Use of the word 'Comrade'

[ColonelCossack]

Is it rustic for revolutionary leftists to refer to themselves as 'comrade'?

[Jimmie Higgins]

Is it rustic for revolutionary leftists to refer to themselves as 'comrade'?Depends on how you use it I guess. I generally only use it among, um, comrades - especially if I can't remember someone's name. It's a useful term, gender-neutral and specifically describes a partner in struggle rather than a personal friend.

But if you use it like an official title, IMO, it's a little kitschy: "Comrade Jones raises a good point, Comrade Smith, your thoughts?"

[Johnny Kerosene]

I stopped using it regularly because I didn't want to sound like a tankie. That's just my opinion. I usually use like, dude, or maaaan, regardless of the gender of the person I'm speaking to. Or bro, or hombruh, or homeboy. I don't really use comrade though.

[Tablo]

Leftists that use the term comrade make me facepalm about 99% of the time. There are times where it is appropriate, but the vast majority of the time people sound like 14 year olds with a soviet fetish when they say 'comrade'.

[Nox]

Comrade is much better than Sir, Lord, Mister, etc etc, they are all borgeosie/upper class titles

[Bronco]

It's a word with pretty negative connotations now I think, partly thanks to the USSR and also due to books like Orwell's 1984, I think a lot of people tend to associate the word with maintaining a façade of equality

[hatzel]

Comrade is much better than Sir, Lord, Mister, etc etc, they are all borgeosie/upper class titles

That's why the cosmos came up with the word 'mush'...y'alright, mush? :)

[Quail]

Leftists that use the term comrade make me facepalm about 99% of the time. There are times where it is appropriate, but the vast majority of the time people sound like 14 year olds with a soviet fetish when they say 'comrade'.
This.
It really makes me cringe when I hear people say things like, "Y'alright, comrade?"

[Pioneers_Violin]

Comrades!

It's a perfectly good word.
So much to the point and doesn't apologize for anything.

We need to use it more often, not less.
I have used it for a long time, even when referring to Cappies or any other group i.e.. "They really ought to treat their own comrades better than that"

Using Comrade as a title is still considered a bit rustic or "Tankie" but we can change that.

Don't let this valuable, historic word get trashed.
What would we replace it with? "Fellow Traveller"? :crying:

Comrade PV :thumbup:

[Crux]

I use it all the time, but mostly with or about CWI-comrades. I think it sounds funny when the american comrades say comrade.

[Pretty Flaco]

my comrades yall comrades are clownin :rolleyes:

[Rafiq]

When did the word 'comrade' become affiliated with proletarian movements?

[#FF0000]

When did the word 'comrade' become affiliated with proletarian movements?

I think it started in Germany in the 1800s.

[praxis1966]

You guys could use the term that the Wobs among us use around the union hall--"fellow worker." :D

[Susurrus]

I personally love comrade, but that's just me.

[bcbm]

i am vehemently opposed to the use of 'comrade,' just makes you sound like a clown

[Manic Impressive]

I neither think negatively nor positively of people who use the word comrade, I simply don't care. I do however look down on people who vehemently oppose harmless words due to some subjective conception of cool.

[Aeval]

It makes me cringe every time I hear it, but that's probably because the first person I knew who used the word mostly used it so he wouldn't have bother with people's actual names and that always came across as pretty rude

[bcbm]

I neither think negatively nor positively of people who use the word comrade, I simply don't care. I do however look down on people who vehemently oppose harmless words due to some subjective conception of cool.

'cool' has nothing to do with it, i just think if you're trying to sell anybody on your political positions you should try not to sound like a tool

[Manic Impressive]

'cool' has nothing to do with it, i just think if you're trying to sell anybody on your political positions you should try not to sound like a tool
ok not cool how about unclownish?
I don't think people should use it when talking to someone who isn't a fellow socialist unless you are trying to troll them because the context would be wrong. On the other-hand plenty of the older members of the party I'm in use it at meetings "c'mon comrades time to go to the pub" that never sounds clownish ;).

[Great1917Revolution]

I don't see any problem with it. On the contrary, its quite awesome.

[graymouser]

Every group I've been a part of uses "comrade" as a standard address, and frequently as a shorthand for referring to members (e.g., "four comrades were at this week's protest"). I like it; it creates a sense of equality and solidarity. IMO the people who are excused from it are members of the Industrial Workers of the World, who have the excellent "fellow worker" - a great way to start an address. "Fellow workers.... Where's that damn cop?"

[hatzel]

"c'mon comrades time to go to the pub"

...sound pretty clownish to me...:rolleyes:

[Smyg]

I have yet to use the word for anything but satire. It just doesn't work that well in Swedish.

[Pretty Flaco]

Here in America I always associate it with
A) talking about troops, usually dead ones. "I give my condolences for your fallen comrades."
B) satire. "welcome to obamunism, comrade!"

[praxis1966]

IMO the people who are excused from it are members of the Industrial Workers of the World, who have the excellent "fellow worker" - a great way to start an address. "Fellow workers.... Where's that damn cop?"

Indeed. I tried to mention that on page 1 but perhaps the one liner was too subtle, lol. I love the idea of calling and being called "fellow worker." It's gender neutral, ameliorative, and reminds us all of the fact that we're fighting the good fight ourselves. I remember the first time somebody called me that I got the warm fuzzies. :blushing:

[Manic Impressive]

...sound pretty clownish to me...:rolleyes:
ridicule me if you must but don't go dissing my comrades :crying:

[~Spectre]

Best when served chilled with 2 shots of Irony.

[Rss]

Hoo boy, libs want to get rid of honorific of "comrade". What a surprise. :rolleyes:

Comrade is a good way to address your, you know, comrade. It should replace completely bourgeois honorifics like "Sir", "Ma'am", "Miss" and so on.

[A Revolutionary Tool]

I use it all the time, but mostly with or about CWI-comrades. I think it sounds funny when the american comrades say comrade.
This. I don't know why but it just sounds weird to me when it's said with an American accent, or at least with my Northern California accent.

[black magick hustla]

i´ve used it before, seldomly to adress "political comrades". its an old word really, i dont see why its that bad. i mean, when i use it i mean it in the context of "comrade in struggle" or "comrade in arms". i think the clownishness is an american thing because of all the dumb sovietexploitation films. people around the world still use it, the spanish translation "camarada" its used by normal people.

[CHE with an AK]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHBPo8kY5VM/SY3U8egfMgI/AAAAAAAAAf4/iDDacTNfFiE/s320/che+smiling-+1st+image-raycunningham.jpg
"I prefer Compañero"

[Summerspeaker]

I use it.

[Agent Ducky]

I use it. Mostly when fake raging at people for being "bad comrades"
Also, it's fun to use in arguments to make capitalists uncomfortable.

[Pioneers_Violin]

This. I don't know why but it just sounds weird to me when it's said with an American accent, or at least with my Northern California accent.

I've noticed this too.
I feel that it's probably due to our cultural dislike or disuse of the word.
Americans that use it are often making fun of someone or are feeling self-conscious about using an unpopular word. Or sometimes we try to pronounce it like the bad guys in an old movie - Kom-r-r-ade because that's the only way we've heard it spoken.

Just say and use "comrade" as you would any other word and it stops sounding weird. It gets weird if you accentuate the one word strongly and not others ie.. "We would like to offer support to our KOM-r-rads..."

Comrade PV

[ColonelCossack]

i normally use it when welcoming newcomers in the introductions section, or I call cappies "comrade" to annoy them.

edit: Btw, do you pronounce it "Kom-raid" like I do, or "Kom-rad"?

[Pioneers_Violin]

Btw, do you pronounce it "Kom-raid" like I do, or "Kom-rad"?

Just "kom-rad" when talking with Americans. I really want to roll the "r" slightly but don't because it's not normal to do that in American English.

Just using the word Comrade presents some risk. Best to do it with a flat, neutral accent and there! You've said it and people didn't even start heckling... :D

[Jimmie Higgins]

I usually just say, "my thugs" instead of comrades.

People in Northern California should shorten it to "-rads": "Go talk to the rad over there, she can give you a flier and tell you the details for the protest".

Maybe we can say, "Comradicals" how about that.:lol:


Btw, do you pronounce it "Kom-raid" like I do, or "Kom-rad"?"Kom-raid" or "Kom-rade" should only be said by British people and James Bond villains. Amuricans usually say "cam-rad" or "colm-raahd" depending on the accent.

[Magón]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qHBPo8kY5VM/SY3U8egfMgI/AAAAAAAAAf4/iDDacTNfFiE/s320/che+smiling-+1st+image-raycunningham.jpg
"I prefer Compañero"

It's the same thing. If you were to say Companero to me, I'd laugh and cringe just as much. It's just as cliche, as saying it in English. Plus I've heard it in Spanish, a lot more in my life.

[hatzel]

This is just one of those threads that makes me think that vast swathes of the Left are made up of people who are ever so slightly pathetic...just thought I'd let you all know :)

[SHORAS]

Probably better than referring to people as "elements", not naming any names.

:ninja:

[Wanted Man]

It's kind of silly and caricatural when people say it all the time. For some reason, the word seems to have very formal connotations, although I'm not sure if that was the original intent behind it. In any case, I think that if the chairman's name is John Doe, then you should call him John, not "Comrade chairman" or "comrade John" or even worse, "comrade Doe". It's the 21st century, and formal titles should not be used amongst equals.

Since comrade has a more formal meaning, it's more appropriate for opening and ending a speech or letter ("Dear comrades...") and for referring to a group of people ("the Belgian comrades said so-and-so"). This is also the only way I regularly see it used.

But this seems to be a typical discussion in that it only ever occurs on Revleft, whereas almost everyone I know naturally follows my "rule" formulated above. I'm not sure who would be considered "pathetic" by La Sombra. People who say comrade all the time? People who fuss about that all the time? I guess it kind of counts for both.

Oh, and Revleft also has this habit of sarcastically and passively-aggressively putting it in-between quotation marks, which just makes me laugh every time I see it. As in: thanks for your support for the workers of the world, "comrade". :rolleyes:

[Bandito]

Using the word has many reasons, but it serves mostly the purposes of bumping up collective morale and emphasizing the lack of class hierarchy. And as such, it is very important as a part of leftist history.

Lots of things changed from the 19th century to this date. Like Wanted Man said, it's still useful in, say, formal discussions between organizations, but in real life, it's just another leftist cliche.

[Rusty Shackleford]

i only refer to people as comrades if we are in the same organization. it is simple and easy.


my comrades are over there. instead of saying "the people in the same party are over there"


but i rarely directly refer to them as comrades. overusing it makes me feel weird. i tend to say "dude, you, first_name etc..."

[apawllo]

I like the solidarity behind the word and the history of it, but that shit doesn't fly in 21st century Mid-America. You'll sound like an asshole to virually everyone you come into contact with. Normally if I find the need to address someone in this way, I'll say brother/sister, which is pretty common terminology here. Although not gender neutral, it's accepted by workers, which keeps one from sounding like an idiot.

[Mettalian]

I'll refer to other revolutionary leftists as 'comrades', just because, to reference the great Monty Python, it's a very woody word. Not at all like tinny pal or bud. So in the YCL or another organization where it's a more formal atmosphere and I don't know anyone's name, I use it. Outside of that, or a big rousing speech (Not that I make big rousing speeches, but a guy can dream, can't he?), I'll use it as a silly way to greet my friends. Like if I meet them at the mall with a thunderous "COMRADES!" and a thick phony Russian accent.

[Honggweilo]

the word comrade is used in a formal non-political way in alot of languages, with american-english as the main exception. Use comrade when you feel like it, or when you feel its appropriate to use it, period. there is no obligatory standardized communist Etiquette.

ik sfeeeeerrrr kameraad wollah tfoe

[CynicalIdealist]

Seems best as a tongue-in-cheek word to me.

[o well this is ok I guess]

beats saying "bro".

[Sentinel]

I have yet to use the word for anything but satire. It just doesn't work that well in Swedish. Well, we in RS use it (as does afaik the entire CWI), in the manner that Graymouser descibed: frequently as a shorthand for referring to members (e.g., "four comrades were at this week's protest"). So I usually mean 'CWI member' by it, but can occasionally also adress people from other organisations as 'comrade', when I need to appeal to their solidarity and friendship as fellow leftists.

I think it's besides useful word also a fine old tradition in our movement, and I use it proudly. :cool:

[electro_fan]

I like the solidarity behind the word and the history of it, but that shit doesn't fly in 21st century Mid-America. You'll sound like an asshole to virually everyone you come into contact with. Normally if I find the need to address someone in this way, I'll say brother/sister, which is pretty common terminology here. Although not gender neutral, it's accepted by workers, which keeps one from sounding like an idiot.

thats interesting and shows the differing use of language in britain and america ... in britain people would find that even weirder i think because it has sort of cult-like overtones :D