Change our language

[Fawkes]

We really need to change the language that we use. The word "comrade" in particular is so antiquated and carries with it such a huge degree of presuppositions that it casts a shadow over whatever is actually being said. Not to mention the fact that all I can think of when I hear the word is of a Soviet-theme bar (Wayne's World reference, +1). Nobody outside of the left, at least that I've encountered, ever uses the word with any degree of regularity anyway, further serving to alienate those who may be well intentioned by engendering preconceived notions on what is being said because only "vodka drinking Stalinists with fur hats and a H&S pin on their grey jacket's lapel" use the word. Any Nazi with any degree of intelligence (oxymoron much?) knows that if they have any hope of attaining any power or influence that they need to drop the word "Aryan". Should we not do the same type of thing?

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

Words that resonate:

Y'all (ungendered, hella prole)
Attack (sounds fun)
Communization (implies actually doing something, has less horrific baggage than communism)
Pigfucker
Crew

[Partizani]

From now on, we shall refer to each other using a password that no-one else will know. Monkey-slut

[Quail]

I agree with you about the word "comrade" - sometimes people just use it all the time, call everyone "comrade" and shout "COMRADES" to get everyone's attention. It can be really cringe-worthy and makes me think of the kind of crazy authoritarians who have a picture of Stalin over their bed.

I do think that sometimes the language people use can be alienating to the general population because there are a lot of words specific to the left that the average person might not know. People should be mindful of this when they try to get their ideas across.

[Rafiq]

Comrade is fine.

I don't really see the problem with using it.

If anything, it has a positive effect on the average joe, because it sounds cool.