In the waning days of owning a too-large house for myself before I sold it an downsized, I shared the house (rented) to a bunch of Russians. They were very polite, made boiled dinners every night and surfed for internet she-male porn on my computers (I guess they didn’t know it would show up in the “history” menu. I still have the cyrillic alphabet hotkey on one of my computers which is a pain from time to time.
I don’t know about the numbers in terms of immigration but, because of the cultural differences, it seems to me that Russians are consistently underrated. The New York Times seems to have a standing anti-Russia bias which shows up not only in its editorials but also in its articles and choice of op-eds: They take just about any rapacious oligarch who has ever had his wings clipped by Putin and wants to complain about it.
OFWinsurgent: I imagine the point of this post was as a joke. Its purpose could not have been to open the floodgates of people sharing their personal anecdotes of experiences with Russians. No, I’m not hypersensitive (I’ve got plenty of stories of my own), but people reading this should just consider the outrage if someone posted something like this by an African-American and then readers would leave comments peppered with their stories about how “I was studying with an African-American once and..”, etc etc.
Why is it OK here? {again, I didn’t mind the story, and so on, I’m just saying that wouldn’t fly if it were about a different, non-white ethnicity or race.
I was studying with an African American once… And he reminded me that while African Americans are a group more united by skin color than common culture (there are more regional variations than most people realize), Russians frequently discuss their “national character,” especially in terms of ethnic superiority and in comparison to oher ethnic groups like Chechyns, Ukranians, Georgians, etc. Ergo, on two fronts that attempt at equivocating equivalence fails.
I had a professor of Russian (as in, American-born white guy who taught Russian) in undergrad who said that the great thing about Russians was that they were white, so you could make all the generalizations you wanted. He was only half-kidding. Also, based on a few years’ living in Russia, I think JS is right re: Russian national character and sense of ethnic identity.
People!!! First of all, I don’t really mind my blog being posted here but it would be nice if I was told about it before it was discussed on this website. Second of all, this blog wasn’t about all Russians – just the pathetic part of the community…..Some of it is funny but sadly true….There are many good and intelligent Russians here in A2, so no judgments on the whole nation please….But overall – nice to know this got to be so popular…
WOW things travel fast over the Internet! I just wanted to say that when Yuliya and I created this list, it was made purely as a joke and was posted only between the group of people we know. It was not made to degrade Russian guys (there are many very nice Russian guys out there). This was made for people to either laugh at or to open their eyes a bit. It was not made to cause chaos all over the Internet.
You want to know the outcome?
The guys who truly are pathetic (those who this list really describes) got mad… pissed! … I guess truth hurts.
The more mature ones realised that there are certain things that they might want to change, and over all just laughed at it.
Over all I think we did a good job
It seems to me that if you don’t like a group of people that you should just stop associating with them and enjoy your own time, rather than spending your time concocting a multiple-page essay that belittles them. To me this shows some emotional instability on the author’s part.
Having come to Ann Arbor from a large city, I did notice something like what has been described in the article. But, I think, this is not as much about Russians as about small town mentality which local Russians absorbed. People in a small town, for some reason, LOVE to talk behind backs; maybe because there is not much to do? As far as newcomers are concerned, even though the general attitude towards them is positive, there is this tendency to underrate, downgrade them, treat them with some suspicion, think they’re weird, etc. This is, of course, relative to how a newcomer would be treated in a large city.
Yikes, those hot Russian ladies sure are firey.
Hey American men…this surely improves your chances.
posted by Sarah on April 15th, 2006 at 1:20 pmNow be nice to the Russians.
Russians are sometimes underrated.
posted by David Boyle on April 15th, 2006 at 2:53 pmThe first two easily apply to just about any circle of friends, I would think. Damn Russians, think they’re so special…
posted by Big John on April 15th, 2006 at 3:46 pmHa-ha, that is pretty funny.
In the waning days of owning a too-large house for myself before I sold it an downsized, I shared the house (rented) to a bunch of Russians. They were very polite, made boiled dinners every night and surfed for internet she-male porn on my computers (I guess they didn’t know it would show up in the “history” menu. I still have the cyrillic alphabet hotkey on one of my computers which is a pain from time to time.
posted by OFWinsurgent on April 15th, 2006 at 6:27 pmBoyle - They are not underrated - there are entirely tooo many of them. most should go back. I ought to know, i am from there.
posted by David Livshiz on April 15th, 2006 at 8:50 pmHey, watcha you mouth!
–Happy Hag ha-Pesach!!
posted by David Boyle on April 15th, 2006 at 9:06 pmI don’t know about the numbers in terms of immigration but, because of the cultural differences, it seems to me that Russians are consistently underrated. The New York Times seems to have a standing anti-Russia bias which shows up not only in its editorials but also in its articles and choice of op-eds: They take just about any rapacious oligarch who has ever had his wings clipped by Putin and wants to complain about it.
posted by Daniel on April 16th, 2006 at 1:06 pmOFWinsurgent: I imagine the point of this post was as a joke. Its purpose could not have been to open the floodgates of people sharing their personal anecdotes of experiences with Russians. No, I’m not hypersensitive (I’ve got plenty of stories of my own), but people reading this should just consider the outrage if someone posted something like this by an African-American and then readers would leave comments peppered with their stories about how “I was studying with an African-American once and..”, etc etc.
Why is it OK here? {again, I didn’t mind the story, and so on, I’m just saying that wouldn’t fly if it were about a different, non-white ethnicity or race.
posted by Mdude on April 16th, 2006 at 9:25 pmAaaaand something that should be funny is turned into a debate about PC. Awesome.
posted by Big John on April 16th, 2006 at 9:47 pmwelcome to the deuce.
posted by OFWinsurgent on April 17th, 2006 at 9:32 amThe worst are those African-Russians. You gotta watch out for them.
posted by Dave on April 17th, 2006 at 10:32 amHow many Russians are even in Ann Arbor? I didn’t know they were a major immigrant group around here.
posted by Brandon on April 17th, 2006 at 11:54 amI was studying with an African American once… And he reminded me that while African Americans are a group more united by skin color than common culture (there are more regional variations than most people realize), Russians frequently discuss their “national character,” especially in terms of ethnic superiority and in comparison to oher ethnic groups like Chechyns, Ukranians, Georgians, etc. Ergo, on two fronts that attempt at equivocating equivalence fails.
posted by js on April 17th, 2006 at 2:16 pm…and Russians also have a wonderful sense of rhythm and are excellent tap dancers.
posted by OFWinsurgent on April 17th, 2006 at 2:58 pmThere are Russians in Ann Arbor? o_O Gee, I thought I was the only one…
posted by Maria on April 17th, 2006 at 7:21 pmI had a professor of Russian (as in, American-born white guy who taught Russian) in undergrad who said that the great thing about Russians was that they were white, so you could make all the generalizations you wanted. He was only half-kidding. Also, based on a few years’ living in Russia, I think JS is right re: Russian national character and sense of ethnic identity.
posted by joy on April 17th, 2006 at 7:43 pmIn America, you read blog. In Russia, blog reads you…..
posted by Kozzie on April 18th, 2006 at 9:33 amYakov should definitely go back, if he hasn’t already.
posted by Dave on April 18th, 2006 at 10:02 amI’m with Brandon. There are Russians around here? If Russians are such a huge immigrant group, why hasn’t Kerrytown turned into Brighton Beach yet?
posted by Eston on April 18th, 2006 at 3:32 pmSurfing myspace blogs for material now ? That’s just sad.
posted by MaxP on April 18th, 2006 at 3:37 pmPeople!!! First of all, I don’t really mind my blog being posted here but it would be nice if I was told about it before it was discussed on this website. Second of all, this blog wasn’t about all Russians – just the pathetic part of the community…..Some of it is funny but sadly true….There are many good and intelligent Russians here in A2, so no judgments on the whole nation please….But overall – nice to know this got to be so popular…
posted by Yuliya on April 18th, 2006 at 3:52 pmWOW things travel fast over the Internet! I just wanted to say that when Yuliya and I created this list, it was made purely as a joke and was posted only between the group of people we know. It was not made to degrade Russian guys (there are many very nice Russian guys out there). This was made for people to either laugh at or to open their eyes a bit. It was not made to cause chaos all over the Internet.
You want to know the outcome?
posted by Katia on April 18th, 2006 at 4:41 pmThe guys who truly are pathetic (those who this list really describes) got mad… pissed! … I guess truth hurts.
The more mature ones realised that there are certain things that they might want to change, and over all just laughed at it.
Over all I think we did a good job
I’m proud of you
posted by Olga on April 18th, 2006 at 4:46 pmWe need to go on the radio with this…hahahahha
posted by Yuliya on April 18th, 2006 at 4:53 pmWell Yuliya, (юлия ? My Cyrillic’s awful) the Internet’s not going to inform you if your stuff is published places.
We got a laugh out of it as well, and usually this crowd keeps itself from massive generalisations (unless it has to do with City Council.)
posted by Eston on April 18th, 2006 at 5:49 pmBTW, D-Bo: What’s with the Arblogger domain? Ever setting anything up there?
posted by Eston on April 18th, 2006 at 5:49 pm“It was not made to cause chaos all over the Internet.”
You’re not setting your slights high enough!
posted by Bruce Fields on April 18th, 2006 at 6:42 pmWorking on it, Eston, working. May take while.
I’m not Russian anything, after all. (rim shot)
…You get the hat tip tho, for setting up F*I*V*E blogs simultaneously. Woooooh! ! ! ! !
posted by David Boyle on April 18th, 2006 at 8:07 pmIt seems to me that if you don’t like a group of people that you should just stop associating with them and enjoy your own time, rather than spending your time concocting a multiple-page essay that belittles them. To me this shows some emotional instability on the author’s part.
posted by Michael W on April 21st, 2006 at 5:34 pmHaving come to Ann Arbor from a large city, I did notice something like what has been described in the article. But, I think, this is not as much about Russians as about small town mentality which local Russians absorbed. People in a small town, for some reason, LOVE to talk behind backs; maybe because there is not much to do? As far as newcomers are concerned, even though the general attitude towards them is positive, there is this tendency to underrate, downgrade them, treat them with some suspicion, think they’re weird, etc. This is, of course, relative to how a newcomer would be treated in a large city.
posted by Bystander 4 on April 21st, 2006 at 6:58 pmExcellent tap dancers!
Hilarious!
posted by Sarah on April 21st, 2006 at 7:59 pm