Behind any "inspiring" posts here, I have a freaking tankie in the family.
And it makes me *furious*, the shit he believes because online habits have radicalized him, allowing him to feel righteous while gamifying nightmare.
I focus on de-radicalization when I'm calm enough. I aim to disrupt the rejection cycle that entrenches ID for extremist religious & political views alike.
Am I ashamed I have to do this with family? 110%. But this crap is *everywhere*.
We need constant vigilance online.
@Drepananphis
Funnily enough, "tankie" has been in use since at least the 1950s - first for uncritical support of Soviet military exercise, then any exercise seen to stick it to the West, from a Stalinist mentality.
That said, like a lot of these folks, there is indeed failed military ambition in the mix. This one got spooked in a paratrooper training camp, and came home. Which is fine. What is *not* fine is, many years later, being so eager to see others die for their notion of a just cause.