What’s Russia like? (Cultural Experiences in Foreign Languages) Language Learning Forum

What’s Russia like?
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Language Learning Forum : Cultural Experiences in Foreign Languages	( Topic Closed)

110 messages over 14 pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ... 7 ... 13 14 Next >>

Siberiano
Tetraglot
Senior Member
Russian Federation
one-giant-leap.Registered users can see my Skype Name
Joined 6493 days ago
465 posts - 696 votes

Speaks: Russian*, English, Italian^C1, Spanish
Studies: Portuguese, Serbian

Message 49 of 110

23 February 2009 at 11:58pm | IP Logged

Well, I don't know why, and it doesn't matter, since I'm not angry at you. I'm glad you wrote that. Peace :)

I'm sad that such things as skinheads' crimes happen. But that's life: few people of one culture are interested in those of the other. We like to think we're smarter than average Americans, but that's only thanks to the movies. As for the rest, the people have vague ideas of other places, taken from TV, urban legends and quite engaged newspapers.

On the other hand, I can't say I like the immigrants from the south, since I know what many of them think of us - that we live with technology but without traditions, that guys are drunkards and girls are sluts... That's not my invention, I've heard that from a GIRL "from the south".

Anyway, I refrain from going on, since my judictions may offend somebody without me wanting that. Just this week I read a nice essay by Paul Graham, called "Keep Your Identity Small", and he makes a good point that talks on politics, religion, and so on, engage us personally, and nobody feels the need to have any expertise on topic, only a strong belief. Given that, it's extremely hard to make a fruitful talk on these subjects.
http://www.paulgraham.com/identity.html

Edited by Siberiano on 24 February 2009 at 12:13am
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Chamberlain
Triglot
Newbie
BelarusRegistered users can see my Skype Name
Joined 6030 days ago
13 posts - 13 votes
Speaks: Belarusian, Russian*, English

Message 51 of 110

24 February 2009 at 12:48pm | IP Logged

aYa wrote:

Russia is too big a country. Too many Russians want it to be even bigger. That's their main problem.

I have always been thinking "what is the main problem of Russia?". Thanks for making this point clear to me. I just wonder how long did it take you to set the diagnosis?
Don't you think it can be just a little exaggerated?
It is nice to think that all other countries are just looking for an opportunity to share they territory with neighbours and it is also nice to think that millions of Russian people just dream of extending Russian territory. And finally it is just a brilliant idea that it is their main problem.
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Chamberlain
Triglot
Newbie
BelarusRegistered users can see my Skype Name
Joined 6030 days ago
13 posts - 13 votes
Speaks: Belarusian, Russian*, English

Message 53 of 110

24 February 2009 at 2:57pm | IP Logged

aYa wrote:

you're trying to be ironic

Am I? Yes I am. I'll try to explain why.
First, the generalization you made is a bit doubtful in my opinion. One can hardly be sure about a hundred million of pepole.
Second, Russia is not my country, I live in the Republic of Belarus (immediate neighbour of Russia) and can frankly say that I haven't heard anything about Russians' agressive actions against our country, at least in the last century.
I pretty much know who Lermontov is and it is good that you also read his poems. But, you know, the quote you used was adressed to the XIX-th century Russia, things have been slightly changed since then.
Third, if we can use history facts as arguments, Belorussians can consider Poland as an agressor (in fact they really don't) more than Russia since significant part of the Belarussian territory in near past (1920-1939) was under Pole occupation.
I respect Poland and Poles, and wrote this just to show relativity of your oppinion. Do you consider yourself as an agressor? Do you consider your country as one? I believe not. Neither do Russians.

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paparaciii
Diglot
Senior Member
Latvia
Joined 6336 days ago
204 posts - 223 votes

Speaks: Latvian*, Russian
Studies: English

Message 55 of 110

24 February 2009 at 5:49pm | IP Logged

Chamberlain wrote:

Second, Russia is not my country, I live in the Republic of Belarus (immediate neighbour of Russia) and can frankly say that I haven't heard anything about Russians' agressive actions against our country, at least in the last century.

Well, Belarusians are one of those nations that became completely russified. Nowadays there is no big difference between Russians and Belarusians anymore. So it is obvious why Russians didn't hurt you too much.

Chamberlain wrote:

I pretty much know who Lermontov is and it is good that you also read his poems. But, you know, the quote you used was adressed to the XIX-th century Russia, things have been slightly changed since then.

And the keyword here is - SLIGHTLY.

Chamberlain wrote:

Third, if we can use history facts as arguments, Belorussians can consider Poland as an agressor (in fact they really don't) more than Russia since significant part of the Belarussian territory in near past (1920-1939) was under Pole occupation.

And ALL of the Belarusian territory was part of Russia until 1991. Why didn't you mention that?

Chamberlain wrote:

I respect Poland and Poles, and wrote this just to show relativity of your oppinion.

This is not just aYa's opinion. And it is not relative. Most of Russia's neighboring nations think exactly the same.

Edited by paparaciii on 24 February 2009 at 5:55pm
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Siberiano
Tetraglot
Senior Member
Russian Federation
one-giant-leap.Registered users can see my Skype Name
Joined 6493 days ago
465 posts - 696 votes

Speaks: Russian*, English, Italian^C1, Spanish
Studies: Portuguese, Serbian

Message 56 of 110

24 February 2009 at 8:25pm | IP Logged

Бесполезный трёп вы развели и выглядите дураками. Спорить в интернете - это как участвовать в олимпиаде для умственно отсталых: ты можешь выиграть, но всё равно останешься дебилом.

Edited by Siberiano on 24 February 2009 at 9:11pm

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