Russian Woman Life as a Sum Zero Game…
A Russian acquaintance told me a short anecdote. It was very telling as to the possible mindset of some Russians and also some RW. It goes something like this:
A man in at an international farmer’s conventional asks many farmers this question, “What would make you happy?”
The American relied, “Growing corn better than my neighbor.”
The German relied, “Growing beats as well as my neighbor.”
The Russian relied, “Having my neighbor’s house burn down.”
In a world of severely limited resources and alligators up the kazoo, it is difficult to see any situation as a ‘win, win.’ Ideas of synergy of the many are squashed in the day-to-day drive to make ends meet. Such is the world that many RW are in.
This gives rise to the belief that life is a sum zero game. That for one to get ahead, another must fall behind. One must step on another to get above the rest. The justifications are that the others were weak and/or not clever.
A not often understood axiom of this is that if others fall victim to misfortune, it will elevate one’s life with no effort on one’s part. Not only will the standard of living of others, in general, will go down (thus rising ones life above one more person) but also the victim’s assets has to go somewhere (preferably in the direction of a neighbor who is most likely to be first to seize this opportunity).
This is not an endearing attribute by Western standards, however it is something to be aware of. Russia is no place to be seen as weak or idle. Such people are prone to misfortune whether it is by their own accord or with some help. The emphasis is on the word “seen.” Also “weak” and “idle” have different meanings for Russians.
Remember, when one brings a RW to a foreign land, her frame of reference will be that of Russian society and customs for some time. If her mindset is that life is a ‘sum zero game’ perhaps it would be wise to not be seen as weak or idle in the Russian sense. Then one will avoid much misfortune.
Ronin
Last edited on Saturday June 3rd, 2006 03:54 am by ronin1
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