As we already discussed, if the vast majority of Marxists fit the definition of “tankie” you gave, then it’s just a pejorative for Marxists. The Black Panther Party supported and was influenced by the DPRK, if you count that as “glorifying,” in your own words, then the Black Panthers were tankies. If you don’t, and believe them to have been sufficiently nuanced, then “tankies” practically do not exist on Lemmy.
Most Marxists do not uncritically support Russia, though opposition to the Nationalists like Azov in Ukraine is something common on the Left, and believe Russia’s anti-US stance is beneficial for the Global South (see the string of African liberation movements in the past few years). Most Marxists can agree that the Uyghur people have been placed in re-education camps, but most do not believe they are being systemically murdered en masse like many people report. Most Marxists think the DPRK is doing surprisingly well for a country under extreme embargoes and was subject to more tons of bombs than the pacific front in World War II, not that it would be preferable to live there than in a highly developed country free from those problems.
I am talking about the majority of the people people on Lemmy call “tankies.” Not everyone has your specific view and nuance of the word, yet when others see you use it to describe people, they think of the worst nightmare of McCarthy. It’s better to not use the word at all, unless you want to antagonize Marxists in general, because that’s what Marxists see it as.
My recommendation is to either refrain from using it, or use it with the knowledge that it’s just an anti-communist pejorative. I don’t recommend trying to claim you aren’t an anti-Communist while using the modern version of “pinko,” when everyone hears it as such.
My biggest recommendation, though, is to just visit places you feel are “tankie” and try to ask questions in good faith. Make a Hexbear account, and participate in the general megathread, browse the news mega, or just lurk, and then you’ll get a better view of what these “tankies” are actually like when they aren’t in an environment hostile to them and dedicated to misrepresenting their words at every instance.
I get called tankie from time to time, but
1a. I hate Putin’s corrupt fascist oligarchy
1b. I fully support Ukraine!
The Uyghurs absolutely were mistreated, but it is hard to care about at the moment when the US and Isreal are carrying out an actual genocide. Also, neo-nazis have taken over the US and are illegally abducting minorities.
I think the DRPK is very problematic, but they seem to be doing well despite the US putting such ridiculously excessive embargos and sanctions on them. Overall they are probably no worse off than capitalist India and they are probably better off than most 3rd world capitalist nations like Iran, Brazil, Haiti, Afghanistan, etc…
As we already discussed, if the vast majority of Marxists fit the definition of “tankie” you gave, then it’s just a pejorative for Marxists. The Black Panther Party supported and was influenced by the DPRK, if you count that as “glorifying,” in your own words, then the Black Panthers were tankies. If you don’t, and believe them to have been sufficiently nuanced, then “tankies” practically do not exist on Lemmy.
Alright, forget the word tankie.
People who
Most Marxists do not uncritically support Russia, though opposition to the Nationalists like Azov in Ukraine is something common on the Left, and believe Russia’s anti-US stance is beneficial for the Global South (see the string of African liberation movements in the past few years). Most Marxists can agree that the Uyghur people have been placed in re-education camps, but most do not believe they are being systemically murdered en masse like many people report. Most Marxists think the DPRK is doing surprisingly well for a country under extreme embargoes and was subject to more tons of bombs than the pacific front in World War II, not that it would be preferable to live there than in a highly developed country free from those problems.
Most of the people you are talking about, are not who I am referring to in the post.
I am talking about the majority of the people people on Lemmy call “tankies.” Not everyone has your specific view and nuance of the word, yet when others see you use it to describe people, they think of the worst nightmare of McCarthy. It’s better to not use the word at all, unless you want to antagonize Marxists in general, because that’s what Marxists see it as.
What do you recommend I use instead?
My recommendation is to either refrain from using it, or use it with the knowledge that it’s just an anti-communist pejorative. I don’t recommend trying to claim you aren’t an anti-Communist while using the modern version of “pinko,” when everyone hears it as such.
My biggest recommendation, though, is to just visit places you feel are “tankie” and try to ask questions in good faith. Make a Hexbear account, and participate in the general megathread, browse the news mega, or just lurk, and then you’ll get a better view of what these “tankies” are actually like when they aren’t in an environment hostile to them and dedicated to misrepresenting their words at every instance.
Just FYI, I’m tagging you as “tankie” for future reference, because everything you’ve said so far is the most tankie of tankie takes.
You can do what you want, I’m a Marxist, if that’s a problem then you do you.
@Irelephant@lemm.ee
Thoughts on this user immediately coming in to immediately disagree with you about what a tankie is?
I get called tankie from time to time, but 1a. I hate Putin’s corrupt fascist oligarchy 1b. I fully support Ukraine!
The Uyghurs absolutely were mistreated, but it is hard to care about at the moment when the US and Isreal are carrying out an actual genocide. Also, neo-nazis have taken over the US and are illegally abducting minorities.
I think the DRPK is very problematic, but they seem to be doing well despite the US putting such ridiculously excessive embargos and sanctions on them. Overall they are probably no worse off than capitalist India and they are probably better off than most 3rd world capitalist nations like Iran, Brazil, Haiti, Afghanistan, etc…
I don’t know the rest of your political beliefs, but from this you don’t seem to be a tankie from this.
That definition doesn’t even apply to the people you’re critising