So, over the past year I have learnt so much about the amazing achievements these men (and the party they were the leaders of) did that I was never taught. I’ve ‘semi-intentionally’ deprogrammed myself of so much anti-communism bullshit while having to live with that most still in the West, based upon misinformation, view them as ‘evil, 100 quintillion deaths, dictator, psychopath where muh freedoms’.

The reason I am focusing on Stalin and Mao in particular in this post is, to be very open, due to a truth-seeking hyperfixation that I must satisfy so I can move on to the next topic of intense, dopamine chasing, obsession. Yeah I love being me. Anyway, propaganda, mythologising, exaggerating and misattributed blame brushed aside, what is left?

I am quite knowledgeable of, thanks to some high quality M-L documentaries, educational videos and podcast episodes, the more obvious wrongdoings such as the Great Leap Forward killing of pests worsening the famine, purges of comrades who were legitimately innocent, re-criminalising homosexuality, support of Khmer Rouge and ethnic deportations to name a few.

I wouldn’t mind hearing more obscure examples, or a deeper analysis of the mistakes and unjustifiable actions I am already aware of. And as much as a few good book recommendations probably would give me the answers I crave, I am lowkey illiterate with long-form reading thanks to my ADHD (still waiting on meds after being diagnosed 8 months ago).

    • ExistentialNightmare@lemmygrad.mlOP
      74·
      27 days ago

      Calm down please, I did not make this post for heated exchanges like these to happen. “Disgusting ableist fuck” is an egregious insult to make here all things considered.

      Wishing you all the best in dealing with your issues, happy to hear you donate and assist people in need, keep that up. However this is a political post regarding Marxist-Leninist leaders and if you’re going to make such politically inaccurate comments, and not use Marxism at all to make that political analysis, this is somewhat of a predictable outcome.

      • DonLongSchlong@lemmygrad.ml
        45·
        27 days ago

        Hey, i am the one that got insulted by an ableist user. You do not get tell me to calm down and just ignore the one throwing insults…

        “Disgusting ableist fuck” is an egregious insult to make here all things considered.

        What the actual hell are you talking about? I was the one insulted by their ableist remarks. Calling it “wild” that i have the cognitive ability to see my own limits due to my debilitating issue is absolutely an ableist insult and you are adding to it as well.

        Disgusting!

        It seems like your ability to empathy is not much better than mine!

        and if you’re going to make such politically inaccurate comments, and not use Marxism at all to make that political analysis, this is somewhat of a predictable outcome.

        In this discussion, I am the one wanting for marxist analysis by others. You both failed by literally ripping out the whole point of marxist-leninist analysis and saying that context and rationale are irrelevant.

        Like hell they are! Pathetic! They are the most important!

        I should stop being insecure about my comradeship if people like you both count as communists.

        To say that Stalin was simply in a different time and his analysis of his conditions during this time are irrelevant because “duh, old people be homophobic” is unbecoming of anyone calling themselves a leftist and drifts off into lib vibe politic territory.

        If you don’t want this to be heated then stop being a disgusting ableist, stop removing the most basic parts of marxism-leninism in your analysis, and stop calling other comments politically inaccurate while failing to criticize my points and just adding unto the cognitive drivel of the previous person!

        I would take a lib over some self righteous faux-marxist failures like you both.

        • Sanya@lemmygrad.ml
          5·
          27 days ago

          Regardless of the discussion (in which I believe you’re the one in the right), it is wild to me that people are agreeing with “you need empathy to be a communist!”.

          Like, what? Didn’t Marx work so hard to make moralist arguments for socialism obsolete, and gave us scientific analysis to why it’s superior?

          • DonLongSchlong@lemmygrad.ml
            2·
            27 days ago

            I fully agree with that. My point is actually a little different (or more overthought maybe). It’s not just “empathy”, I believe i would be a weak link as a communist. It simply requires more comradery than i will be able to give. I would be a “good weather commie” at best.

            I am not saying that i will be opportunistic or corrupted, but rather that i do not wish to change my material conditions around me to take on more socialist responsibilities by making it seem like i am a hardline marxist-leninist and lead by good example.

            If interrogated by a cop, i wouldn’t point a commie out - no sir, commies in this area? Never!

            I wouldn’t hide you either, though - Get outta my face before the cops come and hurt my GF, backdoor is that way👉

            Maybe that is still a moralistic argument? My autistic ass has not figured that out just yet. Maybe this is just self crit and i am merely figuring out my limitations.

        • ExistentialNightmare@lemmygrad.mlOP
          21·
          27 days ago

          I didn’t say all that and you need to acknowledge that you said you had mental illness not any disability. But, and I do mean this sincerely - I am sorry for being inconsiderate. I’ve deleted my previous reply for being childish.

          Also, I am highly autistic, I literally do lack empathy in the sense of not understanding other people properly and struggling to relate to them. I do feel other’s pain emotionally and deeply though if we mean empathy in that way, which is primarily why I’m apologising - I am upset that I have upset you. Infact I think this is part of the confusion, what do you mean exactly by empathy, in this particular context?

          I think opiumfree thought you lack logical, more conceptual empathy not literal emotional empathy.

          Also, I recommend watching RevThot’s video on the re-criminilisation of homosexuality in the USSR, link

          • DonLongSchlong@lemmygrad.ml
            31·
            26 days ago

            Also, I recommend watching RevThot’s video on the re-criminilisation of homosexuality in the USSR

            That’s actually the video that shaped my opinion on this. The quote i posted was from the conclusion in this video.

            you need to acknowledge that you said you had mental illness not any disability.

            Is this a language or cultural difference? Because mental illness is a disability where i am from. Does your country not consider mental illnesses as disability?

            Or am i misunderstanding?

            Infact I think this is part of the confusion, what do you mean exactly by empathy, in this particular context?

            I explained it here already

            I have few problems with cognitive empathy and can rather easily see when it is needed. Emotional empathy is the problem for me as you already mentioned.

            An acquaintance of mine went homeless - shit sutuation, i was homeless too for a couple months - i technically could have offered my couch for him to sleep on.

            My overstimulated AuDHD ass was absolutely not gonna do that. I offered some money instead. I was already housing my GF in this small room. She also has autism, but i am more able than her so i pick up the slack and i am the one working. Adding some man to it as well would have ended me

            Now, you might say that you would have done the same, my point is that for me that is not comradely behaviour. That is not principled socialism.

            Sure he is a chinese anti-communist, but i could have been the change i want to see in his world. He found a place and i didn’t need to worry about it anymore, but my decision was still made and so was the decision to not label myself socialist.

            I take your apology to heart - Thank you. It is a good apology.

            Today was a stressful day on the grad. Good night.

    • opiumfree@lemmygrad.mlEnglish
      16·
      27 days ago

      blud you just said you’re not a communist but agree with marxist leninism so idk what to tell u. and who r u to dictate if the discussion is over or not lol its a comment section