“Echo Me Good!”

Once a father took his son to the mountains.

Son tripped on a stone, cried in pain, “AAAAAAh!” and suddenly heard “AAAAAh” in return.

The boy yells, “Who are you?” and hears “Who are you?”

Angry, he cries, “You’re a fool!” and hears “You’re a fool!”

Puzzled, he asks, "What's this sorcery, father?"

The father smiles, “Listen to me now.”

Then he yells at the mountain, “I respect you!” and it echoes “I respect you!”

He yells, “You’re the best!” and the mountain echoes “You’re the best!”

Father says, “See, son, I'm respected and the best and you’re a fool!”

***

Author’s note: I found this Russian joke on the Internet, translated and modified it as it had a homophobic slur instead of a “fool.” I was surprised myself by how accurately it reflects the people’s mentality. It’s really sad, but if you expected a Russian father to teach his son about the Golden Rule and good things coming back to those who do them onto others you are either not Russian or have been living outside the Russian culture for too long. They’d call this type of parenting “teaching your son hard lessons before the life or other people do.”