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CIA Declassified Coldwar Russian Jokes [pdf]

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Re: CIA Declassified Coldwar Russian Jokes [pdf]

#41
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't get it, could you explain it please?

The Russian guy never gave his dog anything. And yet, his methods were so tough and efficient that he taught the dog to speak and beg in human language. Could also contain a nod to the patience and unending hope of the Russians under their "stingy" government but that's likely too deep and contradicting their infinite cynicism and complete lack of faith ;)

oh haha, that's a good one!

Re: CIA Declassified Coldwar Russian Jokes [pdf]

#43
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a joke on scarcity of food etc. No (availability of) shit to eat on most days > he doesn't have to eat shit. On other days shit is available but no shovels are available > he doesn't have to eat shit because there's no shovel to measure it/eat it with. He knew this would happen because in Russia the food stores were more often than not empty and tools would be often "misplaced"/stolen.

He's asking about the training dog joke, not the American hell vs Russian hell joke.

Thank you.

Re: CIA Declassified Coldwar Russian Jokes [pdf]

#44

Best cold war "joke": https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/ReaganBe... Found from searching for more like OPs

The Soviet "joke" in response: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN5wL1nw7XA

"One official speculated, the Russian might have been drunk."

Solid bet.

Re: CIA Declassified Coldwar Russian Jokes [pdf]

#45
post #29

I like this one: An American tells a Russian that the United States is so free he can stand in front of the White House and yell, "To hell with Ronald Regan." The Russian replies, "That's nothing. I can stand in front of the Kremlin and yell, 'To hell with Ronald Regan,' too."

I like how Ronald Reagan delivers this joke: https://youtu.be/mN3z3eSVG7A?t=131

What a great find. Linked from that video, a great one on ageism in politics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z97_qDsrqgU

Reagan surely knew to carry himself in a presidential manner.

Re: CIA Declassified Coldwar Russian Jokes [pdf]

#46

These jokes aren't bad. What is the story? Are these genuine Russian jokes, or jokes inserted there by the CIA?

Inserting jokes is not that easy. A joke needs to be told in person, create laughs and get retold, go viral. Similarly there's no reliable formula for viral videos etc. And, the Russians were pissed enough and cynical enough and often drunk enough to get pleasure from creating their own. Laughing at the cruel unjust absurdity of their Situation was some of the last bit of power they had to form their narrative.

People in all countries make jokes about the problems of their society or lives, or their government or bureaucracy or businesses; you don't have to live in "cruel unjust" absurdity or be "drunk enough" to do so, or be afflicted by any other stereotype or trope.

Re: CIA Declassified Coldwar Russian Jokes [pdf]

#47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Inserting jokes is not that easy. A joke needs to be told in person, create laughs and get retold, go viral. Similarly there's no reliable formula for viral videos etc. And, the Russians were pissed enough and cynical enough and often drunk enough to get pleasure from creating their own. Laughing at the cruel unjust absurdity of their Situation was some of the last bit of power they had to form their narrative.

People in all countries make jokes about the problems of their society or lives, or their government or bureaucracy or businesses; you don't have to live in "cruel unjust" absurdity or be "drunk enough" to do so, or be afflicted by any other stereotype or trope.

...but it helps.

Re: CIA Declassified Coldwar Russian Jokes [pdf]

#49

Makes me wonder, what jokes is the CIA not declassifying? Yes, this is a call for more Russian jokes.

Brezhnev wakes up and looks out at the rising sun. He says, "Good morning, Comrade Sun!" The sun replies, "Good morning, Comrade Brezhnev!"

At noon, Brezhnev stands on a balcony at the Kremlin and looks up. "Hello, Comrade Sun! It's a fine day!" The sun replies, "Hello, Comrade Brezhnev! Yes, it's a fine day!"

Just before sunset, Brezhnev looks out and says, "Good evening, Comrade Sun!" The sun replies, "Screw you! I'm in the West now!"

Re: CIA Declassified Coldwar Russian Jokes [pdf]

#50
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't get it, could you explain it please?

The Russian guy never gave his dog anything. And yet, his methods were so tough and efficient that he taught the dog to speak and beg in human language. Could also contain a nod to the patience and unending hope of the Russians under their "stingy" government but that's likely too deep and contradicting their infinite cynicism and complete lack of faith ;)

>methods were so tough and efficient

...

>infinite cynicism and complete lack of faith

yes, the joke is basically stating that as these methods can make a dog speak then any lesser task like forcing any human to do anything what the government wants can be easily accomplished by these methods, ie. resistance is futile.

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