Hi just migrated from Lemmy.ml. just wondering what a tankie actually is? I've heard it used a lot especially on Lemmy. My guess is some kind of pro CCP kind of communist but that's my best guess
Edit: Nvm just googled it. Its pretty much what I wrote.
yeah you p much got it, (e: specifically they are v v chill with violence against innocents and authoritarianism to bring about their chosen regime. im already getting downvoted in this comment tho so yeah just go look at the wikipedia page 😭)
Does that mean most Americans are tankies when it comes to Israel's ongoing genocide of Palestinians 🤔
**Clearly struck a cord with the bloodthirsty genocide supporters
Oh yeah I forgot. Communism is bad, but mass killing brown Muslims is fine because they're subhuman cannon fodder for furthering America's Military Industrial Complex. Thanks for clearing that up.
Communism isn't bad per se, authoritarianism is, but there are many authoritarian regimes going under the name 'communist', thus we have a term for that: tankie. Using different terms to describe the Israeli state (like fascist, ethno-nationalist, or Zionist) and its supporters does not mean it's not bad. It really is! It's just categorically different in the ideology espoused by them, and having language to describe that is not bad.
Intentionally missing the point of the irony behind Americans using words that allude to ignoring a genocide while actively ignoring a genocide they're tax dollars are funding.
Words have meaning you know. That is just the meaning of the word tankie. If you fail to understand that, I feel sorry for you.
plenty of the people leveraging the word “tankie” against tankies are communists, or at least socialists, just less authoritarian ones. and i’d venture to guess that the vast majority of those people are anti-genocide, including the case of Gaza.
please take the smallest of measures to understand the positions at foot before stuffing straw men into everyone’s mouths. you look quite foolish here.
Depends on whether the person saying it is a fellow leftie or a rightwinger brainlet. To the first, it's what you described - an anti-Marxist communist. To the second group, anyone left of Nixon.
IMO a tankie on the left is just a pure anti-west authoritarian cosplaying as a communist - the communism is largely window dressing and they are generally perfectly happy defending Russia (obviously not communist) or authoritarian nonsense from China and other communist countries.
Wtf is an anti-Marxist communist? Is that like a swimmer that can’t swim? Arizona just outlawed abortion, and have senators speaking in tongues while praying on the floor of the house. President Biden is fully endorsing a genocide in the Middle East. Trump might become the first dictator of America.
And ya’ll worried about
?.?.“”TANKIES””. ?.?
Get some GD perspective.
They're comment is wrong. But non-marxian communism exists. For example council communism.
But a Tankie is basically a Leninist/Stalinist/Maoist communist who dick rides authoritarianism.
I’ve always liked the idea of Council Communism, but I must admit I don’t know as much about it as I would like.
As such, it is referred to as anti-authoritarianand anti-Leninist Marxism.
I just think it’s silly to divide ourselves into camps, while we are essentially seeking the same goals.
while we are essentially seeking the same goals.
Authoritarian "leftists" are not seeking the same goals as other leftists.
Neither are social democrats, but we take help where we can get it. If we exclude anyone anti-fascist, that division will be exploited. We can’t afford to lose sight of the true enemy, the billionaire ruling class.
Council communism is basically methadone therapy for Marxists, for those that can't make the leap to Anarchism. Council Communism is essentially indistinguishable (in practice, theory is a bit different) from Syndicalism.
As to campism: Somehow it's always the authoritarians calling for "left unity", that of course meaning "follow Stalin": Never, ever, do they sit down and actually consider the opinions of anti-auths. No, we don't have the same goals: They want to rule, we don't. And, no, we didn't forget the Bolsheviks allying with fascists to stab Anarchists in the back.
“The anarchists point of view is the most disruptive element in the New Left and should be capitalized on in the most confusing ways,” the FBI wrote. Source
Why were the FBI okay with Anarchists, but not Marxists Leninist like the Black Panthers?
I can't speak for the FBI but bullshit needs disruption, anyways, and confusion is the first step to enlightenment. Of course the FBI should've started by disrupting themselves but you can't have everything in life.
Actually even the premise and also language used in that sentence makes me think we might be looking at a Discordian having infiltrated the FBI. What better place to author a zine than on Uncle Sam's dime?
I’m a white, upper middle class boomer living in America who is registered independent, but consistently voted for Democrats for the past 28 years. I did vote for Ross Perot in ‘92, because I wanted a third party. I’m as far removed from a “tankie” as you can get.
Why is it wrong to think for yourself and form your own opinions? Ya’ll just want to hate on people to pretend you have some control in this chaotic world.
It makes me sad that so many want to spread hate instead of love.
To be fair, I only have you labaled as "tankie apologist" on my app.
And tankies poison the well, they are something to be concerned about even if worse things are happening.
That’s fair. I’m more worried about climate change than the pettiness of leftist infighting, so I will continue to apologize for any group that is anti-capitalist.
I’m pragmatic enough to understand that when a planned economy comes, and it will, we may not have the time and opportunities to choose which structures replace capitalism. It may be an amalgamation of many socialist strategies.
I find it pointless to bicker over socialism, when fascism is the bigger threat. But it is entertaining.
Get some GD perspective.
That's fucking RICH, and that's coming from a lib who apparently only knows how to genocide for vast wealth and power.
Did you just own yourself? I don’t understand this convoluted cleverness.
I feel so owned right now. I may have to eat some ice cream.
In what way did your comment refute any point I made?
Just screaming into the abyss… sad.
Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster... for when you gaze long into the abyss. The abyss gazes also into you.
Nietzsche