Opinion of Russia

[Antonio the Sixth]

Wow... BRTD is sounding like Joseph McCarthy.

Not an inherently bad thing.

Indeed. I'm rediscovering the virtues of McCarthyism now that it's the Republicans who are trying to sell the country out to Russia.

[GMantis]

Russia is of course a freedom country. Of course I'm not going to deny that many of their governments have done a great deal of evil (mostly affecting Russia's own people , but they seem to get little sympathy) I don't see why this should be the one and only feature considered when judging the country. It's certainly not how most other countries are judged. And there is of course all the good done by Russia over the years which in my opinion outweighs the evil.

A horrible people and country.  Obviously my biases play a part in that, but they do a damned good job reinforcing the stereotypes.

But why are you biased? Do you have some personal reason to dislike Russia?

There's one aspect of attacks on it though that is just plain mindboggling. In the 60s-80s, a common joke and stereotype about Russian women was how ugly they are. Now even ignoring the awful sexism in all of that....HOW ON EARTH CAN ANYONE THINK THAT?

It was simply the constant Russophobic Cold war propaganda where Russia was presented entirely negatively. The same propaganda has continued until this day (with brief interruptions), as can be seen from many of the replies here.

Horrible, and it goes much deeper than their government.

Could you explain what you mean under this?

[Rules for me, but not for thee]

FC with a HP as leader.  Oh... just like here come 2017! 

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

The 2nd greatest country in the whole wide world! Heckuva lot cooler than America!

[Lechasseur]

One of the best countries in world history excluding the Communist era.

Yep

[Lexii, harbinger of chaos and sexual anarchy]

Great country with awful politicians

[RogueBeaver]

Great country with awful politicians

[dead0man]

A horrible people and country.  Obviously my biases play a part in that, but they do a damned good job reinforcing the stereotypes.

But why are you biased? Do you have some personal reason to dislike Russia?

My age, homeland and class.  I hid under my desk in grade school because of Russians.  I understand there was a lot of propaganda in that and that the US/West isn't innocent and that we are not always the "good guys".  I also understand that >90% of Russians hate the gays and that they were total dicks in Georgia and are being total dicks in Ukraine.  Yes, the US has invaded countries too for less than stellar reasons and we can talk all about that in the "Opinion of the US" thread.  I also understand that they've done some art a lot of people appreciate, but can't you say that about every long populated place?

What are some non-art related reasons to like Russia or Russians?  Sputnik, the Vanera project and their part in the space race and space in general to this day are good things.  I would assume the Soviets probably advanced a few other fields, but with a horrible price tag.

[The_Doctor]

As long they've a regressive autocratic country that has Putin or some strongman in power they will always be the Evil Empire to me.

[(Still) muted by Kalwejt until March 31]

One of the best countries in world history excluding the Communist era.

[ApatheticAustrian]

we are talking politics, right?

empire of evil, plain and simple.

[ApatheticAustrian]

There's one aspect of attacks on it though that is just plain mindboggling. In the 60s-80s, a common joke and stereotype about Russian women was how ugly they are. Now even ignoring the awful sexism in all of that....HOW ON EARTH CAN ANYONE THINK THAT?

to be fair,  in most of eastern europe, beauty is artificial cause girls are dressing all the time like they want to glitter.

the same in czech, poland, etc....

internatonal students from russia told me, that in their home village, they would get checked by the police about their identity if they wouldn't put on the right make-up.

[Co-Chair Bagel23]

Freedom country, *proceeds in completely broken and nearly indecipherable "Russian"* Ya liublu mya semya doma!

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Terrible government, but the people who use it as a scapegoat for US domestic politics are also terrible.

[Landslide Lyndon]

Terrible government, but the people who use it as a scapegoat for US domestic politics are also terrible.

Whataboutism at its finest.