this post was submitted on
1,141 points (58% like it)
4,078 up votes 2,937 down votes
shortlink:

AdviceAnimals

subscribe1,273,068 readers

3,438 users online

You want us to put an interesting link in the banner? Sorry, best we can do is the new queue.

Welcome to r/AdviceAnimals

Sound advice from animals anything!

Rules

  • We're here to have a laugh, don't get too serious.

  • Follow the general Advice Animal format. Two line setup or a pinwheel background

  • No reposts, if you didn't make it, don't post it.

  • No verticals or staredad comics. At all.

  • No posting memes you saw in real life.

  • Don't make memes about your friends in real life. Ever.

  • Shortened links (tinyurl, bit.ly, etc.) are not trusted by the spamfilter and will be automatically removed. Please refrain from using them.

Making Memes

Visit:

or use

  1. Please keep the 'advice' relevant to the character. If you're not sure, go to knowyourmeme.com.

  2. If you'd like to use AdviceAnimals in your comments, here's how.

Messaging the mods

  1. We are always happy to help. Please attach a link to the comments of your submission and a description of the question/problem you are having.

  2. If you can't see your submission in the new queue and think it has been filtered as spam, please double check that your new queue is ranked by new and not rising.

  3. If you still think it is in the spam filter, don’t delete your submission, message the mods instead. Deleting it will make the spam filter more likely to filter you next time you post.

  4. click here to message the moderators

  5. click here to request a new flair to be made

You might also enjoy:

Our Family

and Friends

Good Guy Gregs check the new queue

created by mesutima community for
to anything interesting: news article, blog entry, video, picture...
message the moderators

MODERATORS

reddit is a source for what's new and popular online. vote on links that you like or dislike and help decide what's popular, or submit your own! learn more ›

1140
1141

What i'm thinking watching the Olympic's opening ceremony (imgur.com)

submitted ago by Colonelvonjazz

all 108 comments
sorted by:
best
best
top
new
hot
controversial
old

[–]massivecomplexity 21 points22 points ago

My parents went to bed at B.

[–]bezu87 84 points85 points ago

Life was better before the fall of the Soviet Union. :(

[–]LeonTrotsky_on_speed 34 points35 points ago

I've heard some people that live in post-Soviet nations say that.

Also, before Yugoslavia fell was better for practical purposes. What was once 2 nations is now fucking 21.

[–]mavriksfan11 8 points9 points ago

Yep.

I read somewhere (now I can't find it though) that many former Soviet nations support communism more now than they did during the fall of communism.

[–]LeonTrotsky_on_speed 8 points9 points ago

Russia, Belarus, Latvia, and Lithuania were the main countries where it seemed a lot of people regretted the fall of the Soviet Union. At least in the experience of me (Frenchman). I am a democratic socialist, with some Trotskyist leanings, so, of course, I believe the Soviet Union and all of the former Eastern Bloc were totalitarian and statist societies that soiled the names of socialism and communism to the masses. However, based on my experience, the capitalist reform in these nations has made a lot of people unhappy, as well. One of the most common things I heard was "You never had to worry about putting food on the table or losing your job." Also "(insert country/ national demonym here) felt more patriotic, united and happy then."

EDIT: And Ukraine. And many people who lived in the former East Germany/ DDR

[–]yourfaceyourass 2 points3 points ago

Russia went to shit after the fall after '91. Homelessness, alcoholism, etc etc have tripled.

[–]LeonTrotsky_on_speed 3 points4 points ago

And the life expectancy dropped by almost 10 years when the healthcare system succumbed to privatization. I also noticed a lot of Russians absolutely hated Mikhail Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin.

[–]yourfaceyourass 2 points3 points ago

Yelstin began radical reforms to move to a free market economy put on horrendous results which skyrocketed prices and saw a decline in GDP. A referendum was called in 1993, which confirmed that the majority of people supported Yeltsin and his economic changes as well as calling for early elections of the Supreme Soviet. He justified the referendum as continuing his power and overstepped constitutional law and tried to remove the Supreme Soviet (Russia's then legislative parliament). The parliament hence declared his actions null and appointed another guy as acting president. The military took Yelstin side and drove tanks to the fucking Parliament building. ~500 people ended up dying in street violence.

Most Russians agreed it was a justified move though and mostly blamed Gorbachev and Rustoky (the guy they tried to appoint as president) for the events. I think it wasn't until the rise of the oligarchs later that people started to blame Yeltsin, as the Supreme Soviet had been their main obstacle. By the time he left office though hes approval ratings are estimated to be at about 2%.

While he opened up freedom of speech and press, Gorbachev just killed the Soviet economy. I am not sure how he was viewed though.

[–]LeonTrotsky_on_speed 0 points1 point ago

I knew that his approval rating on leaving office was 2%. I have a Russian friend and he has told me about how much his parents, who were both party members in the former USSR, hated Yeltsin and Gorbachev, and all the chaos that ensued around their actions. But this friend is a democratic socialist like I am, so he of course also hates Putin and the United Russia party, whilst most Russians voted for Putin because he gave back a lot of the stability that was lost under Gorbachev and Yeltsin.

[–]yourfaceyourass 0 points1 point ago

I don't really know much about contemporary Russian politics, but I find Russia's history really chaotic and interesting.

The Soviet Union was really doomed from the beginning though.

[–]LeonTrotsky_on_speed 0 points1 point ago

I agree. Lenin had some good ideals, and I am sure that he was concerned with his country, as any Russian at the time of the Empire should have been, but I do not think authoritarianism and centralism is the way of establishing any worthwhile system. Especially socialism. The civil war got the best of Lenin, and soon, the Cheka was founded and real worker democracy was being suppressed by those who swore to defend it.

But the Soviet Union wasn't all bad, I admit. Put the first human being in space, the first satellite in space, was a leading nation in most sciences, generated the world's first superfluid, and was the defining military power in Europe during the Second World War. Plus, the Soviet anthem is an extremely awesome piece of music.

[–]deidru 0 points1 point ago

It's logical. Most of them are struggling to stay afloat, especially during economic depression. Just like communism, democracy is a great paper idea but it's ridiculously expensive. Many were left floundering post block. These smaller nations that had little to start with (cash/trade wise) and little to offer to the grand picture are losing to big democracies. There are no billion dollar corporations nor pockets of millionaires to inject money into these economies. Added to that very little wage dichotomy, it's a struggle.
I also think many small countries see China rising on modified communism and feel that if they had stuck it out, that could be them. I feel that so many people, even in the US now, wish to go back to a bit more agrarian societies than this corporate age. At least then they could farm food.

[–]mavriksfan11 0 points1 point ago

That makes a lot of sense. Thanks.

[–]lettuceman44 1 point2 points ago

Romanian here.

Never say those words again.

[–]TevoKJ 32 points33 points ago

It was ridiculously awesome.

I don't care if in reality it was shit, I fucking enjoyed it.

The only thing I didn't enjoy, was after around an hour, it had only reached N.

[–]turchx 16 points17 points ago

What the hell was with the "Technological Age" Part. They were talking about relationships with texting and all that crap--and the weather! Then all of the sudden they went through the 70s and 80s, when texting didn't even exist! I feel bad for the horribly under-informed people who were actually there.

[–]carlotta4th 7 points8 points ago

That was the most confusing and uninteresting portion of the ceremonies (minus the Olympic anthem and flag raising, of course, which is always long and tedious).

But hey--that ring forging was awesome! And the athletes looked like they were having fun. It always makes me smile to see them enjoying themselves.

[–]BigBassBone 1 point2 points ago

I enjoyed the Olympic Anthem because it was played by an actual British brass band. And it was beautiful.

[–]tremblemortals 2 points3 points ago

Yeah, I hated the last part. Especially the stupid teen love story. Not to mention that the love story itself didn't make any sense:

  1. Boy meets girl

  2. Girl loses phone

  3. Boy finds girl's phone

  4. Boy somehow calls and talks to girl. He has her phone; where how the heck is he talking to her?

  5. I really didn't care anyway.

[–]MONEY_AND_POWER 1 point2 points ago

Phone was from her girlfriend, her number was probably in her phone. It was a sort of modern cinderella story.

[–]deidru 2 points3 points ago

I wasn't much of a fan either. They keep referencing how London didn't want to go head to head with Beijing's artistry, but I felt like that second half was just slapped together. The music was great in a sense.... But the whole idea :shutters:. At first I thought it was part of some really big BBC soap, then it just devolved. It was all muddled.

Plus they had a huge opportunity to nod to Doctor Who, but fell flat on it. Probably why the Queen looked pissy.

[–]StrangeJesus 8 points9 points ago

... worst pretext for invasion of all time.

[–]finnick65 8 points9 points ago

It got to the K's and I was just like, 'I'm done.'

[–]DSTFU 4 points5 points ago

I just watched Canada and the US. I skipped the others

[–]finnick65 2 points3 points ago

How many people did we bring this year, again?

[–]justinsidebieber 4 points5 points ago

520~iesh

[–]TheGasMoney 5 points6 points ago

529, precisely.

[–]hoodie92 2 points3 points ago

I left at E for Egypt. Came back for GB.

[–]VOTE_FOR_PEDRO 30 points31 points ago

there's only 2 countries, 'merica and not 'merica,

-wise words from my great uncle

[–]BronzeOctopus 11 points12 points ago

That's what Hitler said.

[–]Blacklion95 12 points13 points ago

Watched the whole damn thing. What do I win?

[–]willman161 8 points9 points ago

Two comments!

[–]notcoolma 2 points3 points ago

fiiiine. Guess I'll step up and be your second comment.

[–]thehotairballoon 1 point2 points ago

Obligatory second comment.

[–]JohnAbruzzi 1 point2 points ago

For those interested, there were 204 countries including the independent people.

[–]200balloons 3 points4 points ago

imagine if a basketball team had 200 players to introduce. That's millions of dollars of strobe lights & countless loops of "Right Here, Right Now"

[–]iRevo 16 points17 points ago

The number of commercial breaks WAS TOO DAMN HIGH!

[–]JohnAbruzzi 7 points8 points ago

Not on the BBC

[–]poon-is-food 5 points6 points ago

BBC master race.

[–]iRevo 1 point2 points ago

Gah!!! NBC was always behind last night. They even went into commercial during the start of the TARDIS sound. I only wish BBC America aired it, as well

[–]randorolian 1 point2 points ago

Ahh, BBC.

[–]MONEY_AND_POWER 1 point2 points ago

We had no commercial breaks whatsoever. How is that even possible, wasnt it all live and then you would miss parts.

[–]iRevo 2 points3 points ago

NBC would briefly catch us up, but they would also cut into commercial during the good parts.

[–]Leelu_Multipass 5 points6 points ago

It was quite interesting to watch. There were a few countries I hadn't heard of... TIL

[–]lonelychaser 8 points9 points ago

Quite a few non countries as well, just various territories of other countries but you have most of the worlds countries there.

[–]Blacklion95 5 points6 points ago

Watched the whole damn thing. What do I win?

[–]willman161 8 points9 points ago

Two comments!

[–]lizzykins97 5 points6 points ago

What I think is interesting is the number of countries who have never won a medal :S

[–]deidru 2 points3 points ago

Or how many are part of the IOC program to just send athletes. Many of the nations would otherwise fail to qualify without this program, but the IOC reserves spots for them so other nations can see them. It fosters good will towards the people/athletes. What's truly cool is what some countries offer for winning a metal. I believe it was Bhutan, where anyone who won gold would receive a mansion and riches. (A bit Hunger Games) Others offered gold bars, jobs, acting careers... Just to name a few things.

[–]GreenSteel 5 points6 points ago

Let's all become Canada!

[–]Poop-Wizard 4 points5 points ago

This might just be crazy enough to work!

[–]RedPandaJr 0 points1 point ago

Need some stars then we will be ready.

[–]caafion 5 points6 points ago

There are only 193...according to the United Nations anyway.

[–]NotANoveltyUser 12 points13 points ago

The UN has 193 members, recognizes 206 states.

[–]caafion 0 points1 point ago

You are correct. I was thinking of of Internationally recognized states. It's been a while since I've brushed up on this sort of thing.

[–]ExK4 -1 points0 points ago

And the IOC recognizes 250000 states.

[–]poophandjobs 1 point2 points ago

Yeah, well, every time someone tries to do something about that the UN flips a shit over it.

[–]Bosswally 1 point2 points ago

okay heres my plan, USA takes over the Caribbean, Mexico take over central america, Brazil get half of south america and Argentina gets the other half, Europe you guys split up Africa how you see fit, Russia becomes the Soviet Union again and gets back all the old territory, Australia and New Zealand combine to form Ocenia and take over all the islands in SE Asia, Chine and India split mainland SE asian, this should quicken up the march of nations in the olympics

[–]AngryRepublican 1 point2 points ago

Me and my buddies played a game:

Everyone tries to guess how many athletes each country sent to the games. The person who guesses closest chooses who drinks.

...it was a long afternoon.

[–]johnnynutman 1 point2 points ago

gosh, it would just be so much easier if the US was the only country.

[–]zhleader 1 point2 points ago

we should just get all the mainstream countries to fire off some nukes, just see where they land, ya know?

[–]LeonTrotsky_on_speed 1 point2 points ago

Nothing quite like staying up past 4AM to watch a Cuban athlete wave his cell phone at a camera.

[–]newtothelyte 1 point2 points ago

What the fuck were you expecting?

[–]seanbergmanrules 3 points4 points ago

That's mostly Yugoslavia's fault.

[–]LeonTrotsky_on_speed 4 points5 points ago

And the Soviet Union's.

[–]SHIELDHEAD 1 point2 points ago

The amount of commercials is too damn high!!!

[–]DSTFU 0 points1 point ago

It took an hour and a half to get through all of them

[–]coachhawley 0 points1 point ago

You could say the same about the commercials.

[–]JW9713 0 points1 point ago

HAHA I was thinking the same damn thing

[–]halfcentaurhalfhuman 0 points1 point ago

204 to be exact.

[–]the_fun_one 0 points1 point ago

more like too many commercials

[–]FunTimesInDreamland 0 points1 point ago

I came home from work and flipped on my tv just in time to see Canada (I'm Canadian) come into the arena. Figured alright, I haven't missed too many countries yet. Decided by the time they got to the E's that this was going to take a while. Set an alarm for 45 minutes and had a nap. Turned the tv back on just in time to see Great Britain come in. Saw my country and the host country and squeezed in a nap, all was well.

[–]StruggleBus 0 points1 point ago

Oh, we're at Japan? I'll be back in an hour and see if the United States is on....

[–]Tisatalks 0 points1 point ago

I'd love to see that for myself, but they won't stream it anywhere online!!!

[–]The_Yoshi 0 points1 point ago

There nations actually...

[–]vampfredthefrog 0 points1 point ago

I fell asleep during this part like I do every two years. Not even Sir Paul could keep me awake.

[–]penultimator 0 points1 point ago

No worries, we'll all be One World Government with free Health Care for the planet before you know it.

[–]Heroshade 0 points1 point ago

We should dump all of our funding into the Belgian military and then have them conquer large portions of the earth so there's only four or five countries.

[–]BatCountry9 0 points1 point ago

This isn't funny at all.

[–]Dubsacks 0 points1 point ago

I concurr, Need some deep agrarianism

[–]NeonRedHerring 0 points1 point ago

Germany had the answer, but we weren't thinking ahead at that time.

[–]Blamemeta -2 points-1 points ago

Wait, it's on? Shit, Imma go watch this thing.

[–]JarlGrimnar0311 -2 points-1 points ago

The placing of North Korea in like the C's to give them a BIG distance from South Korea made me chuckle, their such babies with a lot of things and so easily offended unless your praising the dear leader non-stop. Seeing Iran, Iraq, and Israel all march close on each other's heals made me cringe a lil expecting a fist fight at some point.

[–]ILiveInNYC 16 points17 points ago

They are officially called the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]vxx 5 points6 points ago

It is called the world outside of your nutshell.

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]seanbergmanrules 0 points1 point ago

I played this for a while and was soon able to drunkenly impress people in bars.

http://www.sporcle.com/games/g/world

[–]LeonTrotsky_on_speed 0 points1 point ago

I'm proud to say I can do that as well. I can also sing the Animaniacs Nations of the World.

[–]FireAndSunshine 1 point2 points ago

Did you see the country that only rich people know about?

[–]projectmayhem88 -1 points0 points ago

GENOCIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[–]mrsisti -2 points-1 points ago

must be american

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy. © 2012 reddit inc. All rights reserved.

REDDIT and the ALIEN Logo are registered trademarks of reddit inc.

π Rendered by PID 1260 on app-156 running c13573a.