Skiluros

Agreed regarding Trump and dehumanization. I am Ukrainian, so you can imagine what I think of Trump, his goons and even those who support Trump (Americans or otherwise).

I am almost arguing from a devil's advocate point of view.

To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if the mods at a high level support your views (in a different more nuanced phrasing), but you do have to have a modicum of fairness when approaching a rule like "no dehumanization". The style/tone of your comment did conflict with the rules, that's all I am saying.

Unfortunately, these are not assumptions, but factual results of a very broad range of research, sometimes conducted over decades.

You on the hand assume that I am just shitposting or "spreading hate against the innocent". That's why I brought up the fake humanism. You can't even imagine the possibility that I more than happy to read critiques and alternative viewpoints on the research I am alluding to. The problem being is that none of it is convincing and similar to your arguments it devolves into "trust me bro!" and "all research is wrong unless it aligns with my opinion of russian society". Do you want some examples?

If you knew what you were talking about and weren't engaging in fake humanism, you would have had an argument that goes beyond "your views are ludicrous!1!1!!".

But you don't.

Life isn't a Star Wars movie. Going to work everyday and taking care of your children is not incompatible with being a genocidal imperialist. You can even not want any invasion to impact you directly and still be a genocidal imperialist.

So what that the russians you know aren't genocidal imperialists? All the russians I speak to aren't genocidal imperialists either, what are you trying to say? The reason why I said you know this and you're just playing is because of these sort of arguments.

"We don't know anything and even if we do it is all wrong unless it portrays russians as innocent children and who should never take responsibility for anything."

You almost certainly know that all research (literally from any source, using any methodology, even multi-decade longitudinal research) shows that anything between a strong majority to an overwhelming majority of russians support genocidal imperialism.

And unlike you, I've actually lived in russia for many years and I speak fluent russian (and yet I constantly had to deal with racism by the russians because I am of a mixed ethnicity).

So spare me your fake humanism. It's just more convenient for you to white wash their support for genocidal imperialism.

Why do you think this is a sweeping generalisation?

This is backed by a variety of research (both quantitative and qualitative, with different methodologies, some even run by opposition-minded russians). Not to mention historical reality since the breakup of the USSR. You do realize that russia is occupying 3 independent countries and is openly pursuing a policy of destruction of national identity?

Keep in mind that things like "preference falsification" can actually be measured and there is a wide variety of research that specifically estimates preference falsifiaction (with some rather interesting results). So don't play dumb with the "they are all afraid to say the truth!1!!" and "all research is wrong if it doesn't portray russian society in a good light."

EDIT: Don't know if it was you who downvoted me, but if it was, there is a beautiful irony considering all your talk about avoiding generalisations and actually knowing something about a topic.

How would you implement a defensive alliance against russia without say US troops in the Baltic nations?

Ban is definitely over the top.

Sometimes less is more with respect to rhetoric (not saying there aren't situations were you have to be clear and uncompromising in your statements).

Elmo is 100% not going to tolerate Meloni after she criticized russian imperialism and debauchery.

It's too bad we can't send Elmo and all the other oligarchs (not only American ones) to a russian prison in the arctic for several decades.

This seems like a 50:50 type scenario. I personally wouldn't bother with moderation unless someone complained, but a good faith arguement can be made that you were breaking the rules.

While the current US adminstration is arguably somewhere between proto-fascist and fully fascist (there is lots more room for democratic and human rights backsliding), I can see how dehumanisation can be seen as a legitimate moderation reason for your comments.

The bells of war are ringing. It's like the 30s (or perhaps even the 1910s would be more appropriate considering we are in the first part of the information age); it's the time to be prepared for the worst case scenario.

I find it fascinating that there are still regular references to Watergate in American political reporting/commentary. It just doesn't seem relevant.

From my contacts with Americans, it seems that anti-trump Americans are in a state of shock (understandable), but still clinging to the hope that their institutions will save them (debatable considering global examples with the rise of authoritarian/corporate regimes in democratic environments; generally a "second term" tends to be a make or break period).

The pro-trump group seems to be doubling down on trump and even low key trying to justify statements like the Gaza annexation proposal by claiming "that's just Trump, he says things." Some of the stuff I've heard honestly made me a bit uncomfortable (these are people I know well for 15+ years) and I don't discuss internal US matters with the pro-trump camp.

No chauvinism. These are facts. And you know this. There are even russians who agree with what I am saying, not because they lack decency, but because they actually want their society to change.

Playing into russian victimhood narratives, treating them like children and coddling their worst instincts is not doing russians any favour.

Sense of belonging? This is exactly what I am mean by genocidal imperialism being universal among russians.

You (and other russians) fundamentally do not believe in self determination and will always find excuses to justify violence, occupations, torture and ethnic cleanings. The russians are even OK with being put down and abused by their own regime as long as there is imperial conquest.

I don't buy the "dark history" narrative. There is nothing inherent (in a physical sense) about russians that leads to degeneracy and debauchery. It's all the choices they make. The somewhat peaceful breakup of the USSR was a unique opportunity for russians and we can see the choices they made.

Source: I've lived in russia for many years and I speak fluent russian. I've also lived in North America, Asia and Europe and speak other languages.