r/europe • u/xCheezyCZ • 2d ago

Picture Every country stressing about homeless people, meanwhile Poland with double side benches:

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27.1k Upvotes

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u/divadschuf Baden-Württemberg (Germany) 2d ago

Hey, it‘s the same over here in Germany. Americans make videos about the German stare.

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u/TorrentsAreCommunism 2d ago

In Germany (and Austria), it’s just curious or neutral stares. Poles (and Ukrainians) are different. They stare as if you are doing something wrong and they judge you. Just like the guy above described.

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u/Alternative_Gur_2100 2d ago

Exactly. Very judgemental, scanning (literally eyes going up and down) looks. And the stare doesn't break even if you catch them and stare back. Like you're a character on a tv screen, unable to perceive the audience. It might sound dramatic, but it often feels downright violating. Especially if you're a girl/woman. The onlookers have no gender, though. Everyone does that.

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u/TorrentsAreCommunism 2d ago

Yeah, I hate it and my girlfriend hates it much more. We are from Ukraine and it was a huge relief to move to a country where NOBODY stares.

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u/bialastopa 1d ago

I live in Poland my entire life and I have never even noticed that, it feel like this entire conversation is made up.

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u/psmiord 1d ago

It happens to me quite often when I encounter a creature called stara baba, and I'm from Poland. It's easy for me to imagine that people will stare at you if you also say something in Ukrainian/with an accent.