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In Moscow, McDonald's packs up, radio falls silent and the brain drain begins

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Re: In Moscow, McDonald's packs up, radio falls silent and the brain drain begins

#71

Post by freeopinion »

mopsi wrote: post #42
_8j50 wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the problem is morale for russia. If they have it, they can annex ukraine like the USSR days. Chechnya fought very hard like ukraine.

The morale is such that Russia imprisons people who call this a war and any reporting other than rehashing official PR statements is banned, all independent media has been shut down. In official statements, there's only a limited "special operation" against "Neo-Nazi drug addicts" in Ukraine and it's going well, while on the ground everything's falling apart and in some sectors they've deployed rear troops that shoot…

The truth is readily available in Russia. But just like everywhere else, truth and lies are rejected or embraced regardless of how flimsy or strong they are. Human bias and other psychology can be astounding.

Re: In Moscow, McDonald's packs up, radio falls silent and the brain drain begins

#72

Post by meepmorp »

pkaye wrote: post #65
meepmorp wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe if the Soviet Union hadn't just completely collapsed, things might've been different. Or even just not having a corrupt, alcoholic clown for a president during the most critical period in Russian history since the war.

Yeltsin the predecessor was also corrupt. To protect himself when he left office, he helped Putin get into power when he resigned. Putin himself was involved in corruption in the city level in St Petersburg with the help of the mayor. Putin in turn granted Yeltsin protection from prosecutions and also covered his tracks of the corruption he was involved in St Petersburg.

Yeltsin was the alcoholic clown I referred to.

Re: In Moscow, McDonald's packs up, radio falls silent and the brain drain begins

#73

Post by Taniwha »

kizer wrote: post #3
smoyer wrote: post #2

"Has become a mall society" - And the US has spent the last 30 years abandoning or malls. When I was a teenager it was definitely the place to hang out on weekends!

The mall in my town is 75% empty, and frequented mostly by older "mall walkers" such as my father, who does four laps a day. Was still cool when I was in high school (circa 2012). I have no idea how they're still open even after COVID. Dave & Buster's was supposed to open a location there but that fell through.

I stopped going when they stopped having real book stores

Re: In Moscow, McDonald's packs up, radio falls silent and the brain drain begins

#74

Post by Taniwha »

wycy wrote: post #22
bjt2n3904 wrote: post #15

Well, we're about to find out whether or not McDonald's Peace Theory[1] is true or not. > In Thomas L. Friedman's 1999 book The Lexus and the Olive Tree,[56] the following statement was presented: "No two countries that both had McDonald's had fought a war against each other since each got its McDonald's". He supported his belief, as a theory, by stating that when a country has reached an economic development where i…

I guess the theory has already fallen through, hasn't it? Presumably both Russia and Ukraine had McDonalds.

As did Israel and Lebanon - as a meme it's been shot for a while

Re: In Moscow, McDonald's packs up, radio falls silent and the brain drain begins

#75

Post by kcb »

kevin_thibedeau wrote: post #51
TillE wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't really know anything about his personal goals - he's an old man who will probably be dead in around 10 years. But it's difficult to see how even a successful conquest of Ukraine is a positive result. Russia would have gained some territory of minimal value at the cost of crushing sanctions. There's no rational benefit, it's just the bizarre thinking that a physical buffer between Moscow and NATO is somehow he…

Imagine Hawaii declared independence and gave the US Navy a lease on Pearl Harbor. Then 30 years later entered into a defense pact with China.

That's a terrible analogy.

Re: In Moscow, McDonald's packs up, radio falls silent and the brain drain begins

#76

Post by kcb »

_8j50 wrote: post #14
beebmam wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Without full extermination of Ukrainians, I'm having a hard time believing Russia will be able to control it.

I think the problem is morale for russia. If they have it, they can annex ukraine like the USSR days. Chechnya fought very hard like ukraine.

Remember Chechnya and Grozny are a fraction of the scale that is Ukraine and its major cities.

Re: In Moscow, McDonald's packs up, radio falls silent and the brain drain begins

#77

Post by throwawayboise »

dghughes wrote: post #58
kizer wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The mall in my town is 75% empty, and frequented mostly by older "mall walkers" such as my father, who does four laps a day. Was still cool when I was in high school (circa 2012). I have no idea how they're still open even after COVID. Dave & Buster's was supposed to open a location there but that fell through.

Same for my small town mall: elderly mall walkers, multiple jewellery stores, food court, the remaining 99% of stores are devoted to teen girl clothing.

Yeah our local mall used to have a pretty diverse assortment of stores. I haven't been inside it proper in probably 10 years, except some peripheral stores that have their own outside entrances (Target, and a couple of restaurants) but last time I was in it seemed to be all clothing or cosmetics. And the air smelled like farts.

Re: In Moscow, McDonald's packs up, radio falls silent and the brain drain begins

#78

Post by quietthrow »

I sympathize with the tragic situation in both these countries for the common person. My curiousness arising out of this situation is forced me to try to understand it and it’s roots. What I found definitely changed my perspective on what to expect out of this. I went in thinking this is a pivotal moment and unsure what the future looks like. I came out sad that this is not a one off thing for the people of this land. If you look at this in the context of the last 150 years - almost every prominent leader in this land was a) never phased by the (sheer) human cost to be incurred as reason to not chase the outcome they wanted and b) the people of this land have never successfully risen up to counter the oppression they faced. Many died trying but they never had the critical mass they needed to overcome the oppression. I dot not claim to know the reason why. I am sure it’s complex but it has occurred multiple times and there is something there to be said for that.

Utterly sad and tragic. But I am no longer expecting spectacular revolt and a feel good ending. History suggests this going to go down the same way it has for a long time.

I really hope and want to be wrong on this one.

Re: In Moscow, McDonald's packs up, radio falls silent and the brain drain begins

#80

Post by VincentEvans »

kevin_thibedeau wrote: post #51
TillE wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't really know anything about his personal goals - he's an old man who will probably be dead in around 10 years. But it's difficult to see how even a successful conquest of Ukraine is a positive result. Russia would have gained some territory of minimal value at the cost of crushing sanctions. There's no rational benefit, it's just the bizarre thinking that a physical buffer between Moscow and NATO is somehow he…

Imagine Hawaii declared independence and gave the US Navy a lease on Pearl Harbor. Then 30 years later entered into a defense pact with China.

Russia must have piece at any cost, doesn’t matter how many men, women, and children it has to kill to secure it!
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