Opinions about Polish immigrants

tomster

Yyyyy......

?????????

Demonique

I don't care one way or the other.

How about for every Polish or other foreign worker we let in, we **** a Skanger off a cliff? It's a win-win situation, we get valuable workers in on the one hand and on the other hand we reduce the number of people sponging off the dole who have no intention of ever getting a job

ojewriej

Demonique wrote: »

I don't care one way or the other.

How about for every Polish or other foreign worker we let in, we **** a Skanger off a cliff? It's a win-win situation, we get valuable workers in on the one hand and on the other hand we reduce the number of people sponging off the dole who have no intention of ever getting a job

I like that idea

Dennis the Stone

The_B_Man wrote: »

a bloke came up to me asking me for a light the other day. he didnt speak, just gestured for a light. He assumed i was polish. he was irish...so am i.

A homeless man came up to me yesterday asking for a light, so I set him on fire

lacrimosa

ojewriej wrote: »

This might be true to a certain extent, but it's easy to make a mistake, mainly due to huge population movements around the WWII. I have good few Latvian, Lithuanian and Czech friends who are often being mistaken for poles. Which they hate by the way.

Yeah, I know the feeling. I'm Polish and wouldn't be too impressed if I was mistaken for a Czech, Latvian or Russian ...

anyway, it appears that in Irish public perception Poland is referred to as Eastern Europe, whereas geographically & culturally it's Central Europe, together with eg. Germany, Czech Rep., Hungary.

I mention about that as i find the term Eastern Europe/-ean of a bit negative connotation.

However I suppose that it may be also related to the fact of the previous division of Europe and for Poland and other states being behind the Iron Curtain.

Dublingirl23

I have to say, having read a good bit of this thread, it's down to the bad apple scenario really. I've had Polish neighbours for the past two years and there's only ever been one incident where there were guys in the apartment drinking etc, and a huge fight broke out.

They actually knocked the next day and apologised for the noise it had caused (it happened at 2am)

I have worked with Polish people also, and they do tend to stick to their own. Never had any problems with them in work at all.

co_co

One of my best friends has had Polish neighbours about three years, according to her, they are all nice guys and they get along well:)

TerrorFirmer

Girls are great. Do most guys care otherwise? I think not.

Sherifu

Lived in an estate with some Polish people either side of the house I was staying in. Was there for a few years, never any trouble.

ojewriej

I used to have a polish girlfriend. She gave me a lot of trouble. I say, keep them out.

Sherifu

ojewriej wrote: »

I used to have a polish girlfriend. She gave me a lot of trouble. I say, keep them out.

I think you fib Polish person.

ojewriej

Sherifu wrote: »

I think you fib Polish person.

No, I'm dead serious, she used to give me awfull grief.

The things she would say

"it's your turn to wash the dishes; why should I make a dinner; not tonight, I have a headache; it's not what you said, it's how you said it; they are your friends too". All kind of crazy stuff. I used to just say " You are not in Poland anymore baby, you have to learn Irish ways now". It didn't work though, so she had to go. Irish girls ftw.

Unaton

I'm sorry to hear about the suffering you had to go through, O'Jewriej

Kintarō Hattori

ojewriej wrote: »

No, I'm dead serious, she used to give me awfull grief.

The things she would say

"it's your turn to wash the dishes; why should I make a dinner; not tonight, I have a headache; it's not what you said, it's how you said it; they are your friends too". All kind of crazy stuff. I used to just say " You are not in Poland anymore baby, you have to learn Irish ways now". It didn't work though, so she had to go. Irish girls ftw.

I somewhat agree. I'm reaching the end of my tether with my Polish girlfriend. So much so I told her last night it might be best for her to go back to Poland. OMG :eek:

Rob_l

ojewriej wrote: »

No, I'm dead serious, she used to give me awfull grief.

The things she would say

"it's your turn to wash the dishes; why should I make a dinner; not tonight, I have a headache; it's not what you said, it's how you said it; they are your friends too". All kind of crazy stuff. I used to just say " You are not in Poland anymore baby, you have to learn Irish ways now". It didn't work though, so she had to go. Irish girls ftw.

Post of the thread

Sherifu

ojewriej wrote: »

No, I'm dead serious, she used to give me awfull grief.

The things she would say

"it's your turn to wash the dishes; why should I make a dinner; not tonight, I have a headache; it's not what you said, it's how you said it; they are your friends too". All kind of crazy stuff. I used to just say " You are not in Poland anymore baby, you have to learn Irish ways now". It didn't work though, so she had to go. Irish girls ftw.

Stay strong man. Have a bit of Celtic pride.

latenia

I've had a good 3 or 4 years to assize them now and I've come to the conclusion that they are just boring. Really fkn boring.

ojewriej

latenia wrote: »

I've had a good 3 or 4 years to assize them now and I've come to the conclusion that they are just boring. Really fkn boring.

Webster dictionary defines boring as causing boredom.

Boredom is a condition characterized by perception of one's environment as dull, tedious, and lacking in stimulation. This can result from leisure and a lack of aesthetic interests. Labor, however, and even art may be alienated and passive, or immersed in tedium (see Marx's theory of alienation). There is an inherent anxiety in boredom; people will expend considerable effort to prevent or remedy it, yet in many circumstances, it is accepted as suffering to be endured. Common passive ways to escape boredom are to sleep or to think creative thoughts (daydream). Typical active solutions consist in an intentional activity of some sort, often something new, as familiarity and repetition lead to the tedious.

Apart from all this interesting facts, I also have a lot of very exciting stories, about how hard it was during the war, how hard it was when we had socialism, how hard it is to live on less than 500 Euro a month now, how much better the food is in Poland, how much better the weather is in Poland and so on.

So I think you are wrong. We are not boring at all.

Raekwon

eo980 wrote: »

I somewhat agree. I'm reaching the end of my tether with my Polish girlfriend. So much so I told her last night it might be best for her to go back to Poland. OMG :eek:

Seriously? :eek: You're with her a few years now aren't you? What changed?

lacrimosa wrote:

Yeah, I know the feeling. I'm Polish and wouldn't be too impressed if I was mistaken for a Czech, Latvian or Russian ...

I think you have it the wrong way around there. Most Czech, Hungarian & Slovakians get mistaken for Polish all the time and by all accounts are not too impressed. Think about the percentage of those nationalities in this country compared to the percentage of Polish in this country. It doesn't really compare.

lacrimosa wrote:

anyway, it appears that in Irish public perception Poland is referred to as Eastern Europe, whereas geographically & culturally it's Central Europe, together with eg. Germany, Czech Rep., Hungary.

Somebody mentioned this on another thread and it made me laugh It's like a person from Finglas saying that are from Glasnevin or a person from Ballymun saying that they are from Santry. Total snobbery.

Poland IS in Eastern Europe whether you like to admit it or not. Central Europe would consist of countries like Switzerland, Germany, Austria, etc. The only Eastern European county that could be considered to be Central European would be the Czech Republic which is sandwiched between Germany & Austria, but even then Czech's know that they are Eastern European and don't try to hide that fact.

Unaton

Raekwon wrote: »

Poland IS in Eastern Europe whether you like to admit it or not. Central Europe would consist of countries like Switzerland, Germany, Austria, etc. The only Eastern European county that could be considered to be Central European would be the Czech Republic which is sandwiched between Germany & Austria, but even then Czech's know that they are Eastern European and don't try to hide that fact.

Hmmm I've always thought countries like Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Moldova, Romania etc are Eastern European, Estonia and Latvia Northern European and Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Rep - Central European. But that's just me.

Rob_l

Unaton wrote: »

Hmmm I've always thought countries like Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Moldova, Romania etc are Eastern European, Estonia and Latvia Northern European and Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Rep - Central European. But that's just me.

http://www.countriesandcities.com/regions/eastern-europe.htm

http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm#europe

ojewriej

Rob_l wrote: »

http://www.countriesandcities.com/regions/eastern-europe.htm

http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm#europe

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographical_centre_of_Europe

Raekwon wrote: »

Poland IS in Eastern Europe whether you like to admit it or not. Central Europe would consist of countries like Switzerland, Germany, Austria, etc. The only Eastern European county that could be considered to be Central European would be the Czech Republic which is sandwiched between Germany & Austria, but even then Czech's know that they are Eastern European and don't try to hide that fact.

And this opinion is based on what?

Unaton

Rob_l wrote: »

http://www.countriesandcities.com/regions/eastern-europe.htm

http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm#europe

Hmm the UN one says that the Czech Rep and Slovakia are in Eastern Europe. According to the UN list Latvia and Estonia are in NEurope which I agree with. Been there. Their culture and lifestyle have more in common with Finland and Sweden than Poland or Slovakia.

Rob_l

ojewriej wrote: »

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographical_centre_of_Europe

Dont start picking on me the UN says your in eastern Europe
The EC says your in eastern Europe
just go with it, its easier.

Or alternately go the UN and get them to change it then I'll agree:D

Unaton

ojewriej wrote: »

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographical_centre_of_Europe

How is that relevant to economy, culture, politics? The divisions are based on these factors rather than 'the centre of Europe'.

Raekwon

Unaton wrote: »

Hmmm I've always thought countries like Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Moldova, Romania etc are Eastern European, Estonia and Latvia Northern European and Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Rep - Central European. But that's just me.

It's abit of a grey area I admit, even the CIA & UN have conflicting opinions about this. For the record, Poland is definitely in Eastern Europe, there is no doubt about that. The likes of Russia (which has only 25% of it's land in Europe) would nearly be a continent onto itself, for example if you asked a Russian if they were from Eastern Europe they would probably simply say "No, I'm from Russia". Slovenia is Central Europe (beside Italy and under Austria) and as I said the Czech Republic have a good case to call themselves Central European.

Raekwon

ojewriej wrote: »

And this opinion is based on what?

Hmmmm let me see.........oh yeah, it is based on that fact that Poland IS in Eastern Europe.

You know that denial is not a river in Egypt don't you

ojewriej

Rob_l wrote: »

Dont start picking on me the UN says your in eastern Europe
The EC says your in eastern Europe
just go with it, its easier.

Or alternately go the UN and get them to change it then I'll agree:D

To be honest, I'd rather agree with the facts than with what bunch of burecrauts decided. :-)


But fair enough, not looking for a fight, it's just that the term Eastern Europe is often being used a bit broadly. You don't really see Western Europeans being generalised in this way.

ojewriej

Raekwon wrote: »

Hmmmm let me see.........oh yeah, it is based on that fact that Poland IS in Eastern Europe.

You know that denial is not a river in Egypt don't you

I know that a lot of people would argue that Ireland IS a part of United Kingdom. Just because you say it IS, it doesn't necesarly make it so.

Rob_l

ojewriej wrote: »

I know that a lot of people would argue that Ireland IS a part of United Kingdom. Just because you say it IS, it doesn't necesarly make it so.

Those people are wrong easterner:D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_of_Great_Britain_and_Ireland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom

when we were part it was referred to as the united kingdom of great britain and Ireland

Raekwon

ojewriej wrote: »

I know that a lot of people would argue that Ireland IS a part of United Kingdom. Just because you say it IS, it doesn't necesarly make it so.

Don't start with that bullsh*t! Northern Ireland is part of the UK and the Republic isn't. (<--- see the full stop?)

Okay, you believe what you want to believe and the rest (99.9%) will believe in reality. Poland is in Cental Europe, yeah right!

ojewriej

Rob_l wrote: »

Those people are young easterner:D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_of_Great_Britain_and_Ireland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom

when we were part it was referred to as the united kingdom of great britain and Ireland

I didn't mean Ireland is a part of UK. I meant some people think it is.

Admittedly, the ones I met, were all Americans.

Unaton

Raekwon wrote: »

It's abit of a grey area I admit, even the CIA & UN have conflicting opinions about this. For the record, Poland is definitely in Eastern Europe, there is no doubt about that. The likes of Russia (which has only 25% of it's land in Europe) would nearly be a continent onto itself, for example if you asked a Russian if they were from Eastern Europe they would probably simply say "No, I'm from Russia". Slovenia is Central Europe (beside Italy and under Austria) and as I said the Czech Republic have a good case to call themselves Central European.

Yeah, tbh I dunno which one to believe but I think the CIA one is a bit 'old'. A lot has changed over the last 20 years. The Soviet Union collapsed and we gained another 18 new countries. In 1990s the Baltic States were typical Eastern European countries but now they are more like Finland's little brothers. Um.. does this make any sense?

But yeah, Poland is Eastern European, along with Belarus and Ukraine.

Unaton

ojewriej wrote: »

Admittedly, the ones I met, were all Americans.

Ah now that's just nasty. So many people see Americans as morons, no knowledge of European geography, history etc. But how much do we know about the States? Can you show me on the map all states without hesitating for a second? I doubt.

Our knowledge about the States is just as general as their knowledge about Europe.

ojewriej

Raekwon wrote: »

Don't start with that bullsh*t! Northern Ireland is part of the UK and the Republic isn't. (<--- see the full stop?)

Okay, you believe what you want to believe and the rest (99.9%) will believe in reality. Poland is in Cental Europe, yeah right!

I'm not starting with any bull****. If you read my post carefully, you will see I never said I think Ireland is part of UK, only that some people think Poland IS Eastern Europe.

To make it a bit easier for you: Just because you say it is, it doesn't mean it's true.

But since this is getting a bit out of hand: when i said we are not Eastern Europe, I meant geographicaly, that's all. I do understand that it is the term broadly used the countries from the ex-Soviet block. I have no problem with that. I wrote it as a bit of trivia, not to start a fight, but your attitude annoyed me a little.

Is that clear now?

ojewriej

Unaton wrote: »

Ah now that's just nasty. So many people see Americans as morons, no knowledge of European geography, history etc. But how much do we know about the States? Can you show me on the map all states without hesitating for a second? I doubt.

Our knowledge about the States is just as general as their knowledge about Europe.

I'm sorry, that came across wrong. I didn't mean to bash Americans, I agree that they often get stick for no reason.

But it's true, when I used to work in a hotel, I was asked few times about that, and always by Americans.

Raekwon

Unaton wrote: »

But yeah, Poland is Eastern European, along with Belarus and Ukraine.

Yep, I think it's very safe to say that those 3 are all part of Eastern Europe.

Raekwon

ojewriej wrote: »

But since this is getting a bit out of hand: when i said we are not Eastern Europe, I meant geographicaly, that's all. I do understand that it is the term broadly used the countries from the ex-Soviet block. I have no problem with that. I wrote it as a bit of trivia, not to start a fight, but your attitude annoyed me a little.

Is that clear now?

Hey, I didn't mean to annoy you or start a fight it's just that I know a good few Poles here in Ireland and alot of them are quite defensive and say things like 'we are not Eastern Europeans, we are Central Europeans!" It's like the word 'Eastern European' is really bad now all of a sudden. I'm not referring to you personally, but I think alot of Eastern Europeans should be proud of where they come from and not try and smoke screen people with loose facts (because Poland even looks east on a map).

But yeah, your argument is clear and I didn't mean to offend anybody, if I did then I apologise.

Kintarō Hattori

Raekwon wrote: »

Seriously? :eek: You're with her a few years now aren't you? What changed?

Yup it's three and a half years now. She refuses to use common sense is what's bothering me. She doesn't like her job, she's working for a bank. She comes home every single day and complains and complains about her job. Neither she nor I really have a good quality of life at the moment because of this. I told her she should apply for a different position or to look for a new job. She refuses too, and why I just don't know. We are paying rent here and a mortage in Poland. We're not in a bad way financially so if she found something that didn't pay so well but that she enjoyed we'd manage.

Ideally she wants to be her own boss, to run her own business and that's fine with me. I've told her we'll pay off the place in Poland in 2 years, save some more and that we can move there and try it out. I've always fancied the idea of living abroad for a while and to be honest I don't want to be in an office for the rest of my life.
However to do this requires staying here for a while longer and saving. So if she hates her job so much she really should look for something else but this is where she refuses to listen to common sense. It's driving me mad at this stage. She hates it, we both suffer as a result but yet she refuses to do anything about it. Tis all getting a bit head wrecking at the moment.

Tha Gopher

Raekwon wrote: »

I think you have it the wrong way around there. Most Czech, Hungarian & Slovakians get mistaken for Polish all the time and by all accounts are not too impressed. .

meh, as said I can usually differentiate (well, women at least. Havent really worked with any Slovak men so it is tougher). But most Slovak women have the jet black hair, often slight natural tan and are generally smaller than the Pole women.

ojewriej wrote: »

No, I'm dead serious, she used to give me awfull grief.

The things she would say

"it's your turn to wash the dishes; why should I make a dinner; not tonight, I have a headache; it's not what you said, it's how you said it; they are your friends too". All kind of crazy stuff. I used to just say " You are not in Poland anymore baby, you have to learn Irish ways now". It didn't work though, so she had to go. Irish girls ftw.

Fcuk!

Thank god no Irish women are headwreckers.

:pac: :rolleyes:

wazzoraybelle

Raekwon wrote: »

Yep, I think it's very safe to say that those 3 are all part of Eastern Europe.

Geographically Poland is considered a central european state.Belarus and the Ukraine are east european states

Unaton

wazzoraybelle wrote: »

Geographically Poland is considered a central european state.

Since when?

And why does it feel as if EE is used as a swearword?

wazzoraybelle

Unaton wrote: »

Since when?

And why does it feel as if EE is used as a swearword?

Pretty much since the foundation of the state. A quick google image search for central europe should confirm it.

ojewriej

Raekwon wrote: »

Hey, I didn't mean to annoy you or start a fight it's just that I know a good few Poles here in Ireland and alot of them are quite defensive and say things like 'we are not Eastern Europeans, we are Central Europeans!" It's like the word 'Eastern European' is really bad now all of a sudden. I'm not referring to you personally, but I think alot of Eastern Europeans should be proud of where they come from and not try and smoke screen people with loose facts (because Poland even looks east on a map).

But yeah, your argument is clear and I didn't mean to offend anybody, if I did then I apologise.

Thanks

You are right we tend do get defensive about that. But I don't think it's because we are embarassed that we are from there. It's just the term is being used very broadly, painting with the same brush people from loads of different countries, usually in a negative context. "Eastern European gangsters", "Eastern Europeans stealing our jobs", this kind of thing. Sometimes it's very easy to get defensive. Especially when you don't really hear Western, Central, Northern or Southern Europeans beineg used.

Unaton

ojewriej wrote: »

Thanks
Especially when you don't really hear Western, Central, Northern or Southern Europeans beineg used.

I agree. Such generalisation towards people who come from Eastern Europe shouldn't be tolerated. Everyone comes from a different background. Poles have their Slavonic heritage, Latvians - Baltic and German, Estonians - Finno-Ugric etc.

Raekwon

Tha Gopher wrote: »

meh, as said I can usually differentiate (well, women at least. Havent really worked with any Slovak men so it is tougher). But most Slovak women have the jet black hair, often slight natural tan and are generally smaller than the Pole women.

As the blonde, 6' 1, Adriana Sklenarikova (Karembeu) kindly demonstrates here

My point is, you can't really generalise that much........apart from that generalisation that they are all hot as f**k of course :pac:

Raekwon

ojewriej wrote: »

Thanks

You are right we tend do get defensive about that. But I don't think it's because we are embarassed that we are from there. It's just the term is being used very broadly, painting with the same brush people from loads of different countries, usually in a negative context. "Eastern European gangsters", "Eastern Europeans stealing our jobs", this kind of thing. Sometimes it's very easy to get defensive. Especially when you don't really hear Western, Central, Northern or Southern Europeans beineg used.

I agree with you, some Eastern Europeans do not want to be pigeon-holed and I can totally empathise with them. I also understand that over the last few years the media and other sources have not exactly put Eastern Europeans in a good light and this has been reflected with the resentment shown towards them by a minority of Western (& North/Southern) society. I just don't like the way that the words 'Eastern European' is turning into a rascal type slur that people have to try and distance themselves from.

ojewriej

Raekwon wrote: »

I agree with you, some Eastern Europeans do not want to be pigeon-holed and I can totally empathise with them. I also understand that over the last few years the media and other sources have not exactly put Eastern Europeans in a good light and this has been reflected with the resentment shown towards them by a minority of Western (& North/Southern) society. I just don't like the way that the words 'Eastern European' is turning into a rascal type slur that people have to try and distance themselves from.

I don't like it either. But You can't blame us when we sometimes get defensive about it.

Raekwon

eo980 wrote: »

Yup it's three and a half years now. She refuses to use common sense is what's bothering me. She doesn't like her job, she's working for a bank. She comes home every single day and complains and complains about her job. Neither she nor I really have a good quality of life at the moment because of this. I told her she should apply for a different position or to look for a new job. She refuses too, and why I just don't know. We are paying rent here and a mortage in Poland. We're not in a bad way financially so if she found something that didn't pay so well but that she enjoyed we'd manage.

Ideally she wants to be her own boss, to run her own business and that's fine with me. I've told her we'll pay off the place in Poland in 2 years, save some more and that we can move there and try it out. I've always fancied the idea of living abroad for a while and to be honest I don't want to be in an office for the rest of my life.
However to do this requires staying here for a while longer and saving. So if she hates her job so much she really should look for something else but this is where she refuses to listen to common sense. It's driving me mad at this stage. She hates it, we both suffer as a result but yet she refuses to do anything about it. Tis all getting a bit head wrecking at the moment.

I feel for you man, ‘tis a tough business dating foreign women (much tougher then people who are looking from the outside in are led to believe anyway!) :pac:

I'm in slightly the same boat as you and so are a few of my friends & work colleagues. My Czech girlfriend seems to have gone off Ireland over the last few months and hates her job, plus it doesn't really help that most of her friends have gone home (including my mates Slovak (now ex) girlfriend who was her best friend here) and she is basically alone now (she says Irish girls are too cliquey so she finds it hard to make friends with them). I'm now getting the full brunt of her sudden unhappiness :rolleyes:

Plus a work colleague of mine is going out with a Polish girl for 2 years and she is trying to pressure him into marriage, which it is really making him uncomfortable as he is only 27. He says that the next few months will be make or break for their relationship.

I don't know, these fun relationships with beautiful Eastern European women can get seriously complicated very quickly but I suppose that is half of the challenge at the end of the day

Raekwon

ojewriej wrote: »

I don't like it either. But You can't blame us when we sometimes get defensive about it.

I don't blame you at all and I hope that this doesn’t sound patronising but I would prefer if people were true to themselves and disregard what other people say or think. It's like the example I gave earlier, if somebody lives in Finglas but tells other people that they live in Glasnevin because it sounds better. That person should just say "I live in Finglas, and if you have a problem with that then that's your problem, not mine". Do you know what I mean?