this post was submitted on 31 Jul 2024
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Lefty Memes

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An international (English speaking) socialist Lemmy community free of the "ML" influence of instances like lemmy.ml and lemmygrad. This is a place for undogmatic shitposting and memes from a progressive, anti-capitalist and truly anti-imperialist perspective, regardless of specific ideology.

Serious posts, news, and discussion go in c/Socialism.

If you are new to socialism, you can ask questions and find resources over on c/Socialism101.

Please don't forget to help keep this community clean by reporting rule violations, updooting good contributions and downdooting those of low-quality!

Rules

Version without spoilers

0. Only post socialist memes


That refers to funny image macros and means that generally videos and screenshots are not allowed. Exceptions include explicitly humorous and short videos, as well as (social media) screenshots depicting a funny situation, joke, or joke picture relating to socialist movements, theory, societal issues, or political opponents. Examples would be the classic case of humorous Tumblr or Twitter posts/threads. (and no, agitprop text does not count as a meme)


1. Socialist Unity in the form of mutual respect and good faith interactions is enforced here


Try to keep an open mind, other schools of thought may offer points of view and analyses you haven't considered yet. Also: This is not a place for the Idealism vs. Materialism or rather Anarchism vs. Marxism debate(s), for that please visit c/AnarchismVsMarxism.


2. Anti-Imperialism means recognizing capitalist states like Russia and China as such


That means condemning (their) imperialism, even if it is of the "anti-USA" flavor.


3. No liberalism, (right-wing) revisionism or reactionaries.


That includes so called: Social Democracy, Democratic Socialism, Dengism, Market Socialism, Patriotic Socialism, National Bolshevism, Anarcho-Capitalism etc. . Anti-Socialist people and content have no place here, as well as the variety of "Marxist"-"Leninists" seen on lemmygrad and more specifically GenZedong (actual ML's are welcome as long as they agree to the rules and don't just copy paste/larp about stuff from a hundred years ago).


4. No Bigotry.


The only dangerous minority is the rich.


5. Don't demonize previous and current socialist experiments or (leading) individuals.


We must constructively learn from their mistakes, while acknowledging their achievements and recognizing when they have strayed away from socialist principles.

(if you are reading the rules to apply for modding this community, mention "Mantic Minotaur" when answering question 2)


6. Don't idolize/glorify previous and current socialist experiments or (leading) individuals.


Notable achievements in all spheres of society were made by various socialist/people's/democratic republics around the world. Mistakes, however, were made as well: bureaucratic castes of parasitic elites - as well as reactionary cults of personality - were established, many things were mismanaged and prejudice and bigotry sometimes replaced internationalism and progressiveness.



  1. Absolutely no posts or comments meant to relativize(/apologize for), advocate, promote or defend:

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[–] Nuke_the_whales 6 points 3 months ago (4 children)

It sounds great on paper but it seems to rely too much on hoping everyone from the ground up isn't going to get greedy and skim or give themselves and friends a special deal. Humans aren't selfless. Even Gene Roddenberry gave up hope on his idea of a future, socialist humanity, because he realized humans are too selfish to establish a system like that. We should still try though. Better than then we have now

[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 months ago (2 children)

I think it is generally because of our deeply capitalist society and upbringing that we are told to believe people are greedy and selfish, therefore we must be greedy and selfish ourselves in order to not get taken advantage of, or replaced.

[–] Nuke_the_whales -1 points 3 months ago

People gain power and become greedy and selfish. It's not a capitalist thing, it's been going on throughout all recorded history

[–] [email protected] -2 points 3 months ago

People's ideas come from their Material Conditions.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 months ago (2 children)

I think humans in general are more equipped to have empathy for a smaller tribe compared a whole Nation, let alone to billions of people world wide. It’s easier to share what you have with your neighbor rather than someone you have never met.

[–] Delta_V 1 points 3 months ago

humans in general are more equipped to have empathy for a smaller tribe

not even - the small tribe is who tribe members with dark triad personality traits hurt the most

[–] Nuke_the_whales 0 points 3 months ago
[–] iAvicenna 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

impossible not to have greedy people with high drive, they have always existed and will always exist. And given that greed and high drive is a very explosive combination they will always wreck these systems.

[–] Nuke_the_whales -1 points 3 months ago

Yeah that's really what my point boils down to. We humans ruin everything

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

It sounds great on paper but it seems to rely too much on hoping everyone from the ground up isn't going to get greedy and skim or give themselves and friends a special deal.

What on Earth are you referring to? How would one "skim?" What structures do you think exist in Communism that would allow this?

[–] Nuke_the_whales 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Huh? Do you think the people on top aren't going to get more money, better food, better everything? That's been proven over and over and in America? That would be abused immediately. Do you think things work for free in a socialist society? If there's money, there will be skimming. And we're talking about socialism. Not communism. I've lived under a communist regime, it's not good. You young North American people shouldn't dream about that shit.

Socialism is good. Communism has been bastardized and corrupted beyond repair.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

Huh? Do you think the people on top aren't going to get more money, better food, better everything? That's been proven over and over and in America?

Historically, disparity drastically decreased in AES countries. Additionally, America is Capitalist, not sure what your point is.

Do you think things work for free in a socialist society?

No, workers still work, but collectively own and control the production and distribution.

f there's money, there will be skimming. And we're talking about socialism. Not communism. I've lived under a communist regime, it's not good. You young North American people shouldn't dream about that shit.

This post specifically is about Marxism, it's Communist. Additionally, if you don't mind, where did you live, and what happened?

Socialism is good. Communism has been bastardized and corrupted beyond repair.

Socialism is the path to Communism, it's difficult to untie the two.