I observe from a distance. I have read about anarchism, and other attempts at building "equal socieites" from other ideoligical standpoints, the various groups involved, South America, USSR, Yugoslavia...........Just because I am not part of any group does not mean I am not that illinformed about the, ahem, "left".
I have dipped my toes but feel unsure as to which direction I should follow. I am unashamedly classist, which does draw me to always see things through a class lense, which means also looking at the makeup of so called revoltionary groups that have attractive slogans and talk a good shop about workers issues, but offer very little practically in my day to day life, as an ordinary worker. It seems to me to be more about middle class posturing, from my experiences meeting anarchists, and mainstream local counselllors.
I am not active in any way in any group, apart from donating money regularly to things which I feel are of benefit. One is taking part in a sponsorship programme for women affected by rape and displacement during the Bosnian war. Gives them employment training, and also help with housing and other practical things. Another thing of mine is giving money to a refuge for prositutes in London, which also does research into prostitution, particulary foreign sex workers. And I also regularly donate to the IWCA. Pity such a thing has not spread oop north. If something like this has, I haven't noticed it. But it's success could send ripples elsewhere.
That's it. I don't build treehouses, or other such anti-capitalist activity. But, one day I am sure I will join something. Just waiting to see what becomes more attractive towards my beliefs and abilties. Middle class cliques are what I have noticed so far. And a social forum, well, when such a thing appears in a residential area instead of a university, and is not elitist and does not pander to young middle class student pretensions, then I will consider it a "social forum".
