I’d argue it’s an objectively true statement that, of all the people alive today, Putin has singlehandedly caused more death and suffering than anyone else. The gap between him and whoever is second is likely orders of magnitude. Yet, when I read discussions about him, Russia, or the war in Ukraine, I almost never see the kind of hateful, nasty, and mean comments directed at him that I regularly see aimed at Trump, Elon, or even ordinary Republican politicians. Why is that?
Bonus question: Why be so nasty about it in the first place? There’s nothing wrong with criticism, but I struggle to understand the need for such meanness. Even when I agree with the sentiment, reading comments like that feels toxic. It poisons my mind too. I don’t like being angry, and I avoid it for practical reasons as well. Anger clouds my judgment, and I think it does the same for others and thus should be avoided.
Wouldn’t it also be correct to say that on Lemmy, Trump and Elon are also almost universally hated too? That’s why it’s so confusing that I mostly see it directed at them when I feel like it should be more towards Putin.
On a second though, the amount of tankies here probably explain this to a some extent.
The real answer to your question is that Lemmy is probably 70% American. Most of these Americans that shit on Trump and Elon either don’t know what’s going on in Russia or don’t care because it has no direct influence over their livelihoods.
I think this is the most accurate answer. Trump and Musk have a direct impact on ppls’ day to day, and has the impact of the countries politics to be considered. Putin is just the big bad guy that’s always been there for Americans, so maybe a bit of a novelty affect for the other two too.
