СтопХам: Young Russians defend pedestrian space from rogue drivers.
February 7, 2015 10:32 AM Subscribe
Russia has a problem: Driving on the sidewalk. The remarkably brave activist group СтопХам ('stop him') are responding with cameras, windshield stickers and by putting their bodies in the way.
Episodes: • A Clash with Chechen Mafia • No Driving on Sidewalks • A Dude Shows Up with AK-47 • A Brawl with an MMA Fighter • Crazy Guy with a Crowbar • Guy With a Gun and a Bat • Confrontation with Nightclub Owner & Bouncers • Wannabe Gangster & His Mother • A Fight on Campus • Ladies' Day • Woman Goes Berserk • Hit & Run • Bully Vs. Wrestler • Bully Vs. Wrestler 2 • Magic Stickers • Passerby Punches Driver • Sticker for the Lady
More СтопХам videos can be found on the official YT channel, sadly without subtitles.
Episodes: • A Clash with Chechen Mafia • No Driving on Sidewalks • A Dude Shows Up with AK-47 • A Brawl with an MMA Fighter • Crazy Guy with a Crowbar • Guy With a Gun and a Bat • Confrontation with Nightclub Owner & Bouncers • Wannabe Gangster & His Mother • A Fight on Campus • Ladies' Day • Woman Goes Berserk • Hit & Run • Bully Vs. Wrestler • Bully Vs. Wrestler 2 • Magic Stickers • Passerby Punches Driver • Sticker for the Lady
More СтопХам videos can be found on the official YT channel, sadly without subtitles.
People driving on the sidewalks isn't ok, but they are willing to take those confrontations way past the point of sanity. The one where the driver is pointing a pistol directly at them while they continue to sticker his windshield is just nuts. People in Russia must be a lot less willing to shoot than here, because I was expecting him to at least fire a round into the air.
The one where the mafia-looking guys get chased off by a random passerby with an AK47 was great, though.
posted by Dip Flash at 10:54 AM on February 7, 2015 [5 favorites]
The one where the mafia-looking guys get chased off by a random passerby with an AK47 was great, though.
posted by Dip Flash at 10:54 AM on February 7, 2015 [5 favorites]
"I don't care for anyone; I drive where I want"
In America, people would buy that sticker and affix it voluntarily.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 11:01 AM on February 7, 2015 [71 favorites]
In America, people would buy that sticker and affix it voluntarily.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 11:01 AM on February 7, 2015 [71 favorites]
My child will stammer because of you, jerk!
posted by Foci for Analysis at 11:04 AM on February 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Foci for Analysis at 11:04 AM on February 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
As far as context goes: When one of these videos popped up on Reddit recently, there were some allegations that it was essentially propaganda to try and get young people to join the pro-Putin political organization Nashi. Maybe someone with more direct knowledge of the situation there can confirm or deny?
posted by teraflop at 11:05 AM on February 7, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by teraflop at 11:05 AM on February 7, 2015 [4 favorites]
A lot of russian sources writing about СтопХам mention that it grew out of Putin's "Nashi."
posted by Behemoth at 11:16 AM on February 7, 2015
posted by Behemoth at 11:16 AM on February 7, 2015
If it comes from Nashi, that would explain why they're safe doing what they do.
posted by ambrosen at 11:24 AM on February 7, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by ambrosen at 11:24 AM on February 7, 2015 [5 favorites]
It wouldn't surprise me, I was just realizing that on each of the video's I've seen so far it's mentioned Chechen, Caucasus and "Speaks with a foreign accent"... It's clear there's some sort of nationalist spin/anti-foreign element to these videos. It's certainly disturbing from a propaganda standpoint. It seems like "yeah, get these fuckers to behave civilly." (Which I thought would be Putin-esque) and to see that apparently that's what it is, makes sense. Adding in this xenophobic points added in the video regarding origins of the offenders certainly makes it more repulsive from a "let's catch the dirty foreigners disobeying our laws"...
I'm now awaiting Teabaggers to copy this technique. *sigh*
posted by symbioid at 11:24 AM on February 7, 2015 [5 favorites]
I'm now awaiting Teabaggers to copy this technique. *sigh*
posted by symbioid at 11:24 AM on February 7, 2015 [5 favorites]
Well, those possible political motivations are disturbing. As an outsider ignorant of context, they sure are entertaining videos. People be crazy.
My takeaway is that this is probably how bad it would be in the U.S. if we didn't have infrastructure (like bollards) that simply prevents, e.g., driving on the sidewalk. How do people get so entitled??
Also, classic: "How did you afford your car?" "I BLOWJOBBED IT"
posted by LooseFilter at 11:39 AM on February 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
My takeaway is that this is probably how bad it would be in the U.S. if we didn't have infrastructure (like bollards) that simply prevents, e.g., driving on the sidewalk. How do people get so entitled??
Also, classic: "How did you afford your car?" "I BLOWJOBBED IT"
posted by LooseFilter at 11:39 AM on February 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
Only an asshole gets killed for a car.
posted by charlie don't surf at 11:39 AM on February 7, 2015 [11 favorites]
posted by charlie don't surf at 11:39 AM on February 7, 2015 [11 favorites]
People driving on the sidewalks isn't ok, but they are willing to take those confrontations way past the point of sanity.
Russia.txt
posted by Pope Guilty at 11:41 AM on February 7, 2015 [11 favorites]
Russia.txt
posted by Pope Guilty at 11:41 AM on February 7, 2015 [11 favorites]
It seems like they are agitating not just against driving on the sidewalk, but all kinds of traffic violations.
I was quite sympathetic to them until I watched the videos where they start beating people up for smoking in the street.
In those, they look a whole lot more like the Hitler Youth than anything else.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 11:52 AM on February 7, 2015 [15 favorites]
I was quite sympathetic to them until I watched the videos where they start beating people up for smoking in the street.
In those, they look a whole lot more like the Hitler Youth than anything else.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 11:52 AM on February 7, 2015 [15 favorites]
Yeah, the references to Chechens / Caucasus people are pretty disturbing. There seems to be a nationalistic subtext to this. For context, "Caucasian"(that is, actually from the Caucasus, not the US English usage) people - so think Chechens, Dagestanis, Georgians, etc. - are stereotyped in Russia as being criminals or gangsters. Russia has had a problem with far-right xenophobic groups - going as far as violent attacks - with immigrants from the Caucasus and Central Asia being the primary targets.
Imagine if there were a group like this in the US, wholesome young white kids who go around provoking mostly black or Hispanic motorists in the name of upholding traffic rules. It reminds me of the "Minutemen" movement in the US.
СтопХам ('stop him')
play on words, besides sounding like English "stop him", хам is an abbreviation for хамство (boorishness, general bad behavior).
posted by pravit at 11:57 AM on February 7, 2015 [8 favorites]
Imagine if there were a group like this in the US, wholesome young white kids who go around provoking mostly black or Hispanic motorists in the name of upholding traffic rules. It reminds me of the "Minutemen" movement in the US.
СтопХам ('stop him')
play on words, besides sounding like English "stop him", хам is an abbreviation for хамство (boorishness, general bad behavior).
posted by pravit at 11:57 AM on February 7, 2015 [8 favorites]
> СтопХам ('stop him')
play on words, besides sounding like English "stop him", хам is an abbreviation for хамство
I'm pretty sure the former is irrelevant—it doesn't actually sound much like "stop him," and even as a native English speaker the only thing I thought of when I saw the name was хам(ство).
posted by languagehat at 12:10 PM on February 7, 2015
play on words, besides sounding like English "stop him", хам is an abbreviation for хамство
I'm pretty sure the former is irrelevant—it doesn't actually sound much like "stop him," and even as a native English speaker the only thing I thought of when I saw the name was хам(ство).
posted by languagehat at 12:10 PM on February 7, 2015
Besides the ethnic targeting, there's something creepy about how they do their activism. Groups of young men surrounding strangers, calling them names, then the public shaming of the sticker, and all of it caught on video. They feel like vigilantes more than anything else.
A better, non aggressive way of making people aware that they shouldn't drive on sidewalks would be to just occupy the pavement, and keep it occupied, with numbers. Have a large group of people just stand there for an hour and refuse to yield for cars, although they would let other pedestrians through. But that kind of nonviolent activism wouldn't appeal to this bunch.
posted by Kevin Street at 12:24 PM on February 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
A better, non aggressive way of making people aware that they shouldn't drive on sidewalks would be to just occupy the pavement, and keep it occupied, with numbers. Have a large group of people just stand there for an hour and refuse to yield for cars, although they would let other pedestrians through. But that kind of nonviolent activism wouldn't appeal to this bunch.
posted by Kevin Street at 12:24 PM on February 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
That's too bad. I really liked the "plucky youth politely confront entitled drivers" angle.
posted by salvia at 12:25 PM on February 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by salvia at 12:25 PM on February 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
Why make it easy for people to find parking spots and difficult for people to drive on the sidewalk when you could just make moralizing videos and instigate violence? Russia seems like a shit place to live or visit given what I'm seeing here. If I saw something like this in my community, I would be upset.
posted by oceanjesse at 12:27 PM on February 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by oceanjesse at 12:27 PM on February 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
The Reddit link doesn't do much to demonstrate a Nashi connection---a lot of noise, and links to Nashi's bad deeds, but the claimed proof that the leader is Nashi doesn't seem to be there.
Traffic violations have been a rallying point for opposition movements in Russia for the last decade. One of the constant complaints from ordinary Russians is that oligarchs and Kremlin apparatchiks drive irresponsibly. So while it's certainly possible that this is part of a Kremlin plan to co-opt that movement, it's equally possible (historically, maybe more likely) that this is a movement against the oligarchs, expressed in the only way available to them.
posted by ThatFuzzyBastard at 12:31 PM on February 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
Traffic violations have been a rallying point for opposition movements in Russia for the last decade. One of the constant complaints from ordinary Russians is that oligarchs and Kremlin apparatchiks drive irresponsibly. So while it's certainly possible that this is part of a Kremlin plan to co-opt that movement, it's equally possible (historically, maybe more likely) that this is a movement against the oligarchs, expressed in the only way available to them.
posted by ThatFuzzyBastard at 12:31 PM on February 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
I think I prefer the more light-hearted Blue Bucket protests.
posted by dragoon at 12:45 PM on February 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by dragoon at 12:45 PM on February 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
Boy those stickers don't come off very easily. Bits of them tear off, but the rest remains.
And some of those sidewalks don't look like sidewalks. The one in the last video (A sticker for the lady) looks just like road. It's asphalt and graded at the same level as the nearby road.
posted by Kevin Street at 12:46 PM on February 7, 2015
And some of those sidewalks don't look like sidewalks. The one in the last video (A sticker for the lady) looks just like road. It's asphalt and graded at the same level as the nearby road.
posted by Kevin Street at 12:46 PM on February 7, 2015
I'm interested to see how they deal with James Bond when he periodically rolls his tank into town.
posted by Brocktoon at 1:07 PM on February 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Brocktoon at 1:07 PM on February 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
The Reddit link doesn't do much to demonstrate a Nashi connection...
The russian Wikipedia pages on the movement and its leader are pretty unambiguous. Google Translate will probably be enough to glean the basics.
posted by Behemoth at 1:11 PM on February 7, 2015
The russian Wikipedia pages on the movement and its leader are pretty unambiguous. Google Translate will probably be enough to glean the basics.
posted by Behemoth at 1:11 PM on February 7, 2015
Oh, and here's a news article (sorry, also russian), describing the 6M ruble presidential grant received by СтопХам.
posted by Behemoth at 1:14 PM on February 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Behemoth at 1:14 PM on February 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
Excellent post.
posted by four panels at 1:17 PM on February 7, 2015
posted by four panels at 1:17 PM on February 7, 2015
So state sponsored thugs acting under the guise of looking out for the average citizen? Urgh.
posted by arcticseal at 1:29 PM on February 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by arcticseal at 1:29 PM on February 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
> Traffic violations have been a rallying point for opposition movements in Russia for the last decade. One of the constant complaints from ordinary Russians is that oligarchs and Kremlin apparatchiks drive irresponsibly. So while it's certainly possible that this is part of a Kremlin plan to co-opt that movement, it's equally possible (historically, maybe more likely) that this is a movement against the oligarchs, expressed in the only way available to them.
There is absolutely no way ordinary Russians could possibly take physical action against oligarchs and Kremlin apparatchiks and live to tell the tale (except to their fellow inmates, who would give them an extra beating for stupidity).
posted by languagehat at 1:46 PM on February 7, 2015 [9 favorites]
There is absolutely no way ordinary Russians could possibly take physical action against oligarchs and Kremlin apparatchiks and live to tell the tale (except to their fellow inmates, who would give them an extra beating for stupidity).
posted by languagehat at 1:46 PM on February 7, 2015 [9 favorites]
Yeah, liked the pedestrian vs. car angle, but a few of those were a little icky.
Anther way to accomplish this would be to just install some traffic bollards on the sidewalks.
Yes, I had to look up what they were called.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 1:46 PM on February 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
Anther way to accomplish this would be to just install some traffic bollards on the sidewalks.
Yes, I had to look up what they were called.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 1:46 PM on February 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
Interesting that almost every single vehicle was a high dollar item. Caddy, Bmw, Range Rover etc. Looks like the Russian economy is high gear.
posted by notreally at 2:12 PM on February 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by notreally at 2:12 PM on February 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
Some of the people they are dealing with are clearly bullies who are used to always getting their own way due to their threatening and bullying and, flashing guns . I like the ones where they are very polite. "Please move your car." "Sir, you are parked on the sidewalk" then are 100% firm no matter how much the guy tries to threaten and bully, leaving the guy completely flabbergasted, as though it is the first time in his life his bullying doesn't seem to be having any effect.
It isn't so interesting when they fight back and mention people's national origins. Also, the stickers that are more easily removable make the point without being obnoxious.
This made me laugh:
"But an FSB general won't walk 400 meters [how far they told him to move his car].Can't you understand?"
"Why won't he walk?"
"Because he wants to come out of that building and put his ass right in the seat."
"Is he legless?"
"Yes he's legless. He's a f*cking cripple!"
"Okay guys, let's leave. That's an FSB general."
They fake starting to walk away, then come back.
"Are you kidding me?"
posted by eye of newt at 2:27 PM on February 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
It isn't so interesting when they fight back and mention people's national origins. Also, the stickers that are more easily removable make the point without being obnoxious.
This made me laugh:
"But an FSB general won't walk 400 meters [how far they told him to move his car].Can't you understand?"
"Why won't he walk?"
"Because he wants to come out of that building and put his ass right in the seat."
"Is he legless?"
"Yes he's legless. He's a f*cking cripple!"
"Okay guys, let's leave. That's an FSB general."
They fake starting to walk away, then come back.
"Are you kidding me?"
posted by eye of newt at 2:27 PM on February 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
Russia has problems with it's youth like the US has problems with it's old.
posted by QueerAngel28 at 3:40 PM on February 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by QueerAngel28 at 3:40 PM on February 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
every single vehicle was a high dollar item
Of course. They want to sell the idea of the ethnic criminal living large, not invoke pity.
This playbook is at least a century old.
posted by tigrrrlily at 3:57 PM on February 7, 2015 [7 favorites]
Of course. They want to sell the idea of the ethnic criminal living large, not invoke pity.
This playbook is at least a century old.
posted by tigrrrlily at 3:57 PM on February 7, 2015 [7 favorites]
Mefites, you're bloody great, the lot of you.
I've spent hours this evening watching the videos. Trying to understand them and then to come here and read the comments to find the Putin political backing explains why they can get away with it.
Some further context about Russia's high mortality.
posted by Dr Ew at 4:11 PM on February 7, 2015 [5 favorites]
I've spent hours this evening watching the videos. Trying to understand them and then to come here and read the comments to find the Putin political backing explains why they can get away with it.
Some further context about Russia's high mortality.
posted by Dr Ew at 4:11 PM on February 7, 2015 [5 favorites]
My favorite driving-on-the-sidewalk incident happened many years ago while I was riding in San Francisco Critical Mass. Some guy was so enraged by the bikes that he turned onto a wide sidewalk and fucking floored it. There were only a few people there and they ran out of the way, so nobody was injured.
But this sidewalk was hemmed in by a row of long cement planters along the curb. The guy didn't realize it, but the planters weren't perfectly parallel to the buildings. In fact, that strip of sidewalk was slightly tapered in the direction he was driving. Dude actually wedged his car between the building and the concrete planter, Wile E. Coyote style.
Thirty seconds later he was surrounded by fifty bicyclists laughing their heads off at what just happened. Guy was so embarrassed he climbed out his window and just walked off without saying a word.
posted by ryanrs at 4:32 PM on February 7, 2015 [12 favorites]
But this sidewalk was hemmed in by a row of long cement planters along the curb. The guy didn't realize it, but the planters weren't perfectly parallel to the buildings. In fact, that strip of sidewalk was slightly tapered in the direction he was driving. Dude actually wedged his car between the building and the concrete planter, Wile E. Coyote style.
Thirty seconds later he was surrounded by fifty bicyclists laughing their heads off at what just happened. Guy was so embarrassed he climbed out his window and just walked off without saying a word.
posted by ryanrs at 4:32 PM on February 7, 2015 [12 favorites]
Dr Ew, that's a heck of an article. 15year old Russian boys have a lower life expectancy than the least developed nations? And there's apparently no explanation other than despair?
posted by eye of newt at 4:56 PM on February 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by eye of newt at 4:56 PM on February 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
> way past the point of sanity
I'm fortunate that I watched the Ladies's Day one first because while the drivers are somewhat obstinate, the protesters are polite and everyone backs off without any punches being thrown, just a mild push or two. I guess I'll skip the rest.
posted by morganw at 5:11 PM on February 7, 2015
I'm fortunate that I watched the Ladies's Day one first because while the drivers are somewhat obstinate, the protesters are polite and everyone backs off without any punches being thrown, just a mild push or two. I guess I'll skip the rest.
posted by morganw at 5:11 PM on February 7, 2015
Interesting that almost every single vehicle was a high dollar item.
It's likely confirmation bias at work, but I notice the same thing here (california) when I drive. There are some people in shitty cars who drive badly, but most of the entitled driving (cutting off, illegally passing, honking when I stop for a crossing pedestrian, etc.) comes from the BMWs, Lexuses, Volvos, and Cadillac Escalades. Rich people must be in a hurry to get somewhere and make more money or buy some shit.
posted by mrgrimm at 5:18 PM on February 7, 2015
It's likely confirmation bias at work, but I notice the same thing here (california) when I drive. There are some people in shitty cars who drive badly, but most of the entitled driving (cutting off, illegally passing, honking when I stop for a crossing pedestrian, etc.) comes from the BMWs, Lexuses, Volvos, and Cadillac Escalades. Rich people must be in a hurry to get somewhere and make more money or buy some shit.
posted by mrgrimm at 5:18 PM on February 7, 2015
Russia has really had a hell of a 20th century +, I wish this was a spontaneous movement and not a likely Putin sponsored psy-op. I really want to endorse keeping a cheerful attitude towards Russian folks, I have many Russian friends, having lived long in Brooklyn, and they are good people: fun, generous, wise, patient and possessed of a dark and flexible sense of humor.
posted by Divine_Wino at 5:36 PM on February 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Divine_Wino at 5:36 PM on February 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
That first one is a mindbender. W middle aged woman calling her full grown children to come beat up the video crew.
Did they get her from central casting?
posted by ocschwar at 7:03 PM on February 7, 2015
Did they get her from central casting?
posted by ocschwar at 7:03 PM on February 7, 2015
It's likely confirmation bias at work, but I notice the same thing here (california) when I drive.
Poor people care more about the fines.
There's one thing I will say about these street thugs. They go hard like Vladimir Putin.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 7:05 PM on February 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
Poor people care more about the fines.
There's one thing I will say about these street thugs. They go hard like Vladimir Putin.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 7:05 PM on February 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
Wait. "Nashi?" Seriously? The jokes would write themselves if this were funny.
It's pretty much exactly like Putin really wants to be the new Hitler. His problem, the fatal flaw in his ambition, is that, instead of a nation of Germans, he's stuck trying to do it with a nation of Russians.
posted by Naberius at 7:05 AM on February 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
It's pretty much exactly like Putin really wants to be the new Hitler. His problem, the fatal flaw in his ambition, is that, instead of a nation of Germans, he's stuck trying to do it with a nation of Russians.
posted by Naberius at 7:05 AM on February 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
It wouldn't surprise me, I was just realizing that on each of the video's I've seen so far it's mentioned Chechen, Caucasus and "Speaks with a foreign accent"... It's clear there's some sort of nationalist spin/anti-foreign element to these videos.
"Nashi" means "ours", FWIW.
posted by dilettante at 10:36 AM on February 8, 2015
"Nashi" means "ours", FWIW.
posted by dilettante at 10:36 AM on February 8, 2015
Looking at a translation of Behemoth's article, it looks like in addition to supporting Nashi, Putin also supports his favorite motorcycle gang, and this group called Piggys Against where they dress up as pigs and go after food vendors selling food past its expiration date.
posted by eye of newt at 1:28 PM on February 8, 2015
posted by eye of newt at 1:28 PM on February 8, 2015
The official government support pretty much ruins it.
posted by anemone of the state at 11:04 AM on February 9, 2015
posted by anemone of the state at 11:04 AM on February 9, 2015
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I'm not really sure what the takeaway is from this. Car drivers are entitled and sometimes violent? Russian street fights make for compelling advocacy video? Plucky activists are fighting back against an endemic social plague? It would be nice to have an article with this FPP that put these in context, if there is one.
posted by Noisy Pink Bubbles at 10:51 AM on February 7, 2015