Da Belarusian thread

[Sheilbh]

Sadly it seems than online tankies in the West are continuing the dirty work of the Belorussian KGB and smear attacks on the detained guy have started already, painting the guy as, of course, a closeted neo nazi.

I generally hate the phrase "weaponisation" but I think it's accurate to describe the way Russia uses WW2 and around fascism/neo-nazis in Eastern Europe. And it does get picked up not just by online tankies but in bits of the more sort of respectable left online panicking more about a neo-nazi Ukrainian nationalist party that has 1 seat in the Rada than the integrity of Ukraine and the rights of all Ukrainians to decide their own fate and not have it determined by invading little green men.

It's a really effective line from Russia.

[The Larch]

Sadly it seems than online tankies in the West are continuing the dirty work of the Belorussian KGB and smear attacks on the detained guy have started already, painting the guy as, of course, a closeted neo nazi.

I generally hate the phrase "weaponisation" but I think it's accurate to describe the way Russia uses WW2 and around fascism/neo-nazis in Eastern Europe. And it does get picked up not just by online tankies but in bits of the more sort of respectable left online panicking more about a neo-nazi Ukrainian nationalist party that has 1 seat in the Rada than the integrity of Ukraine and the rights of all Ukrainians to decide their own fate and not have it determined by invading little green men.

It's a really effective line from Russia.

You have to really give it to them in that area, they really know how to play the propaganda game vis a vis the West.

[Admiral Yi]

Online tankie is a thing and not a typo?  Never heard it before.

[DGuller]

I always have to suppress a gag reflex when I see an online forum poster who I'm sure is not a troll (based on their longevity) repeat all the Russian propaganda talking points.  Can't help but feel disdain for these people, their lack of critical thinking let them become propaganda weapons for an enemy nation.

[The Larch]

Online tankie is a thing and not a typo?  Never heard it before.

Tankies are militant, vociferous and unreconstructed commies that in the current scenario will defend Belarus, in this case in an online environment.

[The Brain]

I always have to suppress a gag reflex when I see an online forum poster who I'm sure is not a troll (based on their longevity) repeat all the Russian propaganda talking points. 

I admire your multitasking.

[Admiral Yi]

Tankies are militant, vociferous and unreconstructed commies that in the current scenario will defend Belarus, in this case in an online environment.

So, Jeremy Corbyns? 

[The Larch]

Tankies are militant, vociferous and unreconstructed commies that in the current scenario will defend Belarus, in this case in an online environment.

So, Jeremy Corbyns? 

Worse than that.

[DGuller]

I always have to suppress a gag reflex when I see an online forum poster who I'm sure is not a troll (based on their longevity) repeat all the Russian propaganda talking points. 

I admire your multitasking.

Thanks! 

[grumbler]

Online tankie is a thing and not a typo?  Never heard it before.

I hadn't heard of it, either, so i looked it up.  It's a UK-originated term for the members of the left who supported the Soviet use of force (tanks) to crush the Hungarian and Czech defections from hardline communism.  It seems to have started as a description by the left of the hard left (Stalinists/Maoists).

I like it nd will (mis)use it.

[Sheilbh]

Tankies are militant, vociferous and unreconstructed commies that in the current scenario will defend Belarus, in this case in an online environment.

So, Jeremy Corbyns? 

Worse than that.

Way worse - they're a thing on red rose Twitter.

An example of one recent tankie post that I don't fully understand but see people dunking on:

[Syt]

China is a diverse community while the US eliminates diversity and it's everyone for themselves?

[The Larch]

I've seen tankie used plenty of times online and by americans, I was not aware of it being originally British. It's meant to cover the Stalinists who'd have gone all "send in the tanks!" at the Prague Spring and the Hungarian uprising during the cold war, nowadays it's those that will still defend the Soviet Union no matter what, as well as the contemporary authoritarian regimes that purport themselves to be socialist or commie-ish, not just Cuba but Belarus, China, Syria, etc, as well as Russia itself.

I was not aware of this being the first time it's used in the forum.

[The Larch]

Way worse - they're a thing on red rose Twitter.

Red rose Twitter?

[Sheilbh]

Way worse - they're a thing on red rose Twitter.

Red rose Twitter?

People with red roses in their Twitter handles. People with just a red rose - normally American Democratic Socialists - and maybe split between Bernie stans v more identity politics left. Red rose and/or a hammer and sickle = tankie

I think they're probably mainly teenagers (and thank God I didn't have social media when I was either a theatre kid or a communist ) acting out. But still.

I've seen tankie used plenty of times online and by americans, I was not aware of it being originally British. It's meant to cover the Stalinists who'd have gone all "send in the tanks!" at the Prague Spring and the Hungarian uprising during the cold war, nowadays it's those that will still defend the Soviet Union no matter what, as well as the contemporary authoritarian regimes that purport themselves to be socialist or commie-ish, not just Cuba but Belarus, China, Syria, etc, as well as Russia itself.

I think it actually originates from splits on the British hard left between those who opposed the USSR over Hungary (which was a huge issue on the British hard left) and Prague (less of an issue because it was a tiny groupuscule by then) and those who enthusiastically supported them sending in the tanks.

I always find the high Stalinist Western Communist parties weirdly fascinating - but in the UK, and I think most of Western Europe, Hungary caused absolute collapse of their support and membership.