Thread: So what are you Russians really like??

Originally Posted by Curious Cat

But recently I heard that there is a lot of racism in Russia and white-supremacist groups are targeting foreign students. Is there any truth to this or its just anti-Russian propaganda?

Originally Posted by Curious Cat

The other problem is that the Western media is pretty anti-Russia.

Any questions?
Talking seriously a it's part of truth.

Originally Posted by Curious Cat

I cant read Russian papers either. (any good Russian-English papers?)

All i can advice is RT – Latest News
This mass-media is pro-goverment so you have to filter it.

Originally Posted by Curious Cat

So what I really want to know is what is Russian culture really like?

Originally Posted by Curious Cat

All Russian males get drunk and pick fights every weekend

I'm not one of "them Russians", but I'm immensely interested in Russian culture too, and I know enough Russian to be able to read what they write about themselves. Here's what I've learned thus far:

First off, Russia has indeed changed. But that's not due to the October Revolution. Man, that was like a century ago! The bigger change occurred some 20 years back, when the Soviet Union collapsed (actually it started a bit earlier, when Gorbachev launched his Perestroika). Whatever movie/music/book you watch/listen to/read that belongs to the Soviet era is totally outdated nowadays.

There are two ways to figure out what it's all really like over there. The easier (and more practical) way is, well, just go there and see for yourself! The other one is learning the language. The language is pretty hard, but it's worth it. Give it a shot. If you like their literature, you'll love reading it in the original.

From what I've read and watched, city life in modern Russia (especially in the two most famous Russian cities, Moscow and St. Petersburg) is pretty similar to any major Western European city.

Then you mention the violence and drinking tendencies and all. There's a grain of truth in it, but it's been over-exaggerated. They're not "violent". They're not "rude". They're just "honest". Perhaps a bit too honest, though. Imagine an Englishman who doesn't like you: he'll politely desist from talking to you. A Russian, on the other hand, won't hesitate: he'll tell you what he thinks of you right in your face. Naturally, a fight is likely to ensue. And they seem to love this behavior, too. They consider it "sincere", and expect others to be just as sincere. Many Russians can't stand that kind of dry Western-style tactfulness.

And about racism, I'm gonna have to leave this one to Russians themselves. But this much I will tell you: Russia is a biiiiig country. Take a glance at any map and you'll know. There are ethnic minorities everywhere up and down the place. There are many Russians with non-Russian names, which is a direct result of 70 something years of union with other nations. They seem to get along well, at least outwardly. But absolute foreigners might experience some problems. I really have to stop right there.

It's a good thing that you've already realized the anti-Russian bias of the Western media. Saves you a lot of misunderstanding. Just turn off that CNN nonsense and grab a good post-Soviet movie.

Originally Posted by Misha Tal

They're not "violent". They're not "rude". They're just "honest". Perhaps a bit too honest, though. Imagine an Englishman who doesn't like you: he'll politely desist from talking to you. A Russian, on the other hand, won't hesitate: he'll tell you what he thinks of you right in your face. Naturally, a fight is likely to ensue. And they seem to love this behavior, too. They consider it "sincere", and expect others to be just as sincere. Many Russians can't stand that kind of dry Western-style tactfulness.

This is one more stereotype, though more thorough. Many Russians like this stereotype and there is "a grain of truth in it" as always. But in fact these tendencies are not polar: there is a long cultural staircase of sincerity vs politeness. I remember young Tajiks in Dushanbe, they were more sincere and less polite than Russian-spoken people. And maybe, let us say, Japanese are more polite and less sincere than "Western" standard implies, idunno.

Oh really! Don't you know that Russians can't be trusted? So don't believe any of the above....

In reality they are drunk on vodka noon to night!

The rest of the time they are either:

Reading poetry or 19th century literature
Singing "Kalinka"
Deciding what to do with all their nukes.. Decisions, decisions, hehe..
Being subjected to human rights violations by their autocratic government...
Hiding from the bears and wolves that roam the streets of central Moscow...

No but seriously; it's not possible to sum up the culture of an entire country in a short post!

I don't think Russia is very different from elsewhere in Europe. But it seems to me that there are some similarities the USA that no other country in Europe shares; Nowhere else in Europe has such a large population, multiple time zones or military forces that people actually take notice of... On the other hand Russians seem more humble about their country and its past and present (apart from when it comes to WW2) It seems to me that the country itself has more in common with the USA but that the people are more like Europeans.

And I agree with Misha: Films are a good way of learning about the culture of a country, when you don't have the opportunity to go there yourself. So find some films about Russian history starting far back, and then work your way up to the current time.

WoW a lot of good details!!

Here's some more stereotypes given to me by Russians or Ukranians,
so you can't complain

• Russians have the best computer hackers in the world
  
• Russians have a much better fashion sense
  
• Russian females are much more athletic/in shape then their Western counterparts
  (apparently because they have a higher focus on gymnastics in high school)

Another stereotype that I noticed personally, was that Russian men have a better sense of chivalry. e.g. they never let the lady pay for anything etc. In the West, the whole feminist movement kinda destroyed chivalry, which (I think) has caused a lot of problems in society.

As for Russian movies, any recommendations? I love foriegn flicks, actually. But I haven't seen too many Russian movies. The only Russian movie I remember seeing is Mongol, and that (obviously) didn't tell me much about Russia (except for the fact that they can make awesome movies about Mongols!!)

As for for the culture question, fair enough. I won't ask for a total description. I just wanted to know what aspects changed specifically. I am one of those who think nations don't change much with time. But there can be sudden superficial shifts, and I am sure the revolution and the fall of the wall had impacts. But I guess that is still too broad. I guess I'll just visit Russia sometime in the future and find out for myself

Originally Posted by Curious Cat

Russians have a much better fashion sense

Are you sure you understood them right? Some europeans told me that russian fashion is to wear black.
Maybe you speak about russian women only, but they don't feel the fashion sence, they just "dress like whore". Seriously, one german guy told me that he was pretty much surprised when he have seen ordinary russian women. He thought the street is full of prostitutes.

Originally Posted by Curious Cat

Another stereotype that I noticed personally, was that Russian men have a better sense of chivalry. e.g. they never let the lady pay for anything etc. In the West, the whole feminist movement kinda destroyed chivalry, which (I think) has caused a lot of problems in society.

I've heard vice versa. Russian women who married western men say western ones are kind, gentle, thoughtful while russians are rude, drunk and lazy. Anyway, russian women appreciate men who earn money for them more than men who kiss their hands.

Originally Posted by Curious Cat

As for Russian movies, any recommendations?

Try 9th company, it's not the worst post-USSR movie. Almost all good movies were pruduced in USSR era, now there are only few with raiting "not bad".

Originally Posted by Curious Cat

WoW a lot of good details!!

Another stereotype that I noticed personally, was that Russian men have a better sense of chivalry. e.g. they never let the lady pay for anything etc. In the West, the whole feminist movement kinda destroyed chivalry, which (I think) has caused a lot of problems in society.

Not much of chivalry, but the absence of feminists makes it appear so.

Originally Posted by Curious Cat

As for Russian movies, any recommendations?

You can browse through this subforum and this thread in particular.

Originally Posted by Curious Cat

As for for the culture question, fair enough. I won't ask for a total description. I just wanted to know what aspects changed specifically. I am one of those who think nations don't change much with time. But there can be sudden superficial shifts, and I am sure the revolution and the fall of the wall had impacts. But I guess that is still too broad. I guess I'll just visit Russia sometime in the future and find out for myself

It IS a way to get to know the culture of a country. You can find the culture and history subforum interesting.

Originally Posted by Siberian.Bear

Are you sure you understood them right? Some europeans told me that russian fashion is to wear black.
Maybe you speak about russian women only, but they don't feel the fashion sence, they just "dress like whore".

Now that's where I should disagree. I seldom see women who are dressed like a whore on the streets and I live in the biggest Russian city. That's a misconception that comes from some not very clever jokes, etc. I can admit that Russian women try to appear feminine and seductive when they attend a party or in some other social entertainment, but you won't see them dressed like this at work. Compared to women I met in Europe, Russian women tend to follow fashion trends while Europeans tend to ignore that and wear things they feel comfortable in. As for these 'dress like whore' notions, then yes, if you visit a night club you'll hardly see modest clothes on the girls there, but that's only natural, isn't it?

Originally Posted by Siberian.Bear

Seriously, one german guy told me that he was pretty much surprised when he have seen ordinary russian women. He thought the street is full of prostitutes.

I've seen German prostitutes in Hamburg. Lord, after this I'll find a gorilla female attractive! No wonder that your German guy was surprised. As I said, Europeans simply ignore fashion and dress in whatever comes handy. The resulting appearance is a bit disappointing for men, but women there doesn't care. Russian women do care, that's the difference. Yes, now and then you can find an extreme example of bad taste in clothes, but this is common everywhere else as well.

Originally Posted by Siberian.Bear

Russian women who married western men say western ones are kind, gentle, thoughtful while russians are rude, drunk and lazy. Anyway, russian women appreciate men who earn money for them more than men who kiss their hands.

Of course those, who'd made to the West would say so, it's their own tragic story, after all. I personally know two women though who said exactly the opposite after they'd divorced their foreign husbands and returned to Russia. Where does it lead us? Each case is unique and you can't really deduce a general rule from such stories.

Originally Posted by Curious Cat

As for Russian movies, any recommendations?

Anything with Maria Mironova (or her father), Alyona Babenko, or Nikita Mikhalkov.
The younger Nikolay Eremenko was very good, too.