Ask me anything about Russia.

[webny99]

Right now, in 2021? From a governmental perspective, western Europe certainly does not hate America the most. From a civilian perspective, I would say they do. Like it or not, it's fair to assume that citizens of the majority of other countries wish they lived here. Then you have a lot of countries such as Russia, who are indifferent. I think Canada would fall into that category, as there's a wide range of Canadian opinions on the US. Finally you're left with people that don't like us. Disproportionately it seems like it's Dutch citizens who are the loudest, not sure what that's about, but they're far from the only ones.

OK, sure, it's reasonable to separate out governmental and civilian perspectives, but the governmental perspective can oftentimes influence the civilian perspective, potentially strongly so in countries with propaganda and tight controls over what people can see and hear. Currently, this probably applies more to China, North Korea and parts of the Middle East than it does to Russia, but historically it can be applied to the Soviet Union as well. I'm not sure how much of that may have carried over to the present day. I'd imagine some people's views have become more neutralized over time, but also some carry-over.

As for people generally wanting to live in this country, certainly in many third-world countries an opportunity to live in the US would be viewed extremely positively.. but I'm less sure about other developed countries. That's one case where I think you maybe can point to the political situation of the last ~5-6 years and say that views of the US abroad as a very desirable place to live may have taken a hit.

As for Canada, I don't think there's a lot of true hatred between the US and Canada on any level - mostly just the competitive (mostly friendly) banter that you'd expect between neighboring countries... and even then, it's a lot less extreme than a case like the UK and France, where there's a lot more historical bad blood.

From my experiences talking to Western Europeans online, they don't hate the United States. If anything, they feel sorry that we have to put up with the sort of nonsense that we do when it comes to the lack of government services that they're used to their own government providing. But in general they don't have much negative to say about Americans, even if they don't care for our government that much.

Thanks, that's interesting and pretty well supports what I've been getting at. It also got me thinking.. there's really several distinct relationships to parse out here:

US citizens ↔ European governments - if I had to guess, I think many people here probably feel that our system of government is better (see: War, Revolutionary), but not necessarily strongly so, and that may be changing over time
US citizens ↔ European citizens - as mentioned, I don't think there's any hard feelings here, certainly not "hatred"

US government ↔ European governments - as our traditional allies, especially the UK and France, not much hatred here either
US government ↔ European citizens - certainly some dislike on this front

Now if I did the same sort of analysis for the US and Russia specifically, or the US and China specifically, the results would be much more negative across the spectrum.

[Roadgeekteen]

Don't want to start a political argument but 45 was very unpopular in Europe which affected people's views on America.

[thspfc]

Don't want to start a political argument but 45 was very unpopular in Europe which affected people's views on America.

I don't like Trump either, but you can say his name without being obnoxious and making people wonder who you're talking about.

[Roadgeekteen]

Don't want to start a political argument but 45 was very unpopular in Europe which affected people's views on America.

I don't like Trump either, but you can say his name without being obnoxious and making people wonder who you're talking about.

Didn't want to mention Trump by name as it could get the thread locked. Also most people probably know who I'm talking about.

[andrepoiy]

Hello!

I grew up in an area in Canada with a lot of Russian-Jewish immigrants. I was wondering, how are Russian-Jews viewed in Russia? I had a non-Jew Russian classmate tell me that his mom envies how the Russian-Jews could go to the West easily via Israel while non-Russian Jews had to go through the "normal", more stringent immigration process. She also said that Russian-Jews discriminated against non-Jews. I don't know if that's a common sentiment, which is why I'm curious.

In addition, I was wondering if there's stereotypes of Russians who live in the far East, e.g. Vladisvostok.

Finally, how are Russians of Korean descent viewed in Russia? (I know of Viktor Tsoi, for example).

[BuildTheRussian]

Hello!

I grew up in an area in Canada with a lot of Russian-Jewish immigrants. I was wondering, how are Russian-Jews viewed in Russia? I had a non-Jew Russian classmate tell me that his mom envies how the Russian-Jews could go to the West easily via Israel while non-Russian Jews had to go through the "normal", more stringent immigration process.

In addition, I was wondering if there's stereotypes of Russian who live in the far East, e.g. Vladisvostok.

Finally, how are Russians of Korean descent viewed in Russia? (I know of Viktor Tsoi, for example).

1. In Russia, people often joke about Jews. In all seriousness though, they're treated pretty much the same as any other person.

2. I don't know of any Far East stereotypes.

3. Same as any other person.

We don't really discriminate based on ethnicity or descent as much as people do in North America.

[Rothman]

Hello!

I grew up in an area in Canada with a lot of Russian-Jewish immigrants. I was wondering, how are Russian-Jews viewed in Russia? I had a non-Jew Russian classmate tell me that his mom envies how the Russian-Jews could go to the West easily via Israel while non-Russian Jews had to go through the "normal", more stringent immigration process.

In addition, I was wondering if there's stereotypes of Russian who live in the far East, e.g. Vladisvostok.

Finally, how are Russians of Korean descent viewed in Russia? (I know of Viktor Tsoi, for example).

1. In Russia, people often joke about Jews. In all seriousness though, they're treated pretty much the same as any other person.

2. I don't know of any Far East stereotypes.

3. Same as any other person.

We don't really discriminate based on ethnicity or descent as much as people do in North America.

Not my experience while I lived there.  Granted, it was a long time ago.

[Rothman]

Out of all the Russian food I miss, I miss shchii the most.

[hbelkins]

Don't want to start a political argument but 45 was very unpopular in Europe which affected people's views on America.

Well, that happens when you do things like making those countries pay their fair share of NATO's budget.

Speaking of, I wonder if the Russian citizenry thinks that the rest of the world is ganging up on them via NATO?

[thspfc]

About what percentage of Russians are fluent in English?

[tolbs17]

Is  This habitable?

https://www.google.com/maps/@76.2461005,69.2188909,6.67z

[Big John]

I remember an article in Russia there there were operating traffic lights at an "intersection".  The quotes were that no roadways were built at that location.  Is that an anomality or standard operating procedure there?

[Roadgeekteen]

Is  This habitable?

https://www.google.com/maps/@76.2461005,69.2188909,6.67z

It's a national park... so nobody probably lives there

[BuildTheRussian]

About what percentage of Russians are fluent in English?

I'd say 30%.

[BuildTheRussian]

I remember an article in Russia there there were operating traffic lights at an "intersection".  The quotes were that no roadways were built at that location.  Is that an anomality or standard operating procedure there?

I've seen it. It certainly is unusual here. Traffic lights are put up last usually here.
The city government planned to build a new road, but due to a lack of funding it was cancelled. However for some reason, they still installed the traffic light.

[nexus73]

Have you seen these movies?  Dr. Zhivago.  Red Dawn (the original).  Rambo 3.  Fail Safe.  Seven Days In May.  All were made at various times during the Cold War.  If I was a Russian, the Americans would scare me a lot!

One time when the US TV series "Cops" was on, they did some episodes called "Cops In Russia".  The police in Russia seemed a lot less aggressive in their approach than the police in the USA. 

Is this a real Russian saying?  "Come to Russia as a friend and you can leave as a friend.  Come to Russia as an enemy and you will stay forever." 

Do Russians like foreign cuisines?  The USA has so many cultures with their foods much loved by many people.  Russian restaurants and cafes are quite rare in the Pacific Northwest. 

Khruschev gave Crimea to the Ukraine Soviet Socialist Republic in 1956.  Do you know why he made that move? 

Thank you for taking the time to tell us what the world looks like from your point of view in Russia. 

Rick

[NE2]

When you get mail order bride spam, what country do they claim to be from?

[abefroman329]

Have you seen these movies?  Dr. Zhivago.  Red Dawn (the original).  Rambo 3.  Fail Safe.  Seven Days In May.  All were made at various times during the Cold War.  If I was a Russian, the Americans would scare me a lot!

Hey, don't forget Rocky 4, even though Dolph Lundgren is actually Norwegian.

[hbelkins]

When you get mail order bride spam, what country do they claim to be from?

And just how many females are really named "Svetlana?"

[JayhawkCO]

When you get mail order bride spam, what country do they claim to be from?

I know this might not be a serious question, but I watched a documentary a couple years ago and most of them come from Ukraine.  It was a much sadder documentary for the men than even the women, who were obviously not in a great position.

Chris

[BuildTheRussian]

Have you seen these movies?  Dr. Zhivago.  Red Dawn (the original).  Rambo 3.  Fail Safe.  Seven Days In May.  All were made at various times during the Cold War.  If I was a Russian, the Americans would scare me a lot!

One time when the US TV series "Cops" was on, they did some episodes called "Cops In Russia".  The police in Russia seemed a lot less aggressive in their approach than the police in the USA. 

Is this a real Russian saying?  "Come to Russia as a friend and you can leave as a friend.  Come to Russia as an enemy and you will stay forever." 

Do Russians like foreign cuisines?  The USA has so many cultures with their foods much loved by many people.  Russian restaurants and cafes are quite rare in the Pacific Northwest. 

Khruschev gave Crimea to the Ukraine Soviet Socialist Republic in 1956.  Do you know why he made that move? 

Thank you for taking the time to tell us what the world looks like from your point of view in Russia. 

Rick

1. I'm not a big movie fan. I still watch movies, but not very often. I recognise Rambo, but I've never seen it myself.

2. Guns aren't as widespread here as they are in the US. In fact, the average citizen legally cannot own weapons for self-defence. Hunting weapons are permitted however, but you'd need to get a permit to buy one.
That might explain why our cops are quite relaxed compared to American ones.

3. Probably is, but I've never heard anyone saying it. There is some truth in that saying though, we are quite welcoming if you treat us with respect. If you are very rude and mean towards us, you won't be welcomed for a long time.

4. Yes. An example is Japanese cuisine, like sushi. It's quite popular here. I actually ate some homemade sushi earlier today. Shashlik is also popular here, it's basically skewered marinated meat, similar to shish kebab, which is grilled on a brazier. There's plenty of foreign cuisine restaurants in most cities here. More cuisines than one can count.

5. Crimea had a very good relationship with Ukraine, both economically and culturally. In other words, it was very close with Ukraine, both literally and figuratively.

You're welcome.

[BuildTheRussian]

When you get mail order bride spam, what country do they claim to be from?

And just how many females are really named "Svetlana?"

It's a common female name here, so I'd say a LOT. More than one can count.

[BuildTheRussian]

When you get mail order bride spam, what country do they claim to be from?

I've never received mail order bride spam, I only remember receiving some African prince scam emails, so sadly I can't answer that question.

[JayhawkCO]

I have a travel related question.  A lot of us have our travel bucket list items and some of mine are doing the Trans-Siberian (actually the Trans-Mongolian) Railroad in Winter and driving the "Road of Bones".  Does the average Russian have any inclination to travel your own country like that?  Or is travel almost 100% treated as just a means to an end?

Chris

[BuildTheRussian]

I have a travel related question.  A lot of us have our travel bucket list items and some of mine are doing the Trans-Siberian (actually the Trans-Mongolian) Railroad in Winter and driving the "Road of Bones".  Does the average Russian have any inclination to travel your own country like that?  Or is travel almost 100% treated as just a means to an end?

Chris

The Trans-Siberian railroad actually passes through my city. When it's quiet enough, I can hear trains on it despite living a few kilometers away from it.

There are a lot of Russians who do like to travel. I'm not really one of those people though. The majority of Russians travel just to get to their destination, and to return.