this post was submitted on 27 Aug 2026
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It really depends on
1: how much do you actually know about the topic 2: who is your audience
If you are really well studied on Iran, but talking to an Iranian gusano, no amount of facts really matter because it isn't about the truth to this audience. Don't waste your time (or be added to their list as a threat)
If you are talking to a friend, coworker, family member, or someone you organize with who is actually open to being educated and you are knowledgeable on a topic, I would say it is your responsibility as a communist to educate others.
Being aware of your privileges might change how you communicate so that the audience can receive what you are saying, but it doesn't preclude you from being able to talk about a topic you are knowledgeable about. The whole point of treating Marxism as a science is that it is universal, if you are doing it correctly your identity shouldn't be in conflict with an analysis of material reality. It is only a conflict with the audience's desire to hear someone with your identity speak on something
To a more recent example here on hexbear, I make it a point to challenge people talking about Venezuela with the "no investigation no right to speak" line because the people dooming about Venezuela literally have no idea what they are talking about and are just coping with their pessimism by preemptively discarding a revolutionary movement comprised of millions of people who need our support. They read a headline or one particular article and form their entire opinion about a subject over it. It's like when all the libs suddenly had opinions on Ukraine despite not knowing anything about maidan or systemic annihilation of ethnic Russians for a decade before the SMO.
I do that one because people reading who might not be commenting need to see a correct and well informed line on the topic, and they need to see someone pushback against ultras and wreckers, otherwise they are only going to see bullshit liberal idealist takes and think they are correct. Combating liberalism is another responsibility of communists after all.