Curious about the mood in Russia

[sudz]

This is directed at the current residents of Russia or the ones recently in touch with one:  what is the general mood of the Russian people?

I know the stock market is flailing, then there was that whole Georgian thing.  Also the missile shield in Poland and the wary eye turned toward developments in the Ukraine.

Would a WM even be received well in Russia?  I know that there are many Russians representing a wide variety of opinions and views on the current status of the county, but what I'm asking for is the most common "man on the street" view, if there is one.

Thanks,
- sudz

[groovlstk]

I can respond only on the basis of my wife's family. The day after the Georgia thing she received phone calls from her family asking if she was "safe" in the US. From reading reports of threats from the US government, they thought Russian expats here might be singled out for ridicule or violence. A friend of ours living here, a RW married to a RM, postponed her vacation to Samara because she thought the US might not let her back in the country out of retaliation. 

The Russian media is very good at whipping up nationalist fervor by creating the impression that Americans hate Russia. The irony is that such feelings exist among non-Russians in places like Prague, Vilnius, and Krakow.

[Blues Fairy]

If a WM carefully chooses his circle of communication and takes care not to run into aggressive morons, he will be received quite fine.  As a result of TV propaganda, many Russians are quite PO'd at America's support of Georgia, but if they are not complete idiots they will not project this attitude toward ordinary US citizens.

As for the general mood, those who understand the extent of corruption in Russia and the long-term implications of the current economic policies tend to be rather pessimistic.  The rest of the brainwashed population is upbeat and supportive of the government. 

[Gtex]

BF:
Succinct summation... as usual, clear and to the point and I agree with your view.

[Ade]

I asked my girlfriend your questions and she in turn asked a customer of her mother's that happen to be there at the moment (she's a seamstress, a very talented one too I might add ).

I'll paraphrase; the consensus is that Russians tend to treat foreigners better than they treat other Russians. They also see that there are many Americans that disagree with the current government's foreign polices and don't judge all people by them. Also, people are waiting to see what happens with the economy and with the "Georgian thing" - no real changes in attitudes really, certainly no pessimism.

This is from Arkhangelsk on the White Sea so views elsewhere may vary I guess.

I was there for a couple of weeks at the end of August/beginning of September and felt very welcome. I didn't get any bad vibes from anyone - I'm British but my accent is fairly muted after living abroad for 20 years so I could have been from anywhere as far as people were concerned.

I also didn't get any "doom and gloom" feelings while I was there either. There were also many building and renovation projects active in the city and from the consumer electronics shops I saw there didn't seem to be a lack of money and/or credit around.

One thing though; FSUW seem to be far more interested in finding a partner in Western Europe these days so I think that Americans may not be as "well received" in the dating sense as they once were. This can probably be attributed to many factors.

[BC]

What RU TV channel are y'all watching?

[I/O]

The rest of the brainwashed population is upbeat and supportive of the government. 

LOL..!! Bullseye..!! Care to put a % on that?

I/O

[Blues Fairy]

LOL..!! Bullseye..!! Care to put a % on that?
I/O

No.   I get this impression from the forums I read and the Russian news websites' message boards.

[Fashionista]

I know the stock market is flailing, then there was that whole Georgian thing.  Also the missile shield in Poland and the wary eye turned toward developments in the Ukraine.

Would a WM even be received well in Russia?  I know that there are many Russians representing a wide variety of opinions and views on the current status of the county, but what I'm asking for is the most common "man on the street" view, if there is one.

Thanks,
- sudz

I overslept that whole stock market crash horrible tragedy (and still don't care, although it may have been my fault, the missile shield too), and I haven't been living in Russia for a while, so I am not the best person to ask for an opinion.  However, I think that all these news worthy events hardly affect lives of the vast majority of Russian people.  My guess is that nothing changed, and as usual WM will be looked at with friendly curiosity, but not necessarily considered a marriage prospect.

[Lily]

This is directed at the current residents of Russia or the ones recently in touch with one:  what is the general mood of the Russian people?

I know the stock market is flailing, then there was that whole Georgian thing.  Also the missile shield in Poland and the wary eye turned toward developments in the Ukraine.

Would a WM even be received well in Russia?  I know that there are many Russians representing a wide variety of opinions and views on the current status of the county, but what I'm asking for is the most common "man on the street" view, if there is one.

Thanks,
- sudz

sudz,s

Many Russians have no idea on the stock market. Lily including.
On Georgia I know only very general thing, that there is a war there, and that President Saakashvili does somehow less than good. If there would be a war right in Moscow, probably I would tell you different things.
I don' think I ever heard of the Poland and Ukraine issues that you mentioned.

Now would you tell me how on earth all that is correlated with WM coming to Russia??

This is from one educated RW from the street

[sudz]

Now would you tell me how on earth all that is correlated with WM coming to Russia??

This is from one educated RW from the street

Many of us from the US get targeted for US policies when traveling abroad.  I've one friend who installs air simulators around the world and has resorted to a blanket policy of saying "I don't want to hear it" because he is confronted so often with the native's criticism.

I've searched for the link on this one but can't find it but I remember reading about an American teacher in New Zealand who got his house vandalized with anti-American slogans a few years ago. Similar stories abound.

I'm not questioning Russia's hospitality; I'm just seeing if there's a hefty anti-American sentiment brewing over there.  Is it high enough that a visitor could feel it?

[roykirk]

I've never experienced it in Russia, but I have experienced such sentiment in Europe.  It's one of the reasons I stated in a different thread that I'm often ashamed to admit I'm an American (and I do everything I can to avoid it).  I'm to the point where I'm almost ready to claim I'm Canadian.  My reasons are two-fold.  First, I'm indeed embarrassed by the actions of my country around the world.  Second, it can be downright dangerous to admit you're an American in some circumstances.  It used to be that people could separate the people from the politics.  Some of them don't make that distinction anymore.  During a trip to Europe several years ago, I started getting an earful from a local about American policies.  I simply gave him my standard line, "Hey, you're preaching to the choir, I didn't vote for the idiot."  The guy smiled and relented and we had a nice conversation.  Two years ago in Italy, however, it had changed.  I was in a pub when another local began questioning American policies.  I tried my line again, but the response this time was an angry, "Well, maybe you didn't vote for him, but over half of you idiots did and now look what's happened!"  Suddenly the anger was directed at an American in general, regardless of his political affiliations.  That was new to me, and it frightened the hell out of me to think that this is how far our reputation has fallen.

But again, I haven't seen it yet in Russia, but I feel it won't be long if the average Russian keeps eating up the propaganda like so many of our people eat up Fox News.  Even my fiancee' questioned me about why America was helping Georgia kill Russian "peacekeepers."  I asked her where she heard such a thing.  She said Putin was on the news saying that they had found the passport of an American spy in Georgia, which proved we instigated the whole thing.     I finally convinced her that she can't believe what she hears on Russian television (just like Americans shouldn't believe what they hear on American TV).  I'm a firm believer in the BBC for impartial news, and now I have a convert in my fiancee.  Unfortunately a lot of Russians don't go that far to understand world events.

[Misha]

She said Putin was on the news saying that they had found the passport of an American spy in Georgia, which proved we instigated the whole thing.    

Yes, that passport that was reported lost several years ago by an English teacher: he had lost it on the plane flying from Moscow to the United States. The same English teacher who was in China IIRC at the time of the war (it was proven beyond a doubt that it was impossible for him to have been physically in Georgia at the time of the war).

[Shadow]

Yes, that passport that was reported lost several years ago by an English teacher: he had lost it on the plane flying from Moscow to the United States. The same English teacher who was in China IIRC at the time of the war (it was proven beyond a doubt that it was impossible for him to have been physically in Georgia at the time of the war).

Oh sure... the CIA never uses false passports. 
Note: don't take this serious.

[groovlstk]

Quite frankly, it's rude and uncouth for anyone to make rude comments to tourists based on their government's behavior. For decades I've seen tourists from all over the world clogging up the sidewalks in Manhattan and have never once witnessed an American making rude comments to anyone (unless they were blocking the sidewalk  ) based on their country's politics.

I expect the same when I travel yet haven't always seen it, and the irony is that the same people who behave so rudely like to think of themselves as more evolved and more progressive than Americans.

[Shadow]

Quite frankly, it's rude and uncouth for anyone to make rude comments to tourists based on their government's behavior. For decades I've seen tourists from all over the world clogging up the sidewalks in Manhattan and have never once witnessed an American making rude comments to anyone (unless they were blocking the sidewalk  ) based on their country's politics.

I expect the same when I travel yet haven't always seen it, and the irony is that the same people who behave so rudely like to think of themselves as more evolved and more progressive than Americans.

You will not find people making comment on the sidewalks. But in bars after some drinks it can be a different story 
I doubt that the people condemning Russia, North Korea or Iraq would when confronted with a citizen of those countries would not, given a certain level of alcohol, questions their politics.

[BC]

A little bit of humility will instantly dissolve all hostility. - this just IMHE.

[roykirk]

Oh sure... the CIA never uses false passports. 
Note: don't take this serious.

 

We actually had a long debate about this.  It was quite humorous, albeit infuriating for me at the time. 

Oksana:  Putin says on the TV they found a passport of one of your spies that helped kill our peacekeepers.
Roy:  Really?  How do you suppose they know it is from a spy?
Oksana:  I'm sure they have a way of knowing.
Roy:  Do you suppose they just call up the U.S. and say, "This is General Smirnoff.  We found an American passport in Georgia the other day, and we were just sort of wondering if you could tell us if this guy is a spy or not."
Oksana:  Now you're just making a joke.  I only know what they tell me on the television!

It was at this point I was able to make the connection for her about how the media will tell the lemmings what they want them to believe.   

[MarinaM]

I am new here, and visiting the USA right now. My boyfriend and I have been traveling around the country for 3 weeks and preparing to return to St Petersburg next week.
The night of Georgia's attack we were all watching it on TV, and there was a sudden patriotic fervor that swept the streets. We all went out late at night walking in the city center and hundreds of people were milling around talking about the sudden events., The younger men were emotional and proclaiming they were going to enlist in the army to help defend Russia.
That was the only time my American boyfriend and I ever watched TV since I gave my TV away several years ago. I get my news from the internet and journals.
We were all disappointed that Russia's attempts to have the UN have meetting over the attacks were blocked by England and the US. That is when our president ordered the Russian 58th Army to cross into South Ossetia to defend our peacekeepers and civilians.

What followed in the days after was a steady series of threats toward Russia, with the US claiming Russia invaded Georgia. That upset everyone that President Bush would lie so much about us.
No one I have talked with feels as safe now as a few months ago, with the military build up in Georgia that is starting and the missile system going into Poland that has no other possible purpose than to encircle Russia militarily.
There is a lot of talk of inceasing the size and strength of the army to protect us from these increased threats. Although Bush is not trusted and feared in Russia and Europe, we also think we are lucky Georgia did what it did before John McCain was president or else we know full war would be the only result.
 
The threats to block our joining the WTO were accepted by us so we now do not even want to be part of that group now. We don't need it, we are a good customer for Asia and Europe and they are good customers of ours as it is. We need nothing from the US, we don't buy much of anything from the USA except movies and CDs.
The isolation Bush is threatening will actually be better for Russia, Europe is too dependent on Russia as a major customer and profitable investment opportunity, and supplier of resources to ever cut that off. Our alliances with China and India are strong for economic cooperation and defense.
Although Russia does not wish it, the US is creating a new cold war. Russia I am proud to say is ignoring it and is acting like a more mature state.
The stock market, like the RTS index fell right after the Georgian attack but has regained a lot and our modest investments are doing fine. We are customers of a fund that has doubled in our holding in the last 18 months.
I would have to say the military threats are a major concern but the optimism with the economy, increasing options and rapidly increasing salaries and values of our homes is causing most people to be very hopeful for the future. My boyfriend and I are pretty much "middle class", both work for ourselves and have little to complain about. I make more than he does but he does not speak Russian so that can be expected.

I work with visitors all the time since I am a tour guide in the summer and do not think I've seen anyone embarrassed or made to feel uncomfortable about being a foreigner while in Russia. We welcome everyone, that is our nature.
Many visitors are not familiar with other cultures so say some strange things and have ignorant opinions but after a few days of hospitality and a lovely sights and activities they almost always leave loving Russia and Russians.
Russians, particularly young people, travel a lot, most know some foreign language, and are well educated so overall Russians are pretty accepting of other cultures and love to travel. It is much easier to get visas to individual European countries now after new visa agreements so many more Europeans are getting to know Russia by way of the millions of Russian visitors to their countries.

I've have seen some TV in the US and can honestly say Americans are subject to more serious propaganda than Russians are. Russians are generally broadly educated and do not view a single source of information as valid unless independent evidence supports it. Russians generally ignore TV news programs. We used to have lots of propaganda but still ended up with good information by being very skeptical. We had lots of experience with shifting through slanted declarations by people on TV so are not easily fooled.
I got many questions from Americans our vacation to various states, some of the questions made me laugh over the unusual or strange opinions about Russia.  I really think Americans need to travel much more and they would not fear the world or different cultures so much.

So, in conclusion, I submit that relations between individuals of different countries are better than ever and the free and easy communications bypasses interference by their governments.

Marina

[Misha]

We need nothing from the US, we don't buy much of anything from the USA except movies and CDs.

Marina

Well, according to the United States Department of State, Russia bought 7.5 billion dollars worth of nothing from the United States in 2007. Russians must be watching a lot of American movies 

According to the State Department: "The U.S. exported $7.4 billion in goods to Russia in 2007, a 57% increase from the previous year. Corresponding U.S. imports from Russia were $19.4 billion, down a slight 2%. Russia is currently the 20th-largest export market for U.S. goods. Russian exports to the U.S. were fuel oil, inorganic chemicals, aluminum, and precious stones. U.S. exports to Russia were machinery, vehicles, meat (mostly poultry), aircraft, electrical equipment, and high-tech products."

[dispozo]

We need nothing from the US, we don't buy much of anything from the USA except movies and CDs.

Not really buying for the US, with all the pirated.... music,movies and software.

Everything my lady has is pirated. She see movies on DVDs before there on DVD in US. 

[roykirk]

Well, according to the United States Department of State, Russia bought 7.5 billion dollars worth of nothing from the United States in 2007. Russians must be watching a lot of American movies 

According to the State Department: "The U.S. exported $7.4 billion in goods to Russia in 2007, a 57% increase from the previous year. Corresponding U.S. imports from Russia were $19.4 billion, down a slight 2%. Russia is currently the 20th-largest export market for U.S. goods. Russian exports to the U.S. were fuel oil, inorganic chemicals, aluminum, and precious stones. U.S. exports to Russia were machinery, vehicles, meat (mostly poultry), aircraft, electrical equipment, and high-tech products."

How dare you insinuate that Russia needs the U.S.?  I sense some nationalistic fervor coming your way.     Marina also left out that not only did the U.S. and England condemn Russia's actions and refuse to discuss it, the entire world did.  Russia couldn't even get China to back them.  As I said in another thread, when the entire world decries your actions, it should cause some serious introspection (just like the world decried the U.S. actions in Iraq...obviously many of my boneheaded brethren didn't get that message either).

With all of that said, the United States should let Georgia stand on their own in this case.  Georgia instigated this mess likely thinking the whole time they had the U.S. to bail them out.  And in the meantime, Russia needs to stop playing paddycake with Hugo Chavez, one the craziest dictators in the world right up there with North Korea.  Talk about stoking a new cold war.  If Russia is truly the bigger man on the block, they'd ignore Bush and has idiocy.  In a couple more months, we'll have Obama in office and maybe we can start to repair our torn relationships with not only Russia, but with the rest of the world. 

[SANDRO43]

It is much easier to get visas to individual European countries now after new visa agreements so many more Europeans are getting to know Russia by way of the millions of Russian visitors to their countries.

Marina, would you care to expand about those "new visa agreements" ? I heard no recent news on the subject, so it might be interesting to a European .

[Misha]

How dare you insinuate that Russia needs the U.S.?  I sense some nationalistic fervor coming your way.    

LOL! You may be right. And, I did not even mention that Russia bought billions of dollars worth of bonds based on repackaged subprime mortgage loans.  :evil:

[MarinaM]

Marina, would you care to expand about those "new visa agreements" ? I heard no recent news on the subject, so it might be interesting to a European .

Hello Sandro43
24 European countries, excluding the UK which is negotiating its own visa agreement with Russia, signed and implimented a new visa application process last year. Now, applications have a specific maximum processing time(10 days), maximum cost( 30euros), limitations on requiring applicants to travel to Embassies or consulates for interviews, to the specific countries of interest. Before we had to apply for a Shengon visa in a cooperative country such as Finland and travel there first before going on to our intended destination.
European citizens have been coming in ever increasing numbers because of their easier access to visas, just as millions of Russians are vacationing in Europe, so fewer are going to Ukraine Turkey, Egypt etc.  Turkey still hosted 4,000,000 Russian citizens this last year however.
There are new visa application rules for Russian consulates that were mandated by this new agreement. EU countries hosting Russian consulates no longer can take applications from foreign nationals unless they have residency permits for that country. Before, a visitor to Scandinavia for example could decide to visit Russia by simpy going to the nearest consulate and apply. Now they have to go to a country not a party to these agreements, or return and apply in their home country. Business visas are now aligned with the EU format so a visa of say, 6 months allows only a maximum of 3 months per in-county and 3 months out of country. A 12 month business visa allows 3 months in, followed by 3 months out and so on for a total of 6 months in country out of the 12 month authorization. Foreigners used to live in Russia full time and worked illegally in Russia. Now they can only stay 3 months at a time.
For the person claiming the entire world is united on being a puppy dog of Bush; even your own C. Powell acknowledged that Georgia was responsible for the events. Bush and the white house surely knew as well.

For the prior poster citing claims of food imports, those imports have dropped dramatically from the US and is partly responsible for the current recession in that industry in the US. A frequent scan of business journals would have confirmed that before posting outdated figures. Poultry production inside Russia has dramatically increased in the last 18 months and Russia will be a net exporter by mid 2009. trade with China and Europe is increasing greatly. The SCO has provided a framwwork for defense and trade that will be the dominate partnership by next year. Currently Germany is the largest trade partner but the new contracts and orders with China will change that.
Some markets such as automobiles are exploding, for example Russia has overtaken Germany as the largest sales country for retail car sales in Europe.  By maintaining high duties, Russia has gained dozens of factories building those cars in Russia. Besides China, which car manufacturing country is seeing major growth and the increase in jobs that brings? Opportunities go to those who stay current, relying on old or out of context figures does not help you understand what is happening.