Here is a concise summary of the top 10 fears of Soviet children:
**Ranking and Fears:**
1. **Fear of Nuclear War**: Constant preparation and drills created a pervasive fear.
2. **Fear of Saying Too Much**: Criticizing authorities could lead to severe consequences for families.
3. **Fear of Contracting AIDS**: Seen as a death sentence, with widespread campaigns warning against promiscuity.
4. **Fear of the Army (due to injuries affecting draft eligibility)**: Injuries were welcomed if they meant avoiding army service.
5. **Fear of Police Intervening in Fights**: Fights were common, and police intervention was a disappointment.
6. **Fear of Entering a Foreign Area (e.g., neighborhood)**: Locals might bully outsiders.
7. **Fear of Stores Running Out of Goods**: Shortages were common, leading to frustration.
8. **Fear of Missing Favorite TV Programs**: Limited channels and no online alternatives made timing crucial.
9. **Fear of Abandoned Items (due to perceived spy threats)**: Propaganda about spy bombs and poisoned items fueled this fear.
10. **Fear of Going Home (due to chores, homework, or parents)**: Children preferred playing outside until late.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text, each with a number and kept short:
1. **Soviet children's play habits**: They played outside until late at night, avoiding going home due to household chores or homework.
2. **Drinking water sources**: Soviet children drank from pumps, nearby wells, and even puddles or icicles when none were available.
3. **Fear of abandoned items (9th place)**: Children feared picking up abandoned items, believing they might contain poison or explosives, due to stories about foreign agents.
4. **Limited TV channels**: In the USSR, there were only 2-3 TV channels, mostly airing programs for adults.
5. **Consequences of missing a TV program**: If a child missed a favorite show, they might have to wait a year to see it again.
6. **Shortage of goods (7th place)**: Many common goods, like ice cream, were scarce; children had to visit multiple shops or stand in long lines.
7. **Chewing gum as currency**: Due to its rarity, chewing gum was used as a form of exchange among children.
8. **Fear of entering foreign areas (6th place)**: Teenagers feared entering other neighborhoods or villages, facing potential bullying from locals or Komsomol members.
9. **Frequency of fights among boys**: Boys in the Soviet Union fought more often, lacking internet and extreme hobbies for thrills.
10. **Consequences of fights**: Serious injuries were rare, but getting hurt could be a blessing in disguise, as it might exempt one from army service.
11. **Army service as a fear (4th place)**: Serving in the army was a significant fear, as it raised one's social status, and not serving was stigmatized.
12. **AIDS fear (3rd place)**: Despite few cases in the USSR, AIDS was greatly feared due to its near-certain death sentence at the time.
13. **Taboo topics (2nd place)**: Discussing sex, criticizing authorities, or political issues was strictly prohibited, with severe consequences for violators.
14. **Fear of nuclear war (1st place)**: Children were prepared from a young age for nuclear war, with frequent drills and education on what to do in case of a strike.
15. **Air drill frequency**: Drills were common, but over time, people became desensitized to them.
16. **Lack of US plans for nuclear strike**: Documents revealed the US did not plan a nuclear strike on the USSR, but this was only known post-Soviet era.