Its an epithet for authcoms (authoritarian communists) and MLs (Marxists-Leninists). Essentially referring to justifications of using tanks / violence to quash uprisings or dissent.
In a weird way, it’s kind of “so left wing it curled round the back and ended up on the far right”.
If you think of “left wing” as in “we support Pol Pot, Stalin, Putin etc” rather than “let’s open a community-run vegan art cafe to promote understanding between diverse social groups”.
I agree with your characterisation, but obviously I think that version of left-wing isn’t really left. It’s state capitalism with a red flag.
That said, I’d add that the anarchist and other libertarian leftists (ancaps stole the word libertarian from the left btw) absolutely have revolutionary aims and activities, we aren’t just sitting around singing kumbaya. I didn’t sense you were trying to belittle us but I wanted to add that.
“let’s open a community-run vegan art cafe to promote understanding between diverse social groups”.
It wasn’t a vegan art cafe, but the town I grew up in opened a community-run “Peace and Justice Center” that was a direct evolution from the protest camp that was set up at the start of the 1992 Iraq war. It lasted about 2 months because they had no idea what a peace and justice center was supposed to do. They did let several homeless people sleep there in violation of zoning regulations, though.
There’s two definitions, the former means redfash who overlook the fascist elements of former socialisms, particularly those of Marxist-Leninist orientation. (the fact they use tankie rather than redfash should tell you they’re not entirely comfortable using fascist as a pejorative, want to guess why?)
The latter is basically a dog whistle used by reactionaries to mean communist. Basically a synonym of “woke” for those not overtly racist and applies to anyone with left-of-hitler politics. Think your blue maga types who swear they’re progressive.
Regardless, the word was invented by the CIA to sew division among the left and should not be used by anyone.
What is a tankie?
Fans of this (and not the guy standing there):
Years of being on reddit has conditioned me to always respond to this picture with
So brave
I literally cannot stop myself from posting it.
Its an epithet for authcoms (authoritarian communists) and MLs (Marxists-Leninists). Essentially referring to justifications of using tanks / violence to quash uprisings or dissent.
In a weird way, it’s kind of “so left wing it curled round the back and ended up on the far right”.
If you think of “left wing” as in “we support Pol Pot, Stalin, Putin etc” rather than “let’s open a community-run vegan art cafe to promote understanding between diverse social groups”.
Wikipaedia article here
I agree with your characterisation, but obviously I think that version of left-wing isn’t really left. It’s state capitalism with a red flag.
That said, I’d add that the anarchist and other libertarian leftists (ancaps stole the word libertarian from the left btw) absolutely have revolutionary aims and activities, we aren’t just sitting around singing kumbaya. I didn’t sense you were trying to belittle us but I wanted to add that.
You’re right to give it a little more detail - my slightly silly summary skipped over a lot.
Definitely not trying to belittle anyone, though I am slightly poking fun at myself :)
Got it, that was the vibe you gave off but also since we’re trying to educate I thought I’d be a bit pedantic about it :)
It wasn’t a vegan art cafe, but the town I grew up in opened a community-run “Peace and Justice Center” that was a direct evolution from the protest camp that was set up at the start of the 1992 Iraq war. It lasted about 2 months because they had no idea what a peace and justice center was supposed to do. They did let several homeless people sleep there in violation of zoning regulations, though.
A stalinist communist.
There’s two definitions, the former means redfash who overlook the fascist elements of former socialisms, particularly those of Marxist-Leninist orientation. (the fact they use tankie rather than redfash should tell you they’re not entirely comfortable using fascist as a pejorative, want to guess why?)
The latter is basically a dog whistle used by reactionaries to mean communist. Basically a synonym of “woke” for those not overtly racist and applies to anyone with left-of-hitler politics. Think your blue maga types who swear they’re progressive.
Regardless, the word was invented by the CIA to sew division among the left and should not be used by anyone.