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Small-Scale Question Sunday for April 26, 2026

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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The women's quarters of the tsar's palace were particularly elaborate and were equipped with a separate courtyard, dining room, and children’s apartments, as well as a large group of maidservants, wet nurses, nannies, and ladies in waiting.

The women the elite had children with effectively lived in spas with exceptional luxury. The idea that they were forced into a miserable existence doesn't match reality.

Maybe if you limit your definition of "the elite" to just the czar. Not every boyar could afford a setup like that, but not sequestering your woman is low status, so solve for the equilibrium.