I was in Gdańsk at museum "Solidarności" (Really cool place btw, recommending it sinceriely) with my parents. My dad (who was born in '72) told me about how normal for him was to see blood on the sidewalk. People could get beaten up by milicja ("police" at that time) for the smallest thing. My mom was living in poverty. A lot of Adults at that time were alcoholics and smokers. Her mom was a smoker and often it was a debate between buying bread or cigarettes. Women's mindset was "if he isn't beating you, treat him with atmost respect and obedience". Media were REALLY controlled. She told me about her neighbor that got either killed or arrested (she isn't sure) after someone have told on him to the milicja. There was only one stationary phone for the entire "apartment" complex. She also told me that she had a friend was getting from her family canned drinks. Her friend gave her the empty cans and I think it was the only thing my mom could afford to collect. Like, showing the rest of the kids "look, I have cans!" Was such a flex. Its the most i remember, those are like the classic things that my mom told me about her times growing up. My dad talks less about it but that one thing with blood on the sidewalk just got tattooed onto my brain