@useless_idiot I think they hate Poles because being Slavic people, Poles still managed to break this cycle of abuse and distanced themselves from the empire — same reason they hate Ukrainians now I think.
You might be surprised, but that's the way they bring you up here — I've been eyeing Poland as a country to move to and nearly everyone, especially the older generation have been telling me: "Why Poland? They hate us!". None of these people of course ever been to Poland.
@useless_idiot I knew a few Poles in person and even online Poles are among the most fun people so I have always found this hard to believe.
The real reason is probably serf's way of thinking — when your master gets attacked you have to protect him, same here. Polish officials often voice something unfriendly towards Russia — the state, not the people — but a lot of Russians take it personally.
@useless_idiot So when I hear this "But they hate us" now, I respond with "Well, if you start telling them they should be part of the empire, Eastern Bloc and all that, they might even punch you in your face — and they would be right" 😂
@m0xee
Yeah, the Boyars/Aristocracy is very good at making us hate each other.
Not always though: the idea to ban Russian cultural expressions got very little traction in the Netherlands, but almost everyone condemned the invasion.