]
Or proclaim a new law: you have to smile every 5 minutes...or when someone farted...or when you hear a word: squirl or badger...hmm...I'm running out of ideas here

Help me, ppl!! :-D

Why so serious? Let me put a smile on that face!

youtube.com/watch?v=vqB8QnG1Kv0

You haven't seen them sing 'Hej Sokoły' in karaoke. Sheesh!

My girlfriend is always smiling and she is a very happy person.

The OP was looking at too many old people methinks. Still, there are a lot of grumblers amongst the younger generation.

I have always found them to be fun to be around when you get to know them. They do not consider it dignified to go around with a big smile on your face or to smile at strangers. Its a cultural thing.The ones that I knew growing up were always polite, but joviality was reseved for parties and get togethers.

ooooooh quit your whining!

Merged: Polish mentality issue

Hey guys, I'm writing to share my sad reflexion considering Polish mentality. I really love my country and I'm proud of our heritage, history and I would never exchange it, but there is something that is bugging me. Every time I come back to Poland after travelling abroad I get this feeling that we, as a society, are so distrusful and suspicious in our relations with strangers. Sometimes I think that it's forbidden to smile on the street, because people will consider u crazy. What is wrong with us? Do you share my observation?

Yes. I feel exactly the same. After living for a few years abroad, I moved back to Poland over 6 months ago and still can't get used to this mentality. I thought it would be easier because after all, this is my home country and I've spent most of my life here.. but people arguing about small things, on trams, in shops and low standard of customer service - it is kind of bothering me.

It is come from the Polish history, during partitions Jews ware favor by occupiers so native people had to hide their feelings during ww2 Poles ware just murder by Germans and Jews again ware the privilege in Russian sector after ww2 during the Soviet occupation again Jews ware the privilege and ruling class with NKVD so we talking about 200 years of mistrust of unknown people I think it is understandable by now it is in blood of all Poles not to trust people. . As to customer service the communism is guilty as everyone had to have job so they just could not fire you. In time it will be better.

I've noticed this too.

Yes, I know this feeling. Yesterday I was strolling in the street at a leisure pace, smiling to myself and my funny thoughts, recalling precious discussions in the Polish forum. Suddenly I noticed a middle-aged woman who was looking at me and smiling. I thought that she must be crazy. Or drunk. Or did she want to have sex with me?

Very weird.

It's just lovely to log on and read a true pearl

Man you just made my night

All three Pawian, all three.

Same here,love the country,hate the polish mentality,it doesn't really cost that much to smile once in a while,say hello to your neighbor,not to mention some people are just plain rude.Is it so hard to say thank you while someone holds the door for you,or I'm sorry if you bump into somebody,the constant complaining and distrust get on my nervers the most.I'm not living in Poland but visit quite often and that's the main thing that bother me the most about polish society.My hubby always jokes that polish people have"stone faces",but he agrees once they get to know you they're very friendly.Could it be "post communist mentality",something in our DNA,our tragic history,who knows,I'll hope it will change for the better with the younger generation.

Tomorrow you will walk in the street and smile to yourself etc etc.


You`re welcome but you have to make your bed by yourself. :):):):)

Yes, did you notice these crazy people talking to themselves in streetcars? They all grow some sort of strange tumour behind their ears. They sometimes seemingly address me but when I respond back they give me such a surprised look. And then they talk more and smile. But not at me. Strange.

And to think I was very nearly happy a short time ago

Yes, it does. I noticed that my delicate wrinkles deepen after each outburst of laughter. I am thinking of limiting my activities in forums. Also, I need to cut down on working with Polish students for such long hours.

Do you know how much Botox therapy or whatever it is called costs today?

I have recently returned from a trip abroad, contrary to the statements made by many foreigners here I personally have not noticed all those happy smiley people abroad either, perhaps I had a way too big expectation after reading all those stories here of what awaits me in a foreign exotic land seeing nothing but teeth everywhere I turn. Perhaps it’s just an exaggeration on your part but being a realist myself I find comfort in a more down to earth explanation for this phenomena. Imagine, perhaps those poor bastards abroad don’t have much to smile about these days either, which by the way puts a smile on my face. Strange. :-)

The stranger who smiles to me will probably want to borrow 5 zlotys or ask me to scare the crows off his field. I don`t need such "friendly" smiles. It is friendly fire.


Did you travel to Greece? It isn`t so strange, after all.

No, but I did have a Greek for a neighbor with whom I use to talk quite often, he was just miserable as his pension check was constantly late, now he worries if he will be receiving one at all. Nice guy, I feel for him and no this does not make me smile.

they smile, just not to strangers

If the theory that at least 75% of Poles is Jewish or has Jewish ancestry is true, here's why:


As a Jew with Diaspora connections to Suwałki, Białystok, Sejny, Lipsk nad Biebrzą, etc.; I know of what I speak.

Then why aren't Israelis always frowning too?

Why aren't Sabra'im and olim frowning? Because they're home. Galutim aren't so lucky.

So the answer is for all Poles to move to Israel and the frowns will be replaced by smiles?

Easy, maideleh, you'll set off the meshugoyim on another rant against "Zionism".

If they're Yehudim, ken.