[ExI] why not stalin?

[Ben Zaiboc]

On Sunday, 18 October 2026 at 20:04, spike at rainier66.com <spike at rainier66.com> wrote:

> 
> ...> On Behalf Of Ben Zaiboc via extropy-chat
> Subject: Re: [ExI] why not stalin?
> 
> On 18/10/2026 18:22, spike asked:
> > We have seen the current POTUS compared to King George III, to Hitler, to
> Mussolini, but never Stalin.  Why not Stalin?
> 
> 
> >...Because for some inexplicable reason, people think that Hitler was worse
> than Stalin. Which of course is rubbish...
> 
> Agree.
> 
> >...For that matter, why not Mao?
> >...Because for some inexplicable reason, people think that Stalin was worse
> than Mao. Which of course is rubbish....
> 
> Agree.
> 
> >...OR:  Maybe it's just that most people in the west are more familiar with
> Hitler and his actions than the other, much worse, guys.... Ben
> 
> Disagree.  We are familiar with Stalin and Mao being more recent enemies,
> and we know that they were worse dictators.
> 
> Ben perhaps those who keep hammering on the Hitler/Mussolini comparisons are
> not entirely certain that Stalin and Mao were such bad guys.  The DSA might
> not be sure of it.


No, I'm confident that's not the reason. This is a common impression not only amongst those americans that are not in the DSA, but in europe too.
Of course most people are aware of Stalin and Mao, but I'm pretty sure they're /more/ aware of Hitler.After all, there's no Stalin or Mao equivalent of Godwin's law.
---
Ben