Russian figure skating news & updates in 2022

[aka_gerbil]

Oh, the irony of arguing that Telegram is such an upstanding example of free speech, when it hosts terrorists users whose sole reason for being there is to overthrow governments who say things they don't like.

You can also find some horrible groups/people on Western social media sites. Some of the things I see get shared on fb…. YIKES. My former roommate got sucked into the QAnon crap because of things she saw posted and shared by other people on Facebook.

A lot of Russians are getting telegram accounts because they don’t want to be cut off from friends and news from the rest of the world. My friend who has the friend who lives in Russia is using telegram to stay in contact with her friend and pass on real information from outside the vacuum of the Russian propaganda machine.

I do think, again, that it’s worth mentioning that it’s the Russian government who cut off access within Russia to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The people in Russia are using the one app they can to try to prevent being cut off from friends and outside information. It is especially important, imo, that there is a way to get info in and out to/from ordinary citizens.

 

[orbitz]

There was a Zamboni story on CBS Saturday today with a surprise Ilia Kulik cameo.

A look into the history of the Zamboni machine

It does not go fast, but it gets the attention of everyone who is near one. The Zamboni machine has countless imitators, but the original brand is still goin...

youtu.be

Thanks for posting the link. That was fun seeing him again. Kulik looks a little bit different than his younger days but is still looking good

 

[overedge]

You can also find some horrible groups/people on Western social media sites. Some of the things I see get shared on fb…. YIKES. My former roommate got sucked into the QAnon crap because of things she saw posted and shared by other people on Facebook.

Did I say that there wasn't crap on other social media sites? I'm pointing to Telegram because it explicitly positions itself as being pro-"free" speech and anti-censorship, which means that horrible groups and people are going to it after being kicked off other sites for spreading hate speech and conspiracy theories.

A lot of Russians are getting telegram accounts because they don’t want to be cut off from friends and news from the rest of the world. My friend who has the friend who lives in Russia is using telegram to stay in contact with her friend and pass on real information from outside the vacuum of the Russian propaganda machine.

I do think, again, that it’s worth mentioning that it’s the Russian government who cut off access within Russia to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The people in Russia are using the one app they can to try to prevent being cut off from friends and outside information. It is especially important, imo, that there is a way to get info in and out to/from ordinary citizens.

If the Russian government knows that their propaganda is being countered on Telegram, then it's probably only a matter of time before it gets shut down too. And people don't have to use an app to communicate - there's always email and DMs.

 

[aka_gerbil]

If the Russian government knows that their propaganda is being countered on Telegram, then it's probably only a matter of time before it gets shut down too. And people don't have to use an app to communicate - there's always email and DMs.

It probably will be, I’m sure.

My friend and her friend were afraid to communicate via email because they assume the emails will get read/censored, at least by machines (kind of like how Google uses gmail emails for targeted ads). Telegram was the only thing that feels secure enough to them to have these particular conversations about news without the government electronically surveilling.

 

[PRlady]

I made two posts to Twitter about retiring, and a few emails to friends, and now every app with ads is selling me retirement communities. They’re always watching.

 

[Jimena]

There was a Zamboni story on CBS Saturday today with a surprise Ilia Kulik cameo.

A look into the history of the Zamboni machine

It does not go fast, but it gets the attention of everyone who is near one. The Zamboni machine has countless imitators, but the original brand is still goin...

youtu.be

It was great to see Kulik. He's always been a fave.

 

[canbelto]

Telegram can't be shut down because they won't divulge where they're located.

 

[aliona22]

That's my recollection as well. The U/N news is fairly new, but the S/A announcement happened a while ago. I think they both retired instead of making any effort to look for new partners.

Can someone link me to the Skoptsova Alyoshin announcement? I had no idea and don’t see anything on their social media about it!

 

[overedge]

Telegram can't be shut down because they won't divulge where they're located.

But like any other service, it can be blocked by ISPs, individual networks (like at workplaces), and other sources. Shutting it down doesn't have to mean putting it out of business entirely.

 

[bladesofgorey]

Having spent a lot of time (unfortunately) on the platform while performing research I can say that Telegram isn't completely free speech- gore, animal abuse, the most vile racist and violent content and hate group/terrorist organizing is allowed on it, but porn often gets channels reported and zapped. Go figure. But I also think it's a tool that can be put to good use when all other avenues are closed for people in Ukraine and dissidents in Russia etc. to use so they can still remain in contact with each other and to some degree the rest of the outside world. Telegram is a horrible place but if that's the best option available so be it.

 

[bladesofgorey]

....Then again, there are major conspiracy theories taking over Telegram with the Q-Anons and Marxist-Leninists, who are also joining up in the Convoy channels, that the US and Ukraine have been partnering to develop a bio-weapon that targets Slavic DNA so I'm not feeling really positive about the whole "Telegram will help Russian people access the truth still" thing.

 

[canbelto]

Social media is what you make of it. Everyone creates their own ecosystem that reflects their own interests. I have a telegram account I use to follow my favorite Russian dancers and skaters and it's totally wholesome. I have seen people on Facebook who spend their time sharing racist memes and Q-anon conspiracy theories.

 

[Sylvia]

Can someone link me to the Skoptsova Alyoshin announcement? I had no idea and don’t see anything on their social media about it!

I don’t think there has been a formal announcement? (link to a Russian source?)

 

[Amy L]

Can someone link me to the Skoptsova Alyoshin announcement? I had no idea and don’t see anything on their social media about it!

It must still be a rumor at this point. I looked through some vk skating boards and there's nothing said one way or the other. Someone had reposted some Instagram stories from Anastasia, she made comments that she still skates and that she adores Kirill, but she never said anything definitive about her still skating with Kirill or any competitive plans.

 

[mjb52]

Remember how confused everyone was when Artur Dimitriev Jr. transferred to skate in the US? It looks like a pretty good decision now!

 

[Alli84]

Question - Do foreign fans watching RUS FS events on You Tube or some other platform in any way profit RUS as a nation? IOW, does money flow to the RUS government?

[Provided we have access at all, which it seems we won't.]

If the videos are monetized and if you don't have an ad-blocker, then they could get some some income from the ads. I don't know if the videos are monetized, though. I've had an ad-blocker for years. They are not getting a cent from me!

Beyond that, all they get is bragging rights. "Our video got 40k live views". But honestly, whether it makes 40k live views, or 5k... who cares?! If they're really pathetic, they'll mention it on the next sports TV show... and what does that change in the grand scheme of things? Absolutely nothing. A little ego boost for the skaters themselves, which I don't think is a bad thing... and that's that.

Whether we watch or not, the same propaganda will take place IMO. So, not something to lose sleep over...

 

[Vagabond]

If I remember correctly, the Livestream of Channel One Cup last season had Russian television commercials in it. If it's the same this season, anyone who watches the competition will be helping to fund the network and Putin's propaganda. But if watching Russian skaters means more to you than saying no to Neo-Stalinism, then by all means watch.

 

[Alli84]

If I remember correctly, the Livestream of Channel One Cup last season had Russian television commercials in it. If it's the same this season, anyone who watches the competition will be helping to fund the network and Putin's propaganda. But if watching Russian skaters means more to you than saying no to Neo-Stalinism, then by all means watch.

Whether 3 or 40k people watch on Youtube (or wherever), the announcers will spend the exact same amount of money, and get the exact same amount of business out of it. Do you usually watch those ads? Are they relevant to your country? And even if you did, and they did... you could just choose not to watch them this time, you know?
Boycotts are good when they make sense. This one accomplishes nothing. Apart from people getting to feel virtuous, I guess...

 

[Vagabond]

Whether 3 or 40k people watch on Youtube (or wherever), the announcers will spend the exact same amount of money, and get the exact same amount of business out of it. Do you usually watch those ads? Are they relevant to your country? And even if you did, and they did... you could just choose not to watch them this time, you know?
Boycotts are good when they make sense. This one accomplishes nothing. Apart from people getting to feel virtuous, I guess...

Channel One and its advertisers will have a tally of the number of people streaming the ads, and the broadcaster will receive money for the number of people tuned in online, even if they are looking at another tab or window when the advertisement runs.

It makes a big difference whether the number of people streaming those ads is three or forty thousand.

 

[Alli84]

Channel One and its advertisers will have a tally of the number of people streaming the ads, and the broadcaster will receive money for the number of people tuned in online, even if they are looking at another tab or window when the advertisement runs.

It makes a big difference whether the number of people streaming those ads is three or forty thousand.

Look, I can't be bothered to look up exactly how this particular case works, but I very much doubt there's an arrangement so the broadcaster gets more revenue from the announcers, seeing as:
1) those streams are fairly new, and I think 40k was the max number of viewers they'd achieved so far: a drop in the ocean compared to the millions who will be watching on actual TV
2) most of these international viewers are in markets where those Russian brands do not exist. I don't see Rostelecom agreeing to pay Channel One money to get advertised to people in Italy!

I just don't think this is the hill anyone needs to die on...

 

[TAHbKA]

Can someone link me to the Skoptsova Alyoshin announcement? I had no idea and don’t see anything on their social media about it!

No. According to the source I trust `Alyoshin recovered from the сovid, we are waiting for him to come back on the ice'

 

[overedge]

Do you usually watch those ads? Are they relevant to your country? And even if you did, and they did... you could just choose not to watch them this time, you know?

Get serious. No one is going to open and close YT just to avoid seeing the ads, especially if it means missing part of the actual broadcast.

Boycotts are good when they make sense. This one accomplishes nothing. Apart from people getting to feel virtuous, I guess...

Every little bit helps.

 

[Vagabond]

I did say, "If watching Russian skaters means more to you than saying no to Neo-Stalinism, then by all means watch," and apparently, watching Russian skaters does mean more to someone in this thread. C'est la vie.

 

[soogar]

I did say, "If watching Russian skaters means more to you than saying no to Neo-Stalinism, then by all means watch," and apparently, watching Russian skaters does mean more to someone in this thread. C'est la vie.

This is a figure skating website....

 

[overedge]

This is a figure skating website....

As much as figure skating likes to sometimes pretend that it's not part of the real world.....it is part of the real world, and social/political events affect it just like they can affect everything else.

 

[euterpe]

NOT watching Russian figure skating.

 

[soogar]

As much as figure skating likes to sometimes pretend that it's not part of the real world.....it is part of the real world, and social/political events affect it just like they can affect everything else.

I was on this site when US invaded Iraq and no one was boycotting US skating.

 

[ChelleC]

As much as figure skating likes to sometimes pretend that it's not part of the real world.....it is part of the real world, and social/political events affect it just like they can affect everything else.

I saw pictures over the weekend of two Russian hockey teams forming a Z on the ice.

Wouldn't surprise me if the same thing happens at the Channel One Cup.

 

[Vagabond]

I was on this site when US invaded Iraq and no one was boycotting US skating.

So? Go prop up Putin's propaganda machine if that's what makes you happy.

 

[Sylvia]

Petr Gumennik tested out his VPN today with this 4S clip: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CbF8QAxIKLZ/