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Just wondering... Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next

Way to Russia Talk Lounge Forum Index -> Russian People

Author	Message
Shooter Just Starting Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 3 Location: Vladimir, Russia	Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 2:57 pm    Post subject: Just wondering... Hi everybody, I've just registered here but before I studied this web-page quite thoroughly I guess. I realize that foreigneirs should ask the Russians questions here - but I have a question to the Russians too. After reading several answers to the questions at the main page I felt that some Russians (not everyone, of course) are just trying to say the worst things about their country just to make the foreign visitors like them. Sometimes (like in case with the girl from Vladimir living in an international dorm where I lived for 5 years too and telling about two Africans killed) it's plain lies. Frankly, I had faced similar way of behavior among the other Russians long time ago - in 1989, when at school we had a group of British students living in our families. I just wonder, is it really a Russian trait of character or something else... And a question to everyone not from Russia - would you respect someone who cannot see anything positive in his country, his life, his future and at the same time doesn't wish to change anything? Sorry for a little disorder of the way I express my feelings - but it's my first post here
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MrSpice Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3431	Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 4:54 pm    Post subject: Is it a russian trait to complain and cirtisize? I see complaing on the American TV every single day. I think it's a human trait.
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greg222 VIP Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 599	Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 5:46 pm    Post subject: Shooter: I find it very strange myself. At least three times in the past Russians have asked me why anyone would want to come and live in their country. I didn't get the impression that they were trying to make me like them, though. Quite the opposite in fact. It was as if they resented my being here. At any rate, my response was that I find it a very interesting place. One person managed to take offence at that and asked if Russia was like a zoo for me. I don't understand this sort of attitude at all. But then, I don't think it's a very widespread one.
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MrSpice Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3431	Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 6:31 pm    Post subject: greg222: Interesting stuff :) I think the word "interesting" was misunderstood. We have to realize that there are different kinds of people living in Russia. There are those who are educated, well-read and curious about the world and other people. And there are those that are on the opposide side of the spectrum. When I visited Russia this time in June, many russians told me about great things that have been happening lately in St Petersburg. They took great pride in the fact that the city is now lit up at night, there are new pedestrian-only streets, new bridges, more restaurants, etc. So, I have a different experience. I was meeting with people that all have college education and are mostly doing well right now.
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mister_wizzz VIP Joined: 27 May 2004 Posts: 582	Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 7:21 pm    Post subject: MrSpice wrote: Is it a russian trait to complain and cirtisize? I see complaing on the American TV every single day. I think it's a human trait. No spice, it is a french trait
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cyndy22 Lounge Wizard Joined: 15 Oct 2004 Posts: 1076 Location: massachusetts	Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 7:57 pm    Post subject: Glad you joined the web site Shooter. Wecome! I assume you are Russian, am I correct? I agree with you that people should take some pride in their country. Or at least enjoy life there! However no place in the world is without problems. I don't have the same sense as you about Russians on this site being so negative and defensive. There are some who may be more cynical about Russia but they are good people too. Russia is a unique country and that is why most visitors go there. I think the culture and fact that it was forbidden to tourists for so many years is appealing to people. And you will still encounter some, hopefully few ignorant people like one who posted yesterday whining how bad Russia is. Though he clearly was not Russian, just an atagonizing prejudiced you know what! Anyways, I hope you stick around and enlighten some of us or at the very least post something interesrting from time to time.
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mediashark Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1599	Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 7:58 pm    Post subject: mister_wizzz wrote: MrSpice wrote: Is it a russian trait to complain and cirtisize? I see complaing on the American TV every single day. I think it's a human trait. No spice, it is a french trait You're all wrong. It's a Singaporean trait!
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cyndy22 Lounge Wizard Joined: 15 Oct 2004 Posts: 1076 Location: massachusetts	Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 8:00 pm    Post subject: I always thought it was a Jewish mother's trait!
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Shooter Just Starting Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 3 Location: Vladimir, Russia	Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 8:48 am    Post subject: 2 Cyndy22: Yeah, I am Russian or at least 75 percent Russian cause my dad is half Armenian Thanks a lot for all the kind words you said I'm not sure whether I can enlighten anyone but I'll try to if you guys need any enlightment. Anyways feel free to ask anything I read my previous post again - it seems a pretty angry one, he-he... What I feel is that any person in any country is happy or unhappy mostly cause of personal reasons like job, love, relations with parents and children. When everything's okay with it - you will hardly care about your president, his policy and statements. That's actually what Karl Marx, one of the founders of communism theory said - lifestyle defines perception So most of those natives who complain that Russia sucks (sorry!) are, I guess, personally unhappy. And that is really common for any country. What worries me is that some non-natives can be misguided by this kind of statements. But anyway that's when ENLIGHTMENT comes to the rescue
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vitalsigns Lounge Wizard Joined: 25 Dec 2004 Posts: 2784	Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 11:08 am    Post subject: Re: Just wondering... Yes, deleted. Last edited by vitalsigns on Wed Nov 09, 2005 4:17 am; edited 2 times in total
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mediashark Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1599	Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 11:35 am    Post subject: I remember in junior college, one of our teachers asked, "How many of you really love our college?" No hands went up. "Nah!" "You kidding?" "We totally suck." etc. "Ok, now how many of you would be offended if someone else said something negative about our college or insulted you as students of this college?" Lots of hands went up. It's human nature... yeah, we don't make much sense do we?
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Shooter Just Starting Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 3 Location: Vladimir, Russia	Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 12:14 pm    Post subject: 2vitalsigns: Okay, I would never say that there is nothing bad about Russia and life here. And I would never say that all complaining people have no reasons to do that. What makes me sick is that people mostly complain but don't want to do anything to change it. Russia may be not democratic enough but today I think it nevertheless provides some opportunities to do what you want to do and be what you want to be. And the way people treat each other... well, aren't those who constantly complain and "trash" life around them the same? Do they treat their neighbors in a civilised way? Hardly so... You respect people around you when you respect yourself. And respect to yourself starts when you live to live, not just to exist
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mediashark Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1599	Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 2:54 pm    Post subject: There you go. "It's the people, stupid."
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MrSpice Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3431	Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 5:45 pm    Post subject: vitalsigns: What do you mean by people treating each other badly in Russia? I actualy, did not notice it. The people I met treated me OK. Are you talking about sales people at a store or waiter or other service personnel or you're talking about relationships between friends and people on the street?
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vitalsigns Lounge Wizard Joined: 25 Dec 2004 Posts: 2784	Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2005 3:03 pm    Post subject: vacationing... Last edited by vitalsigns on Wed Nov 09, 2005 8:47 pm; edited 2 times in total
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