Russians - could you assist a journalist?

[andymackem]

Hi guys,

It's been a long time since I've posted on here, but a few of you may remember me from way back.

Anyway, these days I'm working as a journalist for The Moscow News (www.mn.ru), an English language paper in Russia.

I've been asked to do a story about this http://www.lifenews.ru/news/25415 (link in Russian), which appears to be a nice round of complaining about goth music is all about satanism etc.

Since I've lived here I've heard a lot about how goth, emo etc is damaging the moral fabric of Russia, and I'd be interested in a few opinions from fans of alternative music to go along with my story.

Are the authorities in Orenburg getting overexcited here, or is there a real problem with this? Is it simply up to the kids themselves whether they want to do it or not?

Anyone who has an opinion would be very welcome - can post here or via a PM. If I publish comments I'd need a couple of personal details (name, city, that kind of thing) which you may prefer to PM rather than put on a public forum. Responses today would be very helpful.

Большое спасибо за помощ!

Andy

[Izzy HaveMercy]

Holy Hell!

Back from the dead!

WB, Andy!

IZ.

[andymackem]

Thanks. Obviously, I'm only here on the scrounge

How's life with you guys?

[markfiend]

Good to hear from you again Andy. I don't think much has changed around here...

Anyhoo, my £0.02: The kids and their teacher were only making music. So it had some downbeat themes? Half the art in the world is about death (and the other half is about sex).

It's just another moral panic, isn't it? If it's not goth music bringing about the end of civilisationâ„¢ it's Pokemon giving kids seizures.

It's perfectly possible to be interested in music (and books, films, whatever) with darker themes and have a balanced outlook on life and a responsible job.

Oh and you can credit me as Mark Wolstenholme, web developer from Leeds.

[andymackem]

Thanks Mark. That wouldn't be Лидз, a little-known suburb of Chelyabinsk, would it?

[andymackem]

So, thanks to Mark we've got this far (and mentioned Heartland).

http://mn.ru/society/20100525/187842473.html

Any Russian users want to join in?

[Quiff Boy]

nicely done, andy

welcome back, and cheers for the plug

[andymackem]

The alarming bit is that I don't think my boss has really read the final story. He was expecting a good old Daily Mail 'Think of the children' rant. Ah well ...

[Quiff Boy]

you gonna get deported for criticising the state?

[Maisey]

Might be worth getting in touch with Phillip over at www.gothicrock.ru

We've had some correspondence via email and he seemed like a very intelligent and eloquent man, very into his Goth Rock. Might give you some fairly informed opinions from a Russian perspective?

[markfiend]

So, thanks to Mark we've got this far (and mentioned Heartland).

http://mn.ru/society/20100525/187842473.html

Any Russian users want to join in?

W00t! I've been quoted in an international newspaper!

[andymackem]

Deported? Nah. I work for the state

Which should, of course, be a warning for our dancing meerkat fan

@Maisey - thanks for that - I'll try to get hold of him this evening. We can always update the piece tomorrow morning. The internet is so much more flexible than print edition stuff.

On a general note, since I've only just started on this gig, if anyone has any thoughts about the site (the design is new - rolled out a week ago and probably not fully debugged yet) I'd love to hear about it. Either form or content.

For more background on the site (in English), try this slightly cringeworthy profile. http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/featur ... etter_day/

[Big Si]

For more background on the site (in English), try this slightly cringeworthy profile. http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/featur ... etter_day/

Didn't the exchange trips get filmed and shown on Look North or the ITV equivalent? I remember a young Russian Lad being interviewed on a coach trip in Newcastle, and he was most impressed that he'd managed to understand the local accent, as he'd been taught how to chat up the local girls "Howay, yer a canny lass!"

[mh]

For more background on the site (in English), try this slightly cringeworthy profile. http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/featur ... etter_day/

Didn't the exchange trips get filmed and shown on Look North or the ITV equivalent? I remember a young Russian Lad being interviewed on a coach trip in Newcastle, and he was most impressed that he'd managed to understand the local accent, as he'd been taught how to chat up the local girls "Howay, yer a canny lass!"

"Howay lass, want to see my elephant?"

[MadameButterfly]

Wow plast from the past.

One never forgets this place! Hope you are well and happy.

[Sita]

So, thanks to Mark we've got this far (and mentioned Heartland).

http://mn.ru/society/20100525/187842473.html

Any Russian users want to join in?

I'm not Russian and this is just my personal opinion, but I was really surprised. Russia has been a democracy for how long now? But what "Olga Anikeyeva of the regional prosecutor’s office" had to say sounds exactly like something you would expect to hear from the censorship bureau of a non-democratic state. The "undermining moral" argument is used all over the world, by Christian militants, Saudi courts, PRC censors, ... to defame just about anything they don't like.
And life is not all Kumbaya My Lord. So it's vital that kids are allowed to express their feelings freely, even if the result is not "pretty".

[MadameButterfly]

my two cents worth although too late...

let the goth kids just do and feel what they do cause these teens are feeling the darker side of life for whatever reason. they are allowed to dress the way they do cause they make a stand as many religious teens do, so let them be. as i've experienced in life is that the goth looking and thinking people are just deep thinking people. death at the teen age is something they need to deal with so if with each other why not. i don't believe this group to be anything but serious drinkers, thinkers, driven people, willing to take a chance but always there for each other no matter what.

we seriously need more goths in our youth.

[Big Si]

So, thanks to Mark we've got this far (and mentioned Heartland).

http://mn.ru/society/20100525/187842473.html

Any Russian users want to join in?

I'm not Russian and this is just my personal opinion, but I was really surprised. Russia has been a democracy for how long now? But what "Olga Anikeyeva of the regional prosecutor’s office" had to say sounds exactly like something you would expect to hear from the censorship bureau of a non-democratic state. The "undermining moral" argument is used all over the world, by Christian militants, Saudi courts, PRC censors, ... to defame just about anything they don't like.
And life is not all Kumbaya My Lord. So it's vital that kids are allowed to express their feelings freely, even if the result is not "pretty".

The only time Russia was a democratic state was under Yeltsin, and that was an absolute chaotic mess. The Russian Government as represented by The Kremlin (under Putin and Medvedev) is now more centralised than ever. Not even Stalin had as much control over politics or the economy as those two.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#Criticism

[ormfdmrush]

i think government and adults should leave it - less pressure, faster oblivion
those kids from Orenburg (Klimbatika and others) gave much fun to older goth-related people here - it's just hilarious
such a dark scene equivalent to Laskovyj Maj (and related) band
i see nothing wrong in it
kids learn to play music and don't live in streets, at least
generally - special kids are always into subcultures, they can't find themselves and they need other people to unite with
special girls (including ugly ones) - during Perestroika they tried to be sexually reachable, in 90s they were into metal and hippy stuff, in 00s they were goth, now they are more into emo
(always add alcohol and cigarettes)
subcultures change, people stay

[markfiend]

On a related note: The Daily Heil reacts to the arrest of a man in Bradford suspected of being a serial killer by playing up suggestions he may have been "a goth".