# Western hypocricy at its worst **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** ukraine-invasion\ **Created:** [March 2, 2022, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-hypocricy-at-its-worst/960352 "2022-03-02T14:15:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-hypocricy-at-its-worst/960352/21 "2022-03-02T20:26:06Z")
What was the point that the OP was making? Or, will we have to wait until the Russian work day begins to find out? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-hypocricy-at-its-worst/960352/22 "2022-03-02T20:29:24Z")
> [@JakeRS](#): > > You can’t pretend 8 years didn’t happen, that 3 thousand civilians didn’t die and only turn on the TV a week ago, cry crocodile tears and blame one side on all the evils of the world. You apparently had absolutely nothing to say on the subject until Putin was rightfully blamed. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-hypocricy-at-its-worst/960352/23 "2022-03-02T20:44:47Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > That is the point I was trying to make. It is a fucking tragedy what is happening in Ukraine right now, but it wouldn’t even be noticed if it were happening anywhere else with people who are not Northern Europeans. This is something I also thought. But then I also thought, if it was a bunch of white people somewhere other than one step away from western Europe, it would probably also be different. I don’t think the white people argument is nearly as important as the next country he’s going to invade might be mine argument. It may not be hypocritical but it is certainly self-interested. Which is how every country is, so not so interesting perhaps. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-hypocricy-at-its-worst/960352/24 "2022-03-02T20:45:54Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > The OP almost has a point. That’s what’s genuinely fascinating at this slow motion trainwreck of a troll. A more adept troll might have exploited any number of tangentially related concerns to create a convincing facade, leading to page after page (or, in discourse, score on score) of posts between sincere/genuine posters. Like, there is something to the notion that we seem prepared to turn a blind eye to so much around the world, but somehow this is the thing that makes the news day after day. One might even make explicit comparisons to the US invasion of Iraq and wonder how exactly Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is substantially different (other than evidencing even greater incompetence among its leaders, because I’m starting to think Putin isn’t so much an evil genius as something like George W. Bush if he were a sociopath with even dumber generals). But no. He goes right to _#bothsides_, thus ensuring his facade of concern won’t withstand even cursory scrutiny. Obvious troll is obvious. And stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-hypocricy-at-its-worst/960352/25 "2022-03-02T21:06:46Z")
> [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > One might even make explicit comparisons to the US invasion of Iraq and wonder how exactly Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is substantially different I’ve thought about this myself. We also invaded a sovereign nation on flimsy pretenses with no provocation, yet where were the sanctions, the condemnation, the sports bans, and the Pornhub blockage\*? Yeah, I know … Saddam was a thug, Iraq wasn’t a democracy … but still. (\*Also, I know the Pornhub thing turned out to be untrue, and there may not even have _been_ a Pornhub in 2003.) ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-hypocricy-at-its-worst/960352/26 "2022-03-02T21:39:33Z")
Well, when it comes to Iraq, there had been a decade of enforcing both a northern and southern no-fly zone, the fact that Hussein really was a dictator, but most importantly there was the question of UN Resolution 1441 acting as at least a fig leaf, with the possibility of pointing even to both 678 and 660. Was the causus belli pretty much BS? Sure. Did it all go really badly in the ensuing eight years? Definitely. But I doubt I’m the only one who both didn’t particularly support the war while also hoping that, since it wasn’t going to be prevented, that we could turn a dictatorship into a democracy, at least in the first few months of 2003. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-hypocricy-at-its-worst/960352/27 "2022-03-02T21:52:13Z")
So Americans bear a responsibility for Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine because we didn’t protest hard enough against Russia’s 2014 invasion of Ukraine? Have civilians been killed since 2014? Yes, absolutely, that’s what happens in a war. And the primary blame for their deaths goes to the person who started the war; Vladimir Putin. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-hypocricy-at-its-worst/960352/28 "2022-03-02T22:20:25Z")
I know it’s played out to accuse people of being paid Russian trolls, but between this thread and the recent post claiming [nothing significant happened](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-republicans-are-destined-to-fail/958919/247) during Trump’s presidency, Jake is looking like a true bridge-dwelling employee of the Motherland. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-hypocricy-at-its-worst/960352/29 "2022-03-02T22:32:05Z")
Or maybe there are places in the world that aren’t the US _or_ Russia, like—for instance—Serbia? [https://boards.straightdope.com/search?context=user&context\_id=jakers&q=Serbia%20%40JakeRS%20&skip\_context=true](https://boards.straightdope.com/search?context=user&context_id=jakers&q=Serbia%20%40JakeRS%20&skip_context=true) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-hypocricy-at-its-worst/960352/30 "2022-03-02T22:39:27Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Or maybe there are places in the world that aren’t the US _or_ Russia, like—for instance—Serbia? I did not say that Jake was Russian, I said Jake acted like he was paid by Russia to troll. After all… > [@Internet job idea](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-job-idea/681320/9): > > I am learning Greek and Russian ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-hypocricy-at-its-worst/960352/31 "2022-03-02T22:44:37Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I know it’s played out to accuse people of being paid Russian trolls Sometimes when I read what people are posting, I hope they’re getting paid by Russia. I’d hate to think there are people who actually believe the nonsense they’re posting. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-hypocricy-at-its-worst/960352/32 "2022-03-02T22:47:40Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > But I’m pretty sure that’s not the point he/she/it is trying to make. The OP’s point is at the top of his head. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-hypocricy-at-its-worst/960352/33 "2022-03-02T22:47:56Z")
Would a troll have started a thread to ask “what if Hitler had a gravestone?” or another thread inviting posters to contemplate a world in which Hitler never attacked anyone and there either were no death camps or the death camps existed but nobody cared? [Probably.](https://boards.straightdope.com/search?q=Hitler%20%40JakeRS) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-hypocricy-at-its-worst/960352/34 "2022-03-02T22:55:48Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > So Americans bear a responsibility for Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine because we didn’t protest hard enough against Russia’s 2014 invasion of Ukraine? And don’t forget, America fought imperialist powers like Germany and Japan\*, and that’s just as bad as Russia’s invading Ukraine, because all war is equally immoral. \*don’t forget Grenada, which we invaded to corner the world supply of Grenadine syrup. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-hypocricy-at-its-worst/960352/35 "2022-03-02T22:55:51Z")
I’m going to make like Xerxes and take a hard pass. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-hypocricy-at-its-worst/960352/36 "2022-03-02T22:57:49Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > I’ve thought about this myself. We also invaded a sovereign nation on flimsy pretenses with no provocation, yet where were the sanctions, the condemnation, the sports bans, and the Pornhub blockage\*? Quite a lot of condemnation. Not much in the way of sanctions, alas. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-hypocricy-at-its-worst/960352/37 "2022-03-02T23:10:07Z")
> [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > Are you suggesting that if we were to search @JakeRS’s posting history for _Crimea_ we’d come up with nil, and if we were to search for _Ukraine_ we’d find nothing substantial? Is that Jake from State Farm…? ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-hypocricy-at-its-worst/960352/38 "2022-03-02T23:11:42Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > That’s not true. We would also notice if there were oil involved. Cite: Iraq/Kuwait. We would also notice if another nuclear armed country with a long history of expansionist policies invaded their neighbor. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-hypocricy-at-its-worst/960352/39 "2022-03-02T23:24:03Z")
I get why some wish more attention was being paid to other conflicts around the world. I agree that some of the commentary has not been very good. But I feel like these people are missing the point: This is something that has been effectively unseen in Europe for 75 years, something that’s a real throwback to the Cold War, and something that could involve–if it spirals now or later–effectively an all-out war on the European continent with at least thirty-one countries involved and both sides with plenty of nuclear warheads to go on top of plenty of conventional weaponry. I generally don’t find the criticisms of the coverage and attention being paid to be in good faith. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2022, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-hypocricy-at-its-worst/960352/40 "2022-03-03T01:16:55Z")
Eight years ago? Russia and Ukraine haven’t been buddies for a loooong time. Putin’s aiming to be the next Stalin, if anything – you really think we should ignore that? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-hypocricy-at-its-worst/960352.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-hypocricy-at-its-worst/960352.md?page=3)