Do you think there is a "Polish" problem in the Uk now that it's become the 2nd language in England?

[NomadsLand]

I've been to Poland and I like Poles a lot as a people. I think Warsaw is a great city and I have nothing against Polish people.

My mother complained back in 2007 about the number of Poles in Liverpool changing the 'culture'. What she meant was that she loves to banter with people in shops and restaurants and she used to get a lot of chat back (Liverpudlians are generally very funny - IMHO - and love a bit of verbal 'how's your father'). She complained that this had changed and that she was increasingly met with blank stares. This is high insult to my mother!

I didn't think much of it. But I am now finding the same - I approached a new restaurant outlet at my local services today and joked about them selling hot dogs and milkshakes and what a welcome addition to the usual (was hungry and about to make an irresponsible food choice!). I got the same blank stare. Didn't understand a word I said.

I finally understood what my mother has been saying. AIBU?

[Jinsei]

OP, most people in Britain could trace their roots back to somewhere else if they went back far enough. The movement of peoples really isn't new. Do you know anything about British history?

[CheCazzo]

OP you sound like precisely the sort of Little Englander that makes me want to take a cricket bat in my hand and............
When the first wave of Polish people started coming over I was employed in the leisure industry and in a position of having to staff my department sufficiently to give good customer service etc etc. Until then we'd really only been able to draw on the local population although there was a good smattering of Spanish, Italian people with a good enough command of the language to do the job. Then came the Polish and overnight we saw just how bad the British workforce had been for so long. How entitled, unwilling to work, couldn't care less about attendance, sick leave, reliability and honesty (no, obviously not ALL of them, but many!). It was a real pleasure to suddenly find people who wanted to do the job, do it well, be polite and give a shit about performance.
Their English was great and their work ethic was a revelation. They fit in instantly and there was never any disharmony.
So never let me hear anyone being disrespectful to Polish people and expect me to agree - I bloody love them and long may they remain here!

[NomadsLand]

Jinsel - pls explain given that Britain has the richest history of imperialism?

[Jinsei]

I guess it's better than Arabic being the second language.

Why, is there a hierarchy?

[Portofino]

I live in Brussels. 25% of the population are not Belgian born. I don't notice any cultural issues. It is a multicultural city in a world of multicultural cities. Imho it is very small minded to have an attitude about these things.

[Flisspaps]

Why is Polish preferable to Arabic as the second language?

Why is any language preferable to any other as the second language?

As an aside, DH is Liverpudlian. I find him and his family no funnier than any other people I've ever met. Most Liverpudlians that I've met think they're funnier than everyone else though!

[Jinsei]

Yes, we have a history of imperialism. Not sure I would describe that aspect of our heritage as "rich". Though I suppose it made us rich.

Explain what exactly? That we have a long history of people coming to the British Isles from other parts of the world, and that many British people are therefore descended from immigrants? Which part of that are you struggling to understand?

[PacificDogwood]

"I guess it's better than Arabic being the second language."

Better? How??
I guess Arabic would be even harder to learn, what with different letters an'all.

Gawd, that makes you sound even more xenophobic and small-minded.

[Nagoo]

My neighbour is a bin thieving bastard.

I don't think that's a Polish problem though.

It's a bloody bin-thievery problem though.

[VivaLeBeaver]

I thought tak meant yes. Not thanks. God, I'm not suprised all polish people look at me a bit oddly!

[PacificDogwood]

Okaaay....

[VivaLeBeaver]

I'd like welsh as a 2nd language.

Just so I could heat up dinner in a pingity ping.

[mrsbunnylove]

Do you think there is a "Polish" problem in the Uk now that it's become the 2nd language in England?

no. i have some pupils who are very naughty polish boys but i suspect if we had one or two polish-speaking teachers or assistants that would soon stop.

when i was a small child, my grandparents spoke admiringly of polish people who had come to the uk around ww2 - goodlooking, smartly dressed, hardworking, their only fault (from my proddy olds point of view) was that they were roman catholic! but they were very well-respected.

my gran thought my dad might be polish when my mum brought him home, as he was so handsome! as a teenager in school a good friend had polish parents from that same influx - i learned from them that 'proper parenting' means being at the bus stop to meet your teenage daughter so she doesn't walk alone in the twilight, and i tried to apply that level of care when i had a teenage daughter of my own.

then daughter grew up and found a wonderful boy to marry. and his mum is...polish. :) so my little grandaughter is a little bit polish too. not a problem, not a bit of it. just a joy.

[winnybella]

Viva- 'Tak" means 'yes'
"dziekuje' is thank you.

[Cornycabernet]

'polish' problem?
very offensive

[MildredIsMyAlterEgo]

Viva tak does mean yes in Polish. I think microwave is popty ping in Welsh though - but I think I prefer pingity ping actually

Isildur has hit the nail right on the head

[Jinsei]

I reported too Maryz. Sometimes it just isn't worth engaging.

[VivaLeBeaver]

I'm sure they'd understand pingity ping. Especially if shouted loudly enough.

[NomadsLand]

Maryz, I did not say that. You are twisting my words and that is unfair and untrue.

For a start, Poles are a nationality. Muslims belong to a religion.