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Now for the Russians

Konstantin in Kazakhstan

There have been many posts here in the past sharing items from or about Konstantin, for example More abomination but also the humanity that is out there.

Konstantin

On Konstantin:

Konstantin’s latest post is so controversial that he has for the first time turned off comments! Before sharing that post on Facebook or here I made a long comment of my own.

Yes, I took the time to listen before sharing this and have to say I think his thumbnail headline is poorly chosen as it really is NOT the point he is making so carefully. I also would re-express it as “Could Kamala Harris become another Putin?” — Konstantin’s English is great but occasionally imperfect. (I’m a retired ESL teacher.) My conclusion is that this post is worth our attention — an interesting perspective from Kazakhstan by a Russian who also lived in the USA for some years.

His account of polarisation in the USA and how this is reinforced in social media also resonates. One of my actual areas of some expertise is in critical literacy and media literacy — an area of research and practice for me going back well into the 1970s, so 50 years at least, and evolving as media have changed into the kind of medium you and I are now using.

One basic mantra emerging from my study for any text (or website or social media statement) is:
“Who is saying what, to whom, when, where, why and how?”

I never post substantial items from any source where I cannot find satisfactory answers, or if I dig into the source and find screaming red flags. I never post anything just because I agree with it or it agrees with me.

For example, an item on the Middle East came my way recently that seemed weighty, until I delved into the source and found that it nowhere revealed where it was, exactly who was responsible for it, what their qualifications were. And then in the source’s back catalogue I noted an item spruiking Henry Ford in his most feral proto-fascist anti-semitic worst goon period! So I instantly rejected that one.

I have weighed Konstantin’s background and past output carefully, and have seen him interviewed on sites I respect. That does not mean I agree with everything he ever says, but it does mean I can confidently share what he says as being an honest contribution by someone whose background and experience can enrich our own understanding. And so I commend this rather controversial post.

Natasha, originally from the far east of Russia

We met her at first when she was still in Russia through Zack the Russian (now in the USA, previously in Georgia and before that a friend of Natasha, also from the Russian Far East). She is still in Georgia.

Denis in Vladivostok

Denis has been posting in English lately, rather than in Russian with subtitles. Perhaps with an eye on personal safety — who can blame him? — this post avoids the controversial but is on a topic that has its echoes here in Australia. I wonder how the current crackdown on YouTube in Russia — see my previous post — will affect him.

Roman the Russian now in Lisbon

Vasya in the hay

This channel was created to show people around the world how people live in remote villages in Russia.