[eunoia]

I think your fears are indeed irrational. You're reading sensationalized horror stories, internalizing the fear and using it as a justification to NOT do something. I see this mentality in my aging parents and their friends who watch a lot of Fox News.

Would you call me ridiculous if I told you I'll never come to Russia because I believe a joke I made about Putin years ago on the internet will get me assassinated in the streets? I would certainly hope so.

Don't let irrational fear guide your decisions.