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What does ultra mean to you? (vis-a-vis leftism) (hexbear.net)

submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by JustSo@hexbear.net to c/chat@hexbear.net

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I'm curious whether calling someone an ultra has a generally agreed upon meaning here.

Not to defend any accused ultras or whatever. Recent post got me thinking about it though. It feels like a very loaded word and using it seems like in-group/out-group differentiation signalling or .. I dunno.

Maybe another way to put it is often when I see the term being used it feels like its serves a similar purpose to the "tankie" label's utility for anarchists and liberals.

I might just be running up against tone parsing issues or something, and so maybe this is just me or a figment of my imagination, but it often seems to limit or shape discussion when it pops up early in a discussion.

Again I'm sure I'm just Wrong about this, but it almost feels like a mild thought terminating cliche at least some of the time.

Not trying to fight with anyone, I'm just curious about the nuances (if there are any) with the term.

What does it mean to you and do you have any thoughts you feel like sharing regarding the role it plays in online leftist spaces?

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[–] RedSturgeon@hexbear.net 10 points 1 month ago

Ultras is a branch who reject the idea of building a dual power structure and instead aim for an immediate overthrow of the current system then starting from 0 point, often without any material base to back up their ideas. That's usually how I see the term being used.

They can be ideologically appealing to some, because they offer immediate solutions. They will analyze history and see there was issue with producing commodities during a time in the Soviet Union, then they will say "Idiot Stalin why didn't the guy just press the commodity production switch?" Completely ignoring the fact that they Soviets have been bombed to the ground during the anti-fascist resistance.

I think it's because they, what people call Ultras nowadays, lack real-world experience and are basically a gamer, even if they don't play computer games. They discredit actually existing socialism too, because in their game they can do it "better."

Marxism without, Leninism, without Praxis.