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Why are Poles in other countries called "Plastic Poles"?

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PlasticPoleThreads: 10 Posts: 5,181 Joined: May 28, 09 ♀	May 29, 09, 06:51 #1
Why are Poles in other countries called "Plastic Poles"? Is it because we use too many credit cards? Resemble plexi glass? Get too much plastic surgery? Use plastic bowls instead of glass? Own stock in Dupont?

krysiaThreads: 26 Posts: 3,604 Joined: Aug 10, 06 ♀	Edited by: krysia May 29, 09, 06:54 #2
I never heard that expression...Maybe they look plastic?

plk123Threads: 30 Posts: 6,410 Joined: Aug 29, 07 ♂	Edited by: plk123 May 29, 09, 07:05 #3
never heard of it either. are you making this up?

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,160 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	May 29, 09, 07:56 #4
It's a real question. Plastic gives some the idea of being unreal, like sb who is fake. At least it had that meaning in the UK for some time.

SwitekThreads: 1 Posts: 66 Joined: May 28, 09 ♂	Edited by: Switek May 29, 09, 08:03 #5
Poland is fake for some so why no Poles? ;) I think that it must be local, slang expression.

peter_olsztynThreads: 8 Posts: 691 Joined: Apr 18, 07 ♂	Edited by: peter_olsztyn May 29, 09, 08:11 #6
PlasticPole: Why are Poles in other countries called "Plastic Poles"? There is term plastic doll for stupid pink blonde barbie girl but in Poland. e.g. Wchodzę do lokalu a tam siedzi sam plastik i blachary.

TorqThreads: 65 Posts: 4,023 Joined: Apr 10, 09 MEMBER ♂	Edited by: Torq May 29, 09, 08:13 #7
I'd say that it's similar to "Plastic Paddy" which is an often pejorative term to describe a person who harbours a nostalgic claim of Irishness due to having some degree of Irish heritage.

♀

May 29, 09, 15:03 #8

Okay I get it. Thanks for the replies. But we really aren't considered to be "fake" Poles in our countries because they see our name and they think we are Polish based on that because Polish names stand out. We get told all the time we are Polish so I don't see us as being fake. Some of us, like me, have lots of family in Poland too. Does that make us fake? Most of half my family is in Poland. Certainly more are there than in this country. So how is that fake? Something just don't jive with this.

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,160 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	May 29, 09, 15:04 #9
Well, that is the perception of some. Unfortunately, labels tend to stick :(

HarryThreads: 59 Posts: 7,996 Joined: May 2, 07 ♂	May 29, 09, 15:14 #10
It's more about the 'Poles' who have never even been to Poland but still claim to be proud Polish patriots.

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,160 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	May 29, 09, 15:18 #11
Isn't it ironic that pride is considered by C.S Lewis, something of an authority on Christianity, as the worst of the vices? ;)

PlasticPoleThreads: 10 Posts: 5,181 Joined: May 28, 09 ♀	May 29, 09, 15:23 #12
Pride and the ego. It's how the species survives. We prop up the ego with pride and this makes it easier to meet our basic needs like food and shelter. If we are proud of who we are, it's easier to convince others to do things for us. Without pride you get nothing. They let you live like a beggar.

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,160 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	May 29, 09, 15:25 #13
If you are proud to be a murderer, is it easy to convince sb to be your accomplice? ;)

HarryThreads: 59 Posts: 7,996 Joined: May 2, 07 ♂	May 29, 09, 15:26 #14
PlasticPole: If we are proud of who we are Why take any pride in something which you have no control over at all? The place of your birth is not something you decided or in any way influenced. Saying "I'm proud of myself because I was born in country X" is as stupid as saying "I'm proud of myself because Bill Gates is a multi-billionaire".

PlasticPoleThreads: 10 Posts: 5,181 Joined: May 28, 09 ♀	May 29, 09, 15:29 #15
I would be proud of myself if I could talk Bill Gates out of a few million. We are proud of where we come from because it's what we are taught in school.

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,160 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	May 29, 09, 15:31 #16
Are you so unquestioning as to believe everything you are taught? Why would that money make you proud?

PlasticPoleThreads: 10 Posts: 5,181 Joined: May 28, 09 ♀	May 29, 09, 15:33 #17
Money makes people proud. It's easier when you got lots of money because people listen more and treat you with more respect. The groundlings always get treated like the moles they are.

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,160 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	May 29, 09, 15:36 #18
Oh dear, what have we here? ;) Funny, it doesn't make me proud at all. Treat you with respect, what hogwash!! Respect is earned, not bought! The groundlings probably just play ball and are more realistic, not pulling any fast ones. Why aren't you earning $900,000 a year may I ask? Are you a 'groundling' too?

PlasticPoleThreads: 10 Posts: 5,181 Joined: May 28, 09 ♀	May 29, 09, 15:41 #19
Respect is earned, not bought, lol? Then why is it always the rich kids in school that get to be the teacher's pets? Rich kids can get away with more behavior-wise too. It's the ones with their own businesses and lots of equity that get away with everything in society. Well, up to a point. It's the poor who are most likely to end up in jails and prisons. Check the stats!

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,160 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	May 29, 09, 15:44 #20
Where I come from, respect is earned. Is there something special in being a teacher's pet? Here in Poland, the teacher's pets are not that rich at all. Kids are kids and standards are standards. Are you advocating preferential treatment here?

♂

May 30, 09, 04:32 #21

Harry:

Harry

obviously you must be a mutt so no wonder you lack pride.

PlasticPole:

Money makes people proud. It's easier when you got lots of money because people listen more and treat you with more respect. The groundlings always get treated like the moles they are.

total BS.

Seanus:

Respect is earned, not bought!

this is a major issue between the old europe and the new as that is completely incorrect in a healthy way of thinking. respect is always forwarded first. earning it is animalistic.

PlasticPole:

Respect is earned, not bought, lol? Then why is it always the rich kids in school that get to be the teacher's pets? Rich kids can get away with more behavior-wise too. It's the ones with their own businesses and lots of equity that get away with everything in society.

that's just BS too. rich kids are maybe smarter but they can afford more screw ups.

once again Seanus, respect is always forwarded first, you dunce. ;)

♀

May 30, 09, 05:10 #22

Harry:

Why take any pride in something which you have no control over at all? The place of your birth is not something you decided or in any way influenced. Saying "I'm proud of myself because I was born in country X" is as stupid as saying "I'm proud of myself because Bill Gates is a multi-billionaire".

It's not only about country: it's about belonging to a tribe which whom you are sharing linguistic, cultural and historical commonality. Something you'll probably never understand.

Comes to mind Oscar Wilde’s definition of a cynic “A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing”

MEMBER ♂

May 30, 09, 16:28 #23

Harry:

It's more about the 'Poles' who have never even been to Poland but still claim to be proud Polish patriots.

That is what I inferred from the title. Like "Plastic Paddies", who come out in their flocks to Irish bars on St Patricks day claiming to be a wee bit Oirish and drinking guinness and singing songs...but actually have bugger all tie themselves to Ireland.

So a Plastic Pole i would say is someone who has no close family in or from Poland but a tiny bit of heritage but still wanders about celebrating polish holidays and stuff like that.

freebirdThreads: 3 Posts: 638 Joined: Jun 8, 07 ♂	May 30, 09, 16:31 #24
krysia: Maybe they look plastic? maybe it's the artificial behavior in some cases :-)

Wroclaw Boy	Jun 2, 09, 11:40 #25
There are many Plastic Poles here especially Americans.

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Jun 2, 09, 11:51 #26

Cardno85:

So a Plastic Pole i would say is someone who has no close family in or from Poland but a tiny bit of heritage but still wanders about celebrating polish holidays and stuff like that.

So you're saying that third generation ancestors, of full Polish heritage, and whose second level relatives, native to Poland, died in fighting Nazi/Soviet aggression, celebrate Polish holidays so as to "belong" rather than out of respect?

I am proud that I am an Americans of Polish decent. You can call us Plastic Poles if that is the label you choose.

Just do not think your smart enough to know what our level of respect is for our Polish heritage.

MEMBER ♂

Jun 2, 09, 15:24 #27

Babinich:

So you're saying that third generation ancestors, of full Polish heritage, and whose second level relatives, native to Poland, died in fighting Nazi/Soviet aggression, celebrate Polish holidays so as to "belong" rather than out of respect?
I am proud that I am an Americans of Polish decent. You can call us Plastic Poles if that is the label you choose.
Just do not think your smart enough to know what our level of respect is for our Polish heritage.

Right, lets not all jump on the offended bus here. I said that is what would be meant, in my opinion, by someone calling a person a Plastic Pole. At no point did I call anyone that. I was merely offering an insight as to what it might mean by using the example of Plastic Paddies.

PlasticPoleThreads: 10 Posts: 5,181 Joined: May 28, 09 ♀	Jun 2, 09, 18:53 #28
Wroclaw Boy: There are many Plastic Poles here especially Americans. I don't believe it. If that's true, Isn't this a Plastic site since it's run from Chicago? Quit being so silly.

Wroclaw Boy	Jun 2, 09, 19:01 #29
PlasticPole: If that's true, Isn't this a Plastic site since it's run from Chicago? Quit being so silly. Ive only just figured out what a Plastic Pole is, as for Plastic sites i think well need another thread.

PlasticPoleThreads: 10 Posts: 5,181 Joined: May 28, 09 ♀	Jun 2, 09, 19:22 #30
Wroclaw Boy: Ive only just figured out what a Plastic Pole is, as for Plastic sites i think well need another thread. I didn't leave that post to imply this site needs a thread about how plastic it is. I left it to say it's silly to use a term like"plastic pole" in the first place. It's meaningless.