What is your attitude towards Russians?

[SnowBall86]

I wonder what do people think about Russians.. Have your views been affected by the war? Have you met any Russians and asked them what do they think about the war?

What's your experience, OP - do you know any?

I've met lots of Russians through work and I would never be so rude as to ask them 'What do you think about the war?'

I would imagine that would make them feel beyond uncomfortable.

My friend is Russian but has lived in the UK for many years. Her DC are being horribly bullied at school since war started, and she is unable to travel home to see her elderly parents.

What do I think of her? That she is a good, kind, funny person. (The same as I did previously)

I know a lot of Russians living in the UK. I feel so sorry that they cannot see their families and their lives are being derailed by Putin's insanity. Russians are like all people - some very good, some very bad, most in the middle.

I separate the Russian dictatorship (supported largely by Boris Johnson over the years despite what he would argue) from ordinary Russian people.

Her DC are being horribly bullied at school since war started

That's awful

I don't blame the Russian people for what their government does.

I view people as they are, not by the actions of their home country's government. I have Russian friends and acquaintances and don't treat them differently to anyone else. None of them have brought up the war and I don't feel the need to either.

One of my DILs is Russian. She has close family in both Ukraine and Russia. She can't travel to see them and doesn't know if they are all OK. They don't all agree about the war. She is in bits.
She is afraid to answer her phone in public and speak Russian.

What do I think of her? Same as before. She is beautiful and brilliant, and in a very unhappy position.
Putin is Russian. Russians are not Putin.

I feel concerned.

I have a colleague/ friend who's Russian. She is very vocally anti putan and anti war.
A colleague of my partners is the opposite.

Much like if you are bristish and discuss Brexit, the bristish population have lots of different points of view

Just people like anyone else

I've met nice Russians and not so nice Russians , same as I've met nice Scottish or English or Irish or whatever and not so nice Scottish or English or Irish or whatever. I don't judge folk on their nationality, that kinda sucks. Imagine people from other countries judging us on Boris Johnson? And we voted him in democratically! (I didn't personally but you see what i mean...) . They aren't responsible for Putin. I take people as I find them, why do you ask ,OP??

Exactly this. What are you hoping to hear OP?

Russians, those I know in the UK know what their govt is, and are ashamed but powerless to do anything about it. You don't upset the Putin regime lightly.

The Russian state - I'd get banned for saying what I think of them....

Same as my attitude towards any nationality (yes, including Ukrainians), some are bad, but most are good people. Or are we expected to say "all Russians are evil and all Ukrainians are saints", because you know that's rubbish don't you OP?

I think even those that support Putin in Russia are not bad people. For many their life has greatly improved under his rule, less freedom of the press and political pr has an impact on people’s opinions

ds asked me recently why baddies in films are Russians why they never played the good guys it made me think and I couldn’t think of a positive Russian character from a film that’s shocking

@tara66 what a dickish thing to say.

@tara66 - what a ridiculous thing to say. Have you met every single Russian? What are you basing your insulting stereotype & sweeping statement on?

ds asked me recently why baddies in films are Russians why they never played the good guys it made me think and I couldn’t think of a positive Russian character from a film that’s shocking

Checkhov in Star Trek.

I only know two Russians, both currently living outside of Russia and are both suffering due to the war.

One now has little contact with friends and family and does not know when she will see her family again, she has elderly parents and is scared she will never see them again.

Another, a work colleague, was due to relocate to the UK, but was still in Russia when this started. She has managed to move to another country where she is staying until UK visa issues are resolved, but has had to leave family and money etc behind.

We also had an IT support contract provided by a team in Russia, they supported one niche application we had and did any developments required. The contract with them has now been ended and they have been laid off by their own employer. The tech guys were very understanding that our company had made that choice even though it meant they lost their jobs.

So generally I feel great sympathy for what they are also going through, but I haven't met any that agree with the war or Putin yet.

Hmm the Russian spy played by Armie Hammer in Man from Uncle is a good guy, right? And the Russian guy from Eurovision (film) seems mostly good (although a bit underhanded). Can't think of any other examples other than the Star Trek example above. Mostly portrayed as baddies.

The one Russian I know is telling everyone she is Ukrainian. She’s actually afraid 😱 to be “found out” as Russian in public.