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.
Offering my perspective as someone new to Hexbear, I was one of those people who were initially scared off from Hexbear because of this
Before it was blocked, I was reading through discussions where a lot of people from Hexbear were having their comments removed as “trolling” or similar despite having perfectly valid points to talk on. It made me realize I was in an echo chamber which led to me occasionally coming here to lurk for a while before eventually making an account, and got me curious to challenge some of my views that I’ve always had as a “default”.
My point being, I feel being authentic to your views and not giving into pressure to be hushed down is more important than being normie-friendly to get more people, but those people still having major preconceived beliefs that aren’t actually their own, just what they were told is correct.
Yeah, this was me but back in the r/cth days
One of the absolute most fundamental things about this community is rejecting liberal compromise, has been since the very beginning. If someone comes in talking how we need to slow down with the trans rights or something because it’s scaring the voters, you don’t dignify that horrible shit take with a civil debate, you point out to their face that they’re asking us to compromise with fascists and demand they post pics of their hog until they either go away or learn why they were wrong.