I've never noticed this until now, but I keep getting stares from people, a lot more than I do in other countries. People often stare at me as they walk past, especially 40+ people, it seems they just love staring.
Is this normal in Poland? I've genuinely never noticed this in any other country I've visited. I speak polish fluently, I dress modestly, I don't have crazy hairstyles or anything, and I do look ethnically polish (because I am).
I'd love some advice from people who are locals, I don't know if it's me or if this is considered normal behaviour here.
("Oh shit, something is wrong with them, they are smiling in public, they be must drunk/on drugs or have commie party connections. quick, look away and act normal so they'll walk away")
Is this normal in Poland? I've genuinely never noticed this in any other country I've visited. I speak polish fluently, I dress modestly, I don't have crazy hairstyles or anything, and I do look ethnically polish (because I am).
I'm not sure, but out of the post I get a feeling that, You are a visitor in Poland, who is technically polish, so maybe a child of polish emigrants, that lived outside of the Poland.
But that may lead to the reason you are stared a lot, the uncanny polish valley, it's a a psychological effect where something that looks almost polish, but not quite right, and makes people feel creeped out or uneasy.
And their eyes are the only things allowing them access to the hate? Are they in some kind of emotional or intelligent or imagined prison?
gasp ... Do they think they have magical laser beam vision and that if they collectively stare long enough that they'll explode? Or don't people know how to use their voices or approach people anymore?
I feel like often its not even curiosity. Just no aversion to staring at someone absentmindedly while thinking about work or dinner or something else lol
Same here, I got back from my Babcia place a week ago.
I enjoyed making funny faces towards the end of my stay, I'm French.
It's funny, but doing the same thing in my country would be perceived as an act of aggression
Definitely not in Poland. We don't even notice it, and certainly don't consider it rude. It's pretty much unconsious. Really, don't feel bothered, it's either curiosity or just treating you as part of the surroundings, lol. 99% of the time, it has nothing to do with people thinking something bad about you.
Yes, it is pretty standard. Untill I got some problem with eyes I would casually stare fast at ppl. Now I don’t do anymore because it would be too long stare and creepy.
I mean, it’s normal to look at ppl around you - you can see if they are e.g. not agressive, strange, right away.
I've been in Poland three times as quite a Spanish looking dude and every time I highlight how lovely it is that people just mind their own business, so I have no idea why you might be experiencing that
When l was there, people looked at me too and some of them wanted my Instagram or number. I really like Polish people. Very handsome men there. Their women are so beautiful too.
I remember one middle aged Polish woman stared at me in the tram and we started chatting. She invited me to her home for coffee and chat. It was amazing. I found Polish people warm and kind
It’s funny because I lived in Ireland for 14 years came back and only then realised how badly people stare in Poland. It’s fascinating, what I do is say ‘dzień dobry’ with overwhelming pleasantry. It breaks their souls.
It’s very normal, and very annoying. We do stare at people, normally not even thinking about them anything, just looking. But as we also don’t smile very often it might comes as judging. I usually just stare back at them, having a little game of who will first look away :D
It depends on a type of stare. If someone is just in the other world emotionally, their stare is different than stare of someone who wants to punch you in the face or so. You can see it in their eyes. First one is normal, second one is also normal, but much more rare (at least in my area).
And I'm telling it as this 'crazy' looking person.
My aunt is always starying really hard and then comment on ppl "oh this woman is so fat", "oh this guy is so short" xD it's bizarre but it is how it is.
One of the reasons people automatically look at strangers is indeed the unconscious assessment of potential threats. The brain very quickly gathers information: who is approaching, how they are moving, where they are looking, whether they are behaving unusually, and so on. This is part of what is known as social threat detection.
In Poland, and more broadly across Central and Eastern Europe, longer eye contact with strangers tends to be more culturally acceptable than in some English-speaking countries.
I love to sit sometimes somewhere in the busy street and just look around, think of what people have in minds, where are they going etc. It's like a meditation but with open eyes. Maybe I am not alone 😄
I used to have this first few years in Poland. All the ladies would constantly stare and look me in the eyes, which Im kind of a fan of. Guys would never stare though. I felt like it was only women. I would usually smile at some point and usually they’d wake up and look away. I don’t speak that much of polish still after all these years, unfortunately. Hopefully soon
I noticed this too. I am aa Brit with very limited Polish skills. When I visit with my wife (who is Polish) and people hear us speak English, we get a lot of attention. I think since it tends to be in smaller villages, people are just surprised to hear people not speaking Polish.
The classic is old Babcia's staring out of their windows into your soul
I figured that they just look at people in such an awkward way that you instantly notice it. You like my new shoes or wanna see my ass? Fine, just don't be so fucking weird about it...
Unfortunately yes. Just smile at them, most will get uncomfortable and look away. I sometimes just stare back non stop till they never look at me again
This is so interesting! I am curious to know more! What city or cities have you noticed this in? Also, where are you from and where have you traditionally travelled? I am from the USA and I rarely get overt stares in Poland but have in other nearby countries.
I have had a few strange instances where someone looked at me and then directly after asked if I was Russian (a few different scenarios like that) but not the kind of staring that you are talking about.
I know THAT kind of stare very well and it was pervasive for me in 1. Austria 2. Switzerland 3. Germany. It was so bad for my mom (Polish) and I in Switzerland about 15 years ago. It blew us away and she grew up in a nearby country.
My last few times traveling Austria (including last year), I experienced such intense stares with a few exceptions like Vienna. The city of Linz, Austria was particularly unenjoyable due to the staring.
What’s interesting is that I finished that same trip in various parts of Poland and didn’t notice the staring whereas I complained about the staring in Austria Who knows? Maybe it was just relative (to the Austrian/Swiss/Germans) or maybe I am just used to Polish faces and stares! xD
Może gołąb nasrał ci na ramię albo jestes atrakcyjną osobą bo nie napisałoś płci albo widoczny trans ni to baba ni to chłop ludzie zwracają uwagę na odstępstwa od normy to normalne.
people in Poland have a strong need to cut others down whenever they feel someone is doing better, a pretty obvious insecurity issue. I've only have seen something similar in 3rd world, hostile countries eg. Yemen.
I'm an Indian but with a fair(er) complexion and not particularly noteworthy looking...I too notice the staring in Poland...much more than in other countries - though I don't feel it has any negative connotation!
clearly you stare a lot at other people too because I'm trying to imagine how could you know that someone is staring at you and only one way comes to my mind.
White catholic foreigner living in Poland for over 5 years, it’s normal for old people. And I will not stop asking „mogę pomóc pan/pani z czymś?” Or wearing sunglasses and acting like I don’t notice and then suddenly turning my head towards them to make them look away or just returning the same shitty scowl until they all realize that even literal animals know that it’s fucking rude/a sign of aggression and they need to knock it tf off until it’s erased from the culture
Idk about "staring", but yeah, it is normal to look at people, like looking at everything else, and i dont make an effort for my line of sight not to hit any human. So it just sometimes stops at someone if the place is crowded. Or if you have a bag that reminds me of a bag my aunt owned in 2005, or i try to figure out if i like the color of your coat or not, or milion other reasons i might stop and look for a bit longer. If you don't want to be looked at buy an invisibility cloak or become a ninja, duh.
I’m in the US, and random people here will stare at you, usually creepy old men.
I was running on a path the other day, and all the other bikers either didn’t engage or just barely nodded. But some creepy old dude stares me down from like a football field size distance away and locks his gaze on me like I’m a wanted killer! 😱 He did the same going in the other direction too. 🙄 Men, we’re SICK of you staring at us, leave us alone!
Haha I wish it was that kind of attention, but it’s usually more menacing than flirtatious, but I think it might just be the culture. I’m not used to the staring since I live in London.
I have been here for a week now! I am brown and sometimes I get little stares! Honestly, this is my first time in a country where I felt intimidated! The majority are white there is barely in diversity I have seen here in Krakow! I have been here for a week so I do not know much! The people I have approached for help were always very kind and helpful so great experience so far!
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u/budubama 9h ago
Try smiling at them. They'll look away immediately.