Ukrainian versus Russian

[ECOCKS]

BF, I think she was being sarcastic.

[Faux Pas]

She still calls it democracy, what's going on in Russia?

BF, I think she was being sarcastic.

She was being sarcastic. That point of the conversation was born out from a discussion we were having on democracy. The lady is very smart and observant. She was quick to point out things are much better from the Soviet times but still very far from a western democracy. She isn't convinced the current style of government in Russia is in fact, a democracy

[Shadow]

Thats a bit odd. All my experience is in Russia. All of the people I have engaged political discussion with love Putin to death when discussed outside and within an ear shot of anybody. Inside in more private confines it is a completely different story. One friend put it to me this way:

Her: Faux, do you like your new president?
Me: No
Her: I don't like my president either
Her: Do you have a picture of your president on the wall?
Me: No
Her: This is where we are different. I don't want a picture of him on the wall but I won't let anyone think I do not.


She has a picture of Putin on the wall as well

*sigh*
Perhaps one day people will stay in currents events long enough not to show their ignorance.

[Show Time]

To those that gave advice on my question.  Thanks for the input.

To the hijackers.  Thanks for the ride.

[Faux Pas]

*sigh*
Perhaps one day people will stay in currents events long enough not to show their ignorance.

I have no idea what it is you are trying to say here

To those that gave advice on my question.  Thanks for the input.

To the hijackers.  Thanks for the ride.

ST, this actually is pertinent to the question you originally asked. If you were not so full of piss and vinegar along with yourself, you might have recognized it.

[elliott]

ST, this actually is pertinent to the question you originally asked.

So, you mean he should put a picture of Putin on the wall?  Yep, seems awfully pertinent to me!     Thanks for that valuable contribution!!    

[Shadow]

I have no idea what it is you are trying to say here

She either has no picture of Putin on the wall or the story has no value.
If you can not figure it out, ask someone who knows about Russian politics.

To ST: you will find out that after a limited number of pages topics tend to go off track. Don't worry about it, 

[Faux Pas]

She either has no picture of Putin on the wall or the story has no value.
If you can not figure it out, ask someone who knows about Russian politics.

To ST: you will find out that after a limited number of pages topics tend to go off track. Don't worry about it, 

Or you missed the thrust of what she was saying 

[Shadow]

Or you missed the thrust of what she was saying 

I am pretty sure you still have no clue of what I mean. Your homework is to find it.

[Faux Pas]

I am pretty sure you still have no clue of what I mean. Your homework is to find it.

You would be correct and I admitted as much. I don't do homework

[Shadow]

You would be correct and I admitted as much. I don't do homework

I just pointed out the ignorance you showed of current Russian politics. If you have no desire to figure out what is wrong, that't up to you.
But there is something in your story that does not add up if you want to pass it as a current one.

[Faux Pas]

I just pointed out the ignorance you showed of current Russian politics. If you have no desire to figure out what is wrong, that't up to you.
But there is something in your story that does not add up if you want to pass it as a current one.

But you are failing to see the ignorance you displayed in not following the conversation as I laid it out. I've never proclaimed to be any expert on Russian politics and please excuse me for not acknowledging your Russian politico acumen.

It was no story. It was a snapshot of a conversation I had with a RW in Russia. How or why you wish to deduce my ignorance from that snipet is beyond me but, knock yourself out. I only brought it up because some posters were comparing how some Ukrainians felt about Putin. My observations of Russians I know, had opposing feelings than the Ukrainians mentioned. I thought that a bit odd.

[Blues Fairy]

I just pointed out the ignorance you showed of current Russian politics. If you have no desire to figure out what is wrong, that't up to you.

Please, Shadow, do us all a favor and explain what's the deal with the picture of Putin on the wall.  I'm very intrigued but I can't say I understand.

[Shadow]

The picture on the wall should be of Medvedev and not of Putin.

[Faux Pas]

The picture on the wall should be of Medvedev and not of Putin.

Maybe you are not as astute in Russian politics and current events  as you claim? Apparently my current events in Russia are more current than yours. I saw a few Medvedev pictures hanging on the walls, halls of a few homes and offices but not near as many as I saw of Putin. Maybe you should read up on the current events and find out who is still in charge of Russia. 

[ECOCKS]

This language question, from a Ukrainian perspective, is rooted in politics, hence all the smoke of Ukrainian nationalism and Russian nostalgia. The problem with using anecdotes  almost always involves the inability of individuals to understand the difference between illustrating a point or observation and proving something credibly and definitively.

Most people probably followed the illustrative point of Putin's picture on the wall as an example of a Russian-centric POV, others will remain hoplelessly lost in trying to claim you felt it was some earth-shattering political milestone.

The Russian versus Ukrainian question from a western tourist perspective (as opposed to a diplomat, teacher or long-term business assignment) boils down to utility. All Ukrainians will understand Russian and any who don't recognize that speaking Ukrainian is far less useful to a westerner than Russian would be are probably going to present you with some other issues. Then there is the whole question of where you will actually succeed in finding your future GF/spouse.

Russian is the safe and most useful choice for the basic traveler/adventurer.

[Shadow]

Maybe you are not as astute in Russian politics and current events  as you claim? Apparently my current events in Russia are more current than yours. I saw a few Medvedev pictures hanging on the walls, halls of a few homes and offices but not near as many as I saw of Putin. Maybe you should read up on the current events and find out who is still in charge of Russia. 

I am watching the Russian news daily, so I got a better impression of Russian politics than those who claim Putin is the all-mighty dictator.
If you are making up a story about having the picture of the president hanging in the office and then claim it is Putin, this shows that you have no idea of who is president.
You can try to hide this by your claim 'he is still in charge',  but the initial show of ignorance remains.

[ECOCKS]

Putin and Medeved go to lunch....

As they are being seated, Putin tells the waiter he would like steak - medium well, a dry, red wine, a salad with oil and vinegar, asparagus with Hollandaise on the side, followed by a sherbert to clear the palate for after dinner coffee and cigars. The waiter politely says, "Very good sir, and what about your potato?" To which Putin replies, "Oh, he'll have the same."

[Blues Fairy]

I am watching the Russian news daily, so I got a better impression of Russian politics than those who claim Putin is the all-mighty dictator.

Shadow... Russian news is not the most objective source of information about Russia, in case you have not noticed.

[Faux Pas]

I am watching the Russian news daily, so I got a better impression of Russian politics than those who claim Putin is the all-mighty dictator.
If you are making up a story about having the picture of the president hanging in the office and then claim it is Putin, this shows that you have no idea of who is president.
You can try to hide this by your claim 'he is still in charge',  but the initial show of ignorance remains.

Good for you, really!  When was the last time you were in Russia?

Why do you persist in this line Shadow? Do you somehow feel intellectually superior when you insist I am ignorant? You are failing miserably to make any valid point from what I stated up thread. Current events and picture on the wall really have nothing to do with your accusation and the conversation between  the RW and myself. Because I saw Putin's picture more than Medvedev's makes me ignorant? It's pretty obvious to me you are sucking up Russian News Daily like a hog slopping at the trough. It really isn't broadening your intellectual capacity one iota. Take a step back, quit looking at the tree and see if you can recognize the forest