Is FSU an outdated term?

[andrewfi]

The Soviet Union closed its doors almost 30 years ago. To refer to the region as the FSU suggests that one is probably not to in touch with the region, the countries or the culture.

Try to think in a light that is less than 30 years outdated, more positive.

[BillyB]

The Soviet Union closed its doors almost 30 years ago. To refer to the region as the FSU suggests that one is probably not to in touch with the region, the countries or the culture.

Try to think in a light that is less than 30 years outdated, more positive.

What would be a better term for referring to all women and region of the former Soviet Union?

[andrewfi]

If discussing Russia, then, perhaps Russia?

The countries in the region are now very different from how they were 30 years ago and different from each other.

Sometimes shorthand terms are helpful describing a disparate group of countries by a term that implies no longer relevant commonalities is misleading, unhelpful, and displays an attitude that is unhelpful and inaccurate.

[Olga_Mouse]

The countries in the region are now very different from how they were 30 years ago and different from each other.

Even in USSR times, I'd divide all the FSU republics in following groups:
- Slavic (Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova);
- Baltics (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania);
- North Caucasus (Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan);
- -stans (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tadjikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan).

These "groups" are different from each other in many, many ways.

[Guile]

What would be a better term for referring to all women and region of the former Soviet Union?

I would say just say the specific country instead.  It's like saying I like Asian women: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Thai, are all Asian but very different from each other.

[Manny]

And how might one refer to groups of countries that share a history collectively?

In the dating sphere for example, people consider Belarus, Russia and Ukraine (mostly) and the discussion is framed around those countries. They are all former Soviet Union countries, why the issue with referring to them thus? They share a common history; that shared history brings much commonality among the peoples.

[Manny]

What would be a better term for referring to all women and region of the former Soviet Union?

I would say just say the specific country instead.  It's like saying I like Asian women: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Thai, are all Asian but very different from each other.

I take your point with Asia, but there does seem to be more sub-ethnicities and self-defined cultural differences amongst those countries.

[BillyB]

Sometimes shorthand terms are helpful describing a disparate group of countries by a term that implies no longer relevant commonalities is misleading, unhelpful, and displays an attitude that is unhelpful and inaccurate.

I would say just say the specific country instead.  It's like saying I like Asian women: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Thai, are all Asian but very different from each other.

Most men in this endeavor on a forum like this is looking for a Slavic woman. When I visited a woman from the past living in Uzbekistan, she was Russian, not Uzbek. She was more Russian than Uzbek. She was Christian, not Muslim. For me to tell everybody I visited an Uzbek woman in a trip report would be misleading. If someone mentioned they are looking for a FSU(former Soviet Union) woman, I would not have a problem with it. If someone said they are looking for a Slavic, Baltic, or woman from the Stans, to be more specific, that's even better.

[Omega1982]

The countries in the region are now very different from how they were 30 years ago and different from each other.

Even in USSR times, I'd divide all the FSU republics in following groups:
- Slavic (Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova);
- Baltics (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania);
- North Caucasus (Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan);
- -stans (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tadjikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan).

These "groups" are different from each other in many, many ways.

Moldova isn't Slavic.  They are ethnically closer to Romanians than to Russians and so is their language. 

[Contrarian]

The countries in the region are now very different from how they were 30 years ago and different from each other.

Even in USSR times, I'd divide all the FSU republics in following groups:
- Slavic (Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova);
- Baltics (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania);
- North Caucasus (Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan);
- -stans (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tadjikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan).

These "groups" are different from each other in many, many ways.

Moldova isn't Slavic.  They are ethnically closer to Romanians than to Russians and so is their language.

They’re a mixed group of people with some pure Slavs in there. Would you turn one down who was attractive but more Romanian as you say?

At some point beggars cannot be choosers and the ones who look like Viking women could wish to exclude you as well. 

[Guile]

Moldova isn't Slavic.  They are ethnically closer to Romanians than to Russians and so is their language.

way to nitpick...I can see why you're a real hit with the ladies. 

[Guile]

Most men in this endeavor on a forum like this is looking for a Slavic woman.

If someone mentioned they are looking for a FSU(former Soviet Union) woman, I would not have a problem with it. If someone said they are looking for a Slavic, Baltic, or woman from the Stans, to be more specific, that's even better.

Good point. when people say FSU they are referring to Russian ethnicity.  Not Armenian, Kazak etc...

What's interesting is that in Moscow I met a few mixed women.  Some had non-Russian names, father was from Arab or European countries.  But they grew up in Russia and culturally are Russian.

I met some half Armenian/Russian, Kazakh Russian women too. 

People I know don't say the term FSU, most guys will say "Russia" and consider Ukraine, Belarus to be part of it. the Soviet Union was before their time.

 

[Omega1982]

Moldova isn't Slavic.  They are ethnically closer to Romanians than to Russians and so is their language.

way to nitpick...I can see why you're a real hit with the ladies. 

It's called having a brain, something you lack. 

[Omega1982]

mods, please assist in keeping the threads on topic. 

useless criticism doesn't help at all.  some people think this is elementary school where they can bully people. 

[msmoby]

I do not think referring to FSU in the context of dating is wrong or even lacking in tact.

[off topic white noise removed]

[Contrarian]

mods, please assist in keeping the threads on topic. 

useless criticism doesn't help at all.  some people think this is elementary school where they can bully people.

Most criticism is not useless and if you think you’re being bullied you have a very thin skin.

[Guile]

It's called having a brain, something you lack.

If you had a brain you wouldn't be asking about scams in Russia 8 years on after 10 trips! 

[Guile]

Omega, 2 Russian ladies on this forum commented on your trip thread to Minsk in 2014.

What is going on in this world?

ха ха ха. мы ведь не стоим на месте. мы меняемся вместе со временем.  я уже много раз это пробовала объяснить  . молодое поколение это не тот образ - и коня на скаку остановит и в горящую избу войдет .  мы уже давно другие. идем в ногу со временем

You didn't heed their advice then so you are stuck at square 1 now.

5 years ago I had never been to Russia, spoke zero Russian and knew no one there.  Now I have plenty of social and professional contacts there, speak enough to communicate and know Moscow better than some locals.

You are still worried about wallet dropping scams in Red square and if Aeroflot will crash.  There's something called "street smarts". I suggest you learn it.

[AvHdB]

While fSU can refer to a former inhabitant of what was the Soviet Union to my thinking it is a reference to the historical borders. Since Russia and the fSU spanned two continents it is a convienyent way to define the region. The comment I am from the fSU is something that today is sometimes used by the youth there when traveling.

Really all FiFi is attempting to do is whitewash the history both of what was the Soviet Union and Russia.

[Olga_Mouse]

Moldova isn't Slavic. 
They are ethnically closer to Romanians than to Russians and so is their language.

Yes they are - and Moldovan language IS, de facto, Romanian language (with a fair dose of Russian and Ukrainian words) - but, considering a) the amount of mixed marriages; b) religion (eastern Orthodox); c) the fact that all the population speaks Russian - I'd rather refer to Moldovans (when sharing ex-USSR territory in sub-territories) as to "slavic".

They are not "baltic", they are not "caucasians", they are not "-stans"...

P.S.
Am visiting Moldova 2-3 times a year for business, am even having a Moldovan SIM-card. So YES, I do have a first hand experience, and not just Wiki 

There's plenty of Russian products in Moldovan supermarkets (tea, chocolate, even hand cream). The advertising on the streets is half-half (official - in Moldovan; practical and self made - shopping surface for rent, employee wanted - in Russian). Menus in restaurants are more often in Russian, than in Moldovan. There are local TV-channels in Russian; and even the most popular radiostation for the 25-50 y.o. audience is a Russian one (Retro FM).

[andrewfi]

The countries in the region are now very different from how they were 30 years ago and different from each other.

Even in USSR times, I'd divide all the FSU republics in following groups:
- Slavic (Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova);
- Baltics (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania);
- North Caucasus (Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan);
- -stans (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tadjikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan).

These "groups" are different from each other in many, many ways.

Absolutely.
The still current habit of, particularly, USAians to group together hundreds of millions of people as being a single homogenous group using terms that became obsolete 30 years ago is lazy and ill-informed.

Worse than that, if one were to say to inhabitants of those countries that were part of the Soviet Union (and, of course, many people mistakenly refer to countries that were not part of the Soviet Union as being part of the 'FSU') that they were 'from the FSU' after being asked to explain just what you meant, the polite would then ignore you as an impolite idiot and the more sensible might be more overt about their disdain for your lack of knowledge and social graces.

[msmoby]

I do not think referring to FSU in the context of dating is wrong or even lacking in tact.

[off topic white noise removed]

Your need to protect Andrewfi from himself and his double strandards is touching

Why don't you make a thread on if the term MOB is tactless and outdated ..like you usually do with my posts..then it can be on topic..?

On checking the Moby bla bla thread ..you'll note it gets more views than most other than 'Brexit' ...

I hope the readers gain as much amusement as I via your promotion of said thread ..

[Guile]

Moldova isn't Slavic. 
They are ethnically closer to Romanians than to Russians and so is their language.

Yes they are - and Moldovan language IS, de facto, Romanian language (with a fair dose of Russian and Ukrainian words) - but, considering a) the amount of mixed marriages; b) religion (eastern Orthodox); c) the fact that all the population speaks Russian - I'd rather refer to Moldovans (when sharing ex-USSR territory in sub-territories) as to "slavic".

They are not "baltic", they are not "caucasians", they are not "-stans"...

P.S.
Am visiting Moldova 2-3 times a year for business, am even having a Moldovan SIM-card. So YES, I do have a first hand experience, and not just Wiki 

Omega...you better listen to the Russian woman who has been to Moldova 

[Manny]

I do not think referring to FSU in the context of dating is wrong or even lacking in tact.

[off topic white noise removed]

Why don't you make a thread on if the term MOB is tactless and outdated ..like you usually do with my posts..then it can be on topic..?

Better still, as you have an opinion, why don’t YOU? Then it wouldn’t be off topic white noise here. Geddit?

[yankee]

FSU is probably better than using USAian.  People know what FSU means.  Most do not know what USAian is.