So… any of you bears wanna help me out? Thanks!!

    • TraschcanOfIdeology [they/them, comrade/them]
      ·
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      Go for The Deprogram! It's light but pretty entertaining and educational, not to mention Hakim is so knowledgeable that he drops dozens of book recommendations for most topics.

    • xXthrowawayXx [none/use name]
      ·
      1 year ago

      What do you already know?

      There is no wrong answer to this question.

      You could say something like “socialism is when the government does stuff” or “socialism is when they take your funco pops and give them to everyone else” or “socialism is when you don’t talk to your best friend because they’re a revisionist.”

      Two hundred years of history has wrought a mighty warp in our understanding of even simple things.

      It’s important to know where you’re at because some of the learning about socialism material is like “it’s possible not to suffer” and some of it is like “British utopian communist ideology kept American parties from escaping Trotskyism”.

      • Pandantic [they/them]@midwest.social
        hexagon
        ·
        1 year ago

        Let’s see, I know that in socialism, the state takes over means of production from companies and removes competition. I also know that socialism is supposed to be a system run by the people. Everyone is paid by their need, basic needs are met for everyone, and classism and wealth inequality are eliminated.

        I also know that communism is the militant and authoritarian version of socialism. I think that one Soviet Russia’s problems with communism was that the some of workers weren’t incentivized and were thrown into labor camps for not doing their jobs, and also there wasn’t honesty in the government controlled supply chain because of fear of repercussions for not meeting production quotas, which meant there wasn’t enough food.

        I know a bit about the Cuban Revolution and Castro.

        • xXthrowawayXx [none/use name]
          ·
          1 year ago

          So you kinda can’t get directly to where you wanna be from where you are.

          Everybody’s got preconceived notions and grows up in propaganda and it takes a little while to get used to the They Live glasses and start really operating based on the perception you get through them.

          I would recommend citations needed, blowback and the deprogram first and foremost and once you’re through those revisit the question.

          Those three are primarily for a western audience. I assumed since you’re posting in English and on Midwest.social but if you’re from like idk India or South Africa lmk and I’ll try to dig equivalent stuff up.

            • xXthrowawayXx [none/use name]
              ·
              1 year ago

              The afrika baambaata sample in blowbacks intro always gets me pumped. Probably half of getting people to recommend your shit is getting them in the mood you want em in to enjoy it from the jump.

            • infuziSporg [e/em/eir]
              ·
              edit-2
              1 year ago

              Honestly the Deprogram doesn't actually do all that much deprogramming, it's more venting and news and analysis and spotlights for people who are already into socialism.

              Historicly.net is a good podcast for laying out the scale of how various forms of oppression evolved together, and challenging the victor's narrative of history.