Typical Polish arrogance-does it still exist?

10.04.06, 00:46
Having been raised as a kid for a few years in the States, I returned to high
school in Poland and felt a stifling sense of arrogance and hautitude of
suckers regurgitating their bookish know-how which passed off as "wisdom".
There was no sense of true sharing; just extreme competition for a teacher's
attention, brown-nosing galore, and a sense of being labelled stupid if you
didn't know the dates of the partition of Poland and other such grave
matters. I find some of that arrogance in the discussions on the GW forum.
You differ in opinion, so you're dismissed or told to go back to school.
When do you think that Poles will shed their arrogant attitude in favour of
true cooperation and respect for the ideas of others? I say, when the Wisla
cleans up its waters. I hate Polish arrogance. I can take it from others, and
I rearely see it in Canadians, but, ohhh, give me a Polak abroad, and I know
he/she is full of airs
(of the "I'm qualified, but why am I not being hired?" kind. IT'S EXACTLY WHY
YOU'RE NOT BEING HIRED; YOU'RE DAMN ARROGANT, RUDE, AND THINK YOU KNOW IT
ALL. Is it just me, or do any of you still sense this loserish attitude in
the folks you meet in PL? I was born and raised in Poland, My kods were born
in Poland, but, ohhh, am I glad they're not pole-up-your-arse snobs and
western wannabes...
    • easystreet Re: Typical Polish arrogance-does it still exist? 10.04.06, 00:47
      that was rarely see it...
      • easystreet Re: Typical Polish arrogance-does it still exist? 10.04.06, 00:53
        On a recent visit, i asked a saleslady about some product. Her response was:
        What's the matter...can't you read?! In Ca, in one of the Polish stores, her
        compatriot, a saleslady too, was commenting on the size of customers' feet in
        very unflattering ways. Get Poles together and they will always find fault with
        others. Ahhh, I know what I don't miss in my daily living abroad, but what
        slaps me in the face any time I come across it- the arrogance and sense of
        moral/mental/national/holier-than-thou superiority, aggggh, it makes me cringe!
        Thank you. I'm through with this rantsmile
        • asdf401 Re: Typical Polish arrogance-does it still exist? 10.04.06, 01:16
          Easystreet,
          You are so right and right on target, too. To rid oneself of arrogance a Pole
          must probably live abroad, speak foreign language and make an effort in
          comparing cultures.
          • brookie Re: Typical Polish arrogance-does it still exist? 10.04.06, 14:14
            I'm a Pole living overseas but never put up with other Poles. I just don't like
            being interviewed on any ground- especially financial.
        • minimus Re: Typical Polish arrogance-does it still exist? 10.04.06, 17:28
          > On a recent visit, i asked a saleslady about some product. Her response was:
          > What's the matter...can't you read?!

          This is quite an exception these days. Generally customer service is poor
          compared to for eg the UK, but they are at least polite.
          One of the worst examples of service I received was few years ago in Toronto in
          one of the "Polish" restaurants. The behaviour of the waiter/owner was quite
          amazing. Unthinkable in Poland believe it or not.
          • nasza_maggie Re: Typical Polish arrogance-does it still exist? 10.04.06, 17:35
            Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally...

            What is this the 'let's complain about POland' club? How Polishsmile)))

            In the UK the good service you get in good stores. Like M&S or decent high
            street stores, sometimes. You also get your fair share from a 20+ with an
            attitude problem, who seem to get pissed off at the fact they have to work
            there and serve you and answer your questions and that they get 4.20 an hour.
            Nothing to do with being POlish but to do with frustration.

            In Poland, where ever I go, I usualle get annoyed that they are in fact TOO
            helpfulsmile I love to browse and hate being stalked and it seems the p[olicy in
            some shops.

            When it comes to samll local stores, I've noticed that they have to get to know
            you a little and remeber your face and then the 'PRL' treatment stopssmile
        • kylie1 Re: Typical Polish arrogance-does it still exist? 12.04.06, 00:06
          > What's the matter...can't you read?!

          Just fire back, easytreet. Tell her:

          "why don't you put it up somewhere where everyone can see"

          > In Ca, in one of the Polish stores, her compatriot, a saleslady too, was
          >commenting on the size of customers' feet in very unflattering ways.

          I would tell her this:

          "You are in shoe business, aren't you? You should be used to seeing feet with
          corns, curved in toes, infection, unclipped yellow toenails, bumps, warts, bony
          feet, smelly feet, ingrown nails, etc.

          What? You don't like my webbed feet, either? These dogs are barking and they
          are not very happy right now...Just give me size 8 and put a sock in it. Not my
          shoe! Your mouth!"

          Why don't they just put all those miserable hens on commision and see how
          quickly their demeanor changes...

          You don't have to put up with that, easystreet!

          smile
    • farnazon Surprising .... 11.04.06, 15:00
      I am unpleasantly surprised that you folks still put up with that horrible
      Poles and their country. Why don't you "just pack up your shit and go wherever
      you came from". That was exactly what I heard one day from some locals in
      western part of Pennsylvania when I complained about the taste of Bud Light,
      the only beer they had in the only bar in town.
      • easystreet Re: Surprising .... 11.04.06, 16:50
        I understand that arrogance is not limited to any one nation. It concerns
        individuals. What I HAVE found hard to stomach is Polish on Polish arrogance.
        You don't find that among reps of diffrent nationalities amongst each other in
        Ca. (Ok, maybe some Italians think they're the center of the universe, and all
        things Italian are the best). One can live with that and dismiss it as national
        pride. What will never cease to astound me and is a constant reminder of "I'm
        glad I don't have to deal with that every day" is the arrogance of SOME Polish
        compatriots who believe they're better than others on the sole "merit" of their
        education, and who openly deride others for what they perceive to be a "lack of
        sophistication"; who don't contribute anything constructive towards a
        discussion (at meetings), but constantly criticize. You see this in
        politicians, parish councils, e-paper fora, or anywhere where you have two
        Poles with three opinions, eh?
        • farnazon Re: Surprising .... 11.04.06, 17:08
          I see it as a way to cover up their low self-esteem rather than pathological
          arrogance.
          If circumstances allow, try to run an experiment on a swaggering Polak. When
          he ( I assume it will be male rather than female...) approaches with the
          attitude you described, start talking English. You will see how quickly their
          attitudes fades.
          Some just turn red and walk away smile
      • jot-23 Re: Surprising .... 11.04.06, 18:13
        farnazon napisał:

        > the only beer they had in the only bar in town.

        o rly?

        i think you're trying to bullshit us here just a little bit....

        care to name the bar/town?
        • farnazon Re: Surprising .... 11.04.06, 19:19
          Orly is in Paris, son. Not in PA.
          Yes, sure. Let me get back to my notes. I keep track of all bars and towns I
          visited 20 years ego.
          • jot-23 Re: Surprising .... 11.04.06, 19:29
            hehe...ok...i was expecting something like this... well... you seem to exhibit
            some of the traits easystreet described...so i guess it's good for the thread.
            • farnazon Re: Surprising .... 11.04.06, 20:20
              Apparently you didn't understand much from what he wrote.
    • minimus Re: Typical Polish arrogance-does it still exist? 11.04.06, 22:44
      Being an 'overeducated' arrogant immigrant can be quite annoying:

      It was the first day of school and a new student named Pedro
      Martinez, the son of a Mexican restaurateur, entered the fourth grade.
      The teacher said, "Let's begin by reviewing some American history. Who
      said 'Give me Liberty, or give me Death?' "
      She saw a sea of blank faces, except for Pedro, who had his hand up.
      "Patrick Henry, 1775."
      "Very good!" apprised the teacher. "Now, who said, "Government of the
      people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth?"
      Again, no response except from Pedro: "Abraham Lincoln, 1863."
      The teacher snapped at the class, "Class, you should be ashamed! Pedro,
      who is new to our country, knows more about its history than you do!"
      She heard a loud whisper: "Screw the Mexicans!"
      "Who said that?" she demanded.
      Pedro put his hand up. "Jim Bowie, 1836."
      At that point, a student in the back said, "I'm gonna puke."
      The teacher glared and asked, "All right! Now, who said that?"
      Again, Pedro answered, "George Bush to the Japanese Prime Minister,
      1991."
      Now furious, another student yelled, "Oh yeah? Suck this!"
      Pedro jumped out of his chair waving his hand and shouting to the teacher,
      "Bill Clinton to Monica Lewinsky, 1997!"
      Now, with almost a mob hysteria, teacher said, "You little shit. If you say
      anything else, I'll kill you!"
      Pedro frantically yelled at the top of his voice, "Gary Condit to Chandra
      Levy, 2001."
      The teacher fainted, and as the class gathered around her on the floor,
      someone said, "Oh shit, we're in BIG trouble now!"
      Pedro whispered, "Saddam Hussein, 2003."
      Finally someone throws a eraser at Pedro, as someone shouted, "Duck"
      A Teacher, just waking by, asked, "Who said that?"
      Pedro: "Dick Cheney, 2006!!!
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