London Anarchist Bookfair 2023/24

[Magnus McGinty]

I think there's a serious misinterpretation there of what identity politics means. Some people seem to be seeing its rejection as a lack of solidarity with minorities.

We should join together against the forces that divide us. X
Identity politics doesn’t always sing that tune.

 

[TopCat]

I mean, one thing I’d put into the ring is that TwitterX is a cesspit, and my mental health is much, much better since I ditched it.

I joked with a comrade recently that I missed the days of letraset and typewriters, and there’s some truth in that. I think polarisation and rapid spreading of ill-founded gossip is far easier now, as well as all the rabbit holes of conspiracy and far right bollocks.

It’s much easier to think about he consequences if you’re in a room with someone.

Letraset. I always fucked up laying it down. This led to permanent marker to finish a few bits.

 

[TopCat]

Well, this was an unexpected turn of events. Fwiw, as the person who originally posted the relevant Musksite screenshots, I wasn't particularly trying to drop Bristol in it, just to illustrate the weirdness of the original accuser making the claim in extremely vague terms and then immediately switching to "well, I can't remember but I think someone said that anyway" as soon as there was an attempt to clarify.

Meanwhile, in another part of the forest, I see that the crowd who, earlier this week, were getting all worked up about the London bookfair's supposed pro-ACG attitudes are now getting similarly worked up about the Manchester bookfair letting the ACN in, even though the ACN are a different group. So it goes.

Who is it exactly who got all worked up? I don’t do twitter. Genuine question.

 

[TopCat]

Sad I'm not going to be able to make it. What anarchist books are you all excited for tomorrow?

In forty years I bought three books.

 

[A Bristle Aphid]

Is this from the ACN statement the same thing London Bookfair Collective are referring to? Or just coincidenctally the same week? Seems a bit minor if so, not exactly a smoking gun eh.

'A small group of people resigned from the ACG as we felt that transphobia was not being robustly enough challenged within the ACG and that a very small minority were using what could be considered transphobic language.'

 

[LDC]

Is this from the ACN statement the same thing London Bookfair Collective are referring to? Or just coincidenctally the same week? Seems a bit minor if so, not exactly a smoking gun eh.

'A small group of people resigned from the ACG as we felt that transphobia was not being robustly enough challenged within the ACG and that a very small minority were using what could be considered transphobic language.'

I was looking for your page and I think we need some clarification on this from you, a cluckletive statement perhaps?

 

[Kevbad the Bad]

In this spirit of healing, I feel I should also point out that the characters, organisations and events portrayed in the short story Bookfair! are for entertainment purposes only. They should not be confused with any actually existing bookfairs or revolutionary groupuscules.

I unable to confirm or deny that negotiations have opened with a number of tech and entertainment platforms about Bookfair! being optioned for a multi-series TV spectacular.

Too late I'm afraid comrade, or should I say 'ex-comrade'. My misinterpretation of your so-called short story has already been forwarded to the shadowy organisation I work for. Your days are numbered.

 

[danny la rouge]

Is this from the ACN statement the same thing London Bookfair Collective are referring to? Or just coincidenctally the same week? Seems a bit minor if so, not exactly a smoking gun eh.

'A small group of people resigned from the ACG as we felt that transphobia was not being robustly enough challenged within the ACG and that a very small minority were using what could be considered transphobic language.'

As far as we know (which of course we don’t), but we have to assume, it is. But if so, you’re right.

 

[hitmouse]

Who is it exactly who got all worked up? I don’t do twitter. Genuine question.

Shouty weirdos on the internet, would be my short version. Um, I'd say probably a fairly small core of people with a relatively deep commitment to and knowledge of anarchist scene beef, then a relatively larger (still pretty small overall) amount of people who are less engaged and aware but saw that there was a fuss happening about some kind of a Bad Thing and decided to jump in.

 

[deeyo]

Was Jesus an anarchist?

No.

Mark 12:17

well, it depends.
jesús hernándes tomás sure wasn't. didn't care for left-communists either.
jesús flores magón maybe wasn't, but his brothers were.
jesús martínez maluenda sure was.
'his real family were those people with whom he shared anarchist ideas...'

 

[planetgeli]

well, it depends.
jesús hernándes tomás sure wasn't. didn't care for left-communists either.
jesús flores magón maybe wasn't, but his brothers were.
jesús martínez maluenda sure was.
'his real family were those people with whom he shared anarchist ideas...'

View attachment 394486

Great post, enjoyed reading that.

Kinda puts ridiculous bookfair shite into perspective.

 

[Serge Forward]

And what would Ricardo Flores Magon and Jesus Hernandez Thomas make of today's anarchists - or at least the fucking wing nut elements

 

[PTK]

I mean, one thing I’d put into the ring is that TwitterX is a cesspit, and my mental health is much, much better since I ditched it.

I joked with a comrade recently that I missed the days of letraset and typewriters, and there’s some truth in that. I think polarisation and rapid spreading of ill-founded gossip is far easier now, as well as all the rabbit holes of conspiracy and far right bollocks.

It’s much easier to think about he consequences if you’re in a room with someone.

Yes, I miss the days of stencils and duplicators.

 

[tim]

Yes, I miss the days of stencils and duplicators.

The purple prose of the roneo machine.

 

[muscovyduck]

Am I the only person who literally cannot fucking follow what any of this is about?

 

[LDC]

Am I the only person who literally cannot fucking follow what any of this is about?

No, I think the combination of it being the ACG and ACN and about trans and Ukraine (with 'genocide' used which could relate to either) and it's people on Twitter who write in Jabberwocky like sentences makes the whole thing very hard to make head or tails of. That and much of it is all made-up of course.

 

[hitmouse]

Am I the only person who literally cannot fucking follow what any of this is about?

If there's one thing I've learned from all this, it's that not having any idea what's going on is definitely no barrier to having very strong and loud opinions about it. If anything, it seems to be an advantage.

 

[Kevbad the Bad]

If there's one thing I've learned from all this, it's that not having any idea what's going on is definitely no barrier to having very strong and loud opinions about it. If anything, it seems to be an advantage.

I have to disagree with you there. VERY STRONGLY!

 

[Pickman's model]

No, I think the combination of it being the ACG and ACN and about trans and Ukraine (with 'genocide' used which could relate to either) and it's people on Twitter who write in Jabberwocky like sentences makes the whole thing very hard to make head or tails of. That and much of it is all made-up of course.

Beware the acg my son

 

[Magnus McGinty]

Isn’t it traditional for the disinvited to set up stall outside of the book fair?

 

[JimW]

Then set upon the organisers in the pub.

 

[Fozzie Bear]

Isn’t it traditional for the disinvited to set up stall outside of the book fair?

Pioneered by the International Communist Current I believe. Also Green Anarchist briefly iirc.

Red Lion Square was especially handy for that sort of thing and you’d also get a bunch of brew crew hanging out which probably didn’t help with the ICC’s view that anarchism was a swamp inhabited by parasites.

There is less space on the pavement outside Rich Mix so it will be interesting to see how the brave outliers configure themselves.

 

[cesare]

I thought the ACG were handing out their stuff outside last year but maybe not an actual stall, I can't remember.

 

[LDC]

This London place is a bit minging so far tbh.

Feels a bit like the dirtiest bits of Twitter in the flesh.

More seriously the level of obvious poor mental health among people wandering about is pretty shocking.

 

[hitmouse]

This London place is a bit minging so far tbh.

Yes, but how's the bookfair?

 

[nastyned]

I'm heading there now. Where's the nearest Wetherspoons?

 

[Fozzie Bear]

Supermarket
Fit new toilet seat
Coffee



I’m en route to Rich Mix.

 

[Magnus McGinty]

I'm heading there now. Where's the nearest Wetherspoons?

Hackney or Mile End, depending on where you are.

 

[Magnus McGinty]

And when I say Mile End I actually mean Stepney.

 

[danny la rouge]

I'm heading there now. Where's the nearest Wetherspoons?

Mate, what kind of person doesn’t have the app? Open the app when you get to the venue.