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I'm in the process of creating a series to show the harmful effects of Communism through interviewing Communism Survivors. What should I ask them?

I use this video here as a model: https://youtu.be/3lpTceEE3d8

Edit: The goal of this series is to stick these people's lives in everyone's face to show how horrible Marxism/Socialism/Communism is and do so many of these that people stop believing in such a horrible idology

I'm in the process of creating a series to show the harmful effects of Communism through interviewing Communism Survivors. What should I ask them? I use this video here as a model: https://youtu.be/3lpTceEE3d8 Edit: The goal of this series is to stick these people's lives in everyone's face to show how horrible Marxism/Socialism/Communism is and do so many of these that people stop believing in such a horrible idology

(post is archived)

[–] • 4 pts

On top of my head: "what happened to those useful idiots who fought to install communism shortly afterward? What did they do?"

"Do you see some similarities with what's happening today in america?"

[–] • 2 pts

I'll keep this in mind. Thank you.

[–] • 4 pts

"What made them leave/realize things were not as they should be?"

Cool project btw. You might like

[–] • 1 pt

I can make use of this. Thank you.

I'll take a look at Helicoptarian

[–] • 4 pts

Ask them if they ever had any free time.

[–] • 1 pt

I can definitely consider that

[–] • 4 pts

If you can find some people that are from the 1960s/70s era Soviet Union, ask them about what was in the shops, what they could buy, how hard it was to get even a cheap Lada automobile.

I'm repeating a story a friend who is Russian on one side of the family. He told me of an aunt that somehow managed to get a visa in the late 60s or thereabouts, to visit family in the USA. They took her to Woolworth's, and she apparently cried at seeing all the yarn and the different colors you could get. She apparently immediately applied for political asylum with only what she had brought - left everything and everyone in Russia behind. Over yarn.

[–] • 0 pt

Wow that's crazy. If your friend's aunt is willing to be interviewed, please dm me. I want to get as many as possible.

[–] • 2 pts

That was 50 years ago. I don't think she's alive anymore, but I will ask.

[–] • 0 pt

Yeah if she's still alive I'd definitely appreciate it. Any of the older ones from the USSR would be valuable to have

[–] • 3 pts

How were the restaurants? Were there restaurants? Were there bars? It is a topic that I never really see addressed and have always been curious about

[–] • 2 pts

I see if I can ask for cultural comparisons. I don't know if it'll fit in or not

[–] • 1 pt

What nationalities do you have lined up?

[–] • 2 pts

One Hungarian, and probably a lot of Venezuelans. I can probably get Cubans cause I'm in Florida

[–] • 2 pts

Well, conversation 101 always starts with weather and food.

What was the nicest and worst weather you ever had?

What was your favorite food?

What were some of their favorite things to do for fun?

What were some of their favorite songs?

What was the largest gatherings they attended?

Who were the nicest people they knew?

Who were the scariest people they knew?

What were the best and worst things about their school/education?

What types of vices did people have?

What kind of taboo behaviors were people into?

Did they buy black market goods and how did that work? What types of items did they acquire on the black market?

How paranoid were they around family, friends, police, etc?

Was there anything they were afraid to say but wanted to? Was there anything they wanted to do but were afraid?

How and where did they get their news? How believable or unbelievable was their news?

It is always good to ask people about local sayings and expressions, as well as curse words.

[–] • 1 pt

What was the largest gatherings they attended?

Wouldn't that be the May Day parades?

[–] • 0 pt

Depends on which communist country. There are more than a few.

[–] • 1 pt

Just substitute whatever that country's big day is for them. I don't study their history, its always the same story repeated. It's like watching the James Bond movies, he has to beat SPECTRE, the Soviets or whoever the baddie is at that movie's conception.

[–] • 2 pts

if they were there from when their countries fell, ask if they recall details of the stages of the takeover. Older cubans will have stories (since you said you're in FL).

[–] • 1 pt

That's a good point, I'll have to remember that

[–] • 1 pt (edited )

an elderly client moved here from Cuba as a teen. her father and uncles had a family business and a farm that were seized by government. she escaped with her mom & brothers. father eventually immigrated. came here with nothing.

if there are vietnamese & cambodian communities, they have terrible stories to share as well. when i first moved to los angeles in 90's, i really loved the (ahem) diversity - being able to hear first hand stories of people from different countries and parts of the US, what life was like where they came from and the journeys that brought them here.

work gave me the opportunity to spend time with people from from SE Asia and Russia in the 90's. my recollection is people who come here from those countries are so grateful to be able to own their own business/livelihood, they take full advantage of the opportunities to build something (be it a repair shop, donut shop, coffee shop) from sweat so they and their children will always have a roof and food without need of government handouts that always come with strings -

[–] • 0 pt

If you know any of these people, please message me. I would like to get them lined up for interviews

[–] [deleted] • 1 pt

Ask then about who was in charge at the time. We're there any noticable small hats hanging around? Was degeneracy pushed as it is today? How was communism defeated? (If it was)

[–] • 0 pt

That would definitely be good to mention about who was in charge. People I think are still too mentally sick to be asked about the degeneracy

[–] • 0 pt

What kind of gaslight techniques were used to make them want communism? Did they support it or were they swept along with the current? If they supported it, at what point did they want to stop?

[–] • 0 pt

This is definitely worth asking