Thread: Mind Your Language

Originally Posted by JB

Kinda makes you wonder how a native Russian would come to think these Americanisms were so clever that he had to use them when talking with other Russians. Don't you think he would use Russian colloquilisms instead?

I'm sorry, JB, I'm afraid I don't know what you're on about. Could you please give us an example of an "americanism" I used and a "Russian colloquilism" I might have used instead? (If you do I will cancel your translation chores.) Thank you.

We had this discussion (at VM's own initiation) before, and, yes, I agree 100% with scotcher. Actually he puts it very eloquently.

I don't believe VM is anywhere near as familiar with US culture as he is with British culture. I can't rememer specifics though, sorry.

His voice too - pure Essex man. Well 'man'.

What makes you think it was realy his voice?

I have a number of reasons for thinking so, but I prefer not to say. Of course, I'm not actually sure.

Scotcher is right, VM's language skills are beyond many native English speakers. In a PM he told me how he had acquired these skills but as it was a PM I must keep quiet. Sorry folks.

Any Russians want to comment on his "Russian" cultural identifiers? (or lack of)

I never had any doubts about his being Russian.

Why?

I don't know. Intuitive thing probably.

Is there anything he has said that only a Russian Native would know? Or maybe something cultural about his posts that an expat living in Russia would never be able to imitate?

Originally Posted by JB

Is there anything he has said that only a Russian Native would know? Or maybe something cultural about his posts that an expat living in Russia would never be able to imitate?

It's everything that you fail to immitate, JB. I've been saying this for years...

He's a cuddly Russian bear - it's so obvious

No, he's a butthole.

Jealous? You're a cuddly bear too, Mike

Yes, a teddy bear cut from the same butthole cloth.

I like it
The only way to deal with VM is to be nice. Then he's horrible back and you have to be even nicer. It will drive him wild with delight or worse.

I can't imagine how much VM must be loving all this back and forth on his international man of mystery status.

Hven't you noticed that he's been quiet for ages and has only just resurfaced? At least things get interesting and lively when he's contributing!

Originally Posted by VendingMachine

Then I think here lies our main difference. I think that the law can't be built on nothing but public moral or we would have a lot of rights violating laws, such as law against adultery, for example (and we know instances when such laws existed and still exist in some societies).

It probably does, though I never said that laws could be built on nothing but public moral,

I knew you didn't say that, I really expressed it badly, sorry. I should have said that the public moral, in my opinion, is not something that should be protected (from abusing) by the law.

As for a law against adultry - the public moral has nothing against it, Friendy, wake up and smell the coffee.

Adultery was always condemned by public opinion, nowadays not as much as in previous times, but still.

[quote:bqbm5mhl]why this law should or shouldn't exist and simply stating the fact of it's existence is irrelevant

It is relevant. If it's there it means it's there for a reason [/quote:bqbm5mhl]
So what? If there’s a reason for something to exist that doesn’t mean that it should exist. The robbers also have a reason for robbing - they want money. But this reason won't keep people from thinking that robbery shouldn't exist. And by that logic these swearing in public guys also have a reason for that, will it keep you from thinking that they shouldn't do it?

…you don't see what that reason is, I can just about discern it, people with superior analitical abilities see every detail of it …

I think you're overestimating the complicity here, this is not an issue that involves much of analytical abilities.

...and our leaders know all there is to know about it.

This law is there because we all need it - they don't exactly hire basket weavers to make laws, do they.

It's for our own good and we must be grateful to our gov't that we have such people who take care even of this side of our lives.

Ну прям "Спасибо товарищу Сталину за наше счастливое детство" или "Прошла зима, настало лето, спасибо Партии за это". Sorry, couldn't help, but it really brings up that kind of associations to my mind
Don't you think that with that kind of logic (btw, that would be an interesting exercise ) it's quite easy to justify a totalitarian state? (and I seriously doubt that you would like to live in one).

Originally Posted by Friendy

…you don't see what that reason is, I can just about discern it, people with superior analitical abilities see every detail of it …

[quote:3veartxz] ...and our leaders know all there is to know about it.

This law is there because we all need it - they don't exactly hire basket weavers to make laws, do they.

It's for our own good and we must be grateful to our gov't that we have such people who take care even of this side of our lives.

Ну прям "Спасибо товарищу Сталину за наше счастливое детство" или "Прошла зима, настало лето, спасибо Партии за это". Sorry, couldn't help, but it really brings up that kind of associations to my mind
Don't you think that with that kind of logic (btw, that would be an interesting exercise ) it's quite easy to justify a totalitarian state? (and I seriously doubt that you would like to live in one).[/quote:3veartxz]
This kind of logic drives the so-called "Western Democracies" these days. I cannot see anything totalitarian about it. Anyone with half a brain will elect government and parliament who actually understand what they are doing. Grasp that.