[saladgnu054]

Can we say "the Russian government" or "the Russian secret services" or something similar? Why always this tone with the Russians, the Russians are wonderful people, like everyone else trying to live their lives with the hand they were dealt. Am I the only one that sees how offensive this trope is to about 150 million people?

[PragmaticPulp]

While I agree with your general sentiment, in this specific case the person appeared motivated to literally just sell the laptop to some Russian people, with the expectation that they had the ability to resell the laptop to the Russian government.

The people who broke into the Capitol and stole things are not the smartest or most well-connected people.

More details are available in some of the court docs that are floating around the internet. The entire situation is stunningly disconnected from reality.

[netsharc]

> disconnected from reality.

The frightening bit is that in their "reality", the deep state with the help of Communist Party of China (or are they lizard people?) stole the election, the judges are part of the theft, MSM is just lying to the brainwashed masses, etc, etc. And that they're the patriots trying to save the country.

The funny bit is how they're crying that it's China (oops, I mean, Chinese government) who's controlling Biden. Why couldn't it be Putin? Is it because the Russians (oops, I mean, Putin) are their friends now? Or that they subconsciously know that Trump was Putin's poorly-trained lapdog?

[swirepe]

>The people who broke into the Capitol and stole things are not the smartest or most well-connected people.

Imagine you stole Putin's personal laptop, the secret special one with no password that he hides under his pillow. If you email [e-mail] and offer to sell it to them, it auto-replies with a warrant. They'll definitely take it, but they will not pay for it.

Better to sell it to some random American who thinks they won the lottery.

Edited to add: I guess a Russian warrant wouldn't mean much in the article's case. She basically paid a premium to not deal with a government.

Edited to add: best to not steal it in the first place, obviously. Obviously don't steal state secrets, don't loot your capitol, and just be cool.

I'm trying to get into her headspace so I can understand her. I think what she did was bad.

[ralmidani]

I’m Syrian-American and I hate it when people say “the Syrians” when they really mean the barbaric Assad regime. I do, however, think it’s more out of stupidity than malice; it stems from a statist worldview rather than an intentional desire to demonize the people subject to a given state’s rule.

[swirepe]

I agree that saying "the Syrians" feels incorrect, but how do you feel about saying just the name of the country as shorthand for the country's government? For example

America donated fidget spinners to Syra

vs

The American government donated fidget spinners to the Syrian government

(but not 'The Americans donated fidget spinners to the Syrians')

[ProblemFactory]

The classical news terminology is to use the name of the capital city to refer to the government of a country.

Washington donated fidget spinners, Damascus invited experts from Moscow to inspect the latest advances in ball bearing technology.

[kingofpandora]

Some newspapers explicitly advice against this practice in their style guides.

[ralmidani]

Context matters. You can “donate to Syria” but actually be helping prop up the Assad regime: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/29/un-pays-tens-o...

You can also truly donate to Syria and help build apartments, schools, and hospitals in areas outside Assad’s control:

https://molhamteam.com/en/campaigns/204

https://molhamteam.com/en/campaigns/239

https://www.sams-usa.net/

(The last link is to an organization registered in the US, and tax-deductible).

[SllX]

Russian intelligence, first paragraph of the article.

But I agree with you. I make an effort to criticize the “PRC” and the “CCP” and not “China” for the same reason.

[naikrovek]

I'm pretty sure we all know that the ultimate consumer of something like this is not a Russian neighborhood bread store owner, but the Russian government. I don't think it needs to be said to be understood.

[netsharc]

Well, this language isn't useful, a Russian friend of mine, who is quite modern, not a fan of Putin or anything, said she'd prefer Trump to win, because Biden said "Russians are our enemy" (not sure if Biden actually said that, and even if he said "Russian government", the media could've edited "government" out of that quote).

[naikrovek]

So because someone heard something else said to someone else, I have to change what I say?

[confusion]

[netsharc]

Unless you're Joe Biden, you don't... but if he or his admin wants to not alienate the ordinary Russian people, he should emphasize "Russian government" or Putin and make sure the media notices what he's saying.

[hsbauauvhabzb]

As an Aussie, it feels like a tone set in American film and tv which consistently paints Russia as a frenemy which probably influences the writers.

I’m sure the Russians are fed the very same sorts of propaganda tho.

[cpursley]

As an American living in Russia, not really. Russian people overall have a very positive attitude towards the US and Americans and are able to differentiate people from their government. Even the official Russian propaganda (Channel 1, etc) has a less harsh depiction of America compared to how US media portrays Russia. All the Russia hate in the US right now doesn't even make an effort separate the politics from the people, which is really disappointing.

[eps]

You are living in a bubble. General prevailing opinion of Americans - the proverbial stereotype - is that they are arrogant cowboys, and that being put mildly. You ain't likely to hear that directed at you, but it slips through the cracks all the time. You just need to pay a bit closer attention.

[_y5hn]

Most people tend to be able to differentiate individuals from paper-thin stereotypes. Sure we get exposed to stereotypes all the time, but when you get to know people you see through that.

Most people behave differently too, once you really get to know them.

[eps]

Yep, absolutely.

[SpaceRaccoon]

Your claim about the prevailing opinion is not what is being discussed here which is how regular Americans are portrayed in Russian media, which is favourably.

[fuzxi]

Arrogant cowboys are a good deal better than the truth.

[thrwway34]

Sorry, comrade, I won't buy it. Russians considered US enemy #1 for quite a long time: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.statista.com/chart/amp/1249...

[cpursley]

You're conflating nation states and people.

[joshka]

(Another Aussie here). How do you feel about Canberra is ... instead of the Australian Government is ...

[hsbauauvhabzb]

I don’t fully understand your statement, but I spent 5 years in Canberra and regularly deal with government. I think the stereotypes are exaggerated, but do exist to some eccentric (think: ABC’s Utopia, as opposed to bogans muttering ‘the gubbament don’t do nuffin’) to be fair I think our gov gets caught in big organisation syndrome.

Canberra people are in general, awesome. Little art/fashion culture compared to other cities, but per capita are the most educated people. That doesn’t fix the nightlife situation though :P

[cafard]

I have read that in the 1930s, the city of Rome, Texas, sent a letter to the New York Times to protest that it was not the Rome that had just invaded Ethiopia. I guess this could be an apocryphal story.

[MisterTea]

"Can we say "the American government" or "Central Intelligence Agency" or something similar? Why always this tone with the Americans, the Americans are wonderful people, like everyone else trying to live their lives with the hand they were dealt. Am I the only one that sees how offensive this trope is to about 330 million people?"

[bobthechef]

Why do you have to be so obtuse? Everyone with some common sense knows that in a political context, “the Russians” means the Russian state. Any support from the general Russian populace is secondary (though not entirely unrelated since the state is generally a product of its society). I refuse to believe that you don’t understand this to be the case.

[cpursley]

Unfortunately everyone doesn't know. I live in Russia and am constantly having to explain to people in the US that yes, you can own property, start a business, not everyone is an alcoholic who fights bears etc there. Americans understanding of modern Russia is often very much out of date.

[Fanch22]

> yes, you can own property, start a business, not everyone is an alcoholic who fights bears etc there

Not American, but as the only Russians i met were "security detail" from Crimea and as my mother used to help Georgians exiles between 2005 and 2015, i would put asterisk everywhere in your sentence except at "who fight bears".

[goodbot666]

Do you also tell them that all ISPs are obliged to route all traffic via government servers and if some FSB general likes the successful business you started it will be taken by him easily?

[cpursley]

I've heard some stories and no doubt there are problems. My point is that Americans have a pretty poor understanding of what modern Russia is like. They either think it's still a grey communist dystopia or the crazy 1990s (Adidas track suits and mafia).

[pokepim]

The same appiles to "the Chinese". Heck, just look what happened to Asian Americans here at the beginning of the pandemic, when all we knew was that the virus started in China. "Kung Flu" and stuff, some people are just plain retarded.

[ranieuwe]

Using a pejorative (retarded) to describe another is not very helpful.

[nerfhammer]

FTA: "intended to send the computer device to a friend in Russia, who then planned to sell the device to SVR, Russia’s foreign intelligence service"

[slezyr]

Well, can you prove that it was a Russian goverment/secret service and not some random guy from Russia?

[thrwway34]

Russians support Putin's regime en masse, so article had correct definition.