Somewhen sparrows were fatter then now

We are all destined to remain within the current information environment at all times. By examining carriers of various forms of consciousness, one can gain insight into how organized it is and the attitudes being promoted within it.

On October 11, 2019, I unintentionally engaged in conversation with two representatives of the younger generation in Almaty.

These individuals were Kazakh youths, approximately 23 to 27 years old. They exhibited certain traits and characteristics: a distinct smell of cigarette smoke and beer emanated from their nature, they confidently presented themselves as experts in betting, and they claimed to possess engineering and technical education. They engaged in conversations centered around trendy exaggerated topics, using a noticeable blend of jargon. They glorified the 90s and held a deep respect for the era's heritage within regional contexts (Taraz, Taldykorgan). They also expressed anti-Russian sentiments and discussed rumors through the lens of shallow conspiracy theories.

Appearance and preferences played a significant role, and they followed the path of least resistance. The prevailing internet culture and the Kazakhstani segments of social media influenced them. They used two languages in their communication practices, primarily relying on a pidgin with situational biases depending on the language environment. While they lacked proficiency in a third language, they were theoretically interested it.

The matter of their attitude towards the Soviet heritage is contentious, often tied to generational differences. They view the USSR negatively, but, according to their mothers' recollections, they believe people were more genuine back then. They reminisce that vodka was stronger, and even the sparrows seemed plumper compared to the present.

Their discussions about "secrets of the world" lack clarity and are devoid of references. They seem to possess a distorted perception of the world and tend to adopt an alternative understanding of objective history.

One them takes a somewhat triumphant stance on the subject of a certain figure being shot in the leg – it should be clear gor locals who it was injured then. Meanwhile, another sees themselves as a representative of the Kazakh people, feeling mutually affronted by both "BORSCHTs" and those who confronted them.

This aspect is particularly striking in their shared mythos. They narrate the episode in the following manner: The said figure (the unnamed person) was accompanied by a group of companions and attempted to confront the Moscow Gazprom officials in Moscow. However, they ran into ruthless FSB officers, who safeguarded Putin's personal interests. The FSB officers subdued everyone, but they reserved a special consequence for the central figure (you should guesd who it was) due to their impulsive and audacious actions – a gunshot to the leg intended to curb his future recklessness.

In broader terms, the FSB commands a position of unwavering authority within the perspective of these younger individuals. Subconsciously, they aspire to be a part of it and are willing to overlook even radical xenophobic tendencies to join something more significant and promising, just to escape their current ugly and rabide state.

Their local "borschts" (a term used pejoratively) are derogatory figures, yet they find that their Russian counterparts from school in Russia are entirely different. Based on their experience studying in the Russian Federation, their expectation of encountering mostly unintelligent individuals wasn't realized. Instead, 98% of their Russian peers impressed them with their alignment towards European civilizational values. The remaining 2% were represented by outliers referred to as "conchitas" (a term from Almaty's jargon, meaning "intellectually challenged" or "idiots"). The matter of receiving an education remains uncertain and unanswered for this peculiar group of acquaintances.

According to one of these occasional passengers in my car, he works as a freelancer who maintains computer equipment for law enforcement agencies (KNB, police, prosecutor's office, etc.) based in Almaty. Another individual mentioned their involvement in the construction industry.

Yet, this isn't the late 1980s; it's the threshold of the 2020s.

My intention is not to pass judgment on this generation but rather to provide a moment of observation.

Reflecting on my own experiences during the early 1990s, the social landscape was quite similar, yet the transitional living conditions were more challenging, and hopes and aspirations were more abundant. As I stood at the crossroads between two eras, being a firsthand witness to what was and what the future held, the shifts in direction opened up vast horizons.

In a related vein, I inquired with my peers and classmates from the current English courses on old distance education and their intentions at that far time. To my surprise, none of them recalled the extensive array of educational language courses on Soviet TV. It was as if we had existed in different dimensions of time and space. I attempted to jog their memories with mentions of the cartoon's intro featuring Don Quixote and Sancho Panza to that TV courses. However, that effort proved futile.

In sum, the situation remains intricate.

Illustration for the essay: A Conversation Across Generations."