I don’t think I’ve ever heard a communist or socialist refer to the proletariat as “proles”. Do you use it? Do you think it’s an acceptable abbreviation?
I use it every now and then. But in my country we shorten everything down
I’ll use it if I’m talking to people who already know what I’m talking about. Otherwise, I’ll usually say “working people” or “working-class people” or “the working class.”
Me too. There hasn’t been a situation in which I ever had to use ‘proletariat’ in discussions about socialism IRL.
I think I saw it in George Orwell’s 1984 shit book, but I can’t tell for sure, considering how long I’ve read that garbage. Besides that vague memory, I don’t think I’ve ever heard it anywhere else.
Yes, “proles” is the default way to refer to working people in 1984.
In most cases that I use it, I’ll establish “proletariat” or “proletarian” before I start shortening. Since not everyone understands what it means, and it can be a bit offputting to just suddenly start saying “proles” instead of “workers” or “labourers”.
No, I always use either “proletarians” or “the proletariat.” I may also refer to the working classes (as there is more than one, and we seek to help them all even if our roots will always be the proletariat).
I only use it jokingly and when among good comrades.