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


MrBubbles 10 | 613
17 Mar 2009 #391
Yes it is in't it? And you probably don't appreciate it on half as many levels as I do. heh heh heh!
lexi 1 | 176
17 Mar 2009 #392
Oh I think I do!
Rafal_1981
17 Mar 2009 #393
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
Seanus 15 | 19,674
17 Mar 2009 #394
You haven't seen them sing 'Hej Sokoły' in karaoke. Sheesh!
Barry - | 5
18 Mar 2009 #395
My girlfriend is always smiling and she is a very happy person.
Seanus 15 | 19,674
20 Feb 2010 #396
The OP was looking at too many old people methinks. Still, there are a lot of grumblers amongst the younger generation.
jochemczyk 1 | 35
1 Dec 2011 #397
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.
fringxx - | 30
27 Feb 2012 #399
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?
ilovewine - | 3
27 Feb 2012 #400
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.
Marek11111 9 | 808
27 Feb 2012 #401
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.
JonnyM 11 | 2,615
27 Feb 2012 #402
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?

I've noticed this too.
pawian 221 | 23,970
27 Feb 2012 #403
ometimes I think that it's forbidden to smile on the street, because people will consider u crazy.

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.
Barney 15 | 1,590
27 Feb 2012 #404
It's just lovely to log on and read a true pearl

Man you just made my night
jasondmzk
27 Feb 2012 #405
she must be crazy. Or drunk. Or did she want to have sex with me?

All three Pawian, all three.
nynicki - | 31
27 Feb 2012 #406
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.
pawian 221 | 23,970
27 Feb 2012 #407
It's just lovely to log on and read a true pearl

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

Man you just made my night

You`re welcome but you have to make your bed by yourself. :):):):)
boletus 30 | 1,361
27 Feb 2012 #408
I thought that she must be crazy. Or drunk.

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.
Barney 15 | 1,590
27 Feb 2012 #409
You`re welcome but you have to make your bed by yourself.

And to think I was very nearly happy a short time ago
pawian 221 | 23,970
27 Feb 2012 #410
it doesn't really cost that much to smile once in a while,

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?
ShortHairThug - | 1,101
27 Feb 2012 #411
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. :-)
pawian 221 | 23,970
27 Feb 2012 #412
My hubby always jokes that polish people have"stone faces"

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.

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. Strange. :-)

Did you travel to Greece? It isn`t so strange, after all.
ShortHairThug - | 1,101
27 Feb 2012 #413
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.
f stop 25 | 2,507
28 Feb 2012 #414
they smile, just not to strangers
Nickidewbear 23 | 609
28 Feb 2012 #415
One factor has an overwhelming negative influence on my experience here. No one ever smiles. Everyone has a long face and seems to be constantly miserable. You see it everywhere, on the buses and trams, even on the streets of this wonderful, bustling city of Warsaw.

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

New King James Version (NKJV)

As a Jew with Diaspora connections to Suwałki, Białystok, Sejny, Lipsk nad Biebrzą, etc.; I know of what I speak.
PlasticPole 7 | 2,648
28 Feb 2012 #416
Then why aren't Israelis always frowning too?
Nickidewbear 23 | 609
28 Feb 2012 #417
Why aren't Sabra'im and olim frowning? Because they're home. Galutim aren't so lucky.
PlasticPole 7 | 2,648
28 Feb 2012 #418
So the answer is for all Poles to move to Israel and the frowns will be replaced by smiles?
jasondmzk
28 Feb 2012 #419
Sabra'im and olim

Easy, maideleh, you'll set off the meshugoyim on another rant against "Zionism".
Nickidewbear 23 | 609
28 Feb 2012 #420
So the answer is for all Poles to move to Israel and the frowns will be replaced by smiles?

If they're Yehudim, ken.

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