Thread: Let anyone have their own ways

Originally Posted by Deborski

I have to say that in my experience, Americans are far less tolerant of foreigners than Russians, also. In the US, lots of people get annoyed if you don't speak English right. Not ALL people, of course. Just the ignorant ones.

But when I lived in Russia (for two years) no one ever made fun of my (very poor!) Russian. At least, not to my face!

No wonder. You are American. I think if you were Turkish, Armenian, Georgian or Tajik, you would have felt the difference. Not everything is so cloudless here also. You shouldn't idealize Russia. There are people everywhere. And they are different.

Originally Posted by Helenej

No wonder. You are American. I think if you were Turkish, Armenian, Georgian or Tajik, you would have felt the difference. Not everything is so cloudless here also. You shouldn't idealize Russia. There are people everywhere. And they are different.

Oh, my view of Russia is far from cloudless. To be honest, I have a love/hate relationship with your country! I am well aware of the racism, homophobia and sexism in Russia and had I been an African-American, the story would have been different I am sure.

Again, these are just my own personal experiences. Please, everyone! Don't assume that I therefore think everything in Russia is perfect or that everything in America is horrible. My views are really not that black and white. I see all the colors of the rainbow... even the shades of grey)))

Originally Posted by Deborski

Oh, my view of Russia is far from cloudless. To be honest, I have a love/hate relationship with your country! I am well aware of the racism, homophobia and sexism in Russia and had I been an African-American, the story would have been different I am sure.

Again, these are just my own personal experiences. Please, everyone! Don't assume that I therefore think everything in Russia is perfect or that everything in America is horrible. My views are really not that black and white. I see all the colors of the rainbow... even the shades of grey)))

I imagine there are always extremes wherever, whatever country, one looks. But I believe there are always people of reasonable mind, too. We're all examples of that. We get along, and exchange our ideas, and desire to learn. That makes life worthwhile wherever we are.

Originally Posted by kgcole

I imagine there are always extremes wherever, whatever country, one looks. But I believe there are always people of reasonable mind, too. We're all examples of that. We get along, and exchange our ideas, and desire to learn. That makes life worthwhile wherever we are.

Вот это да!

Originally Posted by Deborski

Вот это да!

Исправьте меня если я ошибаюсь, но эта фраза в самом деле значит "wow" как "ничего себе". Деб использает её означать "that's for sure"-- можно так?

Efremova (Russian Explanatory Dictionary)
вот это да
межд. разг.
Возглас при выражении изумления или удивления на неожиданное сообщение или на неожиданно совершившееся событие; вот так да, вот так так.


Или более определения есть?

Stereotypes are slowly being ruined*

The word ruined seems a bit off, it's mostly used to express negative thoughts, i.e. "you ruined my life!"
Since it's a good thing that stereotypes are vanishing, better say:
Stereotypes are slowly disintegrating.
Stereotypes are slowly being cast away.
Stereotypes are slowly dying out.

That goes for

I think your president being Afro-American is a great thing that helps ruin them.

I think your president being Afro-American is a great thing that helps disintegrating them.
I think your president being Afro-American is a great thing that helps disproving them.

Originally Posted by Valda

Исправьте меня если я ошибаюсь, но эта фраза в самом деле значит "wow" как "ничего себе". Деб использает её означать "that's for sure"-- можно так?

Efremova (Russian Explanatory Dictionary)
вот это да
межд. разг.
Возглас при выражении изумления или удивления на неожиданное сообщение или на неожиданно совершившееся событие; вот так да, вот так так.

Или более определения есть?

I think Efremova’ definition is full. If Deb’s meaning was "that's for sure" she should have gone with “точно”, “это точно”, “это верно”, “это правильно”, “совершенно верно”, “вот именно”.

Originally Posted by Valda

The word ruined seems a bit off, it's mostly used to express negative thoughts, i.e. "you ruined my life!"]

It’s a good remark for me. I guess I would never feel the difference by myself.

Originally Posted by Valda

Stereotypes are slowly being ruined.!"

I understand the difference between “are ruined” and ”are being ruined”. Actually I meant that it was characteristic of all stereotypes to be cast away slowly, irrelative of their existence in the past, present or future.
Is it possible that I used the correct grammar form with my meaning?

Originally Posted by Valda

...helps disintegrating them...

Help + gerund... Hmm. It’s new to me, too. My grammar guide must be too old.
Is "helps to disintegrate" possible, too?

Originally Posted by Helenej

Help + gerund... Hmm. It’s new to me, too. My grammar guide must be too old.
Is "helps to disintegrate" possible, too?

Maybe "destroy" would be a better word, "Helps to destroy them."

Originally Posted by Deborski

had I been an African-American, the story would have been different I am sure.

That’s for sure. Not a slightest doubt about that. You would have definitely been looked down on, unless you were wealthy with all those attributes. Stereotypes are slowly ruined. I think your president being Afro-American is a great thing that helps ruin them. You know, we cannot value him. But the fact that he has been valued by the whole nation makes us respect him. Funny, hah?