• Imnecomrade
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    1 year ago

    One thing I like about Wikipedia is that they have a Simple English version: simple.wikipedia.org

    Has a Simple English Prolewiki been suggested or considered? As people’s access to education worsens, we may need to find ways to describe communist theory and current/historical events through a ML lens to people with lower reading levels.

    • ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆@lemmy.mlOP
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      1 year ago

      Making things as accessible as possible by default is generally a good idea. There’s generally no good reason to use flowery language.

    • davel
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      1 year ago

      This isn’t a refutation of your suggestion, but more of a “yes and…”. Literacy was much worse in Russia & China when they revolted in the early 20th century. I’m not sure what percentage the vanguard were literate at the time. I imagine that lack of literacy made reading groups all the more critical. What we have now that they didn’t have then are audiobooks. The Soviet & Chinese Communists prioritized literacy education highly after taking control.

      • Imnecomrade
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        1 year ago

        Fair, though I still believe using “new” (Basic English was invented around 1925) concepts like Simple English today can help radicalize people, but other methods like reading groups are still important. I care about accessibility, including in tech, education, transportation, etc., and I believe supporting specialized languages designed to assist people is a net benefit to society.

        Having a revolution in Amerikkka, the imperialist core where the unofficial religion is anti-communism, is going to be a unique challenge compared to previously colonized AES countries. I believe we will need to apply many methods–adapting to new technology, wielding it to our cause–to radicalize as many working class Americans as possible. Any contributions people are enabled to make are essential. If I have time someday, I would consider creating or editing Simple English articles, but I need to read more theory first.

      • ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆@lemmy.mlOP
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        1 year ago

        The reading groups are absolutely the special sauce that’s needed. There is simply no substitute for people getting together and discussing these ideas. Most people simply won’t read this stuff even if they have the capacity to understand it. The advantage of a reading group is that it’s a social activity. This makes it a lot more enjoyable to do which helps keeps people engaged. And the reading groups are the building block of actual organizing. This is how people meet each other, become friends, and start working together towards common goals.

        • Imnecomrade
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          1 year ago

          I absolutely agree. Though, I believe my suggestion would serve a different purpose. This would include people new to ML and happen to come across Prolewiki online. Having simple english articles available would also be useful for comrades to share to people with learning disabilities and poorly educated people online. People who have their first spark of radicalization then may start looking for a party, organization, or social group that would have reading group events. My own first steps to radicalization began after reading wiki articles about alternative governments and economic models after net neutrality was repealed. I am now a PSL applicant who has attended marches, rallies, Zoom meetings, and reading group events, and they have been a wonderful experience that a wiki article obviously cannot replace.