Why the negative attitude towards Slavs/Poles?

[RoyBatty]

It's a multi-faceted question. There are all kinds of reasons for perceived popularity and unpopularity of any given group.

Poles have swamped the UK, hence the natives aren't in love with them. There are just too many.
Poles aren't too popular with Germans due to the loss of Eastern territories after WW2.
Germans (not to mention Russians) aren't too popular with Poles for historical reasons.

Slavs aren't particularly popular in Western Europe because they are Slavs, not Western European. Nothing particularly complicated about it. The culture and language is somewhat different and different = foreign. More foreign than another Western Euro and hence a more limited understanding of and appreciation for them.

My personal opinion regarding them ranges from neutral to positive but then again I know many and am somewhat familiar with the culture.

In general I don't think there are major problems, all European nations have mutual likes and dislikes about one another.

[Loki]

I really like Slavs and Poles

[derLowe]

Why do Slavs have a bad reputation among westerners?

I've heard more than once them being referred to as being worse than animals, filthy etc.

I have also had some rather negative reactions from Germans when they find out what my surname is. I was told once by a German that I have no license to speak German because I'm a dirty Polak. I have also been told on numerous occasions that I don't look western (?) and look like I am from "the other side of the Iron Curtain".

Someone I know (who I would rather forget) told me that the Poles are the kaffirs of Europe and that I should be ashamed of my Polish/Slavic ancestry and never speak about it if I want some respect.

Why this negativity towards Slavs, Poles etc?

I can think of a few reasons.

[Virtuous]

Yeah I kid the Poles and Slavs, I love a Polish girl after all

[Mary]

Poles are very failed Slavs.

When it comes to other Slavs people just hate because they're envious.

[Aces High]

I have also been told on numerous occasions that I don't look western (?) and look like I am from "the other side of the Iron Curtain".

I used to make shit like that up too when i was six years old......for attention probably.

[Siegfried]

The poles I've met lately have been annoying pricks full of pan-slavic BS. They can hate me all they want for having German ancestors and being proud of it, but if I raise as much as a finger to defend myself, I am the racist and the hater. They are full of groundless pride for their country and tend to speak violently against those who aren't from that country, though it is clear they are hardly anywhere near the standards of other countries. A day does not go by without a pole reminding me of his proud Polish roots.

As Georg Forster put it:

Poland is a mixture of sarmatian -- well-nigh aboriginal cruelty and French superarrogance; an ignorant people with not a trace of taste, yet given to luxury, gambling and fashion."

If don't have a hate for the Poles just for being Poles, but their collective actions and nature I dislike a great lot. Hate is not a good word, but dislike should do.

[Horseman]

One of the reasons:

http://www.thelocal.de/society/20120102-39859.html

They're plenty of others, trust me.

Are you sure? It does not look on the polish work ...

[Kazimiera]

I find it hard to believe a normal, every day German who had not been provoked and was not a neo-nazi would say that to your face.

If anything, he was normal, every day asshole.

I didn't provoke him. His parents know my family and that they are Polish. He overheard me speaking to someone in German, butted into the conversation saying that I don't have a license to do so.

I'd never spoken a word to the guy before or since.

[Kazimiera]

I used to make shit like that up too when i was six years old......for attention probably.

Go play with Germanicus.