Just to add up to comments explaining why it won't work. I'm from Kazakhstan, but I'm more or less indistinguishable from Russian. Russians in Kazakhstan basically consume the same media Russia citizens do. So I can't even persuade my own relatives there that it is obvious we are bad guys right not. Not some random people, but my own mother believes TV more than me. Because it is easier to believe, it is almost impossible for us (anyone probably) that we became evil. And you can't change that by spam calls, you probably make it worse. People who can accept other opinions still have access to other sources, it is not (yet) N. Korea.
We need more protests and (sadly) more sanctions, preferably against individuals. And truth, not anti-propaganda. More coverage of current situation in cities, and less 'russian ship go f* yourself'
If you speak Russian, call Russia and tell them what is happening in Ukraine
221–230 of 233 posts
Re: If you speak Russian, call Russia and tell them what is happening in Ukraine
#222Earlier quoted context omitted.
You’re probably right, but it’s possible that the environment is such in Russia right now that this could be impactful. From what I’ve been reading and seeing, the Russian people are more willing now than ever to protest and question their government. Those who are on the fence may actually be swayed by a random call like this, but only if they are already suspicious of the information the Russian government is showi…
There is a major element of shaming and condescension here. The very act of this implies "hey, I know more than you do! what you know is less, and also false. because your government tells you wrong things, but my government tells me the truth! so let me educate you". How do you think you and the rest of the West would come across? Unless you have a personal connection with the person and managed to find common polit…
It's entirely possible that those calling Russia from abroad would learn something from the conversation as well, but I think it's that absurd to suggest that Russians (who have heavily restricted Internet and media) would be completely resistant to the idea that people calling from places without such restrictions would have information that hasn't been made available to them
Re: If you speak Russian, call Russia and tell them what is happening in Ukraine
#223Just to add up to comments explaining why it won't work. I'm from Kazakhstan, but I'm more or less indistinguishable from Russian. Russians in Kazakhstan basically consume the same media Russia citizens do. So I can't even persuade my own relatives there that it is obvious we are bad guys right not. Not some random people, but my own mother believes TV more than me. Because it is easier to believe, it is almost impos…
That's sad. BBC has an article about people in even more extreme situation.
'My city's being shelled, but mum won’t believe me'.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60600487
Re: If you speak Russian, call Russia and tell them what is happening in Ukraine
#224Earlier quoted context omitted.
Very easy for us westerners to criticize Russians for not protesting. I wonder if you'd be protesting if you lived in a place where doing so could get you killed?
Putin has been in power there for 20 years. Been attacking neighbor nations for at least 14 years, offhand. He has a clear track record. Info has been out there, and for a looooong time ordinary Russians were able to get facts, if they wished. They've had plenty of time to move away. Some have. Some chose to stay. These are the consequences of the choices they made.
Again, easy for someone who has never been in circumstances like that to judge.
Re: If you speak Russian, call Russia and tell them what is happening in Ukraine
#225Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't mean any offense, but I think it's somewhat fascinating that the idea of total war seems assumed by both your comment and the original post. Even if the US and Russia were at war, the notion that private citizens were not just involved, but obligated to contribute seems to be a remnant of the world wars. What's interesting to me is that this notion seems to have disappeared, since to my knowledge there wasn't…
I live in Europe, I am french to be more precise. I feel Russia as an existential threat right now.
Right, and I'm not saying you're wrong for feeling that way, nor am I saying that Russia isn't an existential threat. But, at the risk of over-intellectualizing the situation, I think it's worth noting that for some reason, this Ukraine-Russia conflict has brought out feelings that citizens should be prepared to fight for their country.
This, at least from an American perspective, seems to be a sentiment that comes and goes, but has only appeared in very few cases in our past. I cannot speak for the French in this case, but in general I think it's worth pointing out because you'd expect military conflicts to be resolved between militaries and their respective states - this social contract being something of the foundational idea to Western politics.
Re: If you speak Russian, call Russia and tell them what is happening in Ukraine
#226Phone call is sort term, high effort, and maybe even annoying to those pro-Russians. Just a thought: I been viewing the evidences of Russian war crimes (photograph, video) that people posted on Twitter since the very beginning of the invasion. A lot's of them are real and fact-checked. Maybe it could be a good idea to setup some sort of online and physical memorial to show the timelines of how each single innocent pe…
Russia has completely blocked the outside world. So no, that wouldn't work.
Not important.
The world will be watching the memorial as well, one of it will wake up, the Russians population or the world.
Re: If you speak Russian, call Russia and tell them what is happening in Ukraine
#227Earlier quoted context omitted.
Their country is killing thousands of innocent men, women, children, grandparents, babies etc. The West needs to prioritize on worrying about whats best for Ukraine, and saving their lives. Have more sympathy for them. Once Russia lays down arms and skidaddles back across their border perhaps we start feeling sympathy for the invaders then. What Russians need to do now is pick sides. Take a stand against Putin, or, l…
What a weird comment. Victim blaming at its finest. By the same logic Ukrainians can stop resisting and prevent WW3. Is it "Zero sympathy for evil Ukrainians wishing WW3?".
one of the most Orwellian gaslighting replies I've seen on HN to date. wow
Re: If you speak Russian, call Russia and tell them what is happening in Ukraine
#228Earlier quoted context omitted.
We could mail photos to Russians and air drop them in Ukraine where Russian forces are.
I am curious what makes people keep directing things at ordinary people in Russia. Imagine WWII, except with the world trying to shame people in Germany instead of actually fighting. We'd probably live in a world with very different history books.
> I am curious what makes people keep directing things at ordinary people in Russia. ... trying to shame ...
You know, as an Asian myself, I watched all the shit unfolded on Asian people because of the COVID-19 pandemic, I know what vigilante mobs can lead to. Russians who hated the war should suffer none of it.
However, it is important to notice the fact that most Russian supports the ongoing invasion effort (see 1). That means the "ordinary" people supports what Putin has done and they're looking for more.
You may now think "hey but that's all government propaganda". Well, an "ordinary" Russian who's not against the invasion might help or even join the invasion effort. Propaganda or not, the effect is real.
It's not about shaming, it's about providing the critical information needed before someone picked a side and locked themselves at that side.
If people ended up ashamed by this, then hey, their nation did this, maybe they Should feel ashamed.
1: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/03/08/russia-publi...
Re: If you speak Russian, call Russia and tell them what is happening in Ukraine
#229Earlier quoted context omitted.
I am curious what makes people keep directing things at ordinary people in Russia. Imagine WWII, except with the world trying to shame people in Germany instead of actually fighting. We'd probably live in a world with very different history books.
> I am curious what makes people keep directing things at ordinary people in Russia. ... trying to shame ... You know, as an Asian myself, I watched all the shit unfolded on Asian people because of the COVID-19 pandemic, I know what vigilante mobs can lead to. Russians who hated the war should suffer none of it. However, it is important to notice the fact that most Russian supports the ongoing invasion effort (see 1)…
So what would have happened if the allied powers did the same with Germans during WWII, instead of actually fighting German army?
Re: If you speak Russian, call Russia and tell them what is happening in Ukraine
#230Earlier quoted context omitted.
There is a major element of shaming and condescension here. The very act of this implies "hey, I know more than you do! what you know is less, and also false. because your government tells you wrong things, but my government tells me the truth! so let me educate you". How do you think you and the rest of the West would come across? Unless you have a personal connection with the person and managed to find common polit…
It's entirely possible that those calling Russia from abroad would learn something from the conversation as well, but I think it's that absurd to suggest that Russians (who have heavily restricted Internet and media) would be completely resistant to the idea that people calling from places without such restrictions would have information that hasn't been made available to them
You think it's absurd to suggest people react badly to condescension?
There are different ways to discuss political questions and hopefully get a thinking person to adopt your viewpoint. "Educating" them is not one.