this post was submitted on 23 Aug 2023
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What is tankie?
Those who support authoritative regime. I think it's the new commies. Tend to be used on those who are sympathetic to Russia and China.
I'd argue they're not commies - they don't give a shit about worker enfranchisement. They're just red-coded fascists.
True that.
It's a term to distinguish between anarcho-communists and authoritarian communists (bolshevists)
A nerd/geek who compulsively collects miniature model tanks, often obsessed especially with the famous Soviet medium tank known as T-34
Basically communists who defend Mao and Stalin. (And sometimes, oddly enough, the current governments of Russia and China.)
Relevant Wikipedia.
a far-left nazi
I asked this question a little while ago because I've heard the term but it's not always clear what it is referring to. I think that similarly to 'woke' it is used in the context of ideological or political battles, so the definition is variable depending on the context. Opponents will likely have the widest definition since that way they can insult the largest group of people whose beliefs they disagree with, eg. "If you support Ukraine you're a tankie".
Words like 'progressive', 'socialist', 'authoritarian' are more appropriately descriptive if that's what you're going for. If you want to have an argument then 'woke', 'tankie', 'SJW', 'karen/keith', 'snowflake', 'bootlicker', 'edgelord', 'redditor' are good choices.
The term originated in a British socialist political party, I can't remember which, as a term for other socialists that supported the Soviet Union's invasion of I think Hungary. The tank parts originates from the fact tanks were used. Like you say though, the term has become very watered down now and people kind of just throw it around without much discernment.