Jack Bragg makes GQ Magazine April 2008...

[diverboy70]

I'm not really the man to say anything about tours or agency girls, since I have never really been in to that.

I have been using some swedish dating sites before I went more east! I believe I have adequate dating skills and have done a bit of dating locally and also with Swedish girls. I just started using freepersonals.ru and bride.ru in addition to the Swedish sites

My objective have never really been to find a "Russian girl". I just live in such a small place so I am forced to look a little wider to find what I am looking for. After a failed marriage after 11 years, I am quite happy to live with my self and with my beautiful son. I got into this with the attitude that i will not settle for less.

I think what I am trying to say is that there is a lot of internatonal dating site popping up today. And I honestly think these sites in some parts attract a different kind of clientel than the tradtional "agency girl! and also different kinds of WM. National internet dating is a very common thing today, and that it will go international is a logical consequence!

Maybe it is a new trend, WM men finding RW just by chance, even if they really not were looking specifically for them in the first place I don't know?

[msmoby_ru]

After two failed K-1 attempts, I'm finding it difficult to get motivated to try again even WITH my hand "being forced." (and even that's relative)  As others have mentioned, it can be done I think, but you have to beat the bushes harder these days.  A LOT harder.  Caperone if you can find that "great wife" more power to you.  I just hope you and other newbies like you are prepared for the long, hard, expensive and no-real-end-in-sight road that lies ahead.  Most newbies I've met think they are but in the end they learn that they aren't cut out for this endeavor.  That in and of itself is ok.  It's the guys who don't listen to their instinct who inevitably run into problems.  Take it from me, I've been there.  Just recently.  TRUST YOUR INSTINCT ABOVE ALL ELSE AND IF IT'S TELLING YOU TO PULL THE D-RING AND BAIL, THEN PULL THE D-RING AND BAIL!!!!!

Hi Jerry

I'm sorry I don't know the history of both the failed K1 visas, ( you may not want to repeat the most recent story !) but I do agree that it is now getting "harder" for the guys who are still looking, and I agree the economy is one factor, but only one..

They the FSUW are are getting more "street-wise" and more of them have access to the internet at home. They see more choices. They also have resources to "filter" us, too  ...  !

I want children and that "white picked fence syndrome" thing is still playing a pretty big number somewhere inside me, so ... guess I'll try again.  The current plan is to get back on the horse and ride again around Labor Day.  Don't have time to waste and I'm not getting any younger, so...

Slow down your horses !! ... I thought the same - I was more interested in sailing and biz than a committment and was best man 8 times and had 5 God children and hit 30 - I suddenly thought - I'm getting too old - I NEEDED to find a partner and to "breed" ...  We met, whirlwind romance, she moved in within a week ( creditors were after her ass - late eighties boom, early ninties bust property speculation) married in 5 months and just about a honeymoon baby..

11 years and two kids later we were divorced... we weren't friends and hadn't been for a long time..

Doesn't matter how old you think you are - you don't sound / look "old" ! I know how old you said you are, but you DO have time... find the woman, live together, do things together and start a family when you have had fun together..

DO NOT feel you must have kids - and find a woman who thinks her time is runnning out, too .... sounds so obvious, huh? Find the woman, live a little, THEN ...well you know

There was some JERK from the UK in Tver last November. 

He'd be a "wanker", then ..

He was pissing and moaning around the office about how none of the women liked him.  When I tried to speak with him a bit to give him a Western ear to bend I quickly learned why: "...none of them even have big tits..." sheesh!  I was done, game over.  He left a few days later.  I felt sorry for the women who met him.  'Point being that maybe wastes-of-space like that will stop going, that'd be the good news.

YUP, amazing how one bloke ( guy) will smear us all       ... did he have a pointy nose and big ears .. Anastassia might know him

I have been going to Russia purposely to avoid the FLOOD of guys going to Ukraine.  Am I missing something?  I can't imagine that times are THAT tough in Kharkov....eh, it can't be serious.

Altough I've said " you go where the woman is that you find most appealing" ... I think you are correct in your assertion.... I would never have considered Siberia - but I'm SOoo glad I changed my "rules".. but it was to visit ONE woman...  my wife wrote to me - I had looked at her photo and thought too far, doesn't speak good enough English and nearly 10 years younger..

There are lots of places not so "over-fished"... so to speak. Most WM don't even get on the plane, and won't consider to go so far... you'll already have the head start .. you are on the right track !


Something that hasn't been mentioned here .. talking of "jerks" ... many FSUW women find that their "keyboard romeos" are often married men !!.. another reason why many of them are jaded with WM..?!

Internet savvy FSUW is now enjoying their own social networking sites..

  My wife first joined  http://www.vkontakte.ru ( a facebook / myspace equiv ) ... and then graduated to http://www.odnoklassniki.ru - a site for locating old school chums ..( Lily , I remember your thoughts about this site..not so good.. ! )

I asked my Wife if she minded if I tried to join  .... I wanted to test out my Russian language skills and to search for her  - she offered to invite me, but I wanted to do it the hard way !! One needs to know a lot of info to FIND someone, ( school, age, as well as first name, last name and city ) but not to post one's own profile, and you'll be "found" ... Lily, no-one actually wrote to me - I had placed lot's of shots that made it clear I was "off the market", but lot's of kind ladies gave me 5 / 5 for the wedding photos 


.. WM still obviously have some appeal - even "old gits" like me  ... so, Guys, learn enough Russian to shorten your odds of success in a "competitive" market...  !

I think that if a woman takes your search seriously, you can have success - I just think some guys don't come across as serious....  who don't try to learn about the culture, the language, the history.. before a visit ... I'm not saying that about you, av8or1 .. I think you will find what you seek, if you have learnt  by your mistakes / failures ..

Wishing you good luck.

[Jack]

Hey all, was just told by someone on xyz Russian discussion board that someone was taking cheap shots at me. Thought I would drop in to see what was being said. I see now it is only Jerry, shouldn't have wasted my time but as I am here might as well respond. 

  Heck my experiences, more than the article, are making me think twice about going again, though I probably will. [/quote




Hell Jerry, with your experiences why would you even consider going again?

  it focuses on men who do the tours.  Such men have a few screws loose in my mind.  [/quote




Yes, typical thinking from you Jerry. And what about the several men who post on RWD who found wonderful wives from a tour?  They all have a few screws loose as well?  I can see you now stuttering to answer,..... "well, well,...not all guys of course, I didn't say all guys, just most.  The few good guys here are the exception".....

Sure Jerry.

You have not been the first to make such a similar statement. One moderator here has said the same in so many words in that men who meet and marry women from tours are much like you Jerry in that they are losers.  I know of at least eleven men, good men, who post on RWD who are happily married and who met their wife from one of my tours alone. I'm sure their are more married couples here who met their wife's from other tour providers as well.  One of the long time posters on RWD has been married for almost 9 years. Yep, 9 years. He met his wife from our first tour.  He's been married several years more than the hypocritical moderator who made such a post.  But this is very much the type of things this mod writes, and then later on after he realizes he has made an ass out of himself again with some particular statements, he, with help, deletes his statements from the RWD archives.

Imagine you are one of these many good men here who married a woman from one of the group tours. Your being called a loser, you have a few screws missing.  Not one of these men has ever said a word about these comments. Maybe they are embarrassed, I know I would be. They are being labeled by the likes of (1) RWD's greatest hypocrite and by (2) a loser like you Jerry.

   And I've met Jack in person a few times but was never impressed. 

Please, do not flatter yourself Jerry. YOU have met me a few times?   One time Jerry, you met me one time while I was meeting and talking with Kevin Hayes in Kherson.  I can promise after meeting you the first time I would have no reason, or desire, to ever met you a second time. Now if your saying you were sitting elsewhere at the same restaurant or outside cafe that I was at and your considering that as meeting me, well, only in your fairy tale mind would that be considered a meeting.

It became quite evident very quickly after meeting you for the first, and last time, talking with people with Khersongirls, and talking to Svetlana, you were/are a loser. A man spending 1-1.5 years chasing after a woman who has absolutely no interest in you and your the only one who cannot see it. Talk about a waste of time, energy, effort and money.  And YOU give advice!   And then after you realize this woman has NO interest in you, Ukraine is bad, you go to Tver and one of the first women you meet, you fall in love with. Yep, nothing slow about you Jerry, this is the one you want, she's the one for you. Even after some posters from RWD try to caution you, ask if you were moving to fast,...no, Jerry knows what he is doing. Well Jerry doesn't know schit. What has happened to you and your Tver lady has again turned out to be a large waste of time, effort, money. You are a desperate man Jerry. Desperate men do desperate things and will always try to put the blame elsewhere. You are desperate to find any nice looking Russian woman who will have anything to do with you and the first one who does, the first to show any affection or interest, you'll take her.  You are the type Texan that embarrasses most of us Texans as we look at your actions and just shake our heads.

All newbies, including Caperone, should understand that most of the quotes those guys in that article were throwing out there are not correct.

Oh, is that so?   Well, this should be an interesting reply from someone with your expertise. Would you be so kind as to point out all the quotes that are incorrect?  Shouldn't be a problem for someone who has been as successful, or as knowledgeable, as you.  Please Jerry, for the newbies, can you point out all the quotes you know are not correct.   

If there's one thing my trips have taught me it's that women are women are women everywhere.

Well, we'll have to just agree to disagree with that statement of yours. I think one analogy is we could consider all women as fruit. American women would be apples, Russian/Ukraine women would be oranges. Their both from the fruit family, but as different as apples are to oranges. If you think that American women are the same as Russian/Ukraine women, you have learned very little, which I suspect anyway.

you should be aware that it's difficult, incredibly so, to find what most of us are searching for: devotion, loyalty, faithfulness and reliability/trustworthiness.

And these are Jerry's words.  In reality "most" Russian/Ukraine women are faithful, loyal, devoted wife's. The percentage of good Russian/Ukraine women will be much higher than what we would find in American women, and of course this is only my opinion, which is completely opposite of what Jerry is trying to lay on you.

Men like Jerry who make their claims about it being incredibly difficult to find loyal, faithful, reliable, trustworthy and devoted Russian/Ukraine women are making their assumption based on a very small percentage of Russian women they have met, mostly agency women. Sure their are many good agency women, but here is where you also have a high percentage of "bad" or insincere Russian/Ukraine women. And to a great degree foreign men have helped a lot in the tainting of what were good women to now questionable women. But get away from the agency women and you will find a great percentage of good, wonderful, loyal, faithful, reliable, trustworthy Russian/Ukraine women.

A good Russian/Ukraine woman will NEVER cheat on you.  As in all societies you are going to have your percentage of bad people, both men and women. Ukraine, Russia is no different, but the percentage of these bad Russian/Ukraine women is much less than what we see and experience from the majority of American women.  Unless of course your one of those who believe their is no difference between Russian/Ukraine women and American women.

My own circumstances pretty much force my hand into going back (I don't want a woman who already has children and that takes out SO many local possibilities) or else, to be quite open, I probably wouldn't.

With your track record, why don't you try Asian women, or Latin women Jerry?  Is anyone forcing you to continue looking for a Russian bride? Most the Russian women I know would prefer your type to look elsewhere. 

  I'm finding it difficult to get motivated to try again even WITH my hand "being forced."

I'm sorry, I must have missed it, I do not understand  "who" is forcing you to pursue a Russian woman?

  it can be done I think, but you have to beat the bushes harder these days.  A LOT harder.

It's called work Jerry, and many men are successful, wonder why you are not?  It's called working hard to find many ladies you have a real and sincere interest in, and they have a real and sincere interest in you, and meeting all these ladies in a short period of time. On average one out of seven ladies who you feel a real and sincere interest in will have the potential chemistry to warrant a second, third meeting. But with you Jerry, you look at one, two, three ladies and say  "you'll do, do you like me? Great, let's date and then get married."  Signs of a desperate man.

The smart men today are not having such a great problem in finding good Russian women. The dumb men, or as Jerry earlier referred to, those with a few screws loose, are not doing well, like Jerry.

  TRUST YOUR INSTINCT ABOVE ALL ELSE AND IF IT'S TELLING YOU TO PULL THE D-RING AND BAIL, THEN PULL THE D-RING AND BAIL!!!!! 

Well, well, well, that just goes to show everyone that even a broken clock is correct once a day. Jerry has stated something factual.

[KenC]

Hey Jack!
How's it hangin, big guy?  Haven't heard from you here lately.

I have some questions for you, if you don't mind.  You say that there is a lot (11?) members here that met on tours.  In all the time I have been posting on these forums, I have asked and asked for people to step forward that married after meeting on a tour and I think I got only one person step forward.  Sorry, but I do not even remember who that was now.

Now, Jack, you know I love ya, but do you mind substantiating that number with some names?  It just runs contrary to what I have come to understand.  BTW, I do not look down my nose at how anyone met.  It is what you did after you met that is important.
KenC

[Admin]

But this is very much the type of things this mod writes, and then later on after he realizes he has made an ass out of himself again with some particular statements, he, with help, deletes his statements from the RWD archives.

Jack,

I know you have a burr under your saddle - but this kind of crap is just plain false. There is no-one deleting anything from the RWD archives, unless it is me - and I don't have the time, nor the interest, in doing anything of the sort.

Jack - you need to get over it. I cannot, and will not, allow this kind of garbage.

- Dan

[Voyageur]

Hey Jerry,

I don't post here much anymore, but my wife and I still remember flying to Moscow on the same flight out of JFK as you a year or two back.  You were headed for Tver and my family enjoyed your company very much during our brief time together. 

Although others have stated their opinions on this thread, I wanted to tell you that in my opinion you are a class act and would make fine husband material for the right FSU woman. I urge you to continue your search even though you have had to endure some heartache along the way.  You struck me as a level headed and sincere guy and as others have also said - it is really somewhat of a numbers game and crapshoot out there. You know what to look for now.  You have paid your dues - use your hard-won knowledge and instincts to find the happiness that is waiting for you. Allot of this is pure luck in who you meet.

Safe way during your trip and good luck to you Jerry.

[UTRO]

Jerry, although I'm a relative Newbie here, I'm not in the whole scheme of things... Don't take this as advice to you. More so the advice I gave to myself after Personal failure....

My RW Criteria

1. Good to Fluent in English.
2. A Woman over 27.
3. A Woman with College/University Education.
4. A Woman with a Good Career.
5. A Woman who has Travelled outside of Russia.
6. Lives and grew up in a regional City vs the Big Three

Why? An RW who comprehends the English language will Understand You. There is much less or no need for Interpretation therefore there is less Misinterpretation! A Woman over 27 who has an Education and a Career is likely to be much more Mature and is therefore looking for the same. She has 'sowed her wild oats' as it were. The majority of Women over 27, from cities, were born and grew up during the Soviet Era when Higher Education was the norm. I feel that todays younger RW are more often without Education and simply don't know what they want in life and therefore are to be avoided!! An RW with a Career that pays well isn't on a Dating Site to play games. She doesn't need Financial Security... she has it. She is more likely seeking a Man who is Loyal, Strong, Respectful, Devoted, Honest and Mature in his ways. Somebody she can rely on, somebody who Loves her and only her. An RW who has visited or lived outside of Russia has a better idea of the Cultural Differences and thus will better handle the initial shock of moving to the West. She has a better idea of what to expect and therefore is better prepared. Why from a more Regional Centre/City?? Less spoiled 
Of course you can't say that this and only this, is 100%!! Of course you have to also find a Woman who can accept all of your little and BIG, issues! But, for me, this was a Good starting point. After that things aren't so 'Textbook' perfect..... She has to be Special..... and She Is! 

Good Luck Jerry

[OlgaH]

I feel that todays younger RW are more often without Education and simply don't know what they want in life and therefore are to be avoided!!

You can look it here 

Today young people are more often with Education than it was during the Soviet time 

[OlgaH]

According to the census 2002:

Total urban population:
Males (age 20-39)  - 15818346

Females (age 20-39) - 16126887

____________________________________

Higher Education:

Males (age 20-24) - 484971 / Females (age 20-24) - 686081

Males (age 25-29) - 865233 / Females (age 25-29) - 1124939

Males (age 30-34) - 792249 / Females (age 30-34) - 1024930

Males (age 35-39) - 839086 / Females (age 35-39) - 1071906

___________________________________
Total rural population:
Males (age 20-39)  - 5218324

Females (age 20-39) - 4968581

___________________________________

Higher Education:

Males (age 20-39) - 393671  / Females (age 20-39) - 515901




 



 

[UTRO]

You can look it here 

Today young people are more often with Education than it was during the Soviet time 

Thanks for the Stats Olga! Unless I am seeing something wrong, what I stated is indeed True about Women who "Grew Up", during Soviet Rule...... especially those at the 'Tail End'. I said, "Grew Up". Meaning those having Soviet influence through the Elementry and Senior School years, before University. According to the Stats, there is a Huge drop in Higher Educated Males and Females 20-24 compared to those 25-29. Take into consideration that the Census is 6 years old. Those 20-24 year olds are now 26-30 and the 25-29 year olds are now 31-36!
My observation wholly comes from Dating Sites. Case in point is Elena's Models where I met Lana. It seems that a Majority of Woman under 25 who place their Profile on this Site are working as clerks and sales associates, rather than going to University... I don't mean to be judgemental and I don't pretend to be an expert on the life of a single Russian Woman. It just seems to me that many more young RW are choosing to work, rather than pursuing an Education, than say even 10 years ago.

 

[msmoby_ru]

Jerry, although I'm a relative Newbie here, I'm not in the whole scheme of things... Don't take this as advice to you. More so the advice I gave to myself after Personal failure....

My RW Criteria

1. Good to Fluent in English.
2. A Woman over 27.
3. A Woman with College/University Education.
4. A Woman with a Good Career.

This could also mean you'll have a VERY hard job to get her to risk it all, and start from scratch outside Russia!

5. A Woman who has Travelled outside of Russia.
6. Lives and grew up in a regional City vs the Big Three

Why? An RW who comprehends the English language will Understand You. There is much less or no need for Interpretation therefore there is less Misinterpretation! A Woman over 27 who has an Education and a Career is likely to be much more Mature and is therefore looking for the same. She has 'sowed her wild oats' as it were. The majority of Women over 27, from cities, were born and grew up during the Soviet Era when Higher Education was the norm. I feel that todays younger RW are more often without Education and simply don't know what they want in life and therefore are to be avoided!! An RW with a Career that pays well isn't on a Dating Site to play games. She doesn't need Financial Security... she has it. She is more likely seeking a Man who is Loyal, Strong, Respectful, Devoted, Honest and Mature in his ways. Somebody she can rely on, somebody who Loves her and only her. An RW who has visited or lived outside of Russia has a better idea of the Cultural Differences and thus will better handle the initial shock of moving to the West. She has a better idea of what to expect and therefore is better prepared. Why from a more Regional Centre/City?? Less spoiled 
Of course you can't say that this and only this, is 100%!! Of course you have to also find a Woman who can accept all of your little and BIG, issues! But, for me, this was a Good starting point. After that things aren't so 'Textbook' perfect..... She has to be Special..... and She Is! 

Good Luck Jerry

Sound advice for a guy wearing his heart on his sleeve

[UTRO]

This could also mean you'll have a VERY hard job to get her to risk it all, and start from scratch outside Russia!

Exactly Mark! A "hard job" indeed!! My point is that if she has all these 'qualifications', still wants a Relationship with a Foreign Man and is ready to take the Risk.... her motivation will be more likely based on seeking a Soulmate rather than a Sugardaddy She does indeed have much more to Risk leaving Russia than an RW who's life in Russia is without direction and a stability.
One other thing I looked out for.... a woman who wrote in her Profile that she was seeking a man who could Support her Financially and openly described herself as Attractive and Beautiful.

[KenC]

Mark,
I know that Russian media has been doing a good job of "dogging" America lately, but it is really that much different than before?  America did not have such a good rep back 1o years ago when I met Lena either.  Maybe some of the RW members can fill us in on the subject?  Was there ever a time when America wasn't "dogged" by Russian media? :noidea:
KenC

[KenC]

Exactly Mark! A "hard job" indeed!! My point is that if she has all these 'qualifications', still wants a Relationship with a Foreign Man and is ready to take the Risk.... her motivation will be more likely based on seeking a Soulmate rather than a Sugardaddy She does indeed have much more to Risk leaving Russia than an RW who's life in Russia is without direction and a stability.
One other thing I looked out for.... a woman who wrote in her Profile that she was seeking a man who could Support her Financially and openly described herself as Attractive and Beautiful.

Utrobina,
Sorry dude, but isn't the highlighted portion the "deal" made since the beginning of time?
KenC

[UTRO]

Utrobina,
Sorry dude, but isn't the highlighted portion the "deal" made since the beginning of time?
KenC

Maybe so Ken, maybe so

[msmoby_ru]

Exactly Mark! A "hard job" indeed!! My point is that if she has all these 'qualifications', still wants a Relationship with a Foreign Man and is ready to take the Risk.... her motivation will be more likely based on seeking a Soulmate rather than a Sugardaddy She does indeed have much more to Risk leaving Russia than an RW who's life in Russia is without direction and a stability.

Understand I was thinking of a woman who might be in a senior positions - say a Doctor in chage of a research labs, who has to start at the bottom of the rung in the US as her qualifications meant nothing...or a women who has built up her own biz !

One other thing I looked out for.... a woman who wrote in her Profile that she was seeking a man who could Support her Financially and openly described herself as Attractive and Beautiful.

Me too - how fast can you run

[msmoby_ru]

Mark,
I know that Russian media has been doing a good job of "dogging" America lately, but it is really that much different than before? 

IMHO, it is getting worse - there was a time when the USA and the west were seen as old enemies, now friends - in the spirit of co-operation... then as Mr Putin - asserted his Premiership and the media lost it's "balance" -it seemed that the USA, and Britain became the old enemy, again...

I guess you get "Russia Today" - when Kosovo was recognised by the big nations in the west - the media so was full of vitreol - anti-Slav conspiracy, blah, blah... We had to turn the TV off as Russian speaking friends in Cyprus would "go off on one" about the US, UK, EU's "double standards".

I work with Russians and it is a hard job to get them to focus as they wish to discuss the latest "anti-Russian" act .. We now set aside an evening a month to put the world to rights and our wives can laugh at us

[OlgaH]

Thanks for the Stats Olga! Unless I am seeing something wrong, what I stated is indeed True about Women who "Grew Up", during Soviet Rule...... especially those at the 'Tail End'. I said, "Grew Up". Meaning those having Soviet influence through the Elementry and Senior School years, before University.

You are welcome.  Another interesting fact that according to the report by the Center of demography and ecology of Russian Academy of Sciences the education level of women during the Soviet time always was more lower than the education level of men, and after 1989 the situation started to change.

My observation wholly comes from Dating Sites. Case in point is Elena's Models where I met Lana. It seems that a Majority of Woman under 25 who place their Profile on this Site are working as clerks and sales associates, rather than going to University... I don't mean to be judgemental and I don't pretend to be an expert on the life of a single Russian Woman. It just seems to me that many more young RW are choosing to work, rather than pursuing an Education, than say even 10 years ago.

I also have noticed that the number of women with a college degree (it is the easiest degree to obtain in Russia - primary professional or secondary professional) predominates over the number of women with a higher degree on the dating websites. I think it can be explained with the following suppositions: women with a college degree on dating websites rely on the future support by their future husbands; also a lack of finances to obtain a higher degree and I think there are some other circumstances.     

[UTRO]

I also have noticed that the number of women with a college degree (it is the easiest degree to obtain in Russia - primary professional or secondary professional) predominates over the number of women with a higher degree on the dating websites. I think it can be explained with the following suppositions: women with a college degree on dating websites rely on the future support by their future husbands; also a lack of finances to obtain a higher degree and I think there are some other circumstances.     

Absolutely Olga!   There's a lot of Grey between the Black and White 

[UTRO]

Me too - how fast can you run

Pretty Fast!! I learned the hard way.... The only way I know how, by my own mistakes rather than taking advice 

[OlgaH]

There's a lot of Grey between the Black and White 

Agree 

[Blues Fairy]

Maybe some of the RW members can fill us in on the subject?  Was there ever a time when America wasn't "dogged" by Russian media? :noidea:

Perhaps in the late 80s - early 90s when Gorby was going to talks with Reagan and then Bush; Russian media was liberated and enjoyed unthinkable, by today's standards, freedom of speech, and information about the West started pouring in from all imaginable sources.  Russians were quite enamoured of USA.

Speaking of today's Russia, one has to bear in mind that the media is completely under the control of the State and those Russians for whom TV is the key source of information will most likely hold very biased views.   All the more sense in looking for English-speaking, internet-savvy, critically thinking women who are actually able to examine various sources and form an independent opinion.   

[KenC]

Blues Fairy,
Thank you for your insight.  In your opinion, is the negative media reports on America getting worse or just as bad as before?  I understand that this is a completely subjective opinion, but I am still curious as to what your's is on the subject.
KenC

[Blues Fairy]

In your opinion, is the negative media reports on America getting worse or just as bad as before? 

My impression is that the attitude has been consistently bad since the bombing of Serbia, with a brief compassionate respite following 9/11.  Since Putin came to power, Russia started to muscle up and try to regain its global influence.  Naturally, USA became the bad guy, especially as our interests clashed in the Middle East, and then Russia's very own bullying of Estonia caused so much criticism.  The current situation reminds me a little bit of the cold war times, though without the iron curtain - but the amount of mutual thrashing in the media is almost as great.   I believe, in some ways Russian political establishment gravitates toward the 3rd world countries in its attitude toward the dominant capitalist nation.  Moderately hostile yet formally courteous, and sometimes utilitarian.

[KenC]

BF,
Thanks again for sharing your viewpoints here.  They are helpful in understanding many things and are in line with mine too.  I get almost daily doses of feedback from Lena's Mom back in Russia.  But it hasn't seemed to change much over the last 10 years.  I am always amazed by the quantity of American news that is broadcasted to the Russian public.  Sometimes my MIL is asking questions about events in America that we here do not even know about.
KenC