I’m talking about people like Vaush, Adam Something, even Elon Musk. Hell, even people like George Orwell claimed to be socialist so it’s not a new thing. They’re not “Marxist but not Leninist”, or anarcho socialists/communists or whatever, but people who don’t even come close to being any sort of leftist at all!
It’s not like socialism is a very glamorous thing to be in the West, or ever was. The average Westerner either thinks socialism is even worse than fascism, or thinks fascism is a type of socialism. Those two are generally for people like and don’t like fascism respectively. It’s definitely not like being an athlete or being in a band or something where you stand to actually impress the general populus if you lie about it.
So I genuinely don’t understand this: if you’re a Westerner, why would you pick socialism as part of an already fake character you’re casting yourself as? What favours is it doing for you?
Like, I’m a Westerner (at least, I live and grew up in the West, not born there and not white tho), and I’m genuinely a socialist (Marxist-Leninist). And I do the opposite to these fake socialists: I keep that identity on the down low in public places IRL, because I’m worried I might actually get persecuted for it (physically attacked, probably not unless I’m in a really far right crowd, I’m mainly worried about things like job prospects). I definitely don’t do things like broadcast that identity to people who know me IRL (most probably think I’m Sanders-esque socdem at best), and especially not to random people I come across on the street. I genuinely can’t imagine anyone in the West getting brownie points for being a socialist, so why wear that hat unless you actually believe in socialism?
I can’t give a one-size-fits-all answer, but for each one in part, I think it might suffice:
TL;DR: In most cases it’s “social democracy”, either out of gullible idealists, or out of fascists with a half-functioning brain who try to conceal their real ideology
I think in the shallows of Vaush’s head he sincerely believes what he does. He’s just a smug punk who thinks he can never be wrong.
Deep, deep down I do wonder if perhaps he questions it all, and knows that possibly something isn’t adding up. But his entire personality, both as a streamer and as a person from what I can glean, is built off of being always right.
It’s a shame. I really hope we can demystify and destigmatize the idea of being wrong. It’s not a big deal. I’ve been wrong plenty. I still think I’m smart. Being wrong didn’t destroy me 🤷♂️ but I think in the heads of people like this they genuinely are scared their entire life would collapse if they let even the tiniest thing slide.
He’s a streamer, drama is his job. And he’s there to entertain, not inform. I doubt he would ever seriously admit fault because the only way he could truly apologize is by ending his career lol.
I can see this but I can also see him genuinely believing he’s, like, a leader in the fight for socialism. He’s done videos trying to teach people rhetoric and politics 101 because he claims he sees it as valuable (please for the love of Gawd don’t ask how I know this)
How does he reconcile that with his douchey debatebro antics? And the many times he’s been demonstrably counter-revolutionary? I’m guessing that he doesn’t.
Possible! But also possible he just…you know…thinks his antics are heroic and counter-revolutionism is against, “red fascists” or whatever. We should ask him 😂😂😂
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I will say it really boils down IMO to instinctual fear which is exacerbated by capitalism.
The instinct is from caveman times: I admit I’m wrong, I’m seen as fallible, I lose my spot in the tribe, wander across ice an exile and get eaten by a saber tooth.
Even one removed in my defenses (to my id) can lead to my demise.
Of course, this is an animalistic way of thinking. We must rise above it. But in a capitalist society where one too many mistakes will land you unjustly imprisoned, homeless, or otherwise dead or impoverished, this instinct is still legitimized. We cannot grow past it until people feel comfortable failing and being fallible, which is nigh impossible for many in such a cold, uncaring, ruthless society.
And don’t worry, I might say I’m wrong often but as an ML I’m still more right than most people ;)
Vaush is a fed
I don’t think he’s a fed, but I do think he’s a fascistic little shit, using the whole “libertarian socialist” (lol) thing to try to present himself as more innocent than he really is
Libertarian socialist I know don’t think he’s like them. And he doesn’t seem like one to me either. I think he’s a troll. Probably not a fed, but definitely useful to them.
“Libertarian socialist” that wants Julian Assange to be imprisoned for life in the US because “hes right wing” apparently. Literal CIA psyop