Quote Originally Posted by Eric C. View Post
Talking with some Russians about politics is like talking with somebody about their boss when the boss is in the same room.
What do you mean? That people are scared of saying what they really think?
I don't think so, not based on people who participate here. I think it was perhaps like that, to a degree during the Stalin era and for a while later. But I think it was a very long time since a Russian person was seriously concerned about expressing a political view.
And in addition, this is an anonymous forum, hosted in the USA.

They only exception, I think, might be perhaps government officials, based on what I have been reading.
If they value their career they should probably not be too outspoken. But that is not very different from anywhere else.

If you think I am wrong, please say, but that is my impression.