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The Art of Complaining by Polish people


posts: 11

zetigrekThreads: 59
Posts: 2,709
Joined: May 20, 10 ♂ 		Edited by: Administrator  Dec 18, 10, 17:39    #1
I found nice amusing column article. Really love it. I think many PF users will find it on the spot!

The ability to complain bitterly and at great length is an important skill in Poland. When you start to learn Polish one of the first verbs they teach you is ‘narzekać.’ It’s right there on page three, just after weather and professions: “This is Pan Kamiński. Pan Kamiński is complaining to his wife. Pan Kamiński’s wife is a lighthouse keeper. She does not like fog.” It’s all useful stuff.

http://wiadomosci.wp.pl/kat,1342,title,The-art-of-Polish-complaining,w id,12884469,wiadomosc.html
wildroverThreads: 180
Posts: 8,188
Joined: Jun 7, 07 ♂ 		 Dec 18, 10, 17:48    #2
Ha....yes i would say that sums up my experiance of my Polish friends , but its a little different among close friends , i can complain about Polish stuff , and they about the UK , without anyone being offended....
f stopThreads: 33
Posts: 2,861
Joined: Dec 9, 09  Pictures: 1 ♀ 		 Dec 18, 10, 18:46    #3
Yes! It is a form of entertainment.
PlasticPoleThreads: 10
Posts: 5,433
Joined: May 28, 09 ♀ 		 Dec 18, 10, 18:57    #4
Complaining can be viewed as constructive criticism. Someone complains then something is done to rectify the situation. If no one complained, change for the better would not be possible. People would fatalistically accept everything that comes their way, shrugging their shoulders helplessly.
noreenbThreads: 4
Posts: 1,082
Joined: Apr 22, 09  Pictures: 3 ♀ 		 Dec 18, 10, 20:33    #5
I think complaining can be also said in a nice way. It depends on somebody's voice. People have often a distance to complaining because it is often considered as our national treat. It drives me mad a bit.
I also agree with PlasticPole that it might be constructive in many cases.
You can thanks to it notice more optimistical/lighter aspects of a situation. You disagree with somebody and thanks to it you can see more clearly what is not good, what has to be improved, what should be changed for better...
However "what a wonderful evening" sounds a lot better than: "what a s****, cold, winter day".
trener zolwiaThreads: 5
Posts: 2,786
Joined: Jun 8, 10 ♂ 		 Dec 18, 10, 20:47    #6
PlasticPole:
Someone complains then something is done to rectify the situation. If no one complained, change for the better would not be possible.

Not all change is for the better. Everyone is an activist these days. Our society and country needs to start telling the professional complainers NO.
PlatoThreads: -
Posts: 11
Joined: Dec 18, 10 ♂ 		 Dec 18, 10, 20:59    #7
Unfortunately western etiquette invades our beloved fatherland and asking someone "Jak sie masz?" gives you just a blunt "dobrze, dzięki" - inhonest lying youngsters!
TrevekThreads: 33
Posts: 2,155
Joined: May 21, 08 ♂ 		 Dec 18, 10, 22:58    #8
PlasticPole:
If no one complained, change for the better would not be possible. People would fatalistically accept everything that comes their way, shrugging their shoulders helplessly.


But often they do. Complaining loudly is often because you feel nothing would get done anyway.

I tried to teach my students to write letters of complaint and they just looked at me and asked why anyone would bother. They were dumbfounded to hear that, yes, I had actually got a few refunds for things with a decent letter...

"Ah, but that was in Britain, wasn't it?"
PlasticPoleThreads: 10
Posts: 5,433
Joined: May 28, 09 ♀ 		 Dec 18, 10, 23:09    #9
Trevek:
Complaining loudly is often because you feel nothing would get done anyway.

Well, sometimes things get done, sometimes not. It can go either way.
Marynka11Threads: 8
Posts: 1,447
Joined: Nov 3, 10 ♀ 		 Dec 19, 10, 00:20    #10
Complaining is just Polish version of small talk. British talk about the weather, Americans talk about how wonderful everything is, and Polish complain. :)
SeanusThreads: 22
Posts: 30,158
Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂ 		 Dec 19, 10, 00:31    #11
It's certainly a trait here, of that there can be no debate. Many seem to know that I know Polish but how can they before I speak? At any rate, they lay it on thick when I'm sitting waiting for a service. I really feel bad for doctors here although it was probably part of their training to handle it.


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