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Comment by wartywhoa23 | Hacker News Reader

An interesting thing is that in Russia, this military data grab by ostensibly 'our western would-be enemies" was supported by viral advertisement by nobody else but the head of Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill.

A story was manufactured about arresting a 22 y.o. guy in the Church on Blood in Honour of All Saints for playing Pokemon Go.

The story went hyper-hyped for weeks, with general public sentiment that once such an obscurant retrograde declares such an innocent game so evil, it must be something to absolutely install and play in spite!

And such was the way of the Pokemon Go's viral success in Russia.

(edits for factual precision)

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Interesting: the Russians are calling "our partners", "our would-be enemies" now. They're not even pretending anymore. Given that this steady parade of seemingly-planted and promoted derogatory anti-Western stories that has been happening for years originates from You Know Where, it's a revelation that the Russian establishment and secret services are not even pretending anymore.

It should also be pointed out that Kirill and the Russian Orthodox Church have been understood to have been cat's paws for Russia's notorious KGB successor agencies for a very long time now.

All very true, and an important point about ROC/KGB ties, but

> the Russians are calling "our partners", "our would-be enemies" now.

is a total wind vane which can flip 180° in a matter of days (if not minutes, as in Orwell's scene where they seamlessly switch from being at war with Eurasia to that with Eastasia)...

to channel lord palmerston, "no permanent friends, no permanent enemies, only interests"

Come on, Russian "страна наиболее вероятного противника" (the country of the most likely enemy) was always the military name of the US since the Cold War. Now used in military texts and also as a sarcastic cliché

Moreover, it's adversary, not enemy.

The Russians seem to refer to most people not helping them as enemies. Often as nazis too.

Stupid generalization, just like propagandist stereotypes about obese redneck Americans and perverted Europeans.

Only propagandists and their victims can throw rocks like this without any discernment.

Any nation is a collection of vastly different personalities, out of whom one could of course pick a group with sought after characteristics, but taking one such group and extending its characteristics to the whole nation is beyond stupid.

It's OK if you implied "Russian government", but that better be explicit.

I was thinking Russian government and propagandists, especially Putin. BBC going on about it https://youtu.be/2gNp0PfK0CI

Exactly. Russians seem to understand the word "Nazis" is a less-literate way than the rest of the world.

"Nazi" -- in Russia -- means anybody that Russia hates, resents, is jealous of, or otherwise dislikes. Anybody not explicitly in Russia's thrall is "anti-Russian", considered an enemy, and is hence labelled a "Nazi".

Coincidentally, this "Whoever isn't with us, is against us" thinking is a hallmark of fascist regimes like the actual Nazi Germany, where it was an article of faith.

This post was made by NAFO gang

Ad-hominem attack.

Can you do better?

No ad hominem, just meme post because ironically post about nazis operates with made up national stereotypes.

You're saying that calling people you disagree with "Nazis" was invented by Russia? Well, in that case, a lot of people better start paying royalties.

Apparently that story was manufactured and promoted by someone else, don't you think?

Sure, I don't expect Kirill himself to come up with that, but he was positively used as a notorious talking head, which whatever it says must be understood to the contrary.

Like in that case when he blamed the rise of toll roads in Russia - "oh brothers and sisters, shalt we allow taking the toll on what should forever be free in Russia?" - the public reacted in the exact same way - a religious zealot told this, so it must actually be a progressive, sane thing to do the opposite.

Streisand effect marketing 4d chess move by Niantic?

I'd say a common sense "cui prodest" inquiry leads to a much simpler answer, but to each his own.

I'd like to know that much simpler answer.

Or by a three-letters-agency...

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