Internet doesn't help. I saw screenshots of bunch of chats between relatives in Ukraine and Russia in first couple of days. People from Russia claim that Ukrainians are brainwashed, russia comes to liberate them and only neo-nazis are fighting back and shooting into cities.

There is also articles on official new sites (like RIA) that neo-nazis are executing Ukranian Military personal that doesn't want to fight.

Internet doesn't help. It's all about bubble...

As very unpleasant example, my father who lived most of his live in Kyiv but lives in Germany for past 15 years or so, is consuming only russian media. He is sure that Ukraine is ruled by neo-nazis from bunkers in Kyiv and whatever Russia is doing it's appropriate. This was his opinion after first day. Don't think that it changed

> Internet doesn't help.

Just ask anyone who has moved to Seattle, but has conservative family back in their home state. Folks believe we live in an anarchist hellscape. Myself and several friends have had the experience of being called liars by family members who trust Fox News over the word of their blood relatives. It's absolutely maddening.

I actually moved out of Seattle after 4 months in 2021 because compared to the cities I was used to in Canada, it was quite literally a hellscape. Shuttered stores, screaming homeless people, and parks which resemble refugee camps.

I understand it was exacerbated by covid and the BLM riots of 2020, but I don’t think people are exaggerating when they say that much of Seattle is a pretty shocking place to be.

Same thing in Portland. People think Antifa burned the city to the ground.

Washington state isn't a paradise, there are lots of wrong things going on primarily with government overreach and the abuse of emergency powers. It's setting a dangerous precedent.

I mean, Seattle is a hellscape to me lol. I mostly kid, i live south of Tacoma, i just hate the homeless problem in Olympia, Seattle. The roads in southern Seattle also make me want to die hah.

Anyway, just making local-jokes mostly. Not actually attacking Seattle :)

edit: Is it because i was kidding, or is very mild criticism of Seattle not appreciated? It's not like i live in Texas and have never been there lol.

I think it's because it is off topic, and also HN generally does not like humor, unless it's particularly clever.

Fair, thanks for the reply. It was only half humor though, as a local i do genuinely hate much of the city. However, i'm not "city local" if that makes sense.

But it's not unique to Seattle. Tacoma and Olympia (where i live) is bad too. Cities just suck these days it seems.

Genuinely curious, how does he see the US, UK, EU etc helping Ukraine? Does he think all those countries are ruled by neo-nazis as well? Or does he not know the country he currently lives in is helping Ukraine because he only consume Russian media?

He thinks that all of this western propaganda and lies and western media fabrication. I frankly couldn't have this conversation with him because this is just god damn hard. Asked my brother who lives with him to do it. He tried once and dropped topic completely.

Think q-anon level of brainwash. Or some cult, donno.

My wifes parents are in same "state". It took her a few years to come to peace with it :/ Logical discussions with them not possible

Ah. Classic.

Living in <western ccountry> for <more than a decade> [0], telling how putin's russia is a heaven, and west is rotten gay propaganda hellscape.

Asking why they are not moving back to russia usually leaves them speechless.

russian propaganda/troll machine is next level, I could give them that. goebbels would be proud.

[0] If there's a significant russian speaking diaspora it's not unusual that such people do not understand local language almost at all, even after living for decades.

Got links to those screenshots?

They are days in the past in the LJ. It's eternity. Not possible to find. But once in a while somebody from ukraine posts messages from friends in russia that "soon you will be liberated and you will understand everything" or something like this.

One of the best that i saw it's claim that because what is Putin doing is okay under russian law and was approved by duma, there by definition can't be anything wrong with it.

The internet, right? How else will they learn that President Trump (not the illegitimate so-called-president Biden) supports our great leader Putin!