Why the steppe?

[onodera]

Why do so many foreigners associate the steppe with Russia? Russians are not steppe people. The traditional Russian biomes are temperate broadleaf and mixed forests. The steppe is the land of Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Mongolia. Yes, we do have some, but they are not our defining landscape.
So why do so many people think the steppe is something very Russian? I mean, have you ever seen steppe bears?

[Kitschum]

Ukraine was Little Russia for a long time, wasn't it?

[Riesstiu IV]

???

Most people associate Central Asia with nomadic steppe culture and associate Russia with cold, hunger, and senseless brutality.

[Asher]

What's the steppe? A step machine?

I associate Russia with reverse engineering Western innovations and drinking Vodka.

[loinburger]

I associate it with the best-organized mafia in the world

[Provost Harrison]

Steppe Aerobics?

[Provost Harrison]

And actually, Russia has lots of rich people. They're all in London mind you, not in Russia

[MrFun]

Who cares about Russians and their feelings? I say we can call them whatever names we want.

[VetLegion]

When I defend Europe from the Bolsheviks in computer games, my Panzers work best in the steppes

[Elok]

I associate Russia with the "can't tell what it is under all that ice and snow" biome.

[onodera]

I associate it with the best-organized mafia in the world

That's another misconception. There are no Russians in the Russian Mafia.

[VetLegion]

Why do you hate white people so much onodera?

[Riesstiu IV]

Onodera is a Chechen. He doesn't drink and he hates the Russian Orthodox Church.

[onodera]

Why do you hate white people so much onodera?

Because they have tumed into pussies and hate their own glorious past. Btw, a nice question coming from someone with a brown person on his avatar.

[OzzyKP]

Why do so many foreigners associate the steppe with Russia?

I think mostly of forest & tundra. Like Canada.