• ShinkanTrain@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    18
    arrow-down
    6
    ·
    edit-2
    16 hours ago

    It used to be a word for people who defended Stalin sending tanks to Hungary in the 50s. It caught on in leftist discourse as a word for leftists who excuse illegitimate state violence, domestically and abroad. Though on Lemmy, like reddit before it, it’s mostly thrown around at anyone who disagrees that the US used to a be radiant light in the world until 2016 or anyone left of Pelosi.

    • BrainInABox@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      6 hours ago

      It used to be a word for people who defended Stalin sending tanks to Hungary in the 50s.

      Stalin was dead by then!

      For God sake, could people learn about things before giving their takes?

      • ShinkanTrain@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        edit-2
        3 hours ago

        Is anything else wrong or are you just gonna be anal about something that doesn’t even pertain to the point?

        • BrainInABox@lemmy.ml
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          2 hours ago

          Westerners really are unbelievably arrogant; not spouting off about things you demonstrably don’t know even the most basic facts about should be normal behaviour

    • Fonzie!@ttrpg.network
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      arrow-down
      4
      ·
      edit-2
      9 hours ago

      It used to be a word for people who defended Stalin sending tanks to Hungary in the 50s. It caught on in leftist discourse as a word for leftists who excuse illegitimate state violence, domestically and abroad

      Correct etymology of the word!

      Though on Lemmy, like reddit before it, it’s mostly thrown around at anyone who disagrees that the US used to a be radiant light in the world until 2016 or anyone left of Pelosi

      LMAO no much worse, it’s “leftist I think is crazy”, so who is and isn’t a “tankie” depends on the person using the word; although it generally means someone who is pro hardcore Communism a la Stalin.

      • BrainInABox@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        6 hours ago

        Correct etymology of the word!

        Only if you’re too historically illiterate to think Stalin was still alive