Words are defined by common use. If the common use of the word “tankie” is to throw it at people who oppose war, then that’s what it means now. You can say it’s defined as being pro- war, but I’ve never seen it used that way.
Indeed. And the common use of the word tankie is “authoritarian communist”
Why are you using an uncommon definition?
Why would you call someone who opposes tanks a “tankie”? Kinda silly.
OK, next time someone calls me a tankie, I’ll just say, “Actually, I don’t support sending tanks to Ukraine” and I’m sure that’ll clear things up and convince them I’m not a tankie.
tankie
noun
A member of the Communist Party of Great Britain who slavishly followed the Kremlin line, agreeing with the crushing of revolts in Hungary and later Czechoslovakia by SOVIET TANKS (capitalization used for emphasis).
This was how the term was first used in the 80s. As of today, the definition has expanded to all “authoritarian communists”.
What’s silly about it? Tankie is when you support using tanks, I don’t support using tanks in Ukraine so therefore I’m not a tankie. The people who want to send tanks to Ukraine are tankies.
Or we can recognize that that definition doesn’t reflect how it’s actually used. And the way it’s actually used is generally towards people who promote peaceful, diplomatic solutions over military ones.
Indeed. And the common use of the word tankie is “authoritarian communist”
Why are you using an uncommon definition?
Why would you call someone who opposes tanks a “tankie”? Kinda silly.
That’s like calling you a “warmongie”.
OK, next time someone calls me a tankie, I’ll just say, “Actually, I don’t support sending tanks to Ukraine” and I’m sure that’ll clear things up and convince them I’m not a tankie.
Well, that’s just silly.
I didn’t make the definition
This was how the term was first used in the 80s. As of today, the definition has expanded to all “authoritarian communists”.
Nothing about peace yet, sorry.
What’s silly about it? Tankie is when you support using tanks, I don’t support using tanks in Ukraine so therefore I’m not a tankie. The people who want to send tanks to Ukraine are tankies.
Or we can recognize that that definition doesn’t reflect how it’s actually used. And the way it’s actually used is generally towards people who promote peaceful, diplomatic solutions over military ones.