What the heck is the origin of this saying? Is this Billy Crystal? Yakob Smirnoff? Andrei Codrescu?
It’s how Yakov Smirnoff’s jokes went.
Yakov’s actual jokes were commentary on the Soviet system – “In California, you can always find a party. In Soviet Russia, the Party can always find you!”
Later, the “Soviet Russia” jokes lost their context in the online communities (Slashdot, Fark, SDMB, etc) and became meaningless cliches, usually in articles or threads dealing with Russia: “In America, you write on message board. In Soviet Russia, messsage board writes on you!”
I think this goes back a little further…the 'fifties or early 'sixties.
The original joke went “In the US, we watch television; in Moscow, the television watches YOU! Har har!”
I hate to say this, but, “Cite?” I believe you 100% but I’d be interested to know the exact original source if possible.
At least, now I can Google a full quote with “television watches you” as the punchline. Thanks.
I always thought these gags were at least vaguely related to the old joke about how under capitalism man exploits man, but under communism it’s the other way around.
In Soviet Union, Ignorance fights you!
That’s what I thought, too.
So, essentially, Orwell’s joke…
In America, sooner or later you’ll own Generals. In Soviet Union, sooner or later the Generals own you!
In 1984, Big Brother is watching you; on CBS… :dubious: