this post was submitted on 18 Jan 2026
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askchapo

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Do liberals adopt leftist personas to avoid confronting the consequences of liberalism? (hexbear.net)
submitted 1 day ago by yunqihao@hexbear.net to c/askchapo@hexbear.net
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This might be a silly question, so I want to preface it with an apology in advance and if you think there is a better place to ask please let me know.

I’ve come across a large number of self-described “anarchists” or “non-communist leftists,” or the like, mostly online,thanks to where I live (谢天谢地). But whenever you look a bit closer, the pattern is the same: underneath the aesthetics and language, it’s just liberalism. Pro-NATO positions, contempt toward the global periphery, and extremely reactionary responses when imperialism or capitalism are seriously questioned.

So my question is: Is adopting these leftist identities a kind of defensive mechanism (an attempt to distance themselves from the real-world damage caused by liberal ideology) or am I misunderstanding what’s actually going on?

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[–] RedSturgeon@hexbear.net 8 points 1 day ago

Lenin is a great source of solid punches against individualism.

Tho' you're likely to be called a hypocrite, for your lack of personal action, if you start borrowing from his work. As it has always been.

They're like "Well RedSturgeon I agree with you on principle, but what have you done? You're so pitifully small, look at these other better leftist here who raised this big pile of cash and are infinitely more capable of contributing to the cause, by getting the message out and donating to those in need, you really want me to believe I should grab your dirty hand, when these others have done infinitely more than you ever could and will accomplish?"

Maybe one day I'll get to go to a sunny beach and get to go through the things I've had no time for, but it's probably not happening.