This. Exactly this.
I've often glanced at this thread and thought it a bit odd that people's political views were really shaped by any of the literature mentioned. Don't get me wrong, it's been good to see a lot of papers and mags I knew of and also lots I didn't, but I just started to read the whole thread and all the time I'm thinking exactly what
Epona has said so I was really pleased to come across their post. My lived experience shaped my thinking, especially from childhood, and once I got out into the world on my own at 16 I was immediately pissed off by some dick selling Socialist Worker at the back of any demo or picket I was on.
"Yeah, read this piece about Trotsky"
"No thanks, I've just come from small town poverty surrounded by a few middle class people who think they've made it good because they can afford a washing machine."
I don't care if this sounds prolier than thou. It was fucking hard being brought up in constant poverty. I didn't need Tony Cliff or anyone else telling me how hard I'd had it or what should be done about it.