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Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

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Re: Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#831
post #210
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would add the US did not unilaterally start the war in Iraq or Yugoslavia and definitely not the one with Japan. In the case of Japan, the US rebuilt an enemy after they attacked the US without a declaration of war and made them an ally and trading partner.

Think of Cuba. US tried to invade then imposed sanctions simply because it didn’t want Cuban allies and the fact that they were supplying them arms. US would 100% attack and invade any country in their “sphere of influence” if they felt threatened, it’s just that their soft power is better and nobody even dares to try.

That was also after Cuba nationalized its industries, many of which had US shareholders without paying them, had political purges that murdered hundreds of thousands (Che shirts celebrate a mass murderer) got in bed with the USSR and tried to put nukes on the island.

The idea that Cuba was minding its own business is laughable.

Nobody wants a psychopath neighbor on a moscow leash with nukes 90mi from their border…

Re: Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#832
post #598
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Putin launched a war against Ukraine in order to conquer it the traditional sense, ie to replace the existing government with his own government. The long term goal is for Russia to control this country's government. The wars started by the US typically have the goal of establishing a democratic government. Japan is an example of a successful outcome. Iraq has a functioning democracy now. This policy is often critici…

I wanted to live in a world you presented: benevolent power spreads the wealth around the world. Unfortunately, it is just a fairytale for little children.

So why has wealth been spread around the world during a period of US hegemony and naval dominance?

Re: Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#833
post #210

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Think of Cuba. US tried to invade then imposed sanctions simply because it didn’t want Cuban allies and the fact that they were supplying them arms. US would 100% attack and invade any country in their “sphere of influence” if they felt threatened, it’s just that their soft power is better and nobody even dares to try.

That was also after Cuba nationalized its industries, many of which had US shareholders without paying them, had political purges that murdered hundreds of thousands (Che shirts celebrate a mass murderer) got in bed with the USSR and tried to put nukes on the island. The idea that Cuba was minding its own business is laughable. Nobody wants a psychopath neighbor on a moscow leash with nukes 90mi from their border…

You're factually wrong. US tried to invade Cuba (Bay of Pigs) and then (as a result) nukes were put on the island.

I guess Russia doesn't want a neighbor on a US leash with military bases on their border either...

Re: Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#834

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.”

I relate so much to this. Star Trek shaped a lot of my world view. I wish we had more TV shows like that today.

But then, looking at some comments here cheering suffering of others and passing judgement reminds me of the episode 'encounter at far point', maybe Q was right after all.

Re: Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#835
post #154

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>It's we Russians who are fucked for the rest of our lives. I sincerely hope all this goes away as fast as possible and we all can resume our lives in peace. Including you Russians. I don't see how that can happen with Putin, but fortunately he is far from being the only person who can lead Russia.

> I sincerely hope all this goes away as fast as possible I'm thinking 10-15 years. Though I may need to adjust my estimate, because Putin doesn't have easy access to the world's best medical services anymore -- which may shorten his life expectancy.

That's bleak.

Re: Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#836
post #833

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That was also after Cuba nationalized its industries, many of which had US shareholders without paying them, had political purges that murdered hundreds of thousands (Che shirts celebrate a mass murderer) got in bed with the USSR and tried to put nukes on the island. The idea that Cuba was minding its own business is laughable. Nobody wants a psychopath neighbor on a moscow leash with nukes 90mi from their border…

You're factually wrong. US tried to invade Cuba (Bay of Pigs) and then (as a result) nukes were put on the island. I guess Russia doesn't want a neighbor on a US leash with military bases on their border either...

Yes on order of timing around nukes or when we knew of them. But fidel was a tyrant who impoverished his people.

The funniest thing was his hearse braking down and having to be pushed by his soldiers. Really summed the mans contributions…

Re: Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#837
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…

> but with the entire world openly opposed to my nation, I doubt that will ever happen. I think most people understand that this is Putin's war, not the war of the "Russian people". And many people I have spoken to in various demonstration against the war (in Germany), protested against Putin, not Russia. I did not see a single banner with "Stop Russia" - all referred directly to Putin.

The common narrative I see on tech forums since 24th Feb is this: "if various sanctions and blockings will make average Russians' life miserable enough (i.e. even more miserable than it already is), they will stand up and oppose the power they have been electing since 20-or-so years."

There are a few issues here:

1. Anyone who goes against the ruling power and stands up as a leader of opposition gets forcefully silenced and thrown into jail: the most popular example is Alexey Navalny. Simply put, there's not enough organizational force (i.e. absence of charismatic leader) to bring masses together.

2. The majority of Russians are in their 40-ies, have families, have government jobs, and won't risk losing the only source of income they have by opposing said government. One can call it cowardice, but to me, this is a basic survival instinct of a person who never knew a better world, who is facing a total collapse of daily systems he took for granted, and who stoically enjoys a ride into prolonged stagflation: e.g. right now bank rate is up to an all-time high of 20%, electronic prices rose by 30%, some industrial companies and small/mid-sized businesses are tanking [1] — and all of that after suffering thru the pandemic with the rest of the world.

3. There are no democratic elections in Russia (we call it "дерьмократия" in our patois, which roughly means "shit-o-cracy"). Our president's regime basically self-sustains itself, thanks to a deeply rooted corruption in upper circles and fake votes. A similar situation was in Montenegro from 1990 up until 2020, when the ruling party was overthrown because they couldn't buy enough support from abroad due to pandemic restrictions — and even that pales in comparison to what we have here.

4. The question is up in the air: even if all "goes well", who will come after Putin, and will they be able to fix this mess — not just in Russia, but in the countries their predecessor damaged? I don't know of any strong candidate capable of dragging us back from what is essentially imposed 90-ies and zeitgeist of post- Soviet Union collapse. It's like an existential fog of war all over the Earth.

—//—

[1]: As a case in point: England denied shipment of certain electronic components to Russia; a city-forming enterprise in my small hometown is a factory that produces fire-resistant materials and relies on these components. These materials are made from basalt, a certain type of volcanic rock abundant here in the Ural region — and this stuff (esp. when mixed up with other minerals) can be quite toxic, causing breathing problems and allergic reactions (I as a teenager had a part-time job on the factory, and had ulcers open up on my skin that contacted basalt dust particles). Basically, if something breaks there right now, no one will be able to fix it; and not only people will lose their jobs, but this may end up in a local ecological catastrophe.

By the same token, the neighboring town is Sverdlovsk-45: a closed city housing a plant producing uranium-238. Imagine if something goes boom there because of the disrupted infrastructure/supply chain. I understand that this sounds quite exaggerated — yet I cannot but keep "entertaining" myself with such thoughts since last week, all while being ashamed of myself for simply being born in this place.

Re: Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#838

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Options: Fight Flight Starve Advocating for fight is reasonable because it has the most benefit but the highest activation energy.

Starve is out of the table after Stalin used it as an atrocious instrument for mass genocide of Ucranian (and Russian) people in 1933. They remember and will not commit the same error of being passive with the new Stalin 2.0. As ugly as it sounds, "starve" there means cannibalism. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holodomor

Also, I looked at it more closely and found that Russia has become food self-sufficient in the past decade. This was likely the key fact that emboldened this invasion. The needs of the people will be met even in the event of full insulation. In fact, accelerating insulation may make taking full autocratic control easier. Few would be willing to die for a revolution if their base needs are met. This seems like a bad time to live in Russia.

Re: Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#839

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.”

Idk how anyone could get the notion we were living in world peace, that's delusional.

Re: Tell HN: If You Are in Russia

#840

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are plenty of land borders, a flight isn't necessary.

Yes go and check the distance between the border and the first "valid" Russian city, then do the same from the border to the other side. Then think about the fact that is cold now and, additionally, that the border with Europe is full of military. Now that you consider all tell me where they're supposed to go.

2 developers I'm in contact with are moving from St.Petersburg to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladikavkaz

and then to Georgia even as we speak, 1 by train, another by plane.

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