An international (English speaking) socialist Lemmy community free of the "ML" influence of instances like lemmy.ml and lemmygrad. 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, and discussion 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!
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)
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" seen on lemmygrad and more specifically GenZedong (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.
(if you are reading the rules to apply for modding this community, mention "Mantic Minotaur" when answering question 2)
6. Don't 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.
ID: black and white poster with text: "For every fighter there are 10+ supports, find your place today!"
There is a line illustration of a gun, and bellow it illustrations of items representing different tasks: a list for "logistics", a poster for "propagandist", a rolled up bandage for "medic", a can of soup for "supplier", a phone for "opsec", a bullet for "smuggler", a key for "safe houses", a map for "planner", binoculars for "spy", and an envelope for "messenger"
I don't know how the community defense spies do it. Many of them sift through pages and pages of conservative and fascist posts and memes and podcasts just to let the rest of the group know what's going on. Some even have accounts in local fash orgs to keep tabs on their less public organization efforts too. Im very thankful they have the stomach for that work because it would drive me insane fast.
It certainly isn't for everyone, I couldn't do it either.
And that's the whole point - we each have things we are and aren't good at, and if we organise according to our strengths and appreciate we all have different needs which all matter (E: and support each other in those needs), instead of according to one hierarchy or another which inevitably (deliberately) pits us against each other, we could do incredible things.
I did this for a while, spying in fashy communities, and while I certainly don't regret getting information to my allies, it was terrible for my mental health. Important to know what your enemy is up to, but it's hard to live in it for any extended period of time and not lose objectivity. I was just SO ANGRY all the time. It poisons you.