I didn't read your dissertation because I don't care to debate this much. I'd probably agree with most of it anyways. My usage of the term is from that they claim to be communist, and they defend/promote the authoritarian Russian government. They're tankies.
Doesn't matter if they're real tankies or cosplay tankies or fake Russian bots emulating tankies; they're tankies. Putin's claimed and actual policies are wholly irrelevant. This is the colloquial usage, regardless of whether or not you think it accurate to your definition.
As yes, the scientific method: announce the truth to the world and then go looking for it. An important step (which most amateurs miss) is to ignore everything that doesn't fit your conclusion. The man is truly a professional.
Not definitionally of course, but most tankies I've has the displeasure of interacting with on Lemmy have been big Russia (and/or China) stans and act like any English language news outlet besides RT is western propaganda trying to slander dear leader
Eh, I'll be generous to OP and say that it's a little funny if you aren't empathizing with it.
Nobel lauriet most people have never heard of smoking weed is funny, "bong hit" in a headline is funny, sudden and unforseen twist of including Taliban is funny. The headline a wild ride... But the moment you comprehend it and humanize it, it isn't funny.
Where are the tankies who are usually yapping at me about how free Russia is and how everyone there truly loves Putin as much as the votes would suggest?
Real fuckin' quiet all of a sudden eh?
But let me guess: this is just western propaganda?
I use librewolf via nix home-manager to declaratively configure preferences, plugins, engines, bookmarks, and policy settings. My librewolf configuration module is my largest config file by far... At least I don't need to reapply it by hand anymore, but I really wish Firefox didn't suck so much.
"We're just trolling to get a rise out of the left"
*dismantling of democracy continues in the background