Vladimir Putin has finally lost it

[Richards 0]

Check out this CNN article about Vlad.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/07/06/russia.putin.reut/index.html

Poor guy should retire...he is badly in need of rest.

Richards

My biggest handicap is that sometimes the hole in the front of my head operates a tad bit faster than the grey matter contained within.

[Andy9o8 2]

I wonder if the author of that article has any children. When my kids were little I used to kiss them on the belly all the time.

Also should make allowances for cultural and language-vernacular differences.

[miked10270 0]

Perhaps we should get to the REAL reason Putin should resign:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5154920.stm

Now that's losing it. Just like that Pinko who said "Jaw-Jaw is better than War-War"... Churchill somebody.

Mike.

Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable.

Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

[bch7773 0]

kinda weird....

Pretend he's just a normal guy for a minute... what would you think if a random guy stops your son in the park and kisses his stomach?

MB 3528, RB 1182

[masterrig 1]

I can see, being nice to a little kid but, I don't think it's proper to kiss a total stranger's kidd on the belly. It just doesn't seem 'right'. Then too... I'm not Putin!


Chuck

[Rebecca 0]

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I wonder if the author of that article has any children. When my kids were little I used to kiss them on the belly all the time.

Also should make allowances for cultural and language-vernacular differences.

That's what I was thinking. If his dad or mom used to kiss him on the tummy in a good-touch way, he would have thought it a gesture of affection.

No, not very appropriate for media coverage, but if the intent itself was innocent and sweet, I'm not going to read any creepiness or bad-touch into it.

you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel loquacious?' -- well do you, punk?

[mr2mk1g 10]

I was in Russia this time last year.

While I was there I had guards screaming and waiving AK47's because I couldn't line my ticket bar-code up with the turnstile reader. In Britain they would have casually helped me out.

I also caused taxi drives great insult by attempting to use a seatbelt. In Britain it's a legal requirement to use seatbelts in cars.

I also bribed travel officials $25 to get my Visa stamped. In Britain I would have probably been arrested.

During a conversation with a woman about her cat she, was struggling to describe its food (kibble) and used the phrase, "hard and dry – like bread". In Britain we like our bread soft and fresh. When it gets hard and dry we throw it away.

On the first day I got about by flagging down random cars in Moscow and using them as Taxi's with an ad-hoc fee agreed on the side of (sometimes even in the middle of) the road. In Britain I would probably get arrested if I started getting into random people’s cars.

When I visited the Kremlin they were adding extensions onto thousand year old castles and churches. In Britain these buildings would be preserved in their original state and not simply glazed over with plate glass and steel.

Are any of us Russian? Are we all aware of all the cultural differences there are between Russians and Westerners?

Are we all sure that what Putin did is actually considered odd by other Russians? Is it odd when viewed in context with Russian culture?

Are we all sure that Western politicians kissing babies on the head would not be seen as equally odd by Russian commentators?

[StreetScooby 5]

Apparently it is common practice for Russians to kiss children on the belly. Not usually 5 year olds, though.

We are all engines of karma

[billvon 3,120]

>Are we all sure that what Putin did is actually considered odd by other Russians?

Excellent point. If a US official visited Thailand, he might pat the head of a child, the way we do here in the US. That's a big no-no there; the head is considered the most holy part of the body. Or he might drop some money and stamp on it to keep it from blowing away. Even worse; the foot is considered unclean, and right there on the money is a picture of the King. I think you can get arrested for that.

[SkyDekker 1,465]

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I think you can get arrested for that.

yes you can.

Plus most homes will have a picture of the King on the wall. It is much appreciated if you prevent your toes from pointing at the picture.

[rehmwa 2]

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>Are we all sure that what Putin did is actually considered odd by other Russians?

Excellent point. If a US official visited Thailand, he might pat the head of a child, the way we do here in the US. That's a big no-no there; the head is considered the most holy part of the body. Or he might drop some money and stamp on it to keep it from blowing away. Even worse; the foot is considered unclean, and right there on the money is a picture of the King. I think you can get arrested for that.

especially in the more rural areas (I realize Korat is as big as Minneapolis and bigger cities, but the culture is much more traditional than like, say, Bangkok)

And the deferrence to the King is less because he's the king, but because he's truly loved and has been great leader for the people - who also love the daughter the same way and think the son is a bit spoiled yet. It's nice to see the reverence they have for their king is based on his actions in addition to what he represents.

(If it was the US, it would be the rednecks and they would be chastized here on SC as backwards. Since it's somewhere else, though, we use it as an example of how to try to be respectful of other cultures. Funny how things work in the minds of the self proclaim 'enlightened')

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[billvon 3,120]

>And the deferrence to the King is less because he's the king, but
> because he's truly loved and has been great leader for the people
>- who also love the daughter the same way and think the son is a bit
> spoiled yet. It's nice to see the reverence they have for their king is
> based on his actions in addition to what he represents.

I think their respect does come from king Bhumibol's actions, but I believe the laws that enforce a certain level of reverence are not specific to this one king.

[Richards 0]

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Pretend he's just a normal guy for a minute... what would you think if a random guy stops your son in the park and kisses his stomach?

[Richards 0]

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I wonder if the author of that article has any children. When my kids were little I used to kiss them on the belly all the time.

Also should make allowances for cultural and language-vernacular differences.

Understood. I imagine that most parents kiss their babies on the belly but not 9 year old children.

With respect to the fact that this may be a cultural thing, I imagine that if that was the norm in russia the media would not likely have bothered to report it.

Richards

My biggest handicap is that sometimes the hole in the front of my head operates a tad bit faster than the grey matter contained within.

[Richards 0]

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I can see, being nice to a little kid but, I don't think it's proper to kiss a total stranger's kidd on the belly. It just doesn't seem 'right'. Then too... I'm not Putin!

Yup. Strange man.

Richards

My biggest handicap is that sometimes the hole in the front of my head operates a tad bit faster than the grey matter contained within.

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[miked10270 0]

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Understood. I imagine that most parents kiss their babies on the belly but not 9 year old children.

FIVE year-old child. I wonder if that should make a difference... Then I look at my youngest (4 soon) & my middle kid (6).

I really think that his explanation is understandable... Wouldn't do it to a compete stranger pesonally, but then again, I'm not Russian, or a President.... And let's face it, kissing babies & toddlers is an almost comical institution in Euro-American politics.

Mike.

Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable.

Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

[christelsabine 1]

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Understood. I imagine that most parents kiss their babies on the belly but not 9 year old children.

FIVE year-old child. I wonder if that should make a difference... Then I look at my youngest (4 soon) & my middle kid (6).

I really think that his explanation is understandable... Wouldn't do it to a compete stranger pesonally, but then again, I'm not Russian, or a President.... And let's face it, kissing babies & toddlers is an almost comical institution in Euro-American politics.

Mike.

Nitpicker But, you're right, it makes a difference if the little boy is 5 or 9 y/o.

I think it's so easy: There's this president going down to an eye level with a very cute little guy who''s telling him that, one day he'll be a president too.... That, for that moment, gives a special connection between the old and the young one. And as the old one is a president, he's feeling free enough to just give this little cutie a big fat smacker (I agree, it should not have been the little one's belly) - now, I will not cite that Russian men use to kiss each other - but, it is!

Simply an overwhelming move, nothing more. That's how I see it.

Christel

dudeist skydiver # 3105

[masterrig 1]

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I can see, being nice to a little kid but, I don't think it's proper to kiss a total stranger's kidd on the belly. It just doesn't seem 'right'. Then too... I'm not Putin!

Yup. Strange man.

Richards

_______________________________

I guess, judging from Russia, North Korea and a few other places, we're not the only country with a 'strange man' leading the country.


Chuck

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[Richards 0]

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I guess, judging from Russia, North Korea and a few other places, we're not the only country with a 'strange man' leading the country.

Hey. You should see some of the winners we had "leading" the country on parliament hill.

Richards

My biggest handicap is that sometimes the hole in the front of my head operates a tad bit faster than the grey matter contained within.

[masterrig 1]

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I guess, judging from Russia, North Korea and a few other places, we're not the only country with a 'strange man' leading the country.

Hey. You should see some of the winners we had "leading" the country on parliament hill.

Richards

______________________________________

I guess, we're all entitled to one or two!


Chuck