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Intimately familiar. The culture is so beaten down by totalitarianism that no one even feels comfortable speaking out even to their friends. All of the tech you

Intimately familiar. The culture is so beaten down by totalitarianism that no one even feels comfortable speaking out even to their friends. All of the tech you're mentioning was built during a unique period of access to western technology that is now going to be harder and harder to get. You're hitting the nail on the head that during that period it was the perfect moment for Russia to change and it was what the west was betting on. The tragedy is that without institutions to nurture an open society Russia became a totalitarian state yet again and that has now gone beyond oppressing its own people into living in squalor by western standards and now into violently attempting to destroy a large western leaning country: we're seeing a nightmare play out.

cpursley 4y ago
> Intimately familiar So you're Russian or spent time living there? Have you visited in the past 5 years or so?
- redwood 4y ago
  I was there 3 years ago. It was a summer time visit to one of the medium size cities in Siberia, St Pete, and Moscow. I saw people that reminded me enormously of the US: folks absorbed by their own (very large) world and I realized how Siberia was settled at a similar time to the American west: so many parallels. The difference being the power of the federal center and the boot stomp of the authorities that are expected. The fear. People don't even cross the road when there is no traffic.
  - cpursley 4y ago
    Cool, thanks for sharing. We're in agreement on some things. I also noticed the parallels with the US (people kind of in their own world). Also like Americans, Russians don't usually speak foreign languages (outside of the two big cities). But I do think they know geography and foreign events better than Americans fwiw. Regarding traffic attitudes, I think it depends. There was a lot of Caucasus people where I lived and they know no such road rules. Crossing the street was fun... And don't get me started on attitudes towards seat belts and children's car seats...
    - redwood 4y ago
      I noticed that you very specifically avoid talking politics. I wonder if you're blind to what authoritarianism does or just don't feel comfortable/safe speaking about it? If the latter it really does kind of prove the point doesn't it

cpursley 4y ago

> Intimately familiar So you're Russian or spent time living there? Have you visited in the past 5 years or so?

redwood 4y ago
I was there 3 years ago. It was a summer time visit to one of the medium size cities in Siberia, St Pete, and Moscow. I saw people that reminded me enormously of the US: folks absorbed by their own (very large) world and I realized how Siberia was settled at a similar time to the American west: so many parallels. The difference being the power of the federal center and the boot stomp of the authorities that are expected. The fear. People don't even cross the road when there is no traffic.
- cpursley 4y ago
  Cool, thanks for sharing. We're in agreement on some things. I also noticed the parallels with the US (people kind of in their own world). Also like Americans, Russians don't usually speak foreign languages (outside of the two big cities). But I do think they know geography and foreign events better than Americans fwiw. Regarding traffic attitudes, I think it depends. There was a lot of Caucasus people where I lived and they know no such road rules. Crossing the street was fun... And don't get me started on attitudes towards seat belts and children's car seats...
  - redwood 4y ago
    I noticed that you very specifically avoid talking politics. I wonder if you're blind to what authoritarianism does or just don't feel comfortable/safe speaking about it? If the latter it really does kind of prove the point doesn't it