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I was born in one of ex-Soviet republics and lived in Russia for a bit in the 90s and on one hand I'm surprised that people tolerate this level of bullshit, but

I was born in one of ex-Soviet republics and lived in Russia for a bit in the 90s and on one hand I'm surprised that people tolerate this level of bullshit, but on the other hand I can see why they do. Russian government basically needs to ensure that the quality of life is a tad better than what it was in the 90s to keep most people docile. Russians have been through so much shit that they can endure anything and the government is basically taking advantage of this and does whatever it wants in plain sight. This absurd submissiveness even has its own term in Russian - Vata (literal translation is cotton), which basically implies you're so soft, submissive and brainwashed that you ultimately don't care what happens to you as long as your basic, fundamental needs are met. However, the new generation of Russians is completely different and have no interest living in stagnation, deprived of future for themselves and their children, but man, the wall is so tall at this point it's hard to see what they can achieve. I really believe that not much is going to change in Russia until the Soviet generations die out, as sad as it may sound.

butteroverflow 7y ago
As one ex-Soviet to another, I think you are being too optimistic. The situation in smaller cities seems to be quite dire to me. Most of the people I know either don't know of the situations like this, or don't care. They still have some freedom of information, some level of access to "alternative" worldviews, but they prefer not to exercise it and to get their daily dose of brainwashing from RT and Russia 24. For example, to most of my acquaintances Navalny is known as "the guy who stole the timber". Honestly, I am not at all sure if Russia is still salvageable. I've been reading some of the classic literature from 18-19 centuries, and it reads like it was written yesterday. I am thinking of just leaving as far away as I can from all this fucking bullshit, before the iron curtain comes crashing down.
- IWeldMelons 7y ago
  As someone from Central Asia, allow me to correct you. The only people who matter are those who who live in the capitals and the biggest cities. As soon as people in Moscow start getting disappointed in the "system", the regime will quickly collapse.

butteroverflow 7y ago

As one ex-Soviet to another, I think you are being too optimistic. The situation in smaller cities seems to be quite dire to me. Most of the people I know either don't know of the situations like this, or don't care. They still have some freedom of information, some level of access to "alternative" worldviews, but they prefer not to exercise it and to get their daily dose of brainwashing from RT and Russia 24. For example, to most of my acquaintances Navalny is known as "the guy who stole the timber". Honestly, I am not at all sure if Russia is still salvageable. I've been reading some of the classic literature from 18-19 centuries, and it reads like it was written yesterday. I am thinking of just leaving as far away as I can from all this fucking bullshit, before the iron curtain comes crashing down.

IWeldMelons 7y ago
As someone from Central Asia, allow me to correct you. The only people who matter are those who who live in the capitals and the biggest cities. As soon as people in Moscow start getting disappointed in the "system", the regime will quickly collapse.