I’d argue it’s an objectively true statement that, of all the people alive today, Putin has singlehandedly caused more death and suffering than anyone else. The gap between him and whoever is second is likely orders of magnitude. Yet, when I read discussions about him, Russia, or the war in Ukraine, I almost never see the kind of hateful, nasty, and mean comments directed at him that I regularly see aimed at Trump, Elon, or even ordinary Republican politicians. Why is that?

Bonus question: Why be so nasty about it in the first place? There’s nothing wrong with criticism, but I struggle to understand the need for such meanness. Even when I agree with the sentiment, reading comments like that feels toxic. It poisons my mind too. I don’t like being angry, and I avoid it for practical reasons as well. Anger clouds my judgment, and I think it does the same for others and thus should be avoided.

  • masquenox@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    Putin has singlehandedly caused more death and suffering than anyone else.

    And your proof of this is… what?

    I almost never see the kind of hateful, nasty, and mean comments directed at him

    Because Putin is not a product of the US. Trump is, and, to a large extent, so is Musk.

    • ArtVandelay@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      Yeah as bad as he is, Putin isn’t event the worst Russian dictator if we’re going by body count. Stalin is still miles ahead.

    • Free_Thoughts@feddit.ukOP
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      3 days ago

      And your proof of this is… what?

      The war in Ukraine has so far caused around 300k deaths. I can’t think of a person alive who’d be responsible for more deaths than that.

      • masquenox@lemmy.world
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        3 days ago

        The (so-called) “War On Terror” unleashed by George Bush has caused about 900,000 dead. That is just the death DIRECTLY caused by warfare and not the far, far greater number of people dead through indirect causes such as starvation and disease as a result.

        Or does it only count in your book when the people dying “look like us”?

        • Free_Thoughts@feddit.ukOP
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          3 days ago

          Or does it only count in your book when the people dying “look like us”?

          No that totally counts. Why do you need to imply I have some racist agenda here?

          • masquenox@lemmy.world
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            1 day ago

            Why do you need to imply I have some racist agenda here?

            This you?

            Putin has singlehandedly caused more death and suffering than anyone else.

            • Free_Thoughts@feddit.ukOP
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              24 hours ago

              Yeah I couldn’t think of a person responsible for more deaths than him untill you brought up George Bush. You made a fair point and I changed my mind. What’s racist about that? I don’t get where this hostility is coming from.