Thread: Cultural Differences Between Americans and Russians

Originally Posted by LXNDR

i'm gonna add what i heard from an American, which is i think one of the profound differences in mentality between the Westerners and Russians

Americans, in particular, are generally apt to change or improve things they don't like, Russian's are apt to get accustomed to and live with them

i can't attest to the accuracy of this observation regarding Americans, although i feel the same way, but regarding Russians it's true

I think it is a fair observation. Could it have something to do with the way Russians and Americans think about "fate"?

Americans think "no fate but what we make" and Russians think "you can't fight fate"... and who is really right, or are we both right in the end?

Originally Posted by Deborski

I think it is a fair observation. Could it have something to do with the way Russians and Americans think about "fate"?

Americans think "no fate but what we make" and Russians think "you can't fight fate"... and who is really right, or are we both right in the end?

probably, that also has something to do with traditionally little appreciation and reward for personal initiative in the Soviet society, unless it's approved by authority, which in turn discourages people to take initiative and so they become pretty passive

there's even a saying - инициатива наказуема


in the end everybody's equal, but the itinerary to the destination can vary

Originally Posted by LXNDR

probably, that also has something to do with traditionally little appreciation and reward for personal initiative in the Soviet society, unless it's approved by authority, which in turn discourages people to take initiative and so they become pretty passive

there's even a saying - инициатива наказуема


in the end everybody's equal, but the itinerary to the destination can vary

Like "Everybody is equal, but some are more equal than others"...? Maybe George Orwell had it right.