Do Poles in the UK pretend to be uppity because they have an inferiority complex?

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Dec 31, 10, 05:17 #1

I have seen many posts on here about Poles being snooty towards the English and thinking they are superior ie. the thread about the UK born guy who couldn't be Polish enough for his "purist" Polish gf who was always being mean to him because of it. Is it because they are so used to scrounging around that when they come to the US or a western European country like the UK they don't know how to be? My father says that the eastern euros he has come across were all nasty and seemed to have inferiority complexes while germanic or western Europeans were friendly and sociable.

ZIMMYThreads: 10 Posts: 2,353 Joined: Feb 21, 09 ♂	Dec 31, 10, 05:47 #2
No Nonsense: My father says that the eastern euros he has come across were all nasty and seemed to have inferiority complexes while germanic or western Europeans were friendly and sociable. Since you call yourself "no nonsense" than your father's name must be "full of nonsense".

No NonsenseThreads: 20 Posts: 185 Joined: Oct 1, 10 ♀	Dec 31, 10, 05:53 #3
ZIMMY: Since you call yourself "no nonsense" than your father's name must be "full of nonsense". Actually, that's true. He's full of nonsense, I'm more like my mom.

IronsideThreads: 59 Posts: 6,786 Joined: Feb 26, 09 ♂	Dec 31, 10, 06:02 #4
No Nonsense: were all nasty and seemed to have inferiority complexes Is your father a shrink ? were all nasty they are all nasty, up to the man ! Avoid them !

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Dec 31, 10, 06:11 #5

No Nonsense:

I have seen many posts on here about Poles being snooty towards the English and thinking they are superior

Isn't it the other way around?

No Nonsense:

UK born guy who couldn't be Polish enough for his "purist" Polish

Many if not most Polish girls are traditional and don't want a foreign man. I know Polish American girls who were born in the States and married or are gonna marry a Polish man because they want Polish children, and have their children speak Polish.

No Nonsense:

My father says that the eastern euros he has come across were all nasty and seemed to have inferiority complexes while germanic or western Europeans

Are you hearing yourself? You're the one who seams like a racist and doesn't put Poles on the same level.

EurolaThreads: 6 Posts: 2,647 Joined: Dec 2, 06 ♀	Dec 31, 10, 06:48 #6
Many polish people feel like they are on top of the world and the center of the universe, but they are mostly the people who were 'somebody' in Poland and 'nobody' abroad. For many, feeling good about themselves - and important - is just a mean of survival.

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Edited by: aphrodisiac Dec 31, 10, 08:02 #7

No Nonsense:

My father says that the eastern euros he has come across were all nasty and seemed to have inferiority complexes while germanic or western Europeans were friendly and sociable.

it is often true, but I still haven't figure out why. Habit I suppose. They had a hard life and the left overs from that period is nastiness.

I can give you some examples, but........it is too annoying for me. Poles need to be complimented all the time, have a fragile ego and are often not very reasonable - difficult to deal with for a person who is more rational- like me.

Black and white thinking is also very common - oh well.

AdamKadmonThreads: 38 Posts: 1,120 Joined: Apr 23, 10 ♂	Dec 31, 10, 09:13 #8
No Nonsense: the thread about the UK born guy who couldn't be Polish enough for his "purist" Polish gf Actually it is the other way round, but to get this right you should understand Polish. Here goes the joke:

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Dec 31, 10, 09:15 #9

No Nonsense:

I have seen many posts on here about Poles being snooty towards the English and thinking they are superior ie. the thread about the UK born guy who couldn't be Polish enough for his "purist" Polish gf who was always being mean to him because of it. Is it because they are so used to scrounging around that when they come to the US or a western European country like the UK they don't know how to be? My father says that the eastern euros he has come across were all nasty and seemed to have inferiority complexes while germanic or western Europeans were friendly and sociable.

I think you are generalizing.

You have snooty people from all groups of people. Trust me.

AdamKadmonThreads: 38 Posts: 1,120 Joined: Apr 23, 10 ♂	Dec 31, 10, 09:48 #10
MediaWatch: You have snooty people How about the joke? Do you like it? Funny, eh?

kondziorThreads: 2 Posts: 441 Joined: Oct 16, 09 ♂	Dec 31, 10, 15:04 #11
From my experience, Poles living abroad are indeed full of anger and complexes. There are some exceptions, obiviously, like with everything else, but generally speaking no Pole is going to work and live outside Poland because he likes it. Most of these people have failed to make a decent living here in PL, for one reason or another, so they are somewhat butthurt and theirs egos are fragile.

milkyThreads: 10 Posts: 1,229 Joined: Oct 26, 09 ♀	Dec 31, 10, 15:38 #12
No Nonsense: Is it because they are so used to scrounging around I think your use of words portrays a great ignorance[scrounging],cop on man.

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Dec 31, 10, 15:53 #13

I think there is some truth in what the OP is trying to say. There is this 'My Polacy robią najlepsze' attitude but it does hide deeper insecurities. However, they are just a certain type and it takes all types to make up a society. As Eurola rightly said, the ones that were 'sb' tend to be uppity but would be nobody in a foreign country. I do find them funny, the way some old women hold themselves when they are just judgemental old biddies.

Kondzior summed it up in a nutshell. Most Poles are romantic in a sense (I don't mean candles here) and long for their homeland. The grass is always greener on the other side. Despite what some say, they are not there for cultural enrichment (the vast majority anyway).

Aphrodisiac is right, many are hurt and wounded. A lot don't have any idea how to be as successful as those in countries such as France and Germany. Chips on shoulders and selling sob stories.

Again, there are many who don't fit the above descriptions :)

milkyThreads: 10 Posts: 1,229 Joined: Oct 26, 09 ♀	Dec 31, 10, 16:02 #14
Seanus: The grass is always greener on the other side. yea, i'm surprised when Poles(i know) move back to Poland, even when its back to a tiny eastern, rundown town of no significance, with zero chance of employment. Basically, like a Irish man in the 70's permanently returning to Connemara because he was home/mountain sick.

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	Dec 31, 10, 16:16 #15
Let's assume such a Pole picks up a fair bit of English whilst in England and then moves back to such a town. How are they going to better themselves? Very often they can't transfer any meaningful experience gained to such a small and often parochial place. They are back to square 1 unless they get creative somehow.

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Dec 31, 10, 16:23 #16

No Nonsense:

Do Poles pretend to be uppity because they have an inferiority complex?

No but it is my favourite way to get rid of unwanted pest trying to weasel his/her way into conversation when it's clearly rejected and when he/she can't get the hint.

Looks like some of you need a reality check, rejected by your own peers and your own kind but still in need to socialise you seek acceptance outside of your own people. So do tell, what makes you think that Poles or any other outside group of people for that matter would be willing to accept you when you clearly lack social grace and skills? Seems like you have personality problems that can't be overlooked by any group of people. That's what your parents failed to explain to you princess. Perhaps a bit harsh but at least it's to the point and No-Nonsense.

Ashleys mindThreads: 7 Posts: 1,346 Joined: Nov 2, 10 ♀	Dec 31, 10, 16:24 #17
AdamKadmon: Actually it is the other way round, but to get this right you should understand Polish. Here goes the joke: Could you translate it? I know it's only 5 minutes of script. ;P Is standup comedy more like sitdown in Poland?

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	Dec 31, 10, 16:27 #18
Kudos to Eurola and aphro, both Poles, for being so honest in their answers. The forum is about gaining a rounded perspective and they are generally pro-Polish. There is a stubborn pride here and it comes partly through stamping one's oneness regardless. The take me or leave me approach.

milkyThreads: 10 Posts: 1,229 Joined: Oct 26, 09 ♀	Dec 31, 10, 16:32 #19
Seanus: ow are they going to better themselves? I don't know if you read the book 'egg in my soup' but the author reckoned that the Poles can have a defeated outlook.

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	Dec 31, 10, 16:43 #20
I haven't, no, but many are pessimistic. However, many would say starkly realistic. Those who are in a position to tend to be optimistic ;)

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Dec 31, 10, 17:00 #21

Inside every superiority complex there is some inferiority at work...

Not sure this applies to all Poles, but they are easy to scrutinise on this basis as there are a lot of them abroad and that makes them stand out.

They also appear to go for safety in numbers so you tend to judge them as a group rather than as individuals which often leads to poor understanding of individual circumstance.

You can also hide a lot with pride.

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Dec 31, 10, 17:06 #22

Uppity

Originally used by blacks of other blacks felt to be too self-assertive.

The parallel British variant uppish originally meant lavish. Now, the both words mean assuming equality with someone higher up the social ladder, conceited, arrogant.

How do you get the impression that the Poles are trying to look down at you from high up the British social ladder? Don't get me wrong, but this is just something that really bugs me.

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Dec 31, 10, 17:47 #23

Uppity is a word spat in condescension. When someone wants to feel superior to another, they call them uppity. There's no such thing as "uppity". It's an artificial definition used by people who feel threatened and insecure.
I've heard and seen the word applied to all sorts of situations. Mostly to blacks and whites, hardly ever Mexicans or hispanics. It does seem to occur when discussing certain races.

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	Dec 31, 10, 18:09 #24
Some do and some don't, in truth!

lateStarterThreads: 2 Posts: 34 Joined: Jul 14, 09 ♂	Dec 31, 10, 19:33 #25
AdamKadmon: How about the joke? Do you like it? Funny, eh? My wife was laughing her ass off!

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Edited by: No Nonsense Dec 31, 10, 20:15 #26

PlasticPole:

Uppity is a word spat in condescension. When someone wants to feel superior to another, they call them uppity. There's no such thing as "uppity". It's an artificial definition used by people who feel threatened and insecure.
I've heard and seen the word applied to all sorts of situations. Mostly to blacks and whites, hardly ever Mexicans or hispanics. It does seem to occur when discussing certain races.

In America, its a joke now and its a term not applied to any particular ethnicity. Lots of people use the word "uppity".

By posting this I only wanted to know if it was true that many are insecure with themselves or not. I always feel that extreme pride in oneself is due to insecurity, because I have experienced it myself and know what it feels like. When I see an eastern euro or any other prideful, smug, or person with a superiority complex that is withdrawn I know that they feel insecure in some way because they are really afraid they are inferior and are losers. When a person who really is intelligent has an ego that spins out of control and all of the sudden they believe they are a genius, there will be some insecurity because deep down inside the person really is aware that they are not a genius and they can't deal with it. They may treat other people like they are below them, and automatically assume people are idiots when they are not because of their insecurity just to convince themselves they're a genius. Usually very competitive people who want to impress other people are like this, because they feel they have to be on top of everyone else. They may even appear weak and shy, but deep down inside they want to have all the power. I admit, I suffer from this and it is truly a disease, but it is pretty easy for me to pick out someone with an inferiority complex because of it.

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	Dec 31, 10, 21:05 #27
One could say it's reflection and one could say it's observation ;) ;) Part of the problem stems from the constant feeling of being badly governed. They feel that everything is in a bad state and why bother trying to change it. Many would rather sit on their bums and talk about it rather than actively change it.

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Jan 1, 11, 22:39 #28

Maybe it's me but I sometimes find that because i don't speak Polish particularly well it is assumed I can't do anything else either.

Example: The woman in the post office kindly told me how to stick the stamps on the envelopes (bless her!).

People have shown me how to dig a hole (even though they knew I'd been in the army and had experience of such things).

People tried to teach me how to cut wood, even tho' I'd been living alone in a cottage, cutting my own wood, before they met me.

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Jan 1, 11, 23:47 #29

Trevek:

Maybe it's me but I sometimes find that because i don't speak Polish particularly well it is assumed I can't do anything else either.

Example: The woman in the post office kindly told me how to stick the stamps on the envelopes (bless her!).

People have shown me how to dig a hole (even though they knew I'd been in the army and had experience of such things).

People tried to teach me how to cut wood, even tho' I'd been living alone in a cottage, cutting my own wood, before they met me.

lol, that's pretty funny.

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Jan 2, 11, 03:30 #30

No Nonsense:

Usually very competitive people who want to impress other people are like this, because they feel they have to be on top of everyone else. They may even appear weak and shy, but deep down inside they want to have all the power. I admit, I suffer from this and it is truly a disease, but it is pretty easy for me to pick out someone with an inferiority complex because of it.

That is an interesting observation, but than again doesn't everyone suffer from the same deficiency at some point in time? A lot of it comes down to mood, we all have times when we feel on top of the world and times when we feel as though we cannot sink any lower. It is a bit like the weather.

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