Aesthetically, generally bleak soulless and depressing atmosphere.
true. that's why we invades Ireland ;)
Many people have a chip on their shoulder about Poland - we are great everyone else is crap - type attitude. From food to architecture to education ... anything really.
not true. they are complex-ridden at heart. Some are try to make a virtue of necessity and that's the way it looks...
Homophobia, racism and a vague sexism seems to be rife.
Absolutely bulsh1t. I'm a Polish women and I feel that Poles are real gentlemen. There are lots of racist louts. Homophobia is quite sophisticated thing. I have lots of gay friends and I don't see in my social circuits young homophobes. But it depends who you hanging around with.
Stony faced, almost silent population when going about their daily business
True.
Appalling customer service in shops - even if you try in broken Polish.
They earn little money so they don't have too many reasons to be happy and smile to you :)
Non-verbal rudeness - lots of disdainfull looks, people looking you up and down, turning their noses up etc - even in cities.
are you paranoic type? maybe some cultural diffrences. Many Poles living in Ireland are suprised that every stranger smile to them and say good evening. Its strange in Poland and no one smile to strangers. It's not rudeness.
Does the above make any sense?
I think that something had to annoyed you at the very begining of your trip and after you just have negative attidute.
I should add too that some of the Poles I know agree with the above.
with some of your statements yes. But mind that you have to kind of poles:
- openly complex ridden and very pesimistic about their country
- complex ridden at heart and too much optimistic about theit country. those ppl are often the ones who try to compare everything polish with other countries
No offence intended and I fully admit that this was only based on 2 short trips but there you go. Trips involved cities, towns and villages by the way.
Thank you for yout remrks, we will try to behave better next time ;D
PS
I've read your post in the thread about curing homosexuals. You are new here and you don't know that here is just a little population of native Poles. Most of PF users are: americans (many with polish descent), brits, dutch, canadians, germany (and some minors from other countries such as Serbia and Greece ;) Lots of ppl here are plain trolls just mocking around. So please take it easy what some american said about gays... ok? :)