this post was submitted on 07 Jul 2026
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Lefty Memes

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An international (English speaking) socialist Lemmy community free of "ML" (read: Dengist) influence. This is a place for undogmatic shitposting and memes from a progressive, anti-capitalist and truly anti-imperialist perspective, regardless of specific ideology.

Serious posts, news, discussion and agitprop/stuff that's better fit for a poster than a meme go in c/Socialism.

If you are new to socialism, you can ask questions and find resources over on c/Socialism101.

Please don't forget to help keep this community clean by reporting rule violations, updooting good contributions and downdooting those of low quality!

Rules

Version without spoilers

0. Only post socialist memes


That refers to funny image macros and means that generally videos and screenshots are not allowed. Exceptions include explicitly humorous and short videos, as well as (social media) screenshots depicting a funny situation, joke, or joke picture relating to socialist movements, theory, societal issues, or political opponents. Examples would be the classic case of humorous Tumblr or Twitter posts/threads. (and no, agitprop text does not count as a meme. Please post agitprop here)


0.5 [Provisional Rule] Try to use alt text or image descriptions to allow for greater accessibility


(Please take a look at our wiki page for the guidelines on how to actually write alternative text!)

We encourage alternative text (from now referred to as "alt text") to be added to all posts/comments containing media, such as images, animated GIFs, videos, audio files, and custom emojis.
EDIT: For files you share in the comments, a simple summary should be enough if they’re too complex.

We are committed to social equity and to reducing barriers of entry, including (digital) communication and culture. It takes each of us only a few moments to make a whole world of content (more) accessible to a bunch of folks.

When alt text is absent, a reminder will be issued. If you don't add the missing alt text within 48 hours, the post will be removed. No hard feelings.


0.5.1 Style tip about abbreviations and short forms


When writing stuff like "lol" and "iirc", it's a good idea to try and replace those with their all caps counterpart

  • ofc => OFC
  • af = AF
  • ok => OK
  • lol => LOL
  • bc => BC
  • bs => BS
  • iirc => IIRC
  • cia => CIA
  • nato => Nato (you don't spell it when talking, right?)
  • usa => USA
  • prc => PRC
  • etc.

Why? Because otherwise (AFAIK), screen readers will try to read them out as actually words instead of spelling them


1. Socialist Unity in the form of mutual respect and good faith interactions is enforced here


Try to keep an open mind, other schools of thought may offer points of view and analyses you haven't considered yet. Also: This is not a place for the Idealism vs. Materialism or rather Anarchism vs. Marxism debate(s), for that please visit c/AnarchismVsMarxism.


2. Anti-Imperialism means recognizing capitalist states like Russia and China as such


That means condemning (their) imperialism, even if it is of the "anti-USA" flavor.


3. No liberalism, (right-wing) revisionism or reactionaries.


That includes so called: Social Democracy, Democratic Socialism, Dengism, Market Socialism, Patriotic Socialism, National Bolshevism, Anarcho-Capitalism etc. . Anti-Socialist people and content have no place here, as well as the variety of "Marxist"-"Leninists" (read: Dengists) (actual ML's are welcome as long as they agree to the rules and don't just copy paste/larp about stuff from a hundred years ago).


4. No Bigotry.


The only dangerous minority is the rich.


5. Don't demonize previous and current socialist experiments or (leading) individuals.


We must constructively learn from their mistakes, while acknowledging their achievements and recognizing when they have strayed away from socialist principles.


6. Don't irrationally idolize/glorify previous and current socialist experiments or (leading) individuals.


Notable achievements in all spheres of society were made by various socialist/people's/democratic republics around the world. Mistakes, however, were made as well: bureaucratic castes of parasitic elites - as well as reactionary cults of personality - were established, many things were mismanaged and prejudice and bigotry sometimes replaced internationalism and progressiveness.


  1. Absolutely no posts or comments meant to relativize(/apologize for), advocate, promote or defend:

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[–] therealdries@lemmy.dbzer0.com 0 points 6 days ago (1 children)

yet caught entirely off-guard

Really? Is that why they couldn't catch Makhno while they were murdering the Nabat, eh tankie?

Makhno and the Soviets had competing visions for the future of Eastern Europe

Should I be surprised at a tankie using such imperialist language? I suppose not.

But hey... do go on. Show me the "vision" the Makhnovists had for Moscow, Prague, Bucharest and Warsaw. Show me the imperialist "vision" Makhno had for Moscow.

Should be easy for you, no?

your account of Makhno as a dull and easily betrayed fool.

Right, right... the Makhno that your precious Bolsheviks could never "liquidate" a "dull and easily betrayed fool."

Dangle that slender thread of hope, tankie.

suggesting I said “all Marxists are tankies,”

This you?

Either way, your crusade against Marxists is a bit silly.

Again... this you?

a pragmatic anarchist facing pragmatic Marxists

Could have sworn that was you, tankie.

tankie is just a pejorative for those who support historical and currently existing socialist states.

Aww... what's the matter? Don't like being called a *tankie?"

I suggested we call you apparatists once, a long time ago... everybody felt it accurate, but they also felt it didn't exactly roll off the tongue.

So tell you what... why don't you come up with something better than "Marxist-Leninist" that actually sticks, okay?

Come now... I'm willing to bet you've never had an invitation like that from anyone that can be called leftist with a straight face.

Quite reactionary behavior for a supposed anarchist,

Oh boo-fucking-hoo, tankie. Cry me a river.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Again, Makhno was not the helpless idealist you seem to believe him to be. The Soviets were correct in understanding him as a threat, just as Makhno was correct in identifying the soviets as a threat to him.

"Using imperialist language" is a nonsense jab. The Soviets were never imperialist, this is a non-sequitor to try to shift the argument. My point was clear, the Soviets were trying to establish socialism, while Makhno was trying to establish a horizontalist system. The fact that the Soviets succeeded and Makhno failed to establish even a localized version of his horizontalist vision does not mean these were two competing visions, and as we know, the broad majority supported the Bolsheviks.

The bulk of your comment is you pressing a silly notion that I'm offended at being called a tankie by you. In that a tankie is someone that defends existing socialism, I am absolutely a tankie, so this doesn't really mean much other than that you don't like me, which is also obvious. Well done! We figured it out, I like existing socialism, and you don't. We already knew that from the first comment, though, so all it seems to me is that you're hoping to get under my skin. It won't work, though.

I don't know what you mean by saying we come up with something "better than Marxist-Leninist." It has stuck, that's what we MLs are. I'm also fine with tankie, it's a pejorative, but one for a group we are both aware exists, those who defend existing socialism. It's fine, I don't care what you decide to call us, as long as we both agree on what this actually describes, those who defend existing socialism.

[–] therealdries@lemmy.dbzer0.com 0 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Again, Makhno was not the helpless idealist you seem to believe him to be

I really should start numbering your lies, tankie... they are getting so numerous they require admin.

“Using imperialist language” is a nonsense jab.

This you?

Soviets had competing visions for the future of Eastern Europe

Could have sworn that was you. Did somebody else type that for you, maybe?

The Soviets were never imperialist

Of coooooorse not, tankie - the mountainous and voluminous history of tankie imperialism is purely a figment of everybody's imagination, right?

In that a tankie is someone that defends existing socialism

How charitable of you, defending something you don't even believe in. How heroic.

both agree on what this actually describes, those who defend existing socialism.

LOOOL!

Absurdism suits you, tankie.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 1 points 5 days ago

You're playing up an intentional misrepresentation of what I said as "imperialist language," and now again continuing to fall apart.