Thread: Article: The Russian Mindset

Russians love to comment and give advice. Don't be surprised to get unsolicited advice on how to dress your children in winter or on the necessity of wearing a hat in cold winter.

Автор попал в самую точку. Россияне очень любят давать советы, хоть это и бесит всех и высмеивается постоянно. Даже поговрка есть: "у нас каждый суслик - агроном"

Originally Posted by sergei

Автор попал в самую точку. Россияне очень любят давать советы, хоть это и бесит всех и высмеивается постоянно. Даже поговрка есть: "у нас каждый суслик - агроном"

Americans do the same thing, though not usually to complete strangers. Once you are considered a "friend" though, they may start giving unwanted advice about how to run your business, how to treat your wife and kids, etc. More than advice though, I would say America is the land of opinions. Everyone has an opinion, and everyone thinks their opinion is important and equally valid. We also have a saying: "Opinions are like assh*les. Everyone has one and they all stink."

The article is under the Survival guide section (so there are some useful tips and the general discourse seems rather practical than 'political, negative, etc...').

There are some inaccuracies in the author's observations (some of them are just technical, some are cultural).

1. Russians love and value going to the theatre, opera, ballet and concerts. The arts are avidly devoured by all sections of society - the idea that plays or classical music could be "difficult" or unpopular is rarely encountered. They also enjoy attending readings of literature and poetry - i wish it were true, but this is a false statement. The classical arts tradition and school are strong in Russia, but the active participants (apart from performers and artists) are 'the culturati'. The usual pastimes are TV, football, dacha, shashliki, beer, package holidays, you name it. Classical arts is generally regarded as a more sophisticated pastime, sometimes (not always) within the elitist context.

2. Redcurrants usually grow in gardens and private dachas, not in forests (just a technical inaccuracy).

3. The reason why people stand close to each other in lines is more difficult to explain. In fact the explanation is obvious from a paragraph somewhere above: When you go to pay utility bills at a Russian bank, you may find that when it is almost your turn one or two people show up who had "reserved" a place in the line and then took care of something else at another counter or just sit down while waiting for their turn. So there is always a chance that someone may take a place BEFORE you in the line and on the subconscious level people try to control the space before them in the line.

4. Very often such questions arise from "fellow professionals" who are keen to know how their profession might be valued abroad. It must be added that they often ask questions about how much they earn in this or that country to compare the information with their own wages, irrespective of the professional interest.

5. While Russians devote considerable time and cost to their own personal wardrobe and grooming.... - Better to replace it with While MANY RUSSIAN WOMEN devote considerable time and cost to their own personal wardrobe and grooming...

6. many women had (and still have) the dual responsibility of adding to family income through a full-time job and of caring... - Better to replace it with Most of the women had (and still have) the dual responsibility of adding to family income through a full-time job and of caring...

7. The mindset of the younger Russian generation is not as much pro-anything, as it is anti-communist. - this premise can be discussed if people about 27-30 and over are meant (the rule of thumb could be Это те, кто был пионером). If they are younger they often have no idea what communism in practice means, in which case such 'anti-' feeling would be purely theoretical.

8. You might hear children shout something like "Hey Smirnova" or "Hey Smirnov". - Could hardly be imagined with pre-school kids. I would argue this is mostly true for high school kids (старшеклассники в средней школе).

9. you can ask for "Gospozha Tatiana Smirnova" (Mrs. Tatiana Smirnova) or "Gospodin Sergey Smirnov" (Mr. Sergey Smirnov). - Incorrect. Must be you can ask for "Gospozha Smirnova" (Mrs. Tatiana Smirnova) or "Gospodin Smirnov" (Mr. Sergey Smirnov). - only last name is traditionally used with Господин/Госпожа.

10. The shortened names Sasha and Zhenya are used for both females and males. - It must be added that there are many other names which take the same form for male and female in Russian.

11. about Вы (Vy)... Note that this word starts with a capital letter, which is similar to the French "Vous" and the German "Sie". - Incorrect. Better to say: Note that this word OFTEN starts with a capital letter, which is similar to the French "Vous" and the German "Sie". (Capitalization of Вы is used to signify a higher degree of respect in Russian, while in German it's the only correct 2nd person singular polite address form. I am not sure about French, but as far as I can tell in French the use of 'vous' et 'Vous' is absolutely the same as Russian "вы" и "Вы.)

12. there are only 31 letters plus two silent symbols. Incorrect. There are 33 letters in the Russian language. Though it helps to warn that 2 letters serve as silent symbols.

13. Do not cross your legs with the ankle on the knee or put your feet on the table. It is considered impolite to show others the soles of your shoes. It's not about the soles of one's shoes. Such body language is generally regarded as suspicious licence, legs on the table is regarded as licence - who is going to clean the table afterwards? - it's a cultural thing.

Originally Posted by alexsms

13. Do not cross your legs with the ankle on the knee or put your feet on the table. It is considered impolite to show others the soles of your shoes. It's not about the soles of one's shoes. Such body language is generally regarded as suspicious licence, legs on the table is regarded as licence - who is going to clean the table afterwards? - it's a cultural thing.

Legs on the table is considered rude almost everywhere, I think. In America it certainly depends on your relationship with the people whose table you are putting your feet on as well as the quality of their furniture. Some of my friends have cheap furniture, and they even put their feet on it and so they don't object if their guests do the same. But other friends of mine have fine furniture and it would be very rude to put your feet up, especially with shoes still on!

In Russia, of course, people usually take off their shoes when they are in someone's home. In America, this is not as common a practice. People normally wear their shoes right into the house, on the carpets and floors. I tried to get my husband into the practice of removing his shoes indoors and wearing slippers, but alas, I am unable to train him

Some of our friends prefer guests to leave their shoes inside the doorway, and they always make that clear by saying so as soon as you walk in the door. But most of them don't have any such rules in place. However, if it is muddy outdoors and your shoes are dirty, it is considered very impolite to walk in and get dirt all over everything.