cross-posted from: https://feddit.nl/post/16246531

I feel like we need to talk about Lemmy’s massive tankie censorship problem. A lot of popular lemmy communities are hosted on lemmy.ml. It’s been well known for a while that the admins/mods of that instance have, let’s say, rather extremist and onesided political views. In short, they’re what’s colloquially referred to as tankies. This wouldn’t be much of an issue if they didn’t regularly abuse their admin/mod status to censor and silence people who dissent with their political beliefs and for example, post things critical of China, Russia, the USSR, socialism, …

As an example, there was a thread today about the anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre. When I was reading it, there were mostly posts critical of China in the thread and some whataboutist/denialist replies critical of the USA and the west. In terms of votes, the posts critical of China were definitely getting the most support.

I posted a comment in this thread linking to “https://archive.ph/2020.07.12-074312/https://imgur.com/a/AIIbbPs” (WARNING: graphical content), which describes aspects of the atrocities that aren’t widely known even in the West, and supporting evidence. My comment was promptly removed for violating the “Be nice and civil” rule. When I looked back at the thread, I noticed that all posts critical of China had been removed while the whataboutist and denialist comments were left in place.

This is what the modlog of the instance looks like:

Definitely a trend there wouldn’t you say?

When I called them out on their one sided censorship, with a screenshot of the modlog above, I promptly received a community ban on all communities on lemmy.ml that I had ever participated in.

Proof:

So many of you will now probably think something like: “So what, it’s the fediverse, you can use another instance.”

The problem with this reasoning is that many of the popular communities are actually on lemmy.ml, and they’re not so easy to replace. I mean, in terms of content and engagement lemmy is already a pretty small place as it is. So it’s rather pointless sitting for example in /c/linux@some.random.other.instance.world where there’s nobody to discuss anything with.

I’m not sure if there’s a solution here, but I’d like to urge people to avoid lemmy.ml hosted communities in favor of communities on more reasonable instances.

  • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmy.ml
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    2 months ago

    Sure, so can you explain what you disagree with about what I have said, and why you believe fascism to not be left nor right? I am aware of “Third Positionists,” they serve Capitalists and arise from Capitalist decay.

    • ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      2 months ago

      It’s going to be useless to explain it to you, you’ve already made up your mind, and since I’m no longer removedting and have things to do today I’m going to have to decline your request to waste my time explaining natsocs.

      • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmy.ml
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        2 months ago

        What gives you the right to call me a Nazi for saying “fascism is right-wing?” That’s incredibly rude, entirely uncalled for, and utterly unfounded in reality.

        • ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          2 months ago

          When the hell did I do that? Lmao dude are you ok? Talk about unfounded in reality lmao:

          It’s going to be useless to explain it to you, you’ve already made up your mind, and since I’m no longer removedting and have things to do today I’m going to have to decline your request to waste my time explaining natsocs.

          Where did I call you a nazi? Is it “it’s useless to explain it to you, you’ve already made up your mind?” So Nazi = Guy who already made up his mind? Ooook.

          Or was it “I’m done removedting,” and nazis are people I talk to while removedting? Seems weird to define that way but ok I guess.

          Or maybe “decline your request to waste my time explaining natsocs?” So, then, anyone I won’t waste my time talking to, they must be nazis? I mean yeah they usually do fall into that category too but it isn’t exclusive to them.

          • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmy.ml
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            2 months ago

            Ah, I misread, I thought you said “explaining to Natsocs like you” and not “explaining Natsocs to you.” My bad, I apologize.

            That being said, you were the one coming in to dispute my claim that fascism is right-wing, and the second I pushed back you said it would be a waste of time to explain, I just think that’s a bit silly. Did you expect me to fully agree with you instantaneously?

            • ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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              2 months ago

              Ah ok no harm no foul then!

              And I provided a link you didn’t read, you provided a link I didn’t read. Fair’s fair. Plus it isn’t actually about convincing you, it’s about leaving a record to let other people read and not just take your words at face value. You’re too far gone.

              • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmy.ml
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                2 months ago

                For clarity, I did read the link you sent. I’ve read it before.

                Plus it isn’t actually about convincing you, it’s about leaving a record to let other people read and not just take your words at face value. You’re too far gone

                That’s fine, I am doing the same for you. I doubt you’ll be convinced, but it’s important to correct blatant misconceptions about Marxism IMO.

                • ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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                  2 months ago

                  Sure, and maybe I have some, but they were put there by “marxists” I’ve argued with in the past. I’m sure they’re no true marxist of course lol. If people stick around here long enough they’ll see what I’m talking about for themselves.

                  • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmy.ml
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                    2 months ago

                    If I see nonsense like that I’ll correct it, but I maintain that it’s more likely than not a misunderstanding of what was stated, if you aren’t going to link an example.