If you’re looking for a relatively serious answer:
In the 1960s the Soviet Union sent military aid to their ally Hungary to squash a fascist attempt at overthrowing their socialist government.
This was presented in the western media at the time that the evil soviets were attacking the “free speech” of these (fascist) protestors. So those who approved of the decision were labelled as “tankies” as a kind of derogatory term.
The term was usually used by “leftcoms” or people who claim to be socialist or leftist, but explicitly exclude every socialist nation from “socialism” for not being pure enough.
Until the rise of the term on the internet, where the term saw a resurgence, where the original meaning has almost been entirely lost, and usually just means “anyone who is actually left wing and opposes capitalism and imperialism.”
It’s usually just used because “Commie” sounds too much like boomer redscare propaganda. But it has the exact same meaning as a boomer screaming “Commie” at someone who says that maybe free healthcare is a good idea. It’s a thought terminating cliche, a way of dismissing someone’s argument without directly engaging it and considering their position.
You joke but I have literally seen someone go on a wild anti-“cultural marxist” anti-“tankie” rant over someone asking for someone to play the RPG role of tank in a game.
Legitimately the best class in any MMO. Piss easy to play, AND you’re literally the protagonist of all of the game’s content. Just try and tell me that the big DPS man is the main character when has has to follow me around everywhere.
A) someone who was in support of the ussr rolling tanks (hence ‘tankie’) into hungary in 1956. these people (or the original ones anyway) are mostly all dead.
B) anyone on the left of any tendency who supports existing socialist states or parties - though now it’s not even that, and can only reliably be read as “leftist i don’t like”
the communist party of great britain got in arguments with each other over whether Khruschev was correct to invade hungary in 1956. One faction of CPGB argued that Khruschev was correct to do this, because America was funding nazi insurgents in Hungary. The other faction of CPGB argued that this was incorrect, and called the faction that supported Khruschev “tankies.” This term, “Tankies” remained an obscure term that communists used when fighting each other for about 4 decades, until it was revived on the internet in the late '90s. By the early 2010s, liberals were beginning to use it against anyone who was anti-capitalist, including anarchists and social democrats. Now it pretty much is used as a slander against anyone who has broad critiques of US foreign policy.
For the tenth time, what the FUCK is a tankie?!?!?
If you’re looking for a relatively serious answer:
In the 1960s the Soviet Union sent military aid to their ally Hungary to squash a fascist attempt at overthrowing their socialist government.
This was presented in the western media at the time that the evil soviets were attacking the “free speech” of these (fascist) protestors. So those who approved of the decision were labelled as “tankies” as a kind of derogatory term.
The term was usually used by “leftcoms” or people who claim to be socialist or leftist, but explicitly exclude every socialist nation from “socialism” for not being pure enough.
Until the rise of the term on the internet, where the term saw a resurgence, where the original meaning has almost been entirely lost, and usually just means “anyone who is actually left wing and opposes capitalism and imperialism.”
It’s usually just used because “Commie” sounds too much like boomer redscare propaganda. But it has the exact same meaning as a boomer screaming “Commie” at someone who says that maybe free healthcare is a good idea. It’s a thought terminating cliche, a way of dismissing someone’s argument without directly engaging it and considering their position.
anyone to the left of biden
That doesn’t leave many people
It includes most Democrats
are you saying Joseph Bidet isn’t an ultraleftist
it’s a class with low dps, but high hp and some crowd control
You joke but I have literally seen someone go on a wild anti-“cultural marxist” anti-“tankie” rant over someone asking for someone to play the RPG role of tank in a game.
Legitimately the best class in any MMO. Piss easy to play, AND you’re literally the protagonist of all of the game’s content. Just try and tell me that the big DPS man is the main character when has has to follow me around everywhere.
me maining RDM in FFXIV but switching to PLD for cutscenes
*sigh*
two answers, both equally true:
A) someone who was in support of the ussr rolling tanks (hence ‘tankie’) into hungary in 1956. these people (or the original ones anyway) are mostly all dead.
B) anyone on the left of any tendency who supports existing socialist states or parties - though now it’s not even that, and can only reliably be read as “leftist i don’t like”
the communist party of great britain got in arguments with each other over whether Khruschev was correct to invade hungary in 1956. One faction of CPGB argued that Khruschev was correct to do this, because America was funding nazi insurgents in Hungary. The other faction of CPGB argued that this was incorrect, and called the faction that supported Khruschev “tankies.” This term, “Tankies” remained an obscure term that communists used when fighting each other for about 4 decades, until it was revived on the internet in the late '90s. By the early 2010s, liberals were beginning to use it against anyone who was anti-capitalist, including anarchists and social democrats. Now it pretty much is used as a slander against anyone who has broad critiques of US foreign policy.
https://redsails.org/tankies/