»Everything you always wanted to know about Russia...«
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 Okay, mymla, I will get things started here. What is Russia like as a whole since the fall of the USSR? What is Russia like since the fall where you live specifically? Does the communism concept that everyone is equal still linger there? How does the fact that those in power didn't always abide by this affect the thinking of the general populace? How has fashion changed in Russia since the fall of communism? Back in the day in Russia, weren't the fashion choices very limited? How do you view outerspace and exploration of the universe in Russia? How does Russia view China nowadays? How do you feel about Putin removing some of the democratic process from Russia? For that matter, how do you feel about the republic/democracy? What do you see for the future of Russia and it's people? ok, I think those are enough starter questions. 
posted by volonteshiva |
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| in-my-opinion.orgMiscAnything that doesn't fit in any other categoryEverything you always wanted to know about Russia... |
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 My god, that's a lot for just STARTERS! I will really have to try my best... Sorry if I won't answer them all at once, I will take my time and return to the list from time to time  volonteshiva: What is Russia like as a whole since the fall of the USSR? What is Russia like since the fall where you live specifically? When it happened I was comparatively small, like 10-11 years, and to tell you the truth I wasn't interested in politics (still not really... my fault). As I understand it, the main problem was adaptation. For younger people it was easier, for older it was close to impossible, and it was the more impossible the more they believed in the system. Sorry if I will quote my family history too much, but that's what I know best, and it gives some idea. There are a lot of aspects I guess to this fall thing, the "money" for example and ideology. Let me start with money: My parents were pretty young when it happened, and adjusted pretty fast. My dad started his own business which was impossible before, so we had it pretty smooth. Actually, a lot of people used the opportunity to start their own thing, but many failed. One of the reasons was that the regime was not aimed at bringing up people who can do business, second was that there were not laws regulating such activities, and that gave a whole bunch of problems like corruption, uncertainty and high risk. Those who couldn't support themselves tried to rely on the goverment. They were largely used to it since the Union and expected it to go on. But the government couldn't do that any more... The gap between the poor and the rich very fast became very obvious and large. During the Soviet times everybody was at approximately the same level, except for people high in the Communist party, so people felt equal. Now some stayed where they were, or even went lower, and others went really high. Besides, when the country was closed away from the other world, everybody thought that what they have is the best and you cannot have it better, so they were content with what little they had. Now it turned out there much much better things and new things, and some could afford them, others could not. Even in school the social differences became more obvious. In Soviet Union everybody had to wear same uniform at school, so there was very little you could do to look different. After the Union fell apart, people were very happy to abolish as many things reminding them of it as they could, including school uniforms. And children like to show off... Now in most schools they've brought them back, by the way. Ok, sorry, I am out of my breath for the moment  Will continue tomorrow and answer question if there will be any.
posted by mymla |
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mymla: Sorry if I will quote my family history too much, but that's what I know best, and it gives some idea. No, please do! I would very much enjoy hearing your personal views/history on your country and family, that is if you don't mind providing it. The individual along with the general are precisely the kind of views of Russia that I hope to get from this thread. Thank you and I look forward to what you share next!  mymla: My dad started his own business which was impossible before, so we had it pretty smooth. Is your Father's business still going? What kind of business is it/was it if you don't mind my asking? posted by volonteshiva |
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volonteshiva: Is your Father's business still going? What kind of business is it/was it Yup, it is still going. As far as I remember he started with just shipping products to where we lived and selling them, and he still does it, but the main line of business is different. We lived and my family still does in the Far East of Russia, ›Kamchatka‹, where there's only one thing worth selling out - salmon and caviar- he started with that. Mainly processing and selling to other parts of Russia. So, back to the adaptation to the fall of the Union. What was harder for most was spiritual or moral adaptation, don't know how to put it better. As soon as the Union fell, people started to tell horrible things. Everything they always wanted to tell about their own country, but were too afraid to. Especially politicians were good at saying how corrupted, evil, stupid, blah blah blah the country was. It looked like nobody was happy in that country and everybody understood the faults of the regime. For people who truely believed in communism it was really hard I think. Younger ones like my parents were already raised in the atmosphere of unvoiced doubts, but their parents were different. My grandfather died 10 years after the fall still believing in communism. They really believed everything they were told, that's what they lived with all their lives, that's what they sacrificed their lives to, and now it turned out they were just stupid to believe it and they waisted their time. Many as far as I know still believe that the fall was a result of the actions of the West, that the West did what it dreamed of and destroyed the great country. Most of them are old, but as the party still exists, there are young ones either. As far as I am concerned, I think the Soviet Union was a great country with lots of faults. There's no way back, at least now, to the old regime - people like their freedom too much. the Soviet Union will never be the same, because most of the former republics will never come back. With the former republics, by the way, it is another interesting story. After the fall they all claimed their independence from Russia and described Russia (as the biggest of all in the Union) as their oppressor during the Union times, and blamed everything on it. In Ukraine, for example, they were pretty sure that you couldn't find and sugar in the shops during Soviet times because Russia sucked it out of the Ukraine. It later turned out how much they were used to being together and to the help of Russia and the Union as a whole. That's why they are rebuilding their ties now. Another nasty point is that since the fall Russians in the former republics found themselves in a very unfavourable position. There were a lot of them in every republic, most of them being doctors, teachers, scientists (young people from the universities were sent there to work and then settled), and suddenly it turned out they were just barely tolerated all these years, that they were oppressing the native population, etc. I don't say there was nothing like this at all, but it concerned only a small percent, and others just lived there. Now there are almost no Russians left. If they can they leave, because they are now discriminated against. That's usually an unwritten but very active law. posted by mymla |
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volonteshiva: Does the communism concept that everyone is equal still linger there? The commusim as such is still there, sure, seventy years don't fade away so easily. The equality, however, was very much of the Orwell's Animal Farm, "All animals are equal but some are more equal than the others". People were too tired of having to be the same and even and similar, so this is not a very popular concept now, probably. Though there is something in the nature of many to feel that they belong and to try to be as everybody else to be accepted, so probably in some circles it still exists. Unfortunately, I don't know much about the ideas the communist party tries to promote now, but I think they eliminated most points that caused uneasiness and go with more govermental support etc. Don't rely on my words though 
Many tried not to vote for the communist party to avoid the return of the regime, but times are changing and maybe voting for other parties can bring results worse than the communist - I mean, the present President seems to have interesting ideas and ways, very similar to the Union at its best, doesn't he? It seems to me that the majority of the population would really prefer to be left alone and not be bothered with politics, so they are pretty indifferent. Not good most probably, but as I was one of the majority, I cannot really complaint. What people miss very much about the former times is the feeling of might. The Union was a great country, or at least so they were told, great and mighty. Now it's just another one trying to survive in this world, and the change isn't very happy. People miss the feeling that they are ahead of the whole planet, which was a popular idea, they miss the greatness. The former Union took up 1/6th of the soil on this planet, and that figure alone made them proud. The idea that much depends on what you do with the soil was the second one however. These ideas gave sense to their lives, they gave strength to bear their unoptimal conditions. Not the conditions stayed or even worsened, and the ideas are gone. posted by mymla |
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mymla: Another nasty point is that since the fall Russians in the former republics found themselves in a very unfavourable position. I found this to indeed be very interesting. I thank you again and will continue to. This is the kind of insight into Russian history/existence that isn't secret knowledge, but at the same time is not anything I have ever heard mentioned hear in the US. The US loved to see the USSR as the Evil Red and then when the regime fell, it seems most US citizens couldn't care less about the people who were left to rebuild. And we all sure seemed to shove Democracy/Capitalism/the Republic down Russian throats really fast. I look forward to reading your post on the Democracy/the Republic question in a future post. mymla: What was harder for most was spiritual or moral adaptation, don't know how to put it better. Please forgive the naivite of this question, since clearly people are adapting there and still living to a degree, but what happened to all the govt. run jobs once the regime fell? I mean, did the govt just tell everyone they didn't have a job anymore? Did groups/remaining govt power take over control of alot of industries and people retained their jobs? How much were wages affected? Vastly, right? Was there mass rioting throughout much of Russia? How about in your own land of Kamchatka? I know there are many examples of a country's powerbase/govt collapsing throughout history, but it's often hard to visualize. I mean once it happens, people have to go on, but right after it happens, there has to be some degree of chaos and mass fear, right? posted by volonteshiva |
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mymla: What people miss very much about the former times is the feeling of might. This is very insightful. The US still has this very bad, this sense of might, that our might makes us and our decisions correct/right. At the end of any world argument with an average red blooded US of Aer, you will often hear, "Well, we are STILL the most powerful country in the world / We are still the best country in the world". But how hard would it be to really knock us on our fat asses? Destroy the bread belt of the US. Bam, we would be devastated. If China and Russia, let alone the rest of the world attacked us w/ non-nuclear means, we would be hard pressed to win. I'm sure there is debate on that depending on the scearios that unfolded. A GREAT movie that explores this is posted by volonteshiva |
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volonteshiva: but what happened to all the govt. run jobs once the regime fell? I mean, did the govt just tell everyone they didn't have a job anymore? Did groups/remaining govt power take over control of alot of industries and people retained their jobs? How much were wages affected? Vastly, right? Was there mass rioting throughout much of Russia? I don't think there were a lot of riots through the country, if any. It's now people are used to voicing their complaints, then they were still too used to being quiet. I think most hoped that if they keep low, everything will go well again. During the Soviet times all jobs were government-run. It was a centralised economy, the government decided everything. When the Soviet Union crashed the government tried to support what it could. It finally settled like this: the government-run and payed jobs are teachers (of all ranks, from kindergarten to university), doctors, workers at government-owned transportation systems, mines, and all the government organisations. Probably there are more but that's what I can remember now. Oh, and certainly the military and police. The majority of plants and factories were privatized and run by private people or the staff themselves. This whole privatization was a huge scandal, and still is. There were factories that were sold at least ten times lower their actual price, for example. Or land sold which wasn't supposed to. I think the people who got most on it were those from the top of the political system. They were deviding between themselves all the national property. Beh. The jobs however  Most were supposed to run on their own, sink or swim. Considering that people just had no idea about how things should be done when there's no one over you telling you what to do, that was hard.
"Small people" had to survive also. Even if they were supposed to have a salary from the government, it was 1) too small to keep a decent living, 2) wasnt payed for months and even years. Sometimes workers got their salary in form of the produce of their workplace. It's fine if it's food, but there were cases when salaries were payed with pipes. What helped most was their land. Majority had a small piece of land where they grew vegetables and lived off them. posted by mymla |
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volonteshiva: once it happens, people have to go on, but right after it happens, there has to be some degree of chaos and mass fear, right? There was a lot of chaos, that's true. Some people used it wisely to amass money and property. I don't remember the mass fear and revolts. I somehow think the general attitude was curiosity and apathy. People were so used to the idea that their opinion doesn't matter and that they are not to do anything - they just waited what will happen. volonteshiva: The US still has this very bad, this sense of might, that our might makes us and our decisions correct/right. Well, US seems to have a reason to, doesn't it? It used to be two countries and some kind of balance, now it's only one country and no balance of power. Russians have that too still. The wish to be proud of your country is so deep in everyone, now when people can find no reason to call the present Russia great, they start to remember the Union. volonteshiva: How has fashion changed in Russia since the fall of communism? Back in the day in Russia, weren't the fashion choices very limited? They were indeed. I still wonder how come the general fashion of that times managed to leak into the country - the main trends were still there and recognisable, like the 80ies haircuts Though it's eighties already...
Now the fashion is more or less like what it is all over the world. People can wear what they want to where they want to. Some still abuse this wonderful opportunity I think. During the Soviet times it was "cool" to wear jeans (which were snuggled from Turkey and wherever), but for wearing them in public, like scholl or university, you could get into serious trouble. Another thing is that before dressing sexy was forbidden. There was just no way, no clothes to do that. Now only you can decide what is forbidden. Oh, even make-up - mascara was smuggled from abroad too. You could buy it Soviet-made, but it was impossible to use. Creams and cosmetics products were few and (compared to what there is now) very shabby looking. You know, the good thing about a closed centralised economy is that you don't have to advertise. Why, if as this thing is the only one kind, it will be bought any way. You just had no choice. Fashion is also when you can chose. You coudn't actually. Now I can chose between ten colours and a hundred shapes for shoes, before it was like you are lucky to have found shoes of the size that fits you, what does look matter? posted by mymla |
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volonteshiva: How do you view outerspace and exploration of the universe in Russia? This question probably has something to do with the "lost might" theme. I am not an expert in the field but the general idea is that the Soviet Union was very ahead in space technologies. Huge money were invested into space and weapons. Now we don't lag behind yet because of all the old achievements, but as now the country cannot afford to invest so much any more, it's gradually declining. The science in general, as a matter of fact. In Soviet times one of the prestigious and well-paid jobs was a physicist. Nuclear physics, to be precise. Anything that had to do with weapons, defence and space was top-secret and well-payed. They now cannot even support the army properly. I think there are some reforms on the way, but generally the state of affairs is pathetic. This is especially a field where people prefer to remember the times that are over rather than discussing the present situation. posted by mymla |
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 its just a two way conversation right now but ill just butt in right here... mymla, intersting stuff, keep it up! posted by sangu |
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mymla: What helped most was their land. Majority had a small piece of land where they grew vegetables and lived off them. what about the people in the city? How could they cope when they couldn't life off the land? Did a number of people move out of the city and into rural areas? posted by volonteshiva |
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mymla: During the Soviet times it was "cool" to wear jeans (which were snuggled from Turkey and wherever), but for wearing them in public, like scholl or university, you could get into serious trouble.
Another thing is that before dressing sexy was forbidden. There was just no way, no clothes to do that. Now only you can decide what is forbidden. I have a friend who took Russian in college/did a project/something where he told me of the Russian fashion scene during Soviet times. On one level is shocking to be able to get in serious trouble just for denim jeans. On another level, it makes sense that individuality can work against the good of the whole/group. There seems to be a weird dichotomy of wanting to fit in and wanting to be original. People don't want to be alone and yet they don't want to be too like their neighbor. This seems to be one of the hardest things about discovering who you are going through your teen years. mymla: You know, the good thing about a closed centralised economy is that you don't have to advertise. Why, if as this thing is the only one kind, it will be bought any way. You just had no choice. It's funny that the US and others are on the complete opposite end of this spectrum! We are completely inundated w/ ads. Everywhere, all the time. People both hate them, yet are still addictively drawn to them. mymla: before it was like you are lucky to have found shoes of the size that fits you... why is this? Why couldn't the society provide enough variety of shoe sizes? Is that too individual of a setup? Were you, as a Soviet citizen, supposed to just have the same size feet as everyone else? posted by volonteshiva |
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mymla: I am not an expert in the field but the general idea is that the Soviet Union was very ahead in space technologies. Huge money were invested into space and weapons. I know that the Space Race and beating Russia there and dominating it was how the US govt saw the expansion into outerspace, but I don't think that was the driving force for the US citizen. I mean sure, USAers had the desire to beat the Russians pounded into them from all sides. But the desire to accomplish something that has never been accomplished in human history was a very strong current there. What I really wanted to know with my question was how the Soviets/Russians view/viewed exploration... Was it just another thing to accomplish/conquer or was there a strong desire to explore the unknown and seek knowledge? I know these are things strong in me and I am sure there are Russians w/ these feelings as well, but I want to know what the general populace there thought/thinks. I am sure you can easily sum up your country's thoughts on this. mymla: but as now the country cannot afford to invest so much any more, it's gradually declining. The science in general, as a matter of fact. I This is interesting because science is seen as one of the more prestigious fields of study to undertake here. Right up there w/ lawyer and doctor. A pretty big change over the last 100yrs here I believe. As in much of the world of course. posted by volonteshiva |
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sangu: its just a two way conversation right now but ill just butt in right here...
mymla, intersting stuff, keep it up! Thanks a lot It would probably be nice to have other posters here besides me and Volonteshiva. I was always interested in knowing what exactly other people think about my country. There are stereotypes for every nation, and I wonder what others think about Russians. So if you could contribute... would be great!
posted by mymla |
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The time now is 3 December 2008, 23:45 php B.B. |