Does My Signature Offend Anyone?

[scottishmoney]

I hope my signature which says Ukraine is part of Europe, not Russia doesn't offend any sensibilities here.  I was advised on another forum where I have that signature that it offends somebody and is "Too Political"   Of course that forum is owned by a Russian.  I am just sick of hearing "Is that part of Russia or something?" whenever there is mention of Ukraine.

My family is part Ukrainian, but we speak Russian.  The signature is meant to be informative, not some attack on Russia or Russians.

[ElleKitty]

Honestly I can't read it, so it doesn't offend me in the least. 

I wish people would stop being so silly over small things.  To you, being Ukrainian is important.  If it isn't -part- of Russia, why would someone be offended?

[scottishmoney]

It is actually easy to learn ElleKitty, perhaps we should have lessons here so you can read your future Russian and Ukrainian coins   I like it because of it I can read Bulgarian, and Greek.

[Nevol]

It doesn't bother me at all.  I had no idea what it meant till I read your translation. 

There's too much nit-picking in the world. Some people should get a life & stop whingeing about non issues. (So says this Aussie whinger  )

[ElleKitty]

I'm all for language lessons!  Can't guarantee I'll be a very good student, but I'll sure try  ^^

[scottishmoney]

That is why I think I could live in Oz, they are such an easy goin bunch of people.   

[arthrene]

Not offended here either. I've always wondered what it said though.

[Humpybong]

No problem here......cannot read it anyway

Often wondered what it said......I thought it was something about all of those beautiful women in your life....

[Goose]

Gee, I looked all over my keyboard for the letters that S'Money used in his signature....What gives? How is it that HE gets to use those letters and not the rest of us? It's NOT fair! (How's this for complaining....all in fun.)

[Humpybong]

....all you need is a keyboard for each language......then you will have no trouble Goose     

[scottishmoney]

Gee, I looked all over my keyboard for the letters that S'Money used in his signature....What gives? How is it that HE gets to use those letters and not the rest of us? It's NOT fair! (How's this for complaining....all in fun.)

I have no different keyboard, but just different font settings, and have to remember to type phonetically and not like a Russian keyboard.  There are some letters like ш that has no Roman alphabet equivalent, that corresponds to our sh that have to be manually done with alt keys.

[Sap]

I knew it was something to do with "Ukraine", because the first word is the same as the name of the country, as it appears on the coins.

If it isn't -part- of Russia, why would someone be offended?

Because Ukraine was part of the Russian Empire for hundreds of years. There are a large number of Russians, including a large minority of ethnic Russians living in the Ukraine, who are still sore about the Soviet Empire collapsing like it did, and would be much happier if it re-formed. Or at least, didn't split apart even further with the former Soviet countries "joining Europe". The Pro-West or Pro-Russia debate is a big, big political issue in the Ukraine.

An American analogy would be a pro- or anti- George Bush, Hillary, Obama etc slogan, with a bit of pro/anti abortion or pro/anti War thrown in too. Or, I can only imagine how a certain Texan of our acquaintance would react to someone saying "Texans are Yanks, too".

Is it political? Yes. It it a cause for offence? To some, perhaps. Should you remove it from your sigline here? I don't see why you should.

Any one care to explain this?
I've run this "Україна Європейська, Не російська мова! " through three different translators and they always come out as "Україна Європейська, Not російська a speech!"

Simple explanation: Insufficiently large translator database.

The three untranslated words are all derived from names of geographic localities: Ukraine, Europe and Russia.

[scottishmoney]

If you run Ukrainian text and language through a Russian translator, it is going to give you variable or no results.  Think of the two languages as French and Spanish, very similar form, but word endings vary, and some words are completely different for instance:

UA            RU             EN
Proschu     Pazhalusta  Please
Dyakyu      Spasibo      Thank you

[longnine009]

Would it offend pootie-poot if you said Ukraine's  Prime Minster is better looking than Russia's  Prime Mister?   

[scottishmoney]

Would it offend pootie-poot if you said Ukraine's  Prime Minster is better looking than Russia's  Prime Mister?   

Pootie poot can kiss my grits.

[TwoShadows]

I will tell you what offends me----POLITICAL CORRECTNESS!!! It is nothing more than a bunch of do-gooders trying to squeeze the rest of the world into their narrow minded set of values. Basically they want us to live exactly like them and the same bunch of fools actually believe you can pick up a turd by the clean end!!!
And, should our whinning about the few million illegal immigrants offend anyone I would suggest you find another forum where political correctness is emphasized!
We built this home and castle on the fact WE ALL have freedoms and rights that should not and cannot be suppressed. And, most of the good folks here will defend that right until the cows come home in a VW Micro-bus or until a Bat can pass an eye exam! Which ever comes first!

[scottishmoney]

The thing that really chaffed me, was the signature was not intended to be anti-Russian, but informative.  My family is part Ukrainian, and it comes up in conversation about where it is etc.  I just get a lot of comments, like "Oh, is it part of Russia or something?"  So that is why I made that signature.  It can be compared to some people that think Canada is some northern State of the USA.

What chaffed me was owner of said forum stating after it had been up for over three months that it offended someone(no identity, but I suspect him, he is Russian ancestry)  I most certainly cannot remotely claim to be anti-Russian, I have travelled there, speak the language, and we speak it at home about 1/3 of the time. 

But one cannot help but notice, in the 4 years I have been a member of said forum, that the number of actively posting members seems to have declined to the point at which there are far fewer old timers, most are newbies that don't stick around long either.  Several of us started doing more OT type posting on a digital photography forum, and actually that made me more interested in photography too, so a side benefit.

So well Twoshadows, so far, this is the only forum that I have not been pissed off by "Mom or Daddems" etc.  I never had a problem with Mommy or Daddems, but I thought the whole concept therein was a bit corny.  So I parted company with Mommy and Daddems back in September.

[Triggersmob]

It can be compared to some people that think Canada is some northern State of the USA.

What! You mean it's not!  LOL

[scottishmoney]

What! You mean it's not!  LOL

One time in Texas a guy in a meeting had a thick accent, definitely Australian.  He introduced himself and explained that he was from deep southern Texas.

[KurtS]

I found your signature amusing and to the point. I have a half-uncle from Kiev who is always correcting everyone that he's not Russian--so I understand. Friends who live in Riga, Vilnius, and Tallinn often have to do the same. I'm half Finnish and when some Swedish Americans call Finns things like "almost Russian" I get pretty chafed too, LOL.

[scottishmoney]

There is an old saying "There were a hundred Svedes a runnin' an' one Norvegen chasing"  I think you can change Norvegen for Soumen or Sisu    A relative that married into the family was a Norvegian, and she was as mean as sin.  So I can appreciate that she very well could hae chased a hundred Svedes.

[KurtS]

LOL...that works too, since the other half of the family is Norwegian-Danish.
However, I'm usually not that mean.

[scottishmoney]

Well, see, then you have the Svedes cornered

[TwoShadows]

I can quite honestly say I have learned more world history, since 2002, when I jumped into the Euro bandwagon than I was ever taught in school. I now have friends all over the world and seem to be a better person for it. The bottom line is simple, we all want to live a good life with family and friends. Make a living and enjoy life in a peaceful environment. Seems to me the biggest problem in the world is from governments and organized religion. I could go deeply into both subjects but won't!
There will NEVER be a mommy and daddy here I can promise you that. No aunts or uncles either! This forum is GROUP owned, GROUP paid for, and GROUP governed. Everyone has equal say and I might add the moderators basically get to do NOTHING here. Just be a part of a damned good group of collectors. One would have to turn into a first class a__hole to get kicked off of this forum! Oh! I might add NO ONE has ever been disciplined or had their fingers smacked for getting off topic. Hey, whats a topic anyway? Just friends talking with friends and its done with RESPECT! No politics, no culture differences, no religious differences and no wealth comes into play on this forum. If you like coins and currency then WE like you. If you want to trade then just do it FAIRLY ALL the time. And please do it faster than I am at this current time!!! 
The Maytag repairmen does more work than our moderators do! 
All for one and one for all!

Last year we were told we COULD NOT ever get a medallion program off the ground and the collectors here answered that with the impossible, I guess, and made it reality. Kind of makes us a WORLDS FIRST doesn't it?

[KurtS]

I for one am not trying to be disrespectful or marginalize anyone here.  I think a little humor actually makes inroads to tolerance and understanding, but if that offends anyone, I'll opt out of the "joke" altogether.

[CoinCrusader42]

Kurt and Twoshadows,

Those were great posts.

To the point and "right on!"

 

[Muckeye]

I was thinking of something appropriate to say in response to Two Shadows post
as I started to scroll down to the next post.
By the time I got to Coin Crusader's post I had become comfortable with KudtS's comment.
There is not much more to sat except 'spot on Gary'.
(Terry's comments sound like the ground rules that we are already using for the entire Forum)
'Nuf said.
regards,

[TwoShadows]

I have had my fingers smacked in quite a few forums for being honest or, for the most part, NOT agreeing with the forum Gods who sat in all their glory upon their throne just waiting for one of the "lower class" to step out of line and, heaven forbid, say something against the establishment. The world and our lives is FULL to the brim with SERIOUS so we all come here for fun. Thats the way I (WE) intend to keep it. Our coins and currency is OUR passion and having someone, regardless where they live, to share it with is a GOOD thing. I (We) LIKE good things!!!

If we must have a forum God it would have to be Merlin and he is off chasing booze and women, as well as, coins of the realm. He only shows up here when needed as a Knight and Knightess never know when they will need a little magick from our wizard! The great one doesn't have time for trival matters such as we having fun!

[scottishmoney]

I pretty much had it with god on said forum.  Ever since god took over from the previous forum owner, things went downhill, and the forum a lot less fun.

[Paint Your Wagon]

Well the Spanish footballers really kicked russian ass at 3 to zero
Those russian boys went home to mommy  crying having lost the half finals in football
The finals are tommorrow eg Spain against Germany
I put my money on Spain cause they occupîed Belgium a lot longer away in time then the Germans 

[scottishmoney]

Gracias España!  Viva La España!

[TwoShadows]

Seem to me, if our news reports are accurate, there were quite a few upsets this year in your football?
I love it when the little guys get to kick some ass once in a while! Keeps it all very exciting!!!

[dharmaeye]

I hope I did not start all this asking about your signature.
First, I did a google search on text with no helpful result.
People can say whatever, then you know whether they are worth responding too.
Freedom of speech is important now that it is confirmed by the 2nd amendment.
Its rather hot here in WA state today so I spent it in a movie theatre.

[Muckeye]

?
regards,

[Humpybong]

Isn't it great that we can still have fun here

[Paint Your Wagon]

TV news just said Austrians are going to the football game in mass and half hopes Germany wins and the other half still remembers a corporal invading them and annexing them in the 40's and they are supportering for Spain .
Well they share a common language .
Spain is the bookmakers favourite but like they said on the news you got 2x11 guys and a ball and the scoreboard tells the thruths at the end of the game
What they cannot say is that the wistle blowing referee can make a difference

[TwoShadows]

Twice in the last year we learned of whistle blowing referrees, in the NBA (basketball) who had huge gambling habits! Seems greed and need may interfer even in the world of sports?

[scottishmoney]

I always hope Dynamo Kyiv will make it into the finals, maybe need to invoke the memory of the 1942 team that beat the nazis, but was executed because of it.

[Paint Your Wagon]

I always hope Dynamo Kyiv will make it into the finals, maybe need to invoke the memory of the 1942 team that beat the nazis, but was executed because of it.

I am not a football fan I only watch when Belgium is playing in an important game or when there is worldclass football
The winner of this tournament stays winner for 4 years and I was amazed the winner going out was Greece
( I now you guys call this soccer  )

I was simply stupefied at one of the three spanish goals
Somebody kicked the ball from afar , a second player looked like standing still and very nonchalantely with the side from his foot passed it on like 10 meters where a guy used the outside of his right foot to make the ball make a 90 degree turn inside the right corner where the keeper was not . The footballer was facing the left corner and the keeper . And it all looked like the ball never touched the ground

[Paint Your Wagon]

Spain is European champion for the next 4 years
They won one to zero by Torres jumping over the goalkeeper and gently shoving the ball in the goal