When I lived in Russia, I didn't stay in fancy hotels or limit my associations to other westerners. A lot of foreigners who claim they "lived" in Russia, don't even get to know much about the people, the language or the culture. Just the other day I was talking with an American man who *hates* Russia even though he claims to have lived in Moscow for more than a decade. He doesn't speak any Russian and he outright stated to me that "there is nothing Russia can do better than America." I replied that it's hard for me to comprehend how anyone could live in Russia that long and still be convinced of American exceptionalism, then I threw a few not so nice words at him and told him to leave me alone.

For some people, I guess, it seems like this is just one big dick measuring contest. Who is "greatest", Russia or the US? I find that so childish and so boring, comparing our countries. There is nothing original about it, it's the same crap that has gone on all my life. As long as we are comparing all the time, and competing to be "greatest," how will we ever learn from each other?

Anyway, after living and working in Russia, I developed what I describe as a love/hate relationship with that country. I think that when a country starts to feel like home, you can't help but see its flaws as well as its greatness. I certainly see the problems in America, and there is a lot which I hate about America, but a lot that I love about America too.

I will say that all the strong anti-American commentary in the forum sometimes makes me uncomfortable, even though I myself have contributed to it. The forum is about Russian language, true, but it is also about learning English. It would be nice to see an open cultural exchange where no one is made to feel intimidated or unwanted, and I agree that the trolling, snide comments and insults are tiring and immature.

I should add that there is also a clear element of misogyny in this forum among some of the members. If you pay attention, you notice that they only attack females, especially females who have strong opinions.