Is it rational to have negative thoughts towards Russians?

[carreauchompeur]

Throwing it out there really.

Currently in Thailand and have a reasonable number of Russian tourists around.

Quite apart from behavioural influences, I find that I’m almost automatically avoiding them where possible. I just can’t separate the actions of Russia in Ukraine from the people here enjoying their sunny holidays in a place where they are tolerated.

Is this rational? On one hand I’d hate to judge an entire populace on their govemment, but in the other hand I just can’t think well of anyone Russian at the moment.

I do find it sad as I met some great Russian people on the Trans-Siberian trip a few years ago, and I know that at least one of them is distraught at her country’s stance.

[MikeM6]

Not rational as such, but a not uncommon instinctive stance that many take. Some people still think I'll of Germany or Japan for instance, and that is even less rational.

[Grumps.]

It does seem that many of the Russian people are certainly aware of the current situation but are probably just ignoring it as it doesn’t affect them massively, so in response to the op, I would be the same.

[Smiler.]

When Stalin died, throngs of Russian citizens were in tears as they filed past his coffin.

A daughter turned to her mother & asked "why are you weeping for this monster?"
She replied "these are tears of joy".

One hopes that the same applies today. But I get your point.

[grumbledoak]

Do you think the Russian people have much control over Putin's actions?

I don't think we've got much real input into policy here and we're allegedly a democracy...

[DickyC]

Two interactions with Russians is my total. One was on a construction site near Slough where the labourers were all Russian. No idea why. They were insular, surly and obstructive. Whenever I saw a gaggle of them, the phrase mutinous assembly went through my mind. The other was a Russian family, dad, mum and two teenage children, in a very nice hotel in the Lake District. They were rude, loud, pushy, entitled, ill-mannered and gave the staff a very rough ride. After one dinner and one breakfast with them in the dining room we ate elsewhere.

Not a fan.

[carreauchompeur]

grumbledoak said:

Do you think the Russian people have much control over Putin's actions?

I don't think we've got much real input into policy here and we're allegedly a democracy...

Ha, you have a very good point there.

[SWoll]

DickyC said:

Two interactions with Russians is my total. One was on a construction site near Slough where the labourers were all Russian. No idea why. They were insular, surly and obstructive. Whenever I saw a gaggle of them, the phrase mutinous assembly went through my mind. The other was a Russian family, dad, mum and two teenage children, in a very nice hotel in the Lake District. They were rude, loud, pushy, entitled, ill-mannered and gave the staff a very rough ride. After one dinner and one breakfast with them in the dining room we ate elsewhere.

Not a fan.

And you've not had similar interactions with Brits, as I know I have many times?

Some people are aholes, their nationality is rarely the reason why.

[Double Fault]

One literally invaded my ski group last year. Rude, big-headed, ignorant tosspot.

The only one I’ve met but happy to extrapolate to the rest.

[cgt2]

Anyone who has spent any time around them in Central London or the South of France over the past few decades can vouch for the fact that the ones with money are horrible, rude, coarse and despicable. They think they have the right to immediate service and jump every queue. They also don't hide their racism towards staff or waiters.

In complete contrast ordinary Russians without pilfered wealth come across as pretty decent people.

I'm sure such a divide exists in many countries but it seems particularly wide in the case of Russians.

[vixen1700]

cgt2 said:

Anyone who has spent any time around them in Central London or the South of France over the past few decades can vouch for the fact that the ones with money are horrible, rude, coarse and despicable. They think they have the right to immediate service and jump every queue. They also don't hide their racism towards staff or waiters.

In complete contrast ordinary Russians without pilfered wealth come across as pretty decent people.

I'm sure such a divide exists in many countries but it seems particularly wide in the case of Russians.

Yep, this 100%

Mrs. used to work in the EBRD for many years so had a lot of dealings with some of the wealthy bankers there and it was always the Russians who were the worst for this sort of thing. Moscovites especially.

Never really seemed the case with other former USSR people, just Russians.

Visited Russia in the mid '80s and the people I met were lovely. Didn't meet any rich ones, mind.

[hiccy18]

Russians
They're only people like us
Do you really think they'd blow up the world
They don't love their lives less

[Gareth79]

MikeM6 said:

Not rational as such, but a not uncommon instinctive stance that many take. Some people still think I'll of Germany or Japan for instance, and that is even less rational.

My grandfather made a point to avoid buying anything Japanese for the rest of his life, he said due to the treatment of PoW. No issues with Germany though, he owned a VW for many many years and holidayed there.

[Stuart70]

hiccy18 said:

Russians
They're only people like us
Do you really think they'd blow up the world
They don't love their lives less

I think you have the bones of a song there, sure the chap Sting would be interested!

[S600BSB]

No, it's not.

[pquinn]

How do you know they're Russians and not Ukrainian? It's not exactly easy to spot the difference between them when they're out & about charming people.

[DickyC]

SWoll said:

And you've not had similar interactions with Brits, as I know I have many times?

Some people are aholes, their nationality is rarely the reason why.

The difference, as I see it, is that with most disagreeable ill-mannered people you meet, they become hostile if they don't get their own way. With the Russians I met, the hostility was an integral part of their behaviour from the outset.

[Biker 1]

I did the kibbutz volunteer thing back in the 90s. Iron curtain came down & Jewish Russians were allowed to emigrate to Israel. I met around 100 of them - I was surprised at how naive they were. They had pretty much nothing & were clearly not used to having soap, toothpaste, shaving stuff, deodorant etc. They all came across as a bit wooden: little sense of humour & their work ethic was woeful. & as for the Russian language: makes my teeth itch!

[Teddy Lop]

hiccy18]Russians[b said:

They're only people like us[/b]
Do you really think they'd blow up the world
They don't love their lives less

yup.

If you meet the wrong ones that's more about where you are.

The mrs (when not beside me) had a couple of grim experiences in Latvia the other year, but think Brits in benidorn or whatever. Although her ability to redress and insult in their native tongue was not expected.

[vulture1]

25 years ago on Cyprus we went for a family meal in a Russian restaurant. It was one of the best meals I have ever had. But had no customers. Its only when I was older I realised it was obviously a money laundering front but the owner was so pleasant. Him and my dad sat drinking vodka afterwards.

Met some nice Russians in the UK as well. All seem sound enough.

Personally I'd be allowing Russia to compete in sports etc. It would probably help get the people more onside.