Way to Russia Talk Lounge

blaked · Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2005 8:16 pm Post subject:

Russians can be remarkably rude on the metro. They never excuse themselves or try to be polite to strangers. I guess they aren't afraid that somebody might yell at them for not being polite (if you bump into an old black woman in the NYC subway, she'll often say 'well excuse you!' if you forget to say 'excuse me.') Some woman shoved in front of me at a McDonalds yesterday and I told her 3 or so year old son 'toya mama - neculturnaya blyad.' (Your mother is an uncultured whore.)

WittDaShitt

i have a question but i didnt know how to put it so i asked in a reply lol

well i just wanna know like what kind of style russians have and are there a lot of punks? i also wanna know what russians think of americans and what kinda traits they see in us. do most russian really hate americans if so why. if they do thats sad because not all americans are the same i personally am fascinated with russia and would love to learn the language. i am trying with little sucess Laughing

Camrade · Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 10:41 pm Post subject:

2WittDaShitt
To talk about styles: Russia is almost like Europe in this aspect... So there's quite many panks, pank groups etc Smile

One of my friends is a punk...

About americans. To tell the thruth most russians suppose that americans are stupid, fat and haughty people who can't show any country on the map exept the U.S. Smile

Also there's stereotype that national american food is McDonalds food... Third stereotype that american culture and morale is based on money and people from the U.S. (and Europe) will do everything to get money.... And many of people are afraid that Russia is becoming a country like america: without human morales and without belief. But this doesn't mean that you'll be treated in Russia as a stupid, "fat" and ignorant person. If you smart and intelligent attitude from russians would be appropriate Smile

Btw, that's great philosophical problem - problem of degradation of the western civilisation...

Jutrzenkapolska · VIP Joined: 16 Sep 2004 Posts: 534

Okay, where in God's name do people get these ridiculous stereotypes from?!From where do you Europeans get these negative ideas about Americans?! I would blame television and the print media but maybe it's simply because annoys you to pass a bazillion McDonald's on the streets of Moscow/Warsaw/Madrid. I have a friend from Austria told me all about how Burger King, Pizza Hut, McDonald's and all those other American fast food chains tried to expand into Vienna and how they all closed within five years because the Austrians were very unenthusiastic...

That's funny, we think Russians are haughty!

Some famous celebrity joked that there should be a law that prevents you from attacking another country if you can't find it on the map Laughing

Can you believe there are (some, I repeat, some) New Yorkers who don't know who Osama bin Laden is and think Afghanistan is in Poland? Laughing

Tell you what, come to the United States and you can conduct your own first- hand sociological research.Then you can see for yourself that we have skinny people too Very Happy

I imagine it would change some of your ideas about western civilization.

It's true America is Number One in billionaires and Number One millionaires but please, the rest of us live pretty much like you do, the same quality of life.

Trust me, America isn't this greedy, morale-free, degenerate hellhole.

Camrade · Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 2:28 am Post subject:

2Jutrzenkapolska
Btw, that wasn't my opinion... Smile

That is opinion of big group of people. Not only in Russia. And of course opinion of people who haven't visited the U.S. (I suppose most of them haven't visited).
My opinion is connected with the movement of the civilisations: one great civilisation is falling another great civilisation is rising. That's absolutely uncontrolled process. Western civilisation is going to fall cause there's no common idea in people's heads. There's no unity, there's no support. This process is a little bit slower in former communist countries but soon there woun't be any Europes, Americas.... It would be the different world. Do you know what I mean? But I suppose that it woun't happen very soon.

jbourneID90734

Do the Russians truly believe that the U.S.A. is the capital of the infamous beliefs called D-E-M-O-C-R-A-C-Y and F-R-E-E-D-O-M?
Did the Soviet-Russians agreed to ALLY with the U.S. during World War II?
Most people around the world--especially the Russians, know that U.S.A. "is" the leader of the West. The U.S.S.R. fell due to the Soviet troops pulled out of Afghanistan in 1989, Mikhail Gorbachev's "perestroika" and "glasnots" democratization of the Soviet Union, and the Fall of Communism in Soviet Union. The BALANCE of world power trembled, and the U.S.A. became the sole-leader of Democracy to spread from Russia, to the Middle East--Iraq/Kuwait, Africa, Europe, Asia, and around the world...
Americans are the most intelligent [NASA Space Shuttle Disasters, MARS Rover, F-117s, etc.], emotional, psychotic/psychedelic, polite, decent, honest, crime-free, safe, anti-corrupt, loyal, successor, custodians, and reliable "State Police" in the world! Do the Russians believe this claims?
And what about the privatization of multi-billion dollar U.S. companies owned by greedy C.E.O.s?
What about the right to practice freedom of religion such as Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, etc...?
Finally, what do the Russians feel when they see a brain of an American (relating to the so-called "Psycho Powers") man?

Jutrzenkapolska · VIP Joined: 16 Sep 2004 Posts: 534

Camrade · Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 1:43 am Post subject:

2Jutrzenkapolska
I mean that the world progress is based on the moving of civilisations... That's quite famous theory Smile

And I try to explain that western civilisation is going down in their history, I try to say that it's golden age has already expired...

Mogsfan · WayToRussified Joined: 03 Nov 2004 Posts: 490

I agree with Camrade. Western civilization (or culture or whatever you wish to call it) is deteriorating. However, I think it may be a mistake to perceive the USA = democracy. That, to me, would be an over-simplification. It's not that black and white. Yet, if a democracy is equivalent to what exists in the USA and other western countries, the World and Mankind is in a whole heap of trouble. Democracy, per se, is not that great. However, it's not good to think what exists in the West is ideal or the best version (of a democracy). I used to think that non-Democrats who rail against democratic institutions are ignorant fools who lack understanding and are brainwashed into following outdated or detrimental political systems and rulers. However, if you put yourself in their positions, you can be a bit more sympathetic or at least, understanding.

The problem I find with European or other states or countries who are being forced or volunteering to adapt to democratic systems are often guilty of adopting some of the worst aspects. Is that just inherent or typical when adopting or implementing democratic institutions? I dunno, but it's not good. Sad

blaked · Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2005 2:09 pm Post subject:

Some Americans are very stupid because public schools are paid for by the community rather than the state. The US has very high local property taxes, so kids who go to wealthy suburban public schools become educated and children from poorer communities don't. However, this has as much to do with culture than with the system - the fed. gov. subsidizes the crappy city schools but good teachers refuse to teach there. Americans just don't care what the capital of Djibouti is because they're too busy reading MS Outlook for Dummies.

Camrade · Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2005 5:51 pm Post subject:

U.S.A. is not = democracy cause there can't be pure democracy in the world. Democracy and communism is an utopia, it can't be built in human's society.
So term democracy should be used very carefully Smile

cyndy22 · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 12:19 am Post subject:

A question for Blaked,
Are you a Russian? If so, have you ever been to US? I ask this because your perspective on US education etc. is not accurate. Public education in US is subsidized by federal, state and municipal government. Sure the municipalities can choose to provide additional funding or less funding but there are sufficient funds to support public education here. I can't say that I agree with the charter school movement that has come alive in US over the past few years. Charter schools are private and are sucking money from the public schools. You are correct that inner cities are eligible for additional federal funds but you are incorrect in saying that good teachers swon't teach in inner cities. I also find youyr remark about Americans not knowing geography stereotypical. While I don't think thsat US schools are the best in the world, please don't portray them or us as stupid. Thank yoyu very much.

Camrade · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 1:46 am Post subject:

2cindy

curicullum in the U.S. is much more simple then in Russia and it's a fact Smile

I don't want to say that Russia is got damn better and smarter than the U.S. but averadge schoolchildren in states know less about the world then averadge schoolchildren in Rossija... My opinion is based on opinions of my friends who (2 guys) were educated for one year in one of the american schools.

And everyone should remember that stupidity depends not only on education, it depends on a personality Wink

cyndy22 · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 3:54 am Post subject:

I have to say that I have only received education in US. I was a good student, studied hard and went on to higher education. Geography was was of my favorite subjects. especially as a young girl. But this is a matter of individual preferances I understand that US now may have lower standar4ds for students. I say this only because my good friends from Estonia as well as friends and others I have come to know from Russia and other former republics state that eduication is different there than in the states. I think that in Russia etc, teachers begin mathematics and scxience earlier. Since I have a 7 yr. old son here in US, I would agree. While I do not agree with this US educational policy, I don't think thjat US public education is so inferior to Russia or other countries. I hjppen to think that US can do better vbut so can other countries including Russia .

Camrade · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 11:59 am Post subject:

2cyndy22
since the soviet time education in Russia has been technically oriented cause U.S.S.R. was building new weapons of destroying the U.S. Smile

and now our curicullum hasn't change very much