[Ajef]

> “Communism” equals the original sin and “communists” is basically a slur for about a century now.

This is a very US perspective I think. Here in Germany there are many that think communism is fairer than capitalism (although perhaps unrealistic to attain). Insulting something/someone by saying something is communist or someone is a commy is not really something that happens here (except perhaps in politics).

[Edit] Just to add some perspective:

Communist parties in european parliament

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_communist_parties_repr...

Even large european countries have communist parties, some even voted into office (such as france, spain) and in the case of Spain even in the ruling coalition.

Implying this is a western view neglects to realize how much US vs. Soviet propaganda has shaped the US population.

[delusional]

I can attest to this. "Communist" is a slightly dirty word here in Denmark, but nowhere near the levels of the US.

I think the general consensus here is that the USSR was a shitty totalitarian state that failed for shitty totalitarian reasons. Communism was just what they called their brand of totalitarianism. In reality it was a corrupt dictatorship.

[tankenmate]

I can concur, having attended various schools around the globe growing up. In one nominally American school (actually run by Canadian Catholic brothers, but largely attended by boys of American ex-pats), calling someone a "Commie" was fighting words (i.e. liable to get you punched). In other schools if you called someone a "Commie" people would likely think you were very strange and/or drank too much of the Kool-Aid.