belboid
Exasperated, not angry.
Can’t see SolFed having any issues with that
Are you an anarchist but not a member of an anarchist organisation?
- Thread starter danny la rouge
- Start date
danny la rouge
More like *fanny* la rouge!
They don’t have a TM out on the term or the concept. (And their definition would probably differ slightly from mine too, since I’m not strictly a syndicalist - although I see its value and recognise its contribution).
brogdale
Coming to terms with late onset Anarchism
A really great thread danny la rouge with some quality responses, many of which accord with my present feelings.
The long and short of it is that, as a lifelong socialist, over the last decade I am more drawn to anarchism than any other ideology; I'm late to the 'party'!
At present my caring responsibilities make proper organised engagement pretty much impossible but, being completely honest, I'm really not sure that I would anyway. I suppose, looking back, I've had so many frustrating experiences with Union involvement & activism and spells with the LP that I'm a bit jaded by organised politics. But who knows...one day...maybe?
The long and short of it is that, as a lifelong socialist, over the last decade I am more drawn to anarchism than any other ideology; I'm late to the 'party'!
At present my caring responsibilities make proper organised engagement pretty much impossible but, being completely honest, I'm really not sure that I would anyway. I suppose, looking back, I've had so many frustrating experiences with Union involvement & activism and spells with the LP that I'm a bit jaded by organised politics. But who knows...one day...maybe?
bellaozzydog
rolling turds in glitter
How does anarchism fit in when I have a cynical misanthropic streak a mile wide (developed knocking doors in 2019 and realising the country is actually full of ignorant selfish arseholes)
Shechemite
Be the sun and all will see you
People are alright
8ball
AV REFUGEES WELCOME
Good point. Keeping the faith is tough.
danny la rouge
More like *fanny* la rouge!
What were you knocking doors for? I mean, if you were just running away, and it was during one of my programmes, I think I’d be telling you to fuck off too.
bellaozzydog
rolling turds in glitter
It felt like six weeks of trick or treating, negative sweets
danny la rouge
More like *fanny* la rouge!
I mean, even when our kids were the age for guising, six weeks of it would have felt excessive. One night is all, and even then we’d turn the lights off and pretend not to be in after a set time of night.
SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
Can't think of a time I've done any 'anarchist' activity. I have done many things which were motivated by anarchist ideas, and which were done in broadly anarchistic ways, but there was never a day when I woke up and decided to do an anarchy. The work itself was always antifascist, direct action, community support, environmental, solidarity, or some combination of those things.
Peter Painter
Well-Known Member
I think, when I said earlier that I'd been involved in actions, this is what I meant.
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
You were knocking on the wrong doors then
LDC
On est tous des pangolins
"I am not now, nor have I ever been a member of any anarchist organization."
I got involved through ecological direct action stuff in the '90s, and in that there was a strong anti-formal organizational tendency (for lots of good reasons around fair criticisms of the Left and established NGOs etc.) that overlapped with some of those tendencies that exist in the anarchist movement. Stuff came from similar roots as the animal rights/anti-nuclear/etc. stuff and like them was based on broad based campaigns, 'single issue' groups based around ecology/environment (like XR), or affinity groups working on specific projects and actions, and then also action camps living on sites of projects (road building etc.).
The more anarchist/communist end of the movement did congregate together and form a 'block' within a wider scene though (and engage with the more 'official' anarchist organizations back then) and as well as that much of the movement would have said it was influenced by anarchist ideas, although there was a very wide interpretation of what that meant to people.
And I guess that's one of things that's changed in the last decades; anarchism has moved away from workplace and neighborhood organizations packed with 'normal' people and with clear political ideas, and moved more into youth and cultural and social stuff, with of course all the 'lifestyle' and sub-cultural baggage that goes along with that - punk fucked things up a bit if you ask me!
Alongside a massive collapse in the appeal of mass organizations has been then the corresponding fall in the ability of who's left in them to wield any actual power to improve people's lives, and much of anarchism has ended up tail-ending other struggles and issues, just with black clothes and more aggressive slogans and actions. Much of which is off-putting to 'normal' people, and also seems pointless as it can't really achieve much. (Not to say that nothing has been achieved, but it's usually been done by broader groups and coalitions than solely by anarchists.) That and the fact that the left was beaten to a bloody pulp by capital in the '70s and '80s has left most organizations pretty dismal tbh, even if their politics are good.
I got involved through ecological direct action stuff in the '90s, and in that there was a strong anti-formal organizational tendency (for lots of good reasons around fair criticisms of the Left and established NGOs etc.) that overlapped with some of those tendencies that exist in the anarchist movement. Stuff came from similar roots as the animal rights/anti-nuclear/etc. stuff and like them was based on broad based campaigns, 'single issue' groups based around ecology/environment (like XR), or affinity groups working on specific projects and actions, and then also action camps living on sites of projects (road building etc.).
The more anarchist/communist end of the movement did congregate together and form a 'block' within a wider scene though (and engage with the more 'official' anarchist organizations back then) and as well as that much of the movement would have said it was influenced by anarchist ideas, although there was a very wide interpretation of what that meant to people.
And I guess that's one of things that's changed in the last decades; anarchism has moved away from workplace and neighborhood organizations packed with 'normal' people and with clear political ideas, and moved more into youth and cultural and social stuff, with of course all the 'lifestyle' and sub-cultural baggage that goes along with that - punk fucked things up a bit if you ask me!
Alongside a massive collapse in the appeal of mass organizations has been then the corresponding fall in the ability of who's left in them to wield any actual power to improve people's lives, and much of anarchism has ended up tail-ending other struggles and issues, just with black clothes and more aggressive slogans and actions. Much of which is off-putting to 'normal' people, and also seems pointless as it can't really achieve much. (Not to say that nothing has been achieved, but it's usually been done by broader groups and coalitions than solely by anarchists.) That and the fact that the left was beaten to a bloody pulp by capital in the '70s and '80s has left most organizations pretty dismal tbh, even if their politics are good.
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SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
I've had nothing to do with Class War as an organisation but I've met a few of their figureheads. All utterly dreadful people.
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
Nope deffo not an anarchist. Have worked in political campaigns and in unions with some. Some were good , many were shite politically . Personally I always think it’s what people do in action that’s important rather than what they describe themselves as.
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
Largely agree with that though remember people still do the 'right thing' sometimes for the wrong reasons. Ideology is important.
Anarchist sympathies but I've only ever really described myself as a Communist, if anything. So I probably don't even need to be in the thread. Gfs parents strong anarchist background, WRI, conscientious objection, CND types.
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
Yes agreed . We can leave the ideological chats till after the action though and have them in the pub or whatever later.
lefteri
Well-Known Member
i'm a member of the coop, does that count?
in all seriousness i am pretty ignorant of what organisations, national or otherwise, exist and have been put off joining any because of the sorts of people that advertise themselves as being anarchtits - i'm pretty handy at laying out leaflets
in all seriousness i am pretty ignorant of what organisations, national or otherwise, exist and have been put off joining any because of the sorts of people that advertise themselves as being anarchtits - i'm pretty handy at laying out leaflets
danny la rouge
More like *fanny* la rouge!
Is WRI the Women’s Rural Institute? If so, I’ve no idea what a “strong anarchist background, WRI, conscientious objection, CND type” is. But I’d like to.
Youre just on the hunt for decent jam. So transparent.
danny la rouge
More like *fanny* la rouge!
I’ve told the story of my granny on here before, but here it is again:Youre just on the hunt for decent jam. So transparent.
Serge Forward
Just enjoyin' my coffee.
Dead good thread this.
I've always been a member of anarchist communist organisations since I started calling myself an anarchist communist (1981). I started off in the Careless Talk Collective which merged with the old Wildcat group (to be fair, it was a mix of anarchists and council communists). Joined the ACF in 1986 (later the AF) and when the AF started to go down the pan, helped set up the ACG.
I never really understood why people who call themselves anarchists often don't join anarchist organisations. This thread gives me some insight though and I get people's reservations. To be honest, I've no time for "scene" anarchists, you know, all that bohemian claptrap. Anarchism needs to start getting established away from the alternative scene bollocks and needs to be rooted in the class, and that includes your small towns and villages far away from trendy right on subcultures.
This means it needs to have a hard as steel, clear as crystal political side, and be highly organised from below. It also needs to have social aspirations; engaged in community and workplace struggles and rooted in the class.
However, low numbers in organised anarchist groups will always hamper that kind of activity.
I've always been a member of anarchist communist organisations since I started calling myself an anarchist communist (1981). I started off in the Careless Talk Collective which merged with the old Wildcat group (to be fair, it was a mix of anarchists and council communists). Joined the ACF in 1986 (later the AF) and when the AF started to go down the pan, helped set up the ACG.
I never really understood why people who call themselves anarchists often don't join anarchist organisations. This thread gives me some insight though and I get people's reservations. To be honest, I've no time for "scene" anarchists, you know, all that bohemian claptrap. Anarchism needs to start getting established away from the alternative scene bollocks and needs to be rooted in the class, and that includes your small towns and villages far away from trendy right on subcultures.
This means it needs to have a hard as steel, clear as crystal political side, and be highly organised from below. It also needs to have social aspirations; engaged in community and workplace struggles and rooted in the class.
However, low numbers in organised anarchist groups will always hamper that kind of activity.
Or it was a double bluff and it was indeed the IRA (Baked Goods Wing).
DaveCinzano
WATCH OUT, GEORGE, HE'S GOT A SCREWDRIVER!
War Resisters' International, Milan Rai et al I think?
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
War resisters international
danny la rouge
More like *fanny* la rouge!
That does make more sense.
DaveCinzano
WATCH OUT, GEORGE, HE'S GOT A SCREWDRIVER!
APOSTROPHE, APOSTROPHE, THEY'VE ALL GOT IT APOSTROPHE
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
In their case, and well before him.
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