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If a Pole says something it must be wrong - a prejudice?


a.k.
5 Mar 2012 #1
I found on this forum very worring tendention of foreign users to dismiss everything what Poles say. I understand that everyone has right to own judgements, opinions but the way how some of you are ready to argue and deny even proven facts, the lack of openmindess, the ready recipes for everything which can't be wrong by definition of being a "Western" invention, the belief that institutions of Western countries don't make mistakes, the whole patronising vein etc... make it hard to communicate, really. I know some Poles act similar way but the attitude of some of you is beyond an individual character trait of mere self-righteousness. It's more: I AM THE FOREIGNER FROM WESTERN EUROPE THEREFORE I'M RIGHT!

An exmaple here (please don't take it as a dig):

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Twisting and turning to try to evade the issue that this, like most other transport disasters in Poland, is somebody's fault. Sad, when so many died.

It's a reply of a user, concerning the recent rail dissaster, for my comment in which I merely pointed out that the user was wrong about accident happening on currently modernised part of the route where the trains were able only to move on one track in shuttle system. The fact is that that part of the route wasn't entered yet by one train and was already left by the other. I even provided a link with a simplified map which is explaining how it looked like. I didn't make any comment concerning who or what is at fault for the disater (but contrary what the user has assumed I personally think it's a human error, so seems media). Also the information about the kind of traffic doesn't make it less probable that that could be a human fault so his comment is completely out of place.

The user specifically quoted that part of my comment:

Many foreign media has incorrect informations

so it seems that this is the reason why the user don't want to believe me. It amazes me why someone doesn't want to belief in something which is closer to the source (Polish media which talk about it whole day) and consider rather something which is more like second-hand news (foreign media which barely mention the dissaster) to be the better source of the information, also additionally implying some conspiracy.*

I've already met a few times with similar approach. Do you have such experience too? What the other, the foreign side think of it?

*For those who are intrested in the further explanation regarding the disaster: I remember on Saturday evening when I was watching first reports about that, a minister of transport (or someone else who wasn't yet at the crash place, I don't quite remember) in a telephone interview said that it was on modernised one-track route. The firemen and others who were on the spot corrected the information as it wasn't that part of the route yet. That's probably where the mistake comes from.
jasondmzk
5 Mar 2012 #2
I'm not sure what you're asking, here. This, to me, looks like you're hot under the collar about the way something went down in another thread. I didn't read the train thread, and I'm not planning to, so I can't speak to that. If your larger point is that some members of this forum are more prone to self-righteousness than others, that is something I can agree with, but not based on their home/birth countries. To use contemporary threads as a continuing example, I'd point you towards the "Western Media Picks on Poland" thread, or whatever it's called, wherein a few non-western Europeans are practically foaming at the mouth over.... well, I'm not sure exactly what. But you take my meaning, I'm sure. Some people are just addicted to being right, and if they can't get that, then they just want to be heard.
OP a.k.
5 Mar 2012 #3
This, to me, looks like you're hot under the collar about the way something went down in another thread.

I've posted there merely two comments which were informative, no involvement in any quarrel, yet I've received a dismissive reply with some conspiracy suggestion. Yeah, it made me upset and inspired for creating this thread because I felt like that several times already. It's a general idea I'd like to discuss.

Many Poles are self-rightous too but it doesn't come from a national pride, which I think might be the case here.

Some people are just addicted to being right, and if they can't get that, then they just want to be heard.

Yeah, that's true... maybe you're right

I'd point you towards the "Western Media Picks on Poland" thread,

You mean the thread "More anti Polish sentiment in western media"? I found it silly and exaggerated too. Some people are just oversensitive.
jasondmzk
5 Mar 2012 #4
Some people are just oversensitive.

Right. And the insidious thing about them is, they have a way of making you as peevish as they are. Don't let it get to you. Learn when to walk away.
OP a.k.
5 Mar 2012 #5
Ok, I guess you're right.
If a moderator judge this thread as unimportant or inflammatory, please delete it.
delphiandomine 88 | 18,163
5 Mar 2012 #6
I found on this forum very worring tendention of foreign users to dismiss everything what Poles say.

It depends - I tend to take Polish views with a huge pinch of salt when it concerns bad things done by Poles abroad. You'll never find the Polish media saying "bad Poles", for instance. And there was remarkably no criticism of the way that many children were taken out of school here and dumped in a foreign school with no language skills, then returned here a few years later completely messed up in terms of education.
Harry
5 Mar 2012 #7
bad things done by Poles abroad.

Some Poles will simply never admit to a non-Pole that any Pole has ever done anything in the slightest bit wrong. Just look at the whole Rutkowski in Norway deal: Poles encourage a child to risk her life rather than have their actions investigated but other Poles immediately and unquestioningly jump to support them and to attack foreigners who it later turns out were doing exactly the right thing.
polishmama 3 | 279
5 Mar 2012 #8
some conspiracy

Because, don't you know, Poles are secretly Nazis and Communists and there is always a conspiracy they are doing. *roll my eyes* Hope you caught my sarcasm. I understand what you mean, believe me.

Regarding

I found on this forum very worring tendention of foreign users to dismiss everything what Poles say

, I would be troubled by that but I realized something a long time ago. It doesn't matter what country you are speaking about. Example: USA. In some countries and cultures, what an American says is dismissed. Why? Foreign policy, what they see on tv of how America portrays herself on the daily, etc. Preconceived notions. Applies to every country in some manner to some extent. On one hand, it's wrong and the people who do this might have a low iq (sometimes they don't though). On the other, some of the preconceived notions might be accurate and particularly, are if the culture of the country in question is thoroughly understood, which sometimes is or isn't. In the end, go on with your day and ignore people who bother you, if you can. :)

Re Delph, yeah, he's mean. But he does have some good points. And seriously, he gets as irritated as I do at the word "Busia" lol He reminds me of some Poles I know, and of some Jewish friends of mine, as well as a few other people of various nationalities. Idk what his nationality is, doesn't really matter. I understand him. Don't always agree but meh. Oh well...
aphrodisiac 11 | 2,437
5 Mar 2012 #9
I found on this forum very worring tendention of foreign users to dismiss everything what Poles say.

that includes you. Next time you do that I will point it out to you. Deal?

Why are you hiding under unregistered name?
JonnyM 11 | 2,615
5 Mar 2012 #10
Some Poles will simply never admit to a non-Pole that any Pole has ever done anything in the slightest bit wrong.

This is true. I once heard a neighbour blaming the parking problems on our street on a particular ethnic minority (despite the street having been built after they all had to leave). Anything but blame another Pole.

A small but telling symptom of the denial culture here is a meal I had in a restaurant a few days ago. We waited ages for the starters and when the waiter finally brought them, he brought the main cause less than 3 minutes later. When I reminded him that we'd only just got the starter, he said it wasn't his fault; the kitchen had sent it. Easier to say that than either do his job properly and tell the kitchen to do it again at the appropriate time or at the very least apologise profusely.
Harry
5 Mar 2012 #11
When I reminded him that we'd only just got the starter, he said it wasn't his fault; the kitchen had sent it. Easier to say that than either do his job properly and tell the kitchen to do it again at the appropriate time or at the very least apologise profusely.

And no doubt it was the fault of the evil foreigner that the waiter didn't get the tip he was entitled to at the end of the meal!
JonnyM 11 | 2,615
5 Mar 2012 #12
Damn right especially since the thing he brought wasn't what I'd ordered anyway.

A shame really because if anything I generally overtip. It was Sphinx on Nowy Swiat - on the one hand not exactly classy, on the other hand supposedly quite hot on staff training.

Twice in restaurants here I've had food brought that is absolutely clap cold - they just forgot to heat it. On neither occasion did anyone apologise.

It's part of the culture here - they'd rather cut their own heads off than admit they're wrong.
Harry
5 Mar 2012 #13
they'd rather cut their own heads off than admit they're wrong.

But they are not wrong , they never wrong , especially not when they are dealing with a foreigner !

Twice in restaurants here I've had food brought that is absolutely clap cold - they just forgot to heat it. On neither occasion did anyone apologise.

Well , did you tell them that you wanted hot food ? Did the menu specify that the food would be served hot ? I'm sure you didn't and it didn't . If you don't like the way that Poles serve food in Poland , you are very welcome to leave . Poland doesn't need Jews like you .
OP a.k.
5 Mar 2012 #14
If a moderator judge this thread as unimportant or inflammatory, please delete it.

It's obviously inflammatory... so I guess it should be deleted.
JonnyM 11 | 2,615
5 Mar 2012 #15
Or perhaps you'd prefer to expand on what you're saying.
Harry
5 Mar 2012 #16
It's obviously inflammatory...

It's not really inflammatory.

so I guess it should be deleted

Given that you have posted this thread in the "Business, Economy" section of this website, you have committed the cardinal sin of being off topic, so thread deletion is the least of your worries: it's entirely possible that you will be deleted, given that your crime is so severe.
MediaWatch 10 | 945
5 Mar 2012 #17
I'm from the West and I don't dismiss everything the Poles say.

I think in general the West is thinking about the West and is not thinking about Poland one way or the other and that's OK. Its human nature for Western countries (or any country) to be concerned mostly with themselves and what's immediately around them.

Those people from the West who come to this forum to "dismiss" what the Poles have to say, actually care a lot what the Poles and people of Polish ancestry say here, otherwise they wouldn't spend all their time and energy here. Most of them are prejudiced against Polish people, despite whatever they say. So that's why they come to this forum. They come here to be anti-Polish trolls.

i dont know about that , but if a pole do something ,it is funny and Ridiculous always

That's because you are prejudiced against Poles. But whatever the Poles do, I'm sure its nowhere as funny or ridiculous as your English.

Also your video is not of a Pole but of a Russian diving into the water.
JonnyM 11 | 2,615
5 Mar 2012 #18
They come here to be anti-Polish trolls.

Have you noticed this here in Poland?

Thought not.
Harry
5 Mar 2012 #19
Those people from the West who come to this forum to "dismiss" what the Poles have to say.

I haven't noticed such persons here. You seem to forget that the people you would name as anti-Polish trolls if you weren't worried about getting banned if you that actually choose to live in Poland and are now from Poland.
delphiandomine 88 | 18,163
5 Mar 2012 #20
Some Poles will simply never admit to a non-Pole that any Pole has ever done anything in the slightest bit wrong.

Much to do with media brainwashing, I suspect - they never portray Poles abroad in a bad light (despite what we all know - that much of the scum was exported to the West), and so they refuse to believe that it could possibly be true.

I'm thinking specifically of Kuba the rapist - despite being found guilty in every single court, people still believe his innocence.

They come here to be anti-Polish trolls.

Who are these people?
pawian 221 | 23,991
6 Mar 2012 #21
I found on this forum very worring tendention of foreign users to dismiss everything what Poles say.

I haven`t noticed it. Most Western forumers are very reasonable.

A few Western trolls do dismiss everything what Poles say, indeed, but it is typical of all trollls everywhere and shouldn`t be taken into account.

All in all, the atmosphere in the PF is OK to me.

That is why I am not going to start a thread: The posters who tarnish the immaculate image of Poland and her inhabitants.

Not yet.
isthatu2 4 | 2,694
6 Mar 2012 #22
tendention

This is why the world speaks English............ that is not a word but, makes perfect sense and sounds cool,crack on AK,and dont get over worried about stuff said on the internet.

(did a google on that word,seems Russians use it a lot.....AK, have you got something to admit tovarisch? ;) )

ps, no,its not wrong just because you,a Pole said it,its just wrong,full stop :)
pps, tendency or intention,you decide next time,personnally I like the blend.
pawian 221 | 23,991
6 Mar 2012 #23
Now you are mean to a Pole and I need to react fiercely. :):):):).

Namely: Have you had any personal problems recently? Don`t you feel you should consult a specialist before it gets worse? :):):):)

Simply speaking: stop this silly bashing. :):):):):
modafinil - | 419
6 Mar 2012 #24
a.k.:
tendention

A brilliant example of the malleability of the English language.
JonnyM 11 | 2,615
6 Mar 2012 #25
A neologism but a lovely word.

Loaded with meaning though...


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