this post was submitted on 20 Jul 2023
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Tankies in the comments preparing to take it VERY seriously
I don't think they care, Russia is no longer communist.
To explain what I mean. I noticed that while term "tankies" is accepted as a term to refer to communists (particularly communists that would defend use of tanks on civilians), today's tankies are also defending Russia which isn't communist anymore (it's more fascist than anything). Even those on lemmygrad. It feels like it never was about communism, but it always was about totalitarianism and Soviets.
Tankies is used as shorthand for Marxist Leninists. As far as I know nothing about that ideology supports the use of tanks on civilians. Am I missing something here?
"Tankies" as a term has been creeping from a description of people who think Stalin and Mao should be in charge again toward a description of anyone who believes even a hint of socialism should exist in society. It's basically a right-wing dismissal at this point
If someone uses the word tankie it’s a pretty good sign that they don’t actually understand history or political theory and don’t know what they’re talking about beyond current events and maybe a podcast or two.
Or they are an anarchist and are fully aware of anarchists getting backstabbed by tankies in the past.
🏴 ✊
Yeah it's pretty much taken over by western liberals as a catchall for "more left than me"