Ruminations on Russia

There are a few of problems with your graph.

First, the only source for the material you identify is another blog, which in turn gives no source information at all. That being so, the other blog by definition lacks credibility. The graph itself is not marked with any source. This is really quite irresponsible.

Second, if the source turns out to be the Russian government, you probably know that it is presided over by a proud KGB spy who literally spent his life learning how to lie and deceive. So to accept any statistics from that government is a questionable practice to say the least, especially if the statistics are favorable to the government.

Third, Russia's level of homicides is the fifth highest in the world, and it has horrifyingly high numbers of women killed by their husbands.

See:

http://russophobe.blogspot.com/2006/06/barbaric-russian-misogyny-continues.html

Your statistics, even if true, would tend to dillute this fact inappropriately because it gives no context.

So, Russophobe -- скажите, пожалуйста:

Other than continuing your habit of posting venomous screeds on other people's blogs, what, pray do tell, are you adding to a post that was, from what I could tell, not exactly meant as a deep and far-ranging discussion of sociological and political issues confronting the Russian Federation? Where, exactly, did "The Poster" make claims that this was an authoritative source, or that it was intended to provoke serious and insightful discussion (as opposed to his other posts, which deal with areas in which he's an expert and *are,* in fact, intended to provoke discussion, or at least provide commentary)? Or are you just trolling for blogs, found this one, and you didn't bother to read and/or comprehend the other posts, so you didn't bother to/didn't have the ability to put this one into context?

And, lastly: exactly what benefit would any government, ex-KGB or otherwise, get from making a big deal over alcohol-related deaths? What, you think Putin's going to go out and state that Russia's a great country because lots of people die from alcohol poisoning? Especially since the anti-Putin NGOs agree with the latest alcohol death figures (or did you not bother to check your anti-Putin blather before you posted it)?

Valid criticism is all well and good, and I definitely have problems with some of what Putin is doing. That's a far cry from trying to make a (wholly fatuous) case that The Poster is doing some sort of warped disservice with this post, or that it's all some Master Conspiracy Plot by those Commie Pinkos (and are you saying The Poster is a Member of the Great Commie Pinko Conspiracy, or a Useful Idiot? Inquiring minds want to know ... ).

Get real.

oh -- and, btw: you said that "Russia's homicides are fifth-highest in the world." This is right after you attack The Poster with, "First, the only source for the material you identify is another blog, which in turn gives no source information at all. That being so, the other blog by definition lacks credibility. The graph itself is not marked with any source. This is really quite irresponsible."

Yet I looked again at your comment, and then at the one link you've provided in your comment. There is no source -- even the one you provided to your own blog -- for your information.

To quote another commenter, "This is really quite irresponsible."

Especially coming immediately after you give your shrill little tongue-wagging to The Poster.

Before, I said, "Get real." After seeing this little snip of the most blatant hypocrisy -- in two paragraphs, no less -- I'm forced to think that would be quite impossible for you.

The source for Russia having the 5th most homicides in the world IS in fact on my blog, and if you had done the least bit of research you would already know it to be true.

Here is the link:

http://russophobe.blogspot.com/2006/06/why-is-lr-russophobe-why-arent-you.html

Look under the #1 reason to hate Russia.

There you find this:

http://russophobe.blogspot.com/2006/05/google-says-russia-leads-in-murders.html

With a link to the source:

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_mur_percap-crime-murders-per-capita

Now I demand an apology.

There are a few of problems with your graph.

First, the only source for the material you identify is another blog, which in turn gives no source information at all. That being so, the other blog by definition lacks credibility. The graph itself is not marked with any source. This is really quite irresponsible.

Second, if the source turns out to be the Russian government, you probably know that it is presided over by a proud KGB spy who literally spent his life learning how to lie and deceive. So to accept any statistics from that government is a questionable practice to say the least, especially if the statistics are favorable to the government.

Third, Russia's level of homicides is the fifth highest in the world, and it has horrifyingly high numbers of women killed by their husbands.

See:

http://russophobe.blogspot.com/2006/06/barbaric-russian-misogyny-continues.html

Your statistics, even if true, would tend to dillute this fact inappropriately because it gives no context.

So, Russophobe -- скажите, пожалуйста:

Other than continuing your habit of posting venomous screeds on other people's blogs, what, pray do tell, are you adding to a post that was, from what I could tell, not exactly meant as a deep and far-ranging discussion of sociological and political issues confronting the Russian Federation? Where, exactly, did "The Poster" make claims that this was an authoritative source, or that it was intended to provoke serious and insightful discussion (as opposed to his other posts, which deal with areas in which he's an expert and *are,* in fact, intended to provoke discussion, or at least provide commentary)? Or are you just trolling for blogs, found this one, and you didn't bother to read and/or comprehend the other posts, so you didn't bother to/didn't have the ability to put this one into context?

And, lastly: exactly what benefit would any government, ex-KGB or otherwise, get from making a big deal over alcohol-related deaths? What, you think Putin's going to go out and state that Russia's a great country because lots of people die from alcohol poisoning? Especially since the anti-Putin NGOs agree with the latest alcohol death figures (or did you not bother to check your anti-Putin blather before you posted it)?

Valid criticism is all well and good, and I definitely have problems with some of what Putin is doing. That's a far cry from trying to make a (wholly fatuous) case that The Poster is doing some sort of warped disservice with this post, or that it's all some Master Conspiracy Plot by those Commie Pinkos (and are you saying The Poster is a Member of the Great Commie Pinko Conspiracy, or a Useful Idiot? Inquiring minds want to know ... ).

Get real.

oh -- and, btw: you said that "Russia's homicides are fifth-highest in the world." This is right after you attack The Poster with, "First, the only source for the material you identify is another blog, which in turn gives no source information at all. That being so, the other blog by definition lacks credibility. The graph itself is not marked with any source. This is really quite irresponsible."

Yet I looked again at your comment, and then at the one link you've provided in your comment. There is no source -- even the one you provided to your own blog -- for your information.

To quote another commenter, "This is really quite irresponsible."

Especially coming immediately after you give your shrill little tongue-wagging to The Poster.

Before, I said, "Get real." After seeing this little snip of the most blatant hypocrisy -- in two paragraphs, no less -- I'm forced to think that would be quite impossible for you.

The source for Russia having the 5th most homicides in the world IS in fact on my blog, and if you had done the least bit of research you would already know it to be true.

Here is the link:

http://russophobe.blogspot.com/2006/06/why-is-lr-russophobe-why-arent-you.html

Look under the #1 reason to hate Russia.

There you find this:

http://russophobe.blogspot.com/2006/05/google-says-russia-leads-in-murders.html

With a link to the source:

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_mur_percap-crime-murders-per-capita

Now I demand an apology.