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.

  • a_blanqui_slate [none/use name, any]
    ·
    1 year ago

    You can critique specific policies.

    That's what I've been doing.

    You want DPRK to become more like Norway.

    Yeah, and I'd like Norway to become more like the DRPK. Kim Jong Un agrees, which is why he's building waterparks and ski resorts.

    What you can't do is repeat "red fascism" crap

    Haven't done that, if you've been paying attention, my whole point here has been to say "we don't have to play those games".

    • zed_proclaimer [he/him]
      ·
      1 year ago

      No you have been defending liberals slandering AES as “red fascist authoritarian dictatorships”. You are a bad faith liar

      • a_blanqui_slate [none/use name, any]
        ·
        1 year ago

        No you have been defending liberals slandering AES as “red fascist authoritarian dictatorships”.

        Nope, I think Cuba's pretty cool actually.

        • zed_proclaimer [he/him]
          ·
          1 year ago

          Your friend and fellow travelers NJR, AOC, Bernie Sanders don’t. They all play the “denounce all AES as red fascists” game as you say, and you like it and defend them.

          You defended DPRK being called red fascists in American socialist publications. Stop lying. Stop derailing. Stop being a bad faith liberal.

            • zed_proclaimer [he/him]
              ·
              1 year ago

              Bernie denounced Cuba as an authoritarian dictatorship and retracted his compliments of their education system under pressure

              • a_blanqui_slate [none/use name, any]
                ·
                1 year ago

                and retracted his compliments of their education system under pressure

                I don't think he did

                She asked if Sanders wanted to take back his positive assessments of Castro, an especially unpopular figure in South Florida, and Ortega. Sanders talked about decades of U.S. policy in Latin America, including support for many coups. When pressed by Salinas, he said that "it would be wrong not to state" that the Castros have done good things with medicine and education.

                He sounds like you. And that's a good thing!