Any tips for identifying oneself to new folks that let you “skip intro” and get into the results-focused conversations about improving our condition?
In union work I’ve identified myself as a socialist for awhile, but now just say communist if I’m friendly with the party or avoid it all together. The west has so poisoned the lexicon that I feel variations of “pragmatist” are all that reliably skip the small talk and moves us straight into serious convos.
In my opinion, left/right framing is standard eurocentric good/bad BS that creates an antagonistic stage from the outset that passively endorses the current system and linear thinking. If the language itself comes out of the failed French Revolution, are there not better terms we can use to distance ourselves from the ideological lib stench surrounding Left/Progressive today and simultaneously indicate we’re here to get shit done?
Marxist or Communist. We have to take those words back.
You could just not use any political label when introducing yourself. Let them gradually figure out your opinions on things through the conversations you have.
thanks fam! that’s what works best overall so far. “sweetie pie socialist” worked well in 2020 and quickly got ppl talking without some hesitancy from folks who want to know where you stand on things before saying too much. Not as efficient now so I hope there’s a 2024 term ppl have found which indicates “this conversation is a wholesome space, go off”.
‘Marxist’
Scientific Socialist: The original Marxist Leninist. It’s way more descriptive to the average person and has zero cold war baggage, and the best part is if they want to know more you can segue right into dialectical materialism.
I think I like some version of “I stand with the oppressed”.
It will take a while before bonjoursie is systematically oppressed and I have to think of something else. But for now, it feels like it mostly works.
Agree?
