[nickpp]

No one wants any harm to the Russian people, but they too must do something to stop their madman. I know it is much more dangerous for them than for us keyboard pundits, but it is their responsibility. Think how much more dangerous it is for Ukrainians.

[EugeneOZ]

Yeah, and see how you want to help them to fight against Putin - you block their access to GitHub to make them lose their jobs. Without the money - do you think they will go fight on the streets? No, they will look for other ways to feed their families. If they are isolated, they will have no other choice than start working on government.

By action like this, you are just turning into enemies those who want to be on your side.

[nickpp]

I totally sympathize and agree it doesn't sound fair but you will see more and more embargos and boycotts directed at Russia and Russians the more this Ukrainian murderous invasion continues...

[EugeneOZ]

I do not think you “sympathize”, I’m reading through your lines that you are quite enjoying it. I’m not in Russia, it will not affect me, so don't be so excited. But such hostile nationalistic behavior will be remembered, and not only by me.

You have all the reasons to hate Putin - I hate him too. But if you are saying (literally or not) that you just hate Russians - feelings will quickly become mutual.

[nickpp]

You are reading wrong: I am in Eastern Europe and I have Russians ancestry so hating Russians would mean hating myself.

I can't do much really and I am just wondering here how we can solve this mess...

[threatofrain]

So when are economic sanctions appropriate? Never? Because economic sanctions are meant to hurt people so much that regime instability becomes a story.

[wetpaws]

Russia is a huge totalitarian prison and nobody can do much without being arrested or murdered.

[throwaway290]

While enacting a substantial change does not appear possible you can protest and people do, at least in larger cities streets become full with people holding banners. (Photo galleries were posted on HN and FWIW I have supporting information from someone who is directly there.) Protesters are selectively detained, but there is no mass murder or vanishing of people unlike what I imagine would happen in China (or Hong Kong now) so not sure if 'totalitarian prison' is entirely descriptive.

Blocking is a trade-off. Take Google access as another instance. On one hand, it lets sane people not be limited to just state propaganda by watching live the destruction their government is enacting, as well as communicate to the outside world that they do not support it by protesting and sharing photos of protests. OTOH, it lets bots mass-report YT livestream watchers, causing automated ban waves. If we block access, we address the latter, but also eliminate the former.

[nickpp]

There are ways to protest without risking arrest: walkouts and silent vigils. Nobody will arrest people simply walking on the streets in silence.

Imagine the power of rivers of people covering the Russian city streets at the same time, simply walking in silence. No signs, no screaming, no pushing against police - just walking. It would send a strong signal to the leadership with minimal danger to the protesters.

[splix]

You kidding? That's exactly what have been happening in Russia, or Belarus. When there is a larger crowd on the street that it supposed to be and it shows some signs that it's politically motivated, the police starts to catch people, like any random person. Because it doesn't matter who you put to jail. It made like that to send a signal so everyone sees that them could be next simply by going outside.

[nickpp]

Sorry, I didn't know. That's horrifying.

[splix]

I guess you have to see how it work there:

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfKdiI_usQs - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/usqhDfBPsMc - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0q40OsZjoV8 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3acUPxtV-w

Or just search something like "russia protests police" on YouTube

[astonex]

Just like Ukranians are being murdered.

[EugeneOZ]

For their opinion?

[astonex]

For even less, for just being Ukranian.

[EugeneOZ]

Any proofs? Please send me a link to an article where some Ukrainians were killed by their own government forces (that’s an important point) for being Ukrainian. Or for some protest actions.

From my side, I can easily send you hundreds of links to prove that you can be jailed just for clicking the “like” button in Russia.

[astonex]

That's not what I mean.

I mean Russians are murdering Ukranians right now.

So the least Russians opposed to it could do is protest even under threat of arrest. Protests already are happening in Russian cities so it is possible.

[throwawaylinux]

How about China?

[yuppie_scum]

“Whataboutism” is not helpful. Focus on the problem at hand.

[gspetr]

The presented "solution" isn't one at all, see Iran.

[throwawaylinux]

China is the problem at hand, among many.

Examining arguments for logical consistency and reasoning is very helpful to find flaws in them.