[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 Americans understanding of modern Russia is often very much out of date.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).