The enlightened non-“Tankies” be like

Well, you said "most progressive in history". Which is clearly not true.

We’re trying to educate you on socialism

I fail to see how you managed to do that. I did not learn anything new about socialism. Sure, I learnt that East Germany decriminalized homosexuality one year before West Germany. I learnt that the original USSR constitution had legalized homosexuality. I also learnt that this positive trend reversed in the years that followed. I also learnt that there are quite a few of my socialist comrades who weirdly glorify authoritarian states in history (I saw a few defending the DPRK).

Well, I'm an immigrant of color myself. Also, I vehemently oppose the military actions of my country in the middle east. I also oppose Russian aggression in Ukraine for the same reason. Somehow, "socialists" here only agree with me on the middle east part.

UN S/RES/2397(2017)

United Nations Security Council 2397. Read it.

There's that, but also they are technically still at war with each other (North and South). South Koreans fleeing towards the North have been shot at by their side.

You think one of the most sanctioned countries in history that’s been spending years and years trying to build cities and roads, you think they’d have time/infrastructure to bring all of their citizens WiFi? Do you know even half of what goes into making an internet network, let alone without the support of other nations?

So are you telling me that there is no internet in North Korea? What's this then? A north korean showing how wonderful life is in Pyongyang on Tiktok. So there IS internet access in North Korea for average citizens, right? Or... maybe there is internet access only for a select few individuals, part of an effort in spreading state propaganda. Therefore, is the state prioritizing state propaganda efforts more than an individual's right to free information and media? Forget North Korea. Look at China. Why do they still have the great firewall up? They clearly have very well developed internet infrastructure. Why don't they allow their citizens access to the outside world?

United Nations Security Council 2397. Read it.

I just did. It does permit North Koreans from working abroad. It however does not prevent them from seeking asylum. Why do all North Korean asylum seekers have to smuggle themselves through China and other countries, without being caught to reach South Korea? If South Korea was the one to refuse entry to them, why do they still grant these people asylum?

Google “Juche.”

"Juche as a philosophy includes three basic elements: Nature, Society, and Man. Man transforms Nature and is the master of Society and his own destiny. The dynamic heart of Juche is the leader, who is considered the center of society and its guiding element. Juche is thus the guiding idea of the people's activities and the country's development." How is not any different than fascism? "The Man, the central element that guides society", aka the "Fuhrer". Absolute control on media, "molding and mobilizing the people as communists", aka purging of non-communist ideology and people who take part in that ideology.... Like.... Come on mate....

What does this even mean, link a video to it, I am genuinely curious as to what this is even referencing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i82PBpw2Vg0

https://youtu.be/GkaJlNjS-nM?si=aAp37umVObm_5pyO

https://youtu.be/umO1Sl8HApE?si=5801Q24ZfFW5XzXf

What I mean by “knowledgeable people” is people who can see past the western propaganda to take a critical look at past socialist 'experiments. You, clearly, still can’t see past things at surface value. Everything is black and white to you. Why can’t you look at history, current dynamics, sanctions, foreign pressure, etc, etc. Instead, you go to flinging petty insults at people whose side you should be on! You say you want something that is very very different than the soviet union? Then, I’m afraid you don’t want socialism.

If that is your definition of "knowledgeable" then you're missing one very critical element. You're missing the part where you need to look past all propaganda, which includes Chinese/Soviet/North Korean, etc. sponsored propaganda. Things are not black and white to me. I understand (or at least try to) individual ideas that are good and bad from all corners of the world. The soviet union did some things right. It did many things wrong. I want to replicate the things it did right. I do not want to replicate the things it did wrong. China lifted millions of people from poverty. I want to copy the methods that they used to do this. This does not mean that I want to erect a firewall to prevent my countrymen from accessing the outside world. I want collective ownership over means of production. I want unions to exist. However, I do not want to run over my own countrymen with tanks because they disagreed with me. I am an athiest. I want a society free from the shackles of religion. However, I do not want to outright ban religion. I want free elections. I want to go even further and have direct democratic practices in all possible places. I do not want a state monopolized media. I do not want the President of my country to be President for life. I want socialism. I do not want authoritarianism. I do not want there to be a super powerful class posing as "political leaders". I want public housing, healthcare, education, etc. I want collective ownership over AI. At the same time, I still want to be able to make fun of the President. So on and so forth....