Blah Blah Cafe, the Jean-Michel Jarre forum

[Ronja]

The fact that we're an international community (which is great IMHO) makes me starting such threads


You may ask what to post such a topic for...well, I'm a person, who generally don't believe in things like "national character" and I don't categorize people by nationalities. I have consciousness that place somebody lives in creates him in some way, but for me that's the case of society - it's history and processes, not the case of genes. If I have any stereotypes of other nationalities they're rather positive.

But we all know that stereotypes exist - I think that's something natural, it helps people to make the world "erasier" in their eyes, although it sometimes can be dangerous, we shouldn't be attached to simple images of the reality.


I already heard that Poles are said to be thiefs (I think this stereotype functions especially in Germany), alcoholics, loosers.
Many people told me about questions asked in foreign countries, just like "do you have fridges/TVs?" (The girl I know answered once: "Fridges? What for? We keep all food in our igloos" ), "Poles spek Russian, don't they?", "Do you have water in homes?"

More positive: good food (I'm personally not a fan of Polish meal), hospitality, country of "Solidarity" and so on.


I'm interested: what's your image of Poland? What are the things you link this country with (except the Shipyard concert ). What stereotypes did you meet with - and do you find them truth?

Please feel free to write negative things also.

I would also like to know what do you think about national stereotypes in general - rubbish at all, truth, partly truth? What are the stereotypes about your nation, do you agree with them?


OK...I hope I made my point clear....and hope you don't all clasify this thread as a boring one

[GeeJee]

Let's start with negative then, and those are real stereotypes, because it's severe exxagerated generalization. Usually Poles (and all other east-europeans) are considered to be unemployed, alcoholist, don't do anything except watching TV, driving smuggy cars made of plastic and live in the biggest ghetto, which is in fact corrupt...

From my own experience (I've been to Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Rumania so far), people are very warm and invite you into their homes for a meal after 2 meetings, buy you food from their saved-up money, which they wouldn't buy themselves, not even for a birthday or similar occasion. They treat your like friends from day one and very nice in general. As for their living standard, it's known to be low. Welfare isn't everything at all, and it's very good to see with your own eyes how they live with that. And besides, it has it's own charm too, at least, when I was in Hungary, I was in a region which was really poor, but I didn't mind the nearly collapsing flats and smuggy cars. In fact, I loved the way they speeded around in them trabants and ladas like madmen...

Those countries have a certain charm and I'd love to visit them again...

/edit: as for particular stereotypes about Poland, I don't have any. Well, there's a story in the Netherlands which involves illegal immigrants from Poland taking illegal jobs, but that's about it...

[Robi]

I also wouldn't categorize people by countries, but i'm sure there are some features almost for every country. Hungarians are also said to be thiefs and loosers, but i think its doesn't really matter, BECAUSE these "activities" can be in almost every countries.

My image of Poland? ... Its a symphatic country for me, not only because of and since the concert, but before that too! I like that you are understanding, nice and friendly nation. With lot of natural sources (mountains, sea, etc.).
And we went through a very similar historical ages. (we even had a Polish king! )

I don't know stereotypes about Poland in negative way, honestly.
I would like to see your country one day!



(...I would also know some "stereotypes" about my country of course in every way, but this is not the correct topic...)

[Finaero]

My image of Poland? Hot women, a large bunch of DC++ users with nifty stuff, Solidarity, communism, the Poland-Swedish feud in the 1600s or so...

...as for national stereotypes, I don't think I have any specific for them Poles. But as for whole homo sapiens sapiens in general? I could make a novel

[jarrekid]

All of those posts were way too long for me to read now, sorry, I've spent about 10 minutes just now trying to log in but instead shutting down my PC and logging into my mum's account. I've hit the retard button this evening.

[Livgivare]

The negative: The Poles drink too much, have too lousy music on their ferries to Sweden and great unemplyment.

The positive: Friendly people, everything is cheap in Poland, even Swedish people are using time to take their driving licences and go to the dentists in Poland, are getting more and more into the "west" by joining EU and such organisations, Solidarity, Great beautiful looking towns, great interesting history and have survived as the best nation of the new EU countries! Krakow, Gdansk and Warsaw are great cities to visit!

This one I do not know where to put it because it is linked to the Germans mostly, but I have some strong memories from Auschwitz and I think that such a horrible place can be rather positive since it teach us what to not do to ourselves as a human being speice of this planet.

Love Leelene <---who has got Poland as the thrid Love-country!

[Ronja]

GeeJee - your post was really interesting for me, especially the part about personal experiences.

Robbie - Any stereotypes of Hungary - put it here
In fact I know about stereotypes of Poland, Germany, Irlean, Scotland, France etc. etc., buy when thinking about Hungary - nothing pops up ("nothing" means "no stereotypes" here).

Personally I connect your country with the old band Omega (they had great song "Girl with the pearl hair"-->"Gyongyhaju Lany"), I love sound of your language (which seems to be hard to learn ) and like Hungarian traditional dances - friend of mine who dances in an amateur group was on some festival in your country and showed me a video.

So only good things

Oh, and I also associate Hungary with events from Budapest (June 1956) especially last times when we were celebrating 50th anniversary of what happened in Poznan...

This one I do not know where to put it because it is linked to the Germans mostly, but I have some strong memories from Auschwitz and I think that such a horrible place can be rather positive since it teach us what to not do to ourselves as a hum
an being speice of this planet.

I have been to other concentration camp - Majdanek, which's not far from the city I live in. I was really shocked, although I had read a lot about it before...I think it's important to have consciousness of such tragical points of history - like you said, to learn something.

Leelene-->who has got Poland as the thrid Love-country!

Nice to read it!
Which are the first and the second Love-countries?

To say a bit about Sweden - I heard many good things about this counry, what I especially like is attitude in area of law - seems to be very clever in some points, if it's truth what I heard and read, alcohol policy and attitude to family (I mean - to working women and so on).

The negative thing - maybe rather sad than negative - is that people are quite reserved, they like to live their indivisual lives, have problems with interpersonal communication - not that they're rude or something, but that they prefer for example to talk about neutral things, not about what's worrying them.

Would you say it's truth
When having contact with you - I think the only Swedish person I know - I have totally different fellings - you seem to be very open, honest girl (in Polish language there's a phrase "with a heart on her hand", you seem to be one of these people) - I mean it all in very positive way.



OMG...I've just written another very_long_and_very_boring_posts_that_jarrekid_won't_read

[Finaero]

Too long, didn't read

[Robi]

Well, thanks!

I still found that Poland is a quickly (at least more quickly than us) developing country. Personaly i see this aswell!




Really-really off-topic:
Omaga still exist, they have new album and they are going to Október 05. VARSÓ (Warszawa)
Október 06. péntek: WROCLAW
to make concerts!

[Ronja]

Too long, didn't read

@ Robbie - thanks for the info! And for the nice words about Poland (actually the development isn't my success, but still nice to read it)

[Livgivare]

This one I do not know where to put it because it is linked to the Germans mostly, but I have some strong memories from Auschwitz and I think that such a horrible place can be rather positive since it teach us what to not do to ourselves as a hum
an being speice of this planet.

I have been to other concentration camp - Majdanek, which's not far from the city I live in. I was really shocked, although I had read a lot about it before...I think it's important to have consciousness of such tragical points of history - like you said, to learn something.

Leelene-->who has got Poland as the thrid Love-country!

Nice to read it!
Which are the first and the second Love-countries?

To say a bit about Sweden - I heard many good things about this counry, what I especially like is attitude in area of law - seems to be very clever in some points, if it's truth what I heard and read, alcohol policy and attitude to family (I mean - to working women and so on).

The negative thing - maybe rather sad than negative - is that people are quite reserved, they like to live their indivisual lives, have problems with interpersonal communication - not that they're rude or something, but that they prefer for example to talk about neutral things, not about what's worrying them.

Would you say it's truth
When having contact with you - I think the only Swedish person I know - I have totally different fellings - you seem to be very open, honest girl (in Polish language there's a phrase "with a heart on her hand", you seem to be one of these people) - I mean it all in very positive way.

My other two favourites are Sweden and Norway. Do not tell me to make one at number one, that is hard!

The negative thing about Sweden is actually quite true. We have huge respect for one another and our private life. We do not actually talk so much about life, the thing is to be social skilled. That means that you shall be able to read people when you meet them and just after a few minutes know what to talk about...sport, nah...dogs, maybe...cars, that was the interest of this person...it is like nothing can't be really serious in a conversation if it is personal. You always have to be avarage in the group not stand out too much. This feeling is what keeps me indoors so much. I feel like I have no one to talk to. Because I wanna talk about serious stuff. But not even things like this can be talked upon at times.

Did you know that Sweden is probobly the only country where it is positive to be "a negative" like Unswedish, guess I am too unswedish then!

I would like a more heartfull country with more interaction and less worrying about making mistakes in the group. That would be so good. It is hard for me to write this things because this is what makes me so depressed at times!

Love Leelene

[Ronja]

The negative thing about Sweden is actually quite true. We have huge respect for one another and our private life. We do not actually talk so much about life, the thing is to be social skilled. That means that you shall be able to read people when you meet them and just after a few minutes know what to talk about...sport, nah...dogs, maybe...cars, that was the interest of this person...it is like nothing can't be really serious in a conversation if it is personal.

There's differently in this point in Poland - people here love to...complain - talk about government ("these f**** politicians..."), their problems with health (especially old people) and all things worrying them. In fact situation isn't very happy now (although when I think aboout African countries, or Belarus, or China - I feel very happy I'm here) so maybe people have feeling that problems become a bit smaller when you share them. Sometimes people met just before the moment on the street tell you about their whole life... Of course it also depends on the indivual characters.

[Finaero]

Aren't stereotypes outdated, shouldn't we have 7.1types now?

ah zing snap

[Livgivare]

I would sure not like more complaining either, just more friendly chatter about really important things! And how to solve things for the better!

Love Leelene

[Ronja]

Aren't stereotypes outdated, shouldn't we have 7.1types now?

Tnanks for making me smile

I would sure not like more complaining either, just more friendly chatter about really important things! And how to solve things for the better!

Yeah, I understand.

I also thing complaining is not a very constructive thing...athough if it makes somebody better to do it - his right.