At the end of 2019 something happened that's still happening. Despite being able to speak about it aloud, I didn't do it publicly.
At the same time among acquaintances I often discussed 2 other problems of Russia - Usachev and Shevtsov. Among my own I spoke sharply: what they're doing is very bad.
And it really pissed me off when I couldn't really explain why. And really, why?
At the end of 2010s Shevtsov came to Czech Republic. Then he released several advertising videos about Czech Republic and GoStudy which collectively gathered a couple million views.
Mainly, local opinion was positive - good that there's now more attention to Czech Republic as a relocation destination.
I was concerned about something else: I'm sure most who came on Shevtsov's advice will never be happy abroad. Why? Because his advice has nothing to do with real emigration.
With entertainment - yes, with dissatisfaction with homeland - yes, with investments even - yes, but not with emigration.
For a couple years I contrasted my creations with Lesha's and point-blank didn't understand why people can't take seriously what I'm broadcasting at all. I went through a stage where I thought everyone's stupid and I'm smart. Then I understood that I'm stupid and everyone's smart.
After which I calmed down with the fact that even if only dozens of people support me, they're all cool.
In 2021 a new player entered the entertainment abroad market under the aegis of emigration - Ruslan Usachev. Don't know what happened in his life, but he decided to emigrate. For 1 month. To different countries.
Again, emigrate, for a month each, without preparation, to absolutely different countries.
Any emigrant with traces of IQ understands this is crazy. By 2021 I'd achieved some zen and didn't speak publicly at all. Which didn't stop me from speaking about Usachev among my people.
In 2021 I understood that info from Usachev and Shevtsov will surely break the lives of many who planned to leave abroad, but because of these clowns now think about relocation as their life, not mine.
And reality is more prosaic: relocation still isn't 12 different countries per year. It's still not a year of online lessons and then merch trading. It's still not reflections on a lost chance of coitus in an Italian village.
It's still not judgments about a country by its train station in the center. It's not buying tickets on Aviasales and we're already emigrants.
Emigration of a white cisgender male is:
- years of preparation
- parting with the past
- principled work on yourself and a very hard year learning the country's culture, including language
- dozens of moral bruises from failures in communication
- guaranteed health problems (most often related to mental health and weight problems)
- all-consuming loneliness among lots of people
- guaranteed nervous breakdown and desire to give up
- big prize at the end
When emigration can be fit into a month and then shoot an hour-long video about it, I found it both funny and sad. Saddest for me was that someone believed in this.
In 2021 the first half of the year I was an anti-vaxxer. Yes, I can read books on macroeconomics and psychology, work in Microsoft tech support and speak five languages.
All this didn't stop me from succumbing to emotions rather than science specifically in the sphere of vaccines. I changed my opinion on one fine summer day when I remembered that much in my life is the result of work and faith in science.
I had to accept that anti-vaxxers influenced me just as Shevtsov and Usachev influenced those I so despise.
Having gotten the vaccine I understood what's the point of what I write articles and shoot videos about. They're a vaccine from problems abroad. Making someone take it is impossible. Explaining how it will be useful to a million people who won't leave home is impossible.
Most won't understand how the vaccine works. Most won't even be shown my words. Maybe all my words will make you impotent (again).
But when I saw in person this year a couple people who were interested in my work, I understood it's not in vain. If you saw these dudes, you'd have no doubt that those who took the vaccine won't perish here.
Those who familiarized themselves with my opinion abroad won't avoid a nervous breakdown in a couple years after relocation. But symptoms will be lighter.
The ruble will fall for them as strongly as for others, but they'll be slightly more ready.
Kilograms will be gained, but they'll be scared of them slightly less.
And most importantly, in 10 years they'll be happier, and still in their place.
Meanwhile the unvaccinated will be listing five pros and cons of life in Czech Republic, the main one being that cheap buses go to Italy from here.
They'll be proving in comments in Russian that they don't need Czech even after 8 years of living in the country, because in Brno it's comfortable anyway.
They'll be advising to enroll in HSE and ČZU, because going where there are three letters they really like.
In other words, I can only offer people a vaccine, and believing whether it works or not is your business. Perhaps the fact that someone has a bigger audience also means they have more knowledge about emigration. But perhaps not about it.