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.
OK I think I should elaborate on my own thoughts since I am asking others to do so.
I think this site is one of the rare instances on the internet where you can discuss openly about AES without immediately being overwhelmed by obnoxious anti-communist propaganda, so there is a good reason for Hexbear to stay the way it is.
At the same time, it is also limiting our interactions with others who may be more averse to think positively about AES. Unfortunately I think the two paths are mutually exclusive, you can’t tread both paths together, so it has to be one way or the other.
There is nothing I want more than for the "red fascism" accusation stuff to dissipate so the air is clear enough to talk about things the USSR actually made mistakes with.
I actually just asked a related question in another post in an attempt to learn so I want to genuinely ask what you think were mistakes of the USSR?
I don't think USSR was at all fascist, for the record.
Read Blackshirt and Reds by Parenti. He basically lays out all the mistakes and errors of the USSR pretty clearly
I actually found a free PDF off archive.org and just read the chapter Stalin's Fingers. That was very helpful and surprisingly concise, will check out more of it. Thanks for the recommendation!