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Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

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Re: Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#571

Post by eftychis »

dukoid wrote: post #461
squarefoot wrote: post #302

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Chechnya war also was very close and nobody cared since they were mostly Islamic, and the war in the former Yugoslavia happened just in the middle of Europe, but apparently many have already lost memory of it despite the atrocities committed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srebrenica_massacre

Many people also did not care about Georgia. So while cultural proximity is certainly a factor, geographical proximity seems to be a significant factor, too. I don't think Sreberenica is forgotten or was ignored in Europe. The West seems to be slow to wake up -- and Putin got high on his sequence of "successful" wars. I don't want to deny that hypocrisy exists here, but it doesn't justify Putins crimes anywhere.

Georgia and Ukraine are tightly connected in this through the same precursor events. The "West" is simply deaf. Multiple analysts had brought these concerns since before Crimea. (Disclaimer I am from the West -- trying to be objective here and focusing on the non-NATO side.)

The diplomatic relationships since Russia Federation's birth have been problematic and idiosyncratic. Russian people wanted recognition of their value. West decided to not follow similar approach with other past enemies countries -- and this was due to the cold war. Somehow Russia's "Monroe" doctrine is surprising now to us, despite all the warnings by political science and diplomats since 2014. (at least/off the top of my head: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X7Ng75e5gQ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrMiSQAGOS4&t=2893s) And our own similar reactions and actions.

It is known that Putin made multiple attempts to establish partnerships and ensure Russia was part of the West. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/04/ex-nato-head-s... I would say all sides need to take a breather and attempt an honest discussion among equals -- if it's not too late.

Re: Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#572

Post by staskus »

hnov wrote: post #438
staskus wrote: post #345

As a person living in the Baltics, I agree with Western countries using their leverage (including big tech) to put as much pressure as possiblee on Russia. We’ve been sincerely holding back and crafting sanctions that would only affect Putin’s inner circle for the last 8 years but it didn’t work. Now that the ordinary Ukrainians need to withstand the horrors of the actual war, ordinary Russians need to withstand stro…

Maybe as a person living in the Baltics you need to endure the cold and not fund the Russian war machine through natural gas. An unfortunate reality really

I agree with the notion of not relying on Russian gas. We've built liquefied natural gas terminal (https://enmin.lrv.lt/en/strategic-projects/gas-sector/liquef...) 7 years ago as Russia has been using gas as a political weapon against us constantly. We will endure what we need to endure to help Ukraine and we hope that ordinary Russians will do the same.

Re: Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#573

Post by [deleted] »

ajuc wrote: post #265
5ESS wrote: post #185

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How are sanctions going to make anybody more informed? They dont…That makes no sense. Instead of sanctions, a more effective strategy would be to provide Russians with free VPNs so that they can access western news media.

I talk with Russians on several international forums (about architecture and about gaming). Thousands of people there, a big sample. That's the younger, English-speaking generation, BTW. They believe in the propaganda mostly, celebrate the victories over "nazis" and support Putin. What happened after Crimea annexation was appealing, and now it's even worse. It's a society brainwashed into imperialism and they want re…

[deleted]

Re: Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#574

Post by adriancr »

5ESS wrote: post #169

Could I (US citizen) get in trouble for providing free VPNs to Russian nationals? Would these Russians get in trouble for using my US based VPN? I want to support Russians during this difficult time but I don’t want them to get in trouble. I disagree with sanctioning and punishing ordinary citizens for the actions of the rich and powerful 1%. Imagine how it feel being a US citizen and getting punished for Donald Trum…

> Could I (US citizen) get in trouble for providing free VPNs to Russian nationals?

Yes if they do anything illegal and it's traced to your account.

> Would these Russians get in trouble for using my US based VPN?

Maybe, depends on laws in Russia.

> I want to support Russians during this difficult time

How about Ukrainians?

Re: Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#575

Post by Moru »

rob74 wrote: post #564
Moru wrote: post #518

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If there is something left to take over. I'm affraid the young will leave russia and start a new life somewhere safe and sane. Russia is more similar to China, North Korea and some middle east areas than the west.

except China is not subject to the "brain drain" you are describing and is actually economically successful. When it comes to which regime is more repressive, I agree the difference is only in effectivity - the scale of China's oppression/brainwashing/ethnic cleansing operation in Xinjiang is really scary, I don't think Russia would be capable of organising (or financing) something like this...

Yes, sorry. I meant similarities in the regimes, not braindrain. And if there is something left to take over depends on the choices of weapons russia makes in the next few days.

Re: Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#576

Post by roca »

5350-uiop-1130 wrote: post #368
teekert wrote: post #180

This whole situation is so surreal and disappointing. I grew up on Star Trek and somehow I just though we had (almost) arrived in a post-war, federation-like world. We know things should be solved with words because otherwise there are only losers. It’s how we raise our kids. I just keep thinking about how Jean Luc is looking down on us from orbit, slowly shaking his head whispering “Savages.”

US has been blowing up afghan villagers (and kids/babies) for last 20 years. You only noticed this now?? Have you been living inside a watermelon.

The US spent many billions of dollars feeding Afghanistan, building infrastructure, educating its people, and trying to protect them (especially women) from the Taliban. It didn't work, unfortunately.

Re: Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#577

Post by 9214 »

fer wrote: post #527
9214 wrote: post #411

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In 2022: zero, unless you have relatives/friends from abroad who are willing to help. I'm mid-20s below-average Russian born and raised in a city with population of 19k (and declining), Ural region. Average salary here is around 200-300 USD, 400 if you are lucky. I emmigrated in 2019 to work with an international startup in Montenegro: and ended up being ostracized and harassed by my manager from another country (won…

> apply for PhD in EPHE institute of France [...] I got nothing in response. Well, that's hardly surprising, and it's not because you're Russian, in France it's hard to get any institution to ever reply you by mail, let alone if (I guess) you wrote to them in English. If you want to work or do a PhD in France (in English) I can offer some support and pointers for my region, you can hit me up at the email on my profil…

Thanks you, but I'm way past this — mostly because I reevaluated my stance towards academia and have a family to support here.

To clarify: I contacted one of the professors directly, whom I visited, who was aware of my background (my employee at the time introduced us and wrote an informal letter of recommendation), and who collaborated on a startup project I mentioned.

Re: Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#578

Post by fulvioterzapi »

thejackgoode wrote: post #358
fulvioterzapi wrote: post #322

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Every Russian passport holding person is responsible for this conflict. How, exactly?

To take action to end it. We are in "unstoppable force vs immovable object" situation. Putin does not have an option to lose. We don't have an option to lose the country once again. These things historically are only resolved by genocide and mass population displacement. Alternative is removing a single person from power.

This doesn’t answer my question: how is every Russian passport holder responsible for this conflict?

Responsibility is a very precisely defined concept: how are they all responsible?

Re: Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#579

Post by kilotaras »

danuker wrote: post #351
thejackgoode wrote: post #266

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Every Russian passport holding person is responsible for this conflict. The sooner they understand this, the more country remaining they will have when this will end

Why are Russian citizens without passports any less responsible?

In Russia (as well as Ukraine, Belarus and maybe some others) passport is the name of internal ID. Everyone gets it.

Passport used to travel is called foreign passport.

Re: Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#580

Post by the_duke »

mkr-hn wrote: post #8

Folks really underestimate how many economic chokepoints there are if the right people feel threatened. I think and hope most Russians know who to blame, but it only takes one person misdirecting their rage to end your life if you're there and look like a target.

True, but heavy sanctions haven't been able to destroy Irans economy. After a harsh adjustment period and an initially tanking economy the systems will adjust. And China will probably welcome Russian business with open arms.
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