Russia Surrounded

[IdleRich]

What the fuck is going on here? I don't understand this at all. Why does that guy if the people killed have blond hair? You can see the interviewer is kinda taken aback by that statement and at first it seems as though he is going to kind of translate it into what he feels should have been said... but then he sort of gives up, realising that it can't be done and it's best to just skate over it. Or is it just me getting that from it? It's really fucking weird anyhow.

As for people going to another country to fight for it cos of their principles... well, these people are clearly built very differently from me. I'm not saying that they are better or worse - perhaps they are better in fact, certainly they are braver - but it's just so far away from anything I can imagine. The outlook of someone who would do that is so far away from mine we might as well be from a different species, planet even, that idea is alien ton me. Does that make me the worst kind of snowflake cuck or something?

 

[wektor]

Better for whom?

very well aimed question which would level 99% of the twitter takes posted by fellows who have never been further east than Berlin for the weekend

 

[sus]

My report card is, on the money about Russia being decrepit and incompetent, blew it by underestimating the power of sanctions

 

[Clinamenic]

A good briefing on how some of these sanctions would work

Can Putin Recover From This?

The Fed and the European Central Bank move hard, fast, and together.

www.theatlantic.com

 

[Leo]

yeh i think it's slowly changing into a proxy war. i think it's better to give up ukraine or to split it up.

hmm...not sure this is the right choice.

 

[Clinamenic]

hmm...not sure this is the right choice.

I think ultimately I'd agree, but aren't there separatist regions of Ukraine? What if they get integrated back into Russia while the bulk remains independent? Does anyone know if this is a possibility?

 

[Leo]

that would essentially be rewarding Russia for invading the entire country.

 

[mixed_biscuits]

 

[Leo]

with subtitles

 

[IdleRich]

Where did that occur? I mean, is it a Russian warship on its way to Ukraine, or is it just a random boat taking shoes (or something) to New Zealand? Cos if it's the latter it sort of seems a little unfair doesn't it?

 

[Leo]

pretty sure it's a civilian Russian boat. but I guess it's a way to send a message to all of russia.

 

[Leo]

 

[IdleRich]

pretty sure it's a civilian Russian boat. but I guess it's a way to send a message to all of russia.

So... it's open season on Russians then? Of course that sort of exchange is funny but I can't help but feel a little uneasy about the idea.

Maybe I'm biased for obvious reasons, already Liza has been taking some flack and I feel quite strongly that it is me who is supposed to tease, bully and just generally torment her, not some random guy on Insta that she barely knows. Also, and perhaps more importantly, my bullying is based on an individual animus due to our personal history - it's properly earned and targeted vindictiveness stemming from stuff I know, not just ignorant one-size-fits-all comments due to prejudiced assumptions and simplistic generalisations.

 

[Leo]

I hear you.

 

[IdleRich]

In that video above no details are supplied and it feels almost like a sleight of hand that will subtly lead people watching to assume that it is a plucky Georgian fuel ship resisting the might of a Russian Warship which is about to start shelling Ukraine... when for all we know it's a tiny fishing boat that happens to have a couple of Russians amongst its crew (who may have not even known that their country is at war) being left to drift aimlessly to their deaths in the Antarctic...

 

[yyaldrin]

Better for whom?

what if it's either that or nuclear war?

 

[IdleRich]

If that were the case I'd personally probably come down against nuclear war strangely enough.

 

[hmg]

Morning!

 

[Mr. Tea]

what if it's either that or nuclear war?

Putin may be an arsehole but I don't think he's insane. He'd have no justification for going nuclear unless Russian targets were attacked in Russia, I think.

Moreover, I just find it pretty depressing to think that he simply has to be allowed to get away with whatever he wants because he's a bully. And appeasement doesn't end well, if you look at historical precedent.

 

[...]

Putin may be an arsehole but I don't think he's insane. He'd have no justification for going nuclear unless Russian targets were attacked in Russia, I think.

The only problem with making this assumption is that this is an ethno-nationalist war with very ambitious goals and if it fails then it may be perceived as a war of national survival. It's a war with existential aims and risks. It has not been started and is not being conducted on a rational basis.