Not to want to be referred to as ‘Comrade’

[Shellacbabe]

I work for a university and many uni staff are on strike this week. I am not a member of the union so am not on strike, and disagree with a few of the things that the strike is fighting for, but my main gripe with the union is that many members still hail each other as ‘comrade’. Can we agree that communism is dead, and that’s a very good thing, and referring to people as ‘comrades’ has no place in a modern society?

One of my professors referred to us thus, and it fitted in with the areas he lectured in. It was endearing and it was understood where it came from and why. Lovely older hippy guy. Very left. He wasn't suggesting we adopt communism.

I would have assumed they were being ironic / speaking in jest!

Is it a communist union?

I would also assume it was a joke and a demonstration of a mild leftist political position not a genuine desire to reincarnate Lenin.

They're not calling you comrade though, are they?

The word comrade also has a meaning beyond the communist use of it.

Is his name Napoleon?
Does he look....piggy?

It means colleague or ally… I can’t see the issue regardless of its other meanings.

So you want to change the behaviour of members of an organisation you are not a member of?

Nothing wrong with behaving in a comradely fashion towards your colleagues IMO. But then I like mine.

I’d think this was jokey too. Unless there is actual communist rhetoric being bandied about I think you are overreacting a bit

Take a chill pill comrade

@Summerhillsquare

So you want to change the behaviour of members of an organisation you are not a member of?

Nothing wrong with behaving in a comradely fashion towards your colleagues IMO. But then I like mine.

Yeah, tbh I bet they're not sorry you didn't join.

Comrade as a salutation between socialists dates back to the French revolution, not the Russian.

Trades Unionists use it because they are socialists, not communists.

I'd be tempted to respond with "Freedom for Tooting!"

Well you're not a member so nobody's calling you comrade.

My union uses 'comrade ', (Unison). I like it. But a Polish colleague was shocked, he said it had very different connotations where he was born, near Russian border?

So you're not part of the group, you disagree with the group, you don't do what the group is doing and no one actually calls YOU comrade?

What exactly is your issue?

If you are so viscerally offended by the use of comrade that you actually started a thread on it, then you're going to love WW3...

Power to the people!

I just think many people associate hard left political views with the word ‘comrade’ and in using the word they alienate possible members who might not think Jeremy Corbin was the messiah.

"Communism is dead".

I think the Chinese and North Koreans would disagree.

@Shellacbabe

I just think many people associate hard left political views with the word ‘comrade’ and in using the word they alienate possible members who might not think Jeremy Corbin was the messiah.

Are you high off the fumes from your shellac?

@ClariceQuiff

Power to the people!

Exactly. I'd fight fire with fire. It would make going to work worthwhile.. I grew up brainwashed by a socialist so tbf I wouldn't let it lie.😂

YANBU - it makes me cringe. I don’t think people realise how it comes across to people who aren’t hard left.

They try to encourage people to join them on the picket but why would we when their political views don’t seem to have moved on from selling the Socialist Worker when they were students. They are not me, and thousands of other staff members. If they want to be successful, perhaps they out to consider why more people don’t join them.

nothing wrong with it get over yourself and be greatful for all that you have which were won by unions fighting for you.

such as days off work, staff toilets etc all.