Jolly Joker wrote:What does Nival have to do with the fact that communist Russia dominated parts of Eastern Europe until 1989?
Well, now that you asked, it actually does - at least a very little bit. When you were a world power for more than 100 years, dominating lots of other small countries, you develop a certain kind of ego, which reflects somehow in the mentality of that population. If you don't believe me, maybe you should travel more (to the East) and try to get to know the people better.
But aside from that, the way you put it, it shows that you did not get my point (it wouldn't be for the first time). I was analyzing the situation from a totally different perspective. I was not in the chorus of people pointing at Nival, blaming them for the half-failure of H5, and linking that to the fact that they are ex(?)-commies. Maybe I was there one year ago. This time I was just sitting on the side, looking at the two camps fighting each other w/o getting the other one's point and
motivation.
My post was therefore an attempt of explaining tekeeee why do so many people have a negative attitude towards Nival, and why do some link it to the fact that they are Russians.
You can't deny the qualities and the flaws of a certain nation. The only thing that you shouldn't do, is to assume from the start that anybody belonging to that nation has those qualities and flaws.
When I saw the first H5 screenshots in the spring of 2005, I thought Ubi's choice for Nival couldn't have been better, as I know Russians can be very creative. Nobody can deny their contributions to the world art & culture (whether we're talking about literature, music, balley or any other form of art). Later on however, when I saw how arrogant they treat us during the beta, like we didn't matter or at times like we didn't even exist... I had a sad deja-vú of how Russians used to treat the "small countries" under their influence in the last 100 years. Sth like "don't dare say anything but praise us, as whatever else you say - you're wrong - we know better". You must remember very well that attitude, whether you want to admit it now or not.
Of course it's not nice to be biased towards people because of their ethnic origin. But if the Holocaust would have ended in '89 only, and today we would have had a Germany still largely proud of their past and still thinking they are entitled to rule at least half of the world, then don't blame me too much if I would have been a bit prejudiced towards you just because you are German. Just as many are today prejudiced towards Iraqis and other Middle Eastern countries, seeing in each of them a potential terrorist.
Our job is to work on our prejudices... but that's not enough to solve all problems. It's also the nation in question that has to change itself from inside, and then prove itself to the world that their past is dead and buried. Just like Germany did - and they have all my respect.