Well, that's propaganda in effect. But I do reject the notion that people, even my fellow dipshit Burgers, need to have socialism spoonfed to them. Not that you were advocating for that, but many do, often as a joke but not always.

Many leftists and "leftists" get caught up in this weird debate perversion/ 24/7 media cycle spin spin spin spin talking points driven thing mixed with caveats upon caveats instead unapologetically just saying shit.

I would say if advocates made it super simple like: "do you believe in democracy? Do you want things to be run as the majority of people want it to be run? Then why do you not extend that to the workplace?" Make them turn those rusty cogs and force them to consider the fact that they do not own capital. They do own no factories, they probably aren't landlords, they in fact suffer under the boot of those people. And you tell them that you simply support an economic system that says "no, those people do not get to do that. The people will decide how rents are handled and how wages are determined- not owners."

I mean it's super anecdotal but my Trump-enjoying dad (he admits he's a dumbass, but I think he finds Trump just entertaining) was pretty much fully on board with this furiously nodding his head along. I never broke the news to him that he just endorsed communism and will surely be executed beside me someday.

But seriously, you're right that the words have absolutely been poisoned. I don't think we should abandon correct terminology though. Just maybe cut the 30 minute "definitions of socialism" which include 28 minutes of "I formally renounce the atrocities of...[insert every socialist nation ever]." I get why people feel the need the need to do that, but capitalists will never renounce Jefferson, or Andrew Jackson, or Reagan, or Clinton, or Obama... etc. to include every neoliberal, liberal, fascist, etc. that has ever existed. I guess my problem is... people are cowards. They won't just speak out and say how they feel, they recoil instantly from any accusation of "supporting Xi" etc. There are good reasons to be afraid, look at what the Israeli lobbies and their little shitty Gestapo squads are doing to student protesters right now, but if people want to be on the right side of things, if that means something to them, you have to take on some risk and some pain. The pain of missing a Harvard grad school position due to disgusting essentially Nazis wanting to murder kids is nothing compared to the pain of, I dunno, being those kids and their families.

So, I dunno how I got off on that rant, but whatever. I just hope recent events radicalize people further. Some cowards will run away and some already have. But for those who truly believe in principles behind socialism and have basic humanity this isn't a challenge... it just fuels the fire.