A.K.A u/hucifer

  • 0 Posts
  • 13 Comments
Joined 1 year ago
cake
Cake day: June 8th, 2023

help-circle

  • Kabe@lemmy.worldtoAsklemmy@lemmy.mlAre you a 'tankie'
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    edit-2
    5 months ago

    I understand very well what liberalism and socialism are, thanks. Where we disagree is the definition of the “left” versus the “right”. Even in Europe, the old socialist left is becoming a thing of a bygone age, so of course the Overton window shifts to reflect the current political landscape.


  • Kabe@lemmy.worldtoAsklemmy@lemmy.mlAre you a 'tankie'
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    edit-2
    5 months ago

    Hang on, so you’re telling me you guys lump social liberals in with classical liberals and neoliberals? That’s definitely not common, but then I suppose if you’re a communist then it kinda makes sense.

    Also, while I wouldn’t call Sanders a socialist either, he is not a centrist by any standard measure. I presume you don’t consider anyone a leftist if they don’t advocate for collective ownership and a centrally planned economy?



  • Kabe@lemmy.worldtoAsklemmy@lemmy.mlAre you a 'tankie'
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    7
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    edit-2
    5 months ago

    If you ask in earnest, you’ll get good responses. A good number of people ask questions not to learn a different point of view, but to reinforce their own existing biases, which naturally becomes exhausting.

    That is understandable, however I was more talking about good-faith attempts to express views that are contrary to ML orthodoxy being dogpiled, removed, and banned. I have personal direct experience with this, as do many others who have attempted to engage in political discussions in ML communities. Perhaps users of the ML persuasion are used to being attacked and this why contrarian views are so heavily moderated on ML instances, but quite often this defensive response only leads to alienating other leftists who could be sympathetic to your point of view.

    Also, I already understand quite well the differences between classical, social, and neo-liberalism, and how the term is used in the US; I have a degree in political science. My point was that users on ML instances weaponize the term in the same way that other users utilize the term “tankie” in order to dismiss people who disagree with them, ad hominem.




  • Kabe@lemmy.worldtoAsklemmy@lemmy.mlAre you a 'tankie'
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    8
    arrow-down
    7
    ·
    edit-2
    5 months ago

    now it just means, “any leftist I don’t like”.

    With respect, there’s a bit more to it than that.

    The way political discussions are often policed on ML instances (This one, Lemmygrad, and Hexbear) is not conducive to helping new people see your point of view. If a, let’s say, social democrat says something critical of the CCP and then is immediately censured or banned, they are going to be left with a very negative impression that feeds into the stereotypes that already exist about these instances.

    Creating a useful enemy promotes group bonding, unity, a sense of strengthened identity, and self worth.

    Aren’t people on ML instances also doing the exact same thing when they shout down and decry the wretched “liberals” (which seems to refer to anyone left-of-centre who doesn’t support communist party rule)? Whether it’s “tankie” or “liberal”, it only further entrenches the us vs them mindset.

    It’s a shame that leftist infighting exists to such a degree when we often share about 95% of the same views, compared to the general public.




  • Kabe@lemmy.worldtoLinux@lemmy.mlWhat does your desktop look like?
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    edit-2
    8 months ago

    Yeah, so Gnome has an extension called Night Theme Switcher which automatically changes your background, icons, theme, cursor etc. based on a user-defined day/night schedule. It works great.

    Arc Menu is another extension which gives Gnome a standard start menu (since it doesn’t come with one by default) in the top lefthand corner. It also comes with a KRunner-like app launcher that pops up in the middle of the screen instead of using the default Gnome Overview UI.

    Both these extensions make Gnome feel a little more natural for desktop use, IMO.