• Eldritch@piefed.world
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    7 days ago

    Why not? Genuine question. Keep in mind, ML are not communist. Soviet Russia wasn’t communist. China and North Korea aren’t communist. Communist != authoritarian.

    Most social liberals aka progressives and actual communist would agree on most things socially. Which is the important bit. Economics can be debated. As long as we agree on social/personal liberty. I’m okay with debating and defending my ethos on how we should get there.

    • moakley@lemmy.world
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      7 days ago

      As someone who is stubbornly clinging to the word “libertarian” despite the unfortunate reality of other people who have co-opted that label, I wonder if we should both just let it go.

      • Eldritch@piefed.world
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        7 days ago

        It all depends on the context in which it’s used. In mixed company in real life, I likely wouldn’t use either term. Simply because of the propaganda misunderstanding it would cause. Some specific contexts like this, though. There’s no better way to disarm the fascists than to acknowledge that you are. And that they are using words that they don’t know the meaning of. Though in that situation you best be prepared to be factual and come correct in correcting them. Staying cool and on point as they start foaming and melting down like the petulant children they are.

        In a generally left friendly space like the fediverse. Why not use the terms if you’re going to use them correctly? While there is some of the built-in propaganda bias against them still. People are generally more open to them. The fact is. Whatever terms you choose to use. The authoritarians will come for them too. And if we flee those terms and adopt new language. It doesn’t stop the them. It just hampers our efforts to organize and educate. That and the pyrrhic ML downvotes are badges of honor.