I remember when I joined here that tchncs did not federate with Lemmygrad. Is there a reason why it is now? I don’t think it’s a good instance, since it full of (roleplaying) communists hating on the western world… and I wouldn’t want that shit in my “All” feed. Thank you.
I know you didn’t ask for my glittering social commentary, but your point is looking at it from the wrong angle:
Shiny new iPhones and loud, shittily tuned cars are status symbols in Russia as well. In Russia’s slums, you will often see people pay their groceries using their brand new iPhone so they can flex and pretend and then they’ll return to their desolate apartment with broken furniture and dishes, rusted water pipes and a dirty, fucking mattress.
People will rather cheap out on essentials and make their life miserable than to let go of their idolized brands that help them to pretend their life choices were perfect.