Microsoft Word Лингвистика 2015 №4. docx

THE CASE OF AN INTERNET BLOG 
More grass-root views are expressed in comments on the internet where people 
discuss how their relationships with Russia and Russian people are. Let us consider 
an example. 
The Finnish writer Jari Tervo (2014) argues in his blog about the meaning of Russia 
for the Finns, and suggests turning the clich
é
s upside down. The Finnish actor Ville 
Haapasalo [who studied in St Petersburg and introduces Russia for Finns and Finland 
for Russians, serving as a bridge between cultures] often looks like a Russian stereotype 
(badly clothed, smelling of vodka, embracing everyone, ready to party) and behaves 
like that in Russia, whereas Russian tourists in Finland are no longer enemies, they are 
clients (but it would be too much given the history to call them friends). The Finnish 
media describe them as almost like Finns but not like the English, with a liking for fur 
hats and travelling with the family, as if belonging to the middle class. They like the 
snow and clean nature that Finns take for granted. Nowadays, if a Finn sees a Russian 
it is something good, it means money. The tourists represent themselves, not their state’s 
current or previous foreign policy. When Finland became independent her opponent was 
the Soviet Union, and Russians were enemies in times of war. Few Russians came to 
Finland as tourists after the war, and those who did were with official groups or dele-
gations. The older generation finds it difficult to relate to Russians peaceably, and the 
young do not always succeed in doing so. The historically new tourist who asks the 
way to Gigantti, the electronics store, is not responsible for Stalin’s blood-ridden ag-
gressive politics. This is the content of Tervo’s text in brief. 
Comments on Tervo’s article reflected a range of views. Finns despise Russians, 
some Finns believe Russia invasion will happen, and the Russians residing in Finland 
will help their compatriots. Nevertheless, they can differentiate between people and 
government. The typical thoughts are against Russian women as whores, men as thieves 
and alcoholics, all inappropriately dressed, behaving loudly and ruining the Finnish 

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Russian Journal of Linguistics, Vestnik RUDN, 2015, N. 4 
74 
property. There is much more in the Finnish mentality that unites them with Russians 
than with the other nations: 
I don’t like Putin, but Russians are friendly and helpful. Thanks to their shopping, 
Finnish politicians can be among the ‘great nations’ in the dark times. It was the same dur-
ing the Autonomous era when Russians spent their holidays in Finland. Attitudes have to 
change and become normal, as happened during the Soviet era when collaboration and 
reciprocally beneficial relations were established, even if Finnish hospitality was somewhat 
spurious. Indeed, Russians are Finns who speak Russian. Schools have to teach tolerance 
not through stereotyping other countries, but through understanding other individuals. 
The two neighbouring countries could peacefully co-exist, yet no more in the same 
country and usually, this is not the Finnish attitudes that are bringing mistrust and un-
willingness to cooperate. The destiny of being stacked between Sweden and Russia had 
positive moments in the history and in the recent past. There were wars, economical 
exchange across the border, as well as cultural influences: 
Many people speak Russian, but are not Russians, and most Finns do not know what 
Russia is. People in some foreign countries think that Finns are Russians. The question 
of attitudes towards Russians is complex and multifaceted, as it is impossible to avoid is-