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vitalsigns
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
Posts: 2784
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 Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 4:42 pm Post subject: Why? |
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I just noticed that there are new testimonials in this section of the site:
http://waytorussia.net/Features/RussianPeople/2006May1/
Why post this? I would not be wrong by saying that 50% of all your visitors are Americans who want to check Russia out.
The first question in that questionaire is out of place: Question: "What do Russians think about Americans and other foreigners?"
Why segregate Americans from other foreigners? This is wrong. If you do not like America and its policies in the world, that's fine. But the common folks should be left alone and not be targeted, even if it's only in a questionaire.
Last edited by vitalsigns on Fri Jun 16, 2006 6:33 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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charles
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 11 Mar 2006
Posts: 180
Location: USA
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| Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 6:31 pm Post subject: Re: Does this need to be posted? |
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| vitalsigns wrote: | The first question in that questionaire is out of place: Question: "What do Russians think about Americans and other foreigners?"
Why segregate Americans from other foreigners? This is wrong. If you do not like America and its policies in the world, that's fine. But the common folks should be left alone and not be targeted, even if it's only in a questionaire. |
Americans who travel abroad are very interested to know what people in other countries think of them. (It's a self-centered pre-occupation I think, and assumes that all people in other countries think as one person)
I don't think these questions were written by WTR staff, but I am curious where they got them. I do agree that the questions could be better. |
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waytorussia
Frequent Guest
Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Posts: 14
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| Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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| The questions we use for this feature are only the ones sent in by our audience (50% of whom are Americans). We select the most popular questions and interview people on the streets. So, no need to take all this so personally, vitalsigns. |
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5_Zvehzda
Just Starting
Joined: 30 Mar 2010
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 7:52 pm Post subject: |
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After reading these interviews after it was first updated, I noticed the only remotely positive thing any of those people had to say came from the guy with the guitar.
But a more specific question immediately came to mind . . .
"OK, you don't like them - but . . . do you personally know any people from the US? Have you even socialized with any of them?"
I just had the nagging suspicion this probably wasn't the case. Maybe the question could have been a little more specific in that regard, I suppose. Just a thought.  |
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krasatulya
VIP
Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 590
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| Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 9:02 pm Post subject: |
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| I used to enjoy reading the interviews, but I agree with other posters that most of them are so negative towards Americans, that I don't look forward to reading any of the new ones. I agree with Zvehzda's suspicion that many of these people have probably never encountered any Americans, and if they have, they are generalizing an entire country and people based on a few people they have met. It's just sad how ignorant they appear in these interviews. I had my husband read a few of them and he just shook his head, embarrassed at some of their responses. |
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Okanogan
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 11 Jun 2006
Posts: 113
Location: Land of the Free
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| Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 11:05 pm Post subject: |
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| krasatulya wrote: | | I used to enjoy reading the interviews, but I agree with other posters that most of them are so negative towards Americans, that I don't look forward to reading any of the new ones. I agree with Zvehzda's suspicion that many of these people have probably never encountered any Americans, and if they have, they are generalizing an entire country and people based on a few people they have met. It's just sad how ignorant they appear in these interviews. I had my husband read a few of them and he just shook his head, embarrassed at some of their responses. |
Most Americans are very nice people, so when people say they're not, simply point out the good things that America does, maybe it'll have some positive effect on the ignorant people in the world, IMHO |
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MrSpice
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 3431
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| Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 12:58 am Post subject: Re: Does this need to be posted? |
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| charles wrote: |
Americans who travel abroad are very interested to know what people in other countries think of them. (It's a self-centered pre-occupation I think, and assumes that all people in other countries think as one person)
I don't think these questions were written by WTR staff, but I am curious where they got them. I do agree that the questions could be better. |
Here is some info on that:
http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?PageID=802
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/06/13/news/pew1.php |
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waytorussia
Frequent Guest
Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Posts: 14
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| Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 1:55 am Post subject: |
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| So, are you proposing me not to ask certain questions, because the answers we get embarass some people? |
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vitalsigns
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
Posts: 2784
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| Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 2:19 am Post subject: |
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| WayToRussia wrote: | | So, are you proposing me not to ask certain questions, because the answers we get embarass some people? |
If I could suggest something here it would be that the question should be changed to: "What do you think about foreigners?"
Currently the qustion is: "What do Russians think about Americans and other foreigners?"
You are asking one person to speak on the behalf of all Russians. Most Russians I know have positive thoughts about America and Americans.
If you asked a Chechen man: "What do you think about Russians", he'd probably say: "They are dogs".
Well, no Russian likes to hear that. Americans who travel to Russia do not want to hear that Russians dislike them. Knowing that helps neither you nor them. |
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979
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| Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 2:34 am Post subject: |
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| WayToRussia wrote: | | So, are you proposing me not to ask certain questions, because the answers we get embarass some people? |
Ask what ever questions you want-I like reading what these ignorant people have to say. If new what the U.S. is really like then they'd be over here just like thier cousins who just immigrated. If you don't like the U.S. then don't come here, don't take our money, don't ask for our help, don't buy our products, or use our technology. We don't need you. |
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charles
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 11 Mar 2006
Posts: 180
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2006 4:36 am Post subject: |
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It's probably Americans who ask the question "what do Russians think of Americans and other foreigners?" What's wrong with posting a negative answer if it's honest?
Maybe it would be better to ask, "Did you ever meet any Americans or other foreigners in your life? What did you think of them?" But that's not the qustion that people asked. So, they get an answer based on stereotypes and prejudice. |
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Rick
Moderator
Joined: 04 May 2005
Posts: 854
Location: Касабланка
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| Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 3:42 pm Post subject: |
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I have split this topic from the part where it got off-course I left the remainder in 'Not relevant' for further discusssion.
'Why' makes a pretty bad heading for a specific topic like this... I had no clue what it was about when opening it... |
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