What can citizens do to make Poland a better place to live?

Wroclaw Boy

Feb 15, 09, 15:19 #1

OK forget about infrastructure and red tape that will all be improved in time. What can the average everyday person do to make Poland a better country. In the words of Kennedy "ask not what your country can do for you ask what you can do for your country.

I'll get the improvements started with just be nice and courteous to others, on the roads, in the shops, when your cueing etc. Respect cues and others places in cues, smile at the person serving you even if it does look like he/she wants to headbutt you.

When theres a situation on the road where you can get ahead with a dodgy manouver dont do it, remember order is the name of the game and if everybody respects other drivers a bit more well all get to our destinations quicker and safer.

Am i flogging a dead horse here?

♀

Feb 15, 09, 15:32 #2

Wroclaw Boy:

Am i flogging a dead horse here?

I wouldn't think so. This can be a good topic so hopefully it won't end up arguments.

Wroclaw Boy:

I'll get the improvements started with just be nice and courteous to others, on the roads, in the shops, when your cueing etc. Respect cues and others places in cues, smile at the person serving you even if it does look like he/she wants to headbutt you.

You're right, people should be more courteous to each other. I like to smile at people and say thank you but I can be impatient waiting in queues. If people are taking their time I don't want to wait behind them.

Wroclaw Boy

Feb 15, 09, 15:42 #3

CoolMoon:

I wouldn't think so. This can be a good topic so hopefully it won't end up arguments.

I hope so

CoolMoon:

You're right, people should be more courteous to each other. I like to smile at people and say thank you but I can be impatient waiting in queues. If people are taking their time I don't want to wait behind them.

The problem is its inbred and a way of life here, how many Poles come back to Poland and are shocked at the way people behave? I myself am guilty, after living here for three years, i find myself not smiling and generally being a moany git when im out. I do always hold doors for people and try to be courteous on the roads. But sometimes its a case of well if you cant beat em join em.

The new up and coming generation are different.

♂

Feb 15, 09, 15:46 #4

no u r not :) great subject not only for poland
i'm not polish, but i live in poland , so i guess this subject including me .. and i think more than polish ppl b/c i hv to respect this country which i'm living in right now ..

so .. after few months in poland i noticed something that it's really hard to find anyone can understand english or you can say almost 95% ! here a story i went to a famous bank in poland in a big mall in warsaw to just check why is my card is not working , and 3 ppl working there didnt know a word in english , and b/c i was in need for my money so i went out and stoped few guys walking in the mall to ask them if they speak english to help me and do the translation inside the bank and guess what they didnt know english too , so i hd to wait for my wife (polish) to do it !!

my idea is i think it's better at least in a bank to hv some ppl speak international language like english ..
sorry for that , it's just an idea to make this country better , which i really love it

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Feb 15, 09, 15:48 #5

There's one less of the new up and coming generation round here...he put his car into a truck trying to overtake my mate on a blind bend.

Polish people...can you learn to SMILE please? Can you learn patience and prudency on the roads?

And if you could all buy a pot of paint, get out there this year and tidy up the front of your homes, stick some geraniums outside, and smile and wave as I drive past (slowly) ???

♂

Feb 15, 09, 15:50 #6

Yeah, I've noticed that some people move your cue when you are cueing to pot a ball and that is frustrating ;) ;)

Nah, in all seriousness, WB made some really relevant points. Queuing properly would help. No going to the front of the queue under the pretense of wanting a form to fill out, then receiving a full 20-min service.

Smiling helps. Even if it's not always reciprocated, do it often enough and it may be. The Kennedy quote was golden here. Change comes from within.

WB was offering sound constructive criticism here.

Also, Poles could learn that there are many beautiful places around them and that money isn't the most important thing. 'Pieniądze to nie wszystko'.

Wroclaw Boy	Feb 15, 09, 16:10 #7
Seanus: Queuing properly would help. Guess what? My wifes pregnant and pregnant women dont cue in Poland. Its great she just says her thing and bamn front of the cue everytime. Have some of that!!

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Feb 15, 09, 16:18 #8

Well, yeah, that's how it should be. I'd let her ahead of me anytime. Poles stare on in amazement when I allow somebody with about 15 small items to zap through the barcode scanner ahead of me.

I've also lost count of the number of times I've said, 'You're welcome', to people who haven't given their thanks when they blatantly should have. The most common situation being holding the door open for them.

Good manners cost nothing. When I wait beside a parked car because the pavement is too narrow for 3 of us (2 of them and me), they walk past and don't even acknowledge me. A mere 'dziękuję' would be ample. I got so pissed off with this basic lack of etiquette that I just barged on through the last time. What are they gonna do? I'm much bigger than them.

Wroclaw Boy	Edited by: Wroclaw Boy Feb 15, 09, 16:23 #9
Seanus: I allow somebody with about 15 small items to zap through 15! i draw the line at around 5. So you must of had atleast 60 items to justify that. You telling porky pies again? Small or large theyve all got the same sized bar code.

joo whoThreads: - Posts: 114 Joined: Dec 10, 07 ♀	Feb 15, 09, 16:24 #10
Hey! I'm gonna stuff a pillow up my jumper next time I go to town and see if I get someone treating me with respect! Actually, much more cheap beer, and I won't be needing the pillow!

Rafal_1981

Feb 15, 09, 16:29 #11

Be polite people...or else. ;-D

♂

Feb 15, 09, 16:37 #12

15 small things, usually things which have been done elsewhere too like alcohol or some fruit+veg. Under 10 and I'd send them off to the 10-article line.

Oh, yeah, invest in customer service and stop saving money. I find many businesses here much worse than Scottish ones. They fight for every grosz. I went to Tesco to pick up 10 items, as did the missus. Much to my dismay, the friggin checkout counters for 10 items or less were closed. The rest of the lines were HUGE. I was peeved at that.

This is one area where Poland shouldn't follow the West. Profits at the expense of decency and customer service.

Wroclaw Boy

Edited by: Wroclaw Boy Feb 15, 09, 16:43 #13

Seanus:

15 small things,

6 pears and 9 apples, im with ya.

I went to Biedrionka today and there was one till open and a cue of around 9 people with trolleys. I was just about to spit my dummy and they opened another till. Long cues in Poland are usually much better than they initially look.

Delicatessan counters in Poland rock, all those fresh meats with so many varieties. Its a meat mans heaven.

♂

Edited by: Seanus Feb 15, 09, 16:49 #14

Yeah, that's another thing. The queues at Plus, Lidl or Biedronka. Let people come and go more naturally and you will help minimise frustration.

We're gonna be criticised for being moaning Brits, WB. But, at heart, many Poles know exactly what we are saying. Expect a story, 'well, when I was at Sainsbury's in Liverpool, blah blah blah'.

I'm not paranoid and am quite a patient shopper but when I feel that trolley being rammed up me arse, I do take offence. The aisles are very narrow which highlights the need to get people through that bit quicker.