How often do you think Poles smile :)

tornado2007:

Not smiling to everybody? what situation are we talking about here?? I'm not talking about just looking at somebody, i'm talking about little or a lot of interaction through one activity or another.

It does not interest me if a Pole, Brit, Spanyard etc etc walking down the street smiles or not.

Lodz_The_BoatThreads: 58 Posts: 2,314 Joined: Sep 7, 08	Sep 17, 09, 21:32 / #
As far as I can see, we do smile, and the girls are always laughing :D... But recently I heard from a friend that he thinks Poles smile very rarely!... This makes me think... how do you see us? Too serious?.... how often do you think we smile? :)

SzwedwPolsceThreads: 13 Posts: 1,915 Joined: Feb 21, 09	Edited by: SzwedwPolsce Sep 17, 09, 21:36 / #
In my experience Poles smile a lot to people they know, and very little to people they don't know. If you know only very few Poles, the impression will be that Poles don't smile.

plk123Threads: 30 Posts: 6,412 Joined: Aug 29, 07	Sep 17, 09, 21:38 / #
^^^ yup. poles come across as serious and even rude sometimes.

tornado2007Threads: 20 Posts: 3,497 Joined: Jul 11, 07	Sep 17, 09, 21:41 / #
smiling and laughing, yeah when they have had a few drinks, otherwise its a pretty uncommon sight. I would even stretch as far as to say they do come across as very very serious and sometimes rude, like plk123 already pointed out.

ShawnHThreads: 9 Posts: 3,056 Joined: Jul 2, 09	Sep 17, 09, 21:43 / #
I think that if you know them, they really open up, and can laugh and smile like everybody else. If you don't know them, they come off as kind of serious. They just need to get to know you to open up.

SzwedwPolsceThreads: 13 Posts: 1,915 Joined: Feb 21, 09	Edited by: SzwedwPolsce Sep 17, 09, 21:53 / #
ShawnH: I think that if you know them, they really open up, and can laugh and smile like everybody else. If you don't know them, they come off as kind of serious. They just need to get to know you to open up. Yes, that's the way it is. No doubt, and I think most people know it. It's usually easy to get to know Polish ppl. But until you know them they are usually rather "closed". Then they open up completely. :)

tornado2007Threads: 20 Posts: 3,497 Joined: Jul 11, 07	Sep 17, 09, 22:04 / #
While i agree with what you two are saying, that does not hide the fact they hardly smile at all, i mean come on what is wrong with looking happy?? A lot of Poles i know do smile but as you have already said that is because i know them, you can pass people in the street, let somebody in front of you in a que, help somebody with something and usually they will smile and say thank you, not a Pole though. Even when it comes to service, i.e. in their job, what happened to service with a smile!!! lol

pgtxThreads: 49 Posts: 6,327 Joined: Feb 14, 09 MEMBER	Sep 17, 09, 22:09 / #
what's wrong with not smiling to everybody...? it's not a requirement...

tornado2007Threads: 20 Posts: 3,497 Joined: Jul 11, 07	Sep 17, 09, 22:10 / #
pgtx: what's wrong with not smiling to everybody...? it's not a requirement... Not smiling to everybody? what situation are we talking about here?? I'm not talking about just looking at somebody, i'm talking about little or a lot of interaction through one activity or another. It does not interest me if a Pole, Brit, Spanyard etc etc walking down the street smiles or not.

ShawnHThreads: 9 Posts: 3,056 Joined: Jul 2, 09	Sep 17, 09, 22:13 / #
tornado2007: Not smiling to everybody? Come to think of it, I don't think I would trust somebody who smiles all the time. It is not natural. SzwedwPolsce: But until you know them they are usually rather "closed". Then they open up completely. :) You know, I was just thinking that. ;-)

KrystalThreads: 7 Posts: 108 Joined: Sep 17, 09	Sep 17, 09, 22:16 / #
Maybe some people don't feel good because they might have sinus or allergies problems. It is awfully hard to smile. I just wave to say HI!

Lir	Sep 17, 09, 22:25 / #
Krystal: It is awfully hard to smile. Why ? It takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile and you get less wrinkles if you smile more than frown LOL....... Have you noticed when the weather is hot and sunny people tend to smile more ? :)

ShawnHThreads: 9 Posts: 3,056 Joined: Jul 2, 09	Sep 17, 09, 22:29 / #
Lir: when the weather is hot and sunny people tend to smile more ? Don't confuse smiling with squinting. :-) Krystal: Maybe some people don't feel good because they might have sinus or allergies problems My wife is suffering from Ragweed allergies, and she hasn't been smiling too much lately.

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07	Sep 17, 09, 22:55 / #
Dochodzę, dochodzę, then comes the smile :)

tornado2007Threads: 20 Posts: 3,497 Joined: Jul 11, 07	Sep 17, 09, 22:34 / #
ShawnH: Come to think of it, I don't think I would trust somebody who smiles all the time. It is not natural. i didn't say that somebody should smile to everyone, to add to what you said, i wouldn't trust a person who never smiles!!

ShawnHThreads: 9 Posts: 3,056 Joined: Jul 2, 09	Sep 17, 09, 22:39 / #
tornado2007: i wouldn't trust a person who never smiles!! If you got to really know them, and they didn't smile, I would not trust them either. But some people really need to get to know you before they feel comfortable around them. Maybe some people don't smile because they need some dental work.

pgtxThreads: 49 Posts: 6,327 Joined: Feb 14, 09 MEMBER	Sep 17, 09, 22:41 / #
ShawnH: Maybe some people don't smile because they need some dental work. or maybe they don't smile because they just don't like the person...

Lir	Edited by: Lir Sep 17, 09, 22:45 / #
ShawnH: Don't confuse smiling with squinting. :-) I don't ! It is true of people in the UK cos we are very happy when we see some sun lol. Thing is if you do smile at people , most people will smile back and that's what it's all about really. Far better than to go around scowling at everyone ? :))))))))))))))))))))))) LOL <grin> pgtx: or maybe they don't smile because they just don't like the person... True. :)

tornado2007Threads: 20 Posts: 3,497 Joined: Jul 11, 07	Sep 17, 09, 22:56 / #
ShawnH: If you got to really know them, and they didn't smile, I would not trust them either. But some people really need to get to know you before they feel comfortable around them. Maybe some people don't smile because they need some dental work. pgtx: or maybe they don't smile because they just don't like the person... I'm sorry but i don't think your putting up what i'm putting down, i'm not talking about people i know and don't know, people that i do want to know or people that i don't want to know, i'm talking about people i interact with through one way or another. For example, i go to the gym four or five times in a week, three days a week there is a British girl behind the desk, the other two days the girl is Polish. Usually you walk in and have to have your card swipped through a machine, then its 'thank you...........' maybe a bit of conversation if i or them are up to it. When the British girl says 'thank you' it is usually accompanied with a smile, however the Polish girl, never a smile. From my experience its the same when i go for a meal to a specific place i go too, the waitresses there are Brits, Poles, Africans etc etc, the Poles never smile when they serve you. While the Brits, Africans sometimes indulge in a little conversation if you/them feel comfortable, what i'm trying to say is, while the Poles are very good at hospitality, they do operate with a certain 'robotic' style. THis is something i'm not really looking for when i'm out eating a meal with friends, a place that is meant to be comfortable, warm, friendly etc etc with robotic staff??? lol it does not add up for me, so i rarely tip them well. I could give many many examples, even of people on the street who just need something, time, light, even a bit of money if they have not got enough for the bus (yes its happened) Still no smile or thank you, apart from anything this is rude (maybe a cultural difference i don't know) I've never had a problem with my Polish friends, i do say now and again 'come on cheer up' or 'smile'. Many of them are cheery, smiley and friendly but i do find sometimes that smiling is difficult to come by when your eastern european. I know i'm generalising a little but how else can i put it???.................

pgtxThreads: 49 Posts: 6,327 Joined: Feb 14, 09 MEMBER	Sep 17, 09, 23:01 / #
tornado2007: how else can i put it???................. shorter and less b!tching...

tornado2007Threads: 20 Posts: 3,497 Joined: Jul 11, 07	Sep 17, 09, 23:03 / #
pgtx: shorter and less b!tching... I think you will find that this below is shorter and not ******!!!! tornado2007: Not smiling to everybody? what situation are we talking about here?? I'm not talking about just looking at somebody, i'm talking about little or a lot of interaction through one activity or another. It does not interest me if a Pole, Brit, Spanyard etc etc walking down the street smiles or not. However people did not understand what i meant, so i gave clear examples along with my thoughts, its not ******, its just giving my point of view. Its not like i've slagged anybody off, called people names or abused anybody, its just a point of view. why can't people discuss instead of getting so defensive??

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07	Edited by: Seanus Sep 17, 09, 23:05 / #
I think it is generally the case that Poles don't serve with a smile, bardziej na odpierdl się. Torny is just using his eyes, not bitcing. He is answering the thread.

tornado2007Threads: 20 Posts: 3,497 Joined: Jul 11, 07	Sep 17, 09, 23:08 / #
Seanus: I think it is generally the case that Poles don't serve with a smile thats why i asked about 'cultural differences' service/hospitality may be viewed different by Poles as a whole, i would not know about this as i don't sit down over a pint with a Pole and discuss service/hospitality :)

dnzThreads: 25 Posts: 804 Joined: Dec 2, 07	Sep 17, 09, 23:12 / #
The majority seem to never smile :(

JustysiaSThreads: 15 Posts: 2,869 Joined: Oct 14, 07 MEMBER	Sep 17, 09, 23:14 / #
i always smile apart from the times when i'm not smiling

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07	Sep 17, 09, 23:17 / #
I think there is confusion as to the application of the word, hospitality. When I use the word, I'm thinking of serving at home. I've been to Zakopane and the hospitality in restaurants is good but you have to ask yourself why.

SzwedwPolsceThreads: 13 Posts: 1,915 Joined: Feb 21, 09	Edited by: SzwedwPolsce Sep 17, 09, 23:28 / #
tornado2007: cultural difference For sure it is. In Polish culture you usually don't smile at strangers. I discovered that pretty quickly when I came to PL. And I had it confirmed later as well. But when it's people they know well, I think people are smiling much more.

JustysiaSThreads: 15 Posts: 2,869 Joined: Oct 14, 07 MEMBER	Sep 17, 09, 23:29 / #
SzwedwPolsce: For sure it is. In Polish culture you usually don't smile at strangers it might get you into trouble

ShawnHThreads: 9 Posts: 3,056 Joined: Jul 2, 09	Sep 17, 09, 23:31 / #
SzwedwPolsce: In Polish culture you usually don't smile at strangers. JustysiaS: it might get you into trouble Was it always like that? If not, what changed?

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07	Sep 17, 09, 23:32 / #
Where is the concept of humanity, though, especially with reacting to foreigners? You want to signal your intentions that you mean no harm and have no problems. For example, a really nice middle-aged man opened the door for me with a smile. My head was in the clouds and I wasn't particularly happy. At that moment, I immediately woke up and returned the smile. It's energising and is the basis of interaction, it drops the barriers.