Why do Brits like...

[Gość: jerry]

pissing into the fountain, vomiting on the streets and showing their dirty
asses in public?

[Gość: grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr]

mate, why your-post-readers could thing about you absolutely not positive?

Anyway if you see any wrong behavior call police, please. Is no matter what
country you are or what that bad person nationality is.

And I hope you dont write down about yourself.

Finally I ask to Jonathan - in my mind is not question for this forum.

[Gość: ania]

-cos his girlfriend told him NO last night
-cos his friend told him YES last night and became his boyfriend

[jonathan.oakley]

I guess they're - like your post - are just providing a benchmark to
the rest of us on how not to behave. :-)

[Gość: kto tam?]

Why do Poles (the men) like spitting and pissing in public?

[jonathan.oakley]

The global village concept: separated by language but not by
behaviour :-)

[Gość: vera]

they "like" it no more than the english/indian/caribbean men do.
it is rather international and comes from the family rather than
nationality.

[viking2]

Gość portalu: kto tam? napisał(a):

> Why do Poles (the men) like spitting and pissing in public?

Perhaps they misunderstand the expression "public restroom"...?:)

[seth.destructor]

I've read the book "Watching The English" by Kate Fox. She is a
social anthropologist and deals with the behaviour of English
people. She wrote that bad behaviour of Englishmen especially abroad
was a kind of a show-off how relaxed and free they were. She
explained that there was so many rules in the life of an average
Englishmen that whenever there was a chance to break them, they did
it.
Besides there is a kind of a yob culture in England. Thugs are
called lovably rogues and praised for having fun and having good
social life. Nobody does a thing to a yob until he's given an ASBO
for FREQUENT bad behaviour.
But I am sure that even if English people behave badly they stil
wouldn't dare to jump a queue...:^)

[jonathan.oakley]

Yes, I've heard of this book. I've been meaning to read it too and,
after reading your post, maybe I will now.

It is true that the English are the most watched culture in Europe-
in terms of cctv cameras per head- and I agree that
escaping 'control' outside the Island might have a liberating effect.

ASBOS are now a badge of honour amongst those they are meant for
which kind of defeats their purpose somewhat. That's the problem
with bureaucracy: everyone knows what the problems are and what
should be done but change happens slowly, if at all.

LOL about the English and queue jumping...!!! I was in Italy in Jan.
and the girl I was with had to drag me on the bus as I waiting for
everyone else to get on..nobody queues in Italy..:-)

"A bureaucratic organization is an organization that can not correct
its behaviour by learning from its errors" (Crozier)

[jonathan.oakley]

I have a friend who is reading this excellent book now. She thinks
its more relevant for Southern English people and points out that-
while on a trip to Newcastle-English people started taling to her on
the local metro..something they wouldn't do in Kate Foxe's book!

[Gość: Steve]

I haven't read the book and don't expect ever to see it, but many British
attitudes and much of our behaviour can be attributed to expression of feelings
of freedom and independence, frustrated by feelings of life's repression and
control. Alcohol liberation and associated behaviour is depicted by Dickens,
Hogarth, etc. Nothing new there, except that few adults and no kids had money
then. The difference today between foreign holidays and Friday/Saturday
pubbing/clubbing is 5 or 10 extra days freedom.

Freedom and independence is almost a defining feature of the British character,
first noticed around 500AD, when Gildas mourned the British people: "This
island, from the time of its being first inhabited, rebels, sometimes against
God, sometimes against her own citizens, and frequently, also, against foreign
kings and their subjects. What can be worse than to fail to show affection to
one's own people, or to refuse the respect due to those in higher positions?"
Although the centuries he refers to were more violent, and the people he
referred to have become the Welsh, his principle holds for us all today.

Finally, congratulations Ania on your extremely British (London?) comment. You
would like it in London. (I didn't and chose to leave.)

[krooowka]

I find it astonishing how some Brits behave while on stag do's
abroad. They show utter disrespect for the country they're visiting
and I completely despise it.
Don't get me wrong. I love the UK. My husband's a Brit. But he's not
one of those blokes who show assess and shit in public squares. He
despises this kind of behaviour as well, that's probably why I
married him :) lol
Unfortunately even some of his friends, who are so 'normal'
and 'cultured' even when drinking all day during football days, can
make pigs of themselves as soon as they board the plane heading to
Poland (for instance).
It's such a shame... People used to respect the Brits in Poland much
more, but now - it's just shambles. The whole impression they create
during weekends away is awful. 'No stag parties welcomed' is not an
unusual note on restaurants' doors nowadays. Social rules apply
wherever you are - why can't Brits enjoy themselves culturally when
they leave the UK? Everyone needs to follow rules. Poles need to
carry their IDs on a daily basis. Everyone's life is in some way
constrained by social structures - but somehow it's always the Brits
(not the Germans or the French) who need to 'relax'.
And when it comes to spitting in public... well - that's just a
disgusting common thing in Poland. Just like swearing, which I hate
as well. That's lack of culture, lack of some personal aesthetic
values. But much as I hate it, I must say that never have I seen a
Pole making as big a pig of himself in London as a Brit would in
Krakow :/

[Gość: Steve]

Sorry, but I just have to reply again.

Poland is growing up. I was shocked by Polish ignorance when I first came here.
I used to see Polish documents about the EU, which argued that it would improve
Polish "civilisation". Since I had no idea what this mean, they explained that
Poland needed to learn how to behave in a more civilised manner, as in England.
Many people wanted to go to England because it was a much better place to live.
Everyone thought I was crazy when I said that behaviour in Poland was far more
civilised and that, despite the real problems of money, life overall was far
better in Poland. They thought I was nuts. England was self-evidently much
better than Poland.

What was so good about Poland? Very early on, a beggar came up to me in Warsaw
asking for a cigarette. I pretended not to understand. How do I get away? London
expectation was for abuse and threatening behaviour. What instead? He asked me
in English. What!

I lived on a Warsaw equivalent of a London council estate. I hadn't lived in one
in London, but I had friends who did. Fear was a regular feature and the most
recent stories of personal, house and car thefts, violence, damage and in one
case murder was a normal part of the visiting routine. "Don't open the door,
while we're out", I was told. In Warsaw, peaceful, quiet, green, virtually no
graffiti, little shops that have never been robbed. Trees and bushes not only
survive there, they effectively make it a park with blocks of flats in it.
Boringly peaceful. Even the drunks on the bench near the rubbish bins said
hello. (To my Polish family it was incredibly dangerous at night although I
could never figure out why.)

Meeting people in pubs, which I liked to do and which helped me learn Polish,
was never threatening. I once went to a bar in Kielce and a rough looking guy -
bruised face with congealed blood around his cut marks, etc - came back from the
toilet and sat next to me. Natural London caution meant drink up quick and get
out. Would I (a foreigner in a suit) get out without abuse or worse? Instead, we
started chatting and no problems. Some months later, still looking just as
rough, he saw me on the street and came over, said hello, shook hands and
wandered unsteadily away. I have never been threatened in a Polish bar. Why? I
had to avoid places in London, where I wasn't even a foreigner, but have visited
the equivalent in Warsaw, Kielce and elsewhere. Most bars don't even have
surveillance cameras, whilst in London the police line the whole street with them.

Etc, etc.

As for the reasons, Brits are Brits. However, the fact that in the village area
where I'm living now (just outside Warsaw) the only 'pub' within walking
distance is part of the cake shop in the local town, while in England there
would be several making a very good living within ten minutes walk, is a good
indicator of the fundamental difference between our the two cultures and lifestyles.

[krooowka]

Sorry, Steve, maybe I'm a bit daft, but I can't see your point. Does
the number of pubs in Britain entitle or justify
Brits' 'misbehaviour' abroad? I would actually be more understanding
if they behaved badly in their homeland (even if it was sneaky, away
from CCTV) and then made it even worse while on hols.
But apart from burping and farting, which seem to be a common way
for some Brits, having lived in London for a few years I haven't
myself witnessed a truly disgusting, disgraceful behaviour of the
commoners (I'm not talking about criminals jumping over the fences
of my neighbours' or graffiting housing estates). I mean the normal
blokes who go to work every day and go away on stag do's to Poland.
Why do they change from Dr Jekyls to Mr Hydes all of a sudden?

(Sorry, I know you can't actually answer that. Just like i can't
answer why Poles don't wash or use deodorants so it's unbearable to
travel on public transport in the summer. It's just that naked
British genitalia displayed in public are one of those things that
alwasy wind me up. Get me really angry. Because those people create
a horrible impression, give rise to all the negative atmosphere
around all the Brits who come to Poland later on - Brits like you,
Jonathan or my husband...)

[Gość: Steve]

You have just demonstrated one of the reasons. I suggested in an earlier notes
that rebellion is part of the nature of the British, in this case it is
rebellion against social norms and the frustrations it causes. What is actually
wrong with nudity? Why do you get angry? Why should I have to comply with
irrational social prudery that aims to control everything I do and the way I
think. I've had a few beers, I'm happy and relaxed, why not give the mates a
laugh? If he was not naked, but a Scotsman shaking his kilt, would you try to look?

I had a friend: a UK government office worker who later worked in the EU
Commission. Ordinary (nearly), polite, friendly guy who would never want to
upset anyone. The government department social club had a Sports Day each year.
Next time I saw him, he would tell me about the disco in the evening where he
always ended up dancing naked on the tables - at least as far as others told
him, as he could never remember everything. It was all good fun and no-one
complained.

Personally, I don't want to get naked. I don't particularly want to see my own
body and have no wish for others to see it my moments of drunken liberation.
Instead, I talk - boring, incessant, always arguing the opposite point of view.
(Don't say "commoners" or complain about 'burping and farting' to me after a few
drinks.) This is all part of my social conditioning. I don't get violent either
- I am scared of aggression. However, if I was less weak and cowardly, perhaps I
would.

Entitle or justify? I have no idea what these mean - perhaps that is our
problem. Who decides? Even as a (partial) explanation, I don't know which, if
either, is more decisive: the desire to act this way (helped by drink) or the
drink (which makes us behave in an unusual fashion).

[krooowka]

It sounds like you're trying to explaing, provide reasons and
excuses for this kind of behaviour. It seems like the only reason
why you don't do it is because you're 'weak and cowardly' as
you said yourself. I simply refuse to accept this way of thinking
and behaving. If nobody else does it, why should the British? On the
other hand, if there is some strange genetic explanation of this
uncontrollable need to 'relax' and 'enetrtain' friends in an obscene
way, why not be bold enough, do it in Britain and see what happens?
Aha, that's just a bit too much. Let's go to Poland and get away
with it. Let's enjoy myself at the expense of others. Eat, drink and
be merry, who cares? Why think about the noise I'm making and the
puke I'm leaving behind - it's not my country, not my city, the
police are not as efficient as back home so I will just board the
plane tomorrow and leave it all behind (providing they let me board
the plane at all - perhaps my mates will have to help me sober up -
again, one of the situations I witnessed in Balice airport last
summer). Same things happening in Greece where my friend lives. Same
over here in the Caribbean where I live at the moment (especially
after the cricket). Absolute discgrace to the British nation.

You can't see what is wrong with public nudity? And literally
shitting on chairs in restaurants? (which is one of the things that
happened a few years back in Krakow) Well in that case, I don't
think there's any point continuing this thread...

Have a good day. I hope you stay in your clothes while wandering the
streets today. Otherwise the friendly chap you met a few days back
may turn against you this time.
And I won't blame him.

[glasscraft]

krooowka napisała:

> I would actually be more understanding if they behaved badly in
their homeland...

I can assure you, they do (this knowledge comes from few years
of "collecting" my jolly ex-husband from pubs in the City after the
usual Friday night out :-)

> ... I haven't myself witnessed a truly disgusting, disgraceful
behaviour of the commoners...

I have - both men and woman...

I have also witnessed equally badly behaving Poles... sadly vomiting
and peeing in public is not reserved just for people living in the
UK, regardless of how much we, Poles, would like to believe in our
superiority when it comes to manners :-)

And as to farting and belching - it is as much a way of life for
Brits as it is for an average Polish person to use equivalent of
f... and c... (aka k..a in Polish) separating every other word when
they do their weekly shopping in the supermarket... to me as
offensive as seeing someone’s bare bottom and other bits (unless
these belong to a kilt wearer in which case it is perfectly
acceptable… – must remember to stop thinking about men in kilts).

[krooowka]

glasscraft,

As you may deduct from my previous posts - not for one moment in my
whole life have I regarded Poles as superior in any way
whatsoever. My opinion of Poles is that the majority don't wash and
they smell. I don't and (for some reason)I know you don't, but many
do. Many will look lovely, females will wear designer clothes, but
you will smell sweat around them. Or guys will have dirty
fingernails becasue they just don't care.
But at least we don't travel the world with the aim of
exposing our buttocks. I get the impression the Brits book their
trips making plans in advance regarding the amount of alcohol
consumed, number of pubs visited and bits exposed in public.

Blee :(

ps.

[krooowka]

I forgot to add that Poles swear too which also bothers me a
lot

And I forgot to say 'some Brits do this or that' - there are
exceptions to all rules. Regarding Poles, Brits or any other
species ;)

I'd like to think about smelly, swearing Poles and nude Brits in
public as exceptions too.
Maybe, one day I will...

[glasscraft]

Thank you :-)

I think we know our bums are superior hence they do not need being
exposed :-)

Could it be it is an age issue? My other half (who is otherwise
perfectly allowed to show the bits as a kilt wearer :-)) went to
Slovenia to our friend's stag do last year. As they were all bunch
of "old farts" (he was they youngest - at 39) I was told there had
been no naked bums (or should I call myself naive) or peeing on the
streets (weather wasn't great then which could explain it too) or
drinking from 9am. Definitely an age thing - they just would not be
able to take it!!! :-)

[krooowka]

glasscraft napisała:

> Thank you :-)

You're welcome. I know you from 'Polki...' forum - you're a nice
lass :)

> Could it be it is an age issue?

i like this explanation. let's hope all bum-showers and street-
pissers will simply grow out of it one day :)

[Gość: Steve]

"Boring Old farts"? Yes, aren't we, although some young people act like it too.

I find Polish swearing culture fascinating. Several people I have spoken to were
convinced that kurna, kurcza and kurda are not swear words even though to an
outsider they obviously just replace one sound in the 'bad word' and are used in
identical situations. My mother-in-law's "kurka wodna", is my favourite version.
(I do not know if I should asterisk these, so apologies if I should.) I also
thought "Matka Boska Częstohowska" in a conversation where an English person
would probably have said "fu**ing hell" was pretty brilliant.

[Gość: paulina]

hi i am in relation with english guy, we have been together fo 5 months, but
still i dont know how to surprise him, and spoil him, any ideas how to spoil
english man?
thanks in advance
paula

[Gość: Steve]

Circumstances and people are so different that it is impossible to say, but I remember...

My Polish girlfriend (now wife) invited me round for dinner, saying she was going to do something very special for me. She had arranged for everyone else where she lived to be out, so it was to be just the two of us. Simply being with her was great and we rarely had the opportunity to be alone at home, so what ever happened it was going to be special. However, I was a bit worried about 'special dinner' as the food is too often disappointing. I would have to say how marvellous it was, which would require me to lie to her if it wasn't, which I didn't want to do.

However, I found the surprise when I arrived at the door. She was wearing a beautiful blue satin ballgown, which she had had sent over from home in Poland. She had had her hair done differently and taken special care on make-up, perfume etc. She was more beautiful than beauty could be. The candle-lit dinner, wine, etc made it all the perfect evening.

Why so surprising? I (and I suspect few Englishmen) have actually been with a woman wearing a very beautiful dress, except at our own weddings. We don't have the Carnival Ball tradition, etc that makes it normal in Poland. That she would actually arrange for it to be sent from Poland and wear it for me and only me, that she would make herself look so special just for me...