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Comment by javert | Hacker News Reader

This suggestion amounts to letting Ukrainian citizens die to avoid a miniscule chance of getting a Russian citizen arrested.

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Not quite. This is causing a relative risk of someone getting arrested in Russia, to create a minuscule chance that this person out of 150 million russians can make a difference in the public opinion, and the minuscule chance that a shift in public opinion in Russia can have any consequence at all on the war in Ukraine.

It's more than a miniscule chance. And it's not just about the shift in public opinion. It's also about consuming the limited bandwidth that the Russian security services have available to deal with stuff like this.

Think of it like DDOS-ing their internal security apperatus.

I really don't think this is how you change a warmonger's mind. And it's anyway under the assumption that you get enough people to make it a DDOS level thing.

Because unsolicited phone calls from people in the west is all that’s needed to stop the war.

What are you doing better?

It’s ok to be upset about what’s happening. That doesn’t mean one should be deluded into thinking they have a direct personal impact on the outcome of events.

Parent commenter pointed out that making a bunch of unsolicited calls to Russians is counter productive. Proclaiming “something must be done!!” Might make you personally feel better, but that’s not a good thing if it only comes at a detriment to others.

Seriously, how do you respond to unsolicited phone calls? This plan is half baked and will only harden the resolve of people who don’t already agree with the western point of view, and get people who do agree arrested.

I take umbrage at the notion I can’t critique a bad idea unless I’m some sort of saint.

The person you replied to is against a feel-good lose-lose solution. That's pretty good.

What are YOU doing better?

Their condescending, sarcastic response implied (somewhat ambiguously) that it was too small and insignificant an effort and therefore not worth doing. They didn’t make a meaningful argument why. They further glossed over any knock on effects, such as what the caller might learn about the callees viewpoints and situation.

Sometimes action driven by good intent that does not lead to a desired outcome can serve as a precursor to more effective action. While I too think this is probably not a good idea, i do also wonder if it is so meaningless, why does Russian government need to suppress information, news, and discussion among their citizens in the first place?

Read my subsequent response. The point isn’t solely that it’s insignificant, it’s actively counter productive.

How many Americans would have responded well to unsolicited calls in 2003 from Iranians saying the Iraq war was misguided?

The condescension was in response to the assertion that not making said calls was equivalent to letting Ukrainians die, which is ridiculous.

Cheerfully paying higher gas prices. Trying to convince my government to send more weapons, money, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Donating heavily to refugee aid organizations. Sometimes happily passing on Ukrainian propaganda. (Go, Ghost of Kyiv!)

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