Inspired by recent discussions, I think Hexbear has a lot of good information about socialism but I wonder if the relentless defense of AES on Hexbear means shooting ourselves in the foot, since many potential leftists have been thoroughly primed to react negatively to AES states?
We’re not getting our messages out when progressive instances have already pre-emptively blocked us and calling us “tankies”.
People are being turned away without even taking the opportunity to read some of the stuff here, because they already have a pre-conceived notion about Hexbear being filled with “crazy tankies who defend totalitarianism”.
I know there have been a lot of propaganda and fabrication being perpetuated about socialist countries, and it feels “right” to defend them against these false accusations, but I wonder if this is doing more harm than good for the present day nascent socialist movement, at least in the Western countries?
We can remain on the current course and feel indignant about the tankie accusations, but will forever remain as a niche “tankie” community.
Or, we can open ourselves up, by toning down the admiration for the socialist states so we are not being treated as hostile by the other instances, and thus opening up the opportunities to have productive interactions with users (and potential leftists) from other instances?
(I do have my own position, you probably know which one it is, but I’m willing to hear from others and reevaluate my own opinions if needed).
EDIT: Thanks to everyone who responded. All points are well taken. Thank you.
If you want to temper your support for AES with some criticism, that's fine. I don't think any of us here think that Stalin or Mao or whoever was an absolute perfect angel from heaven who did nothing wrong. But that doesn't mean we should be expected to write a dissertation on the shortcomings of the Cultural Revolution every time we post a Mao landlord meme.
If liberals come here asking questions in good faith, we should be willing to patiently educate them, or at least point them towards the relevant reading material. But if they're not willing to learn and just call us names, I say spam them with PPB and/or hit them with the ban hammer.
Harry Potter and the State and Revolution is a classic, but you can always throw Harry Potter and the Conquest of Bread at them, too.