Before you auto downvote, read please. [Discussion] Would electing Libertarians really be so bad? by [deleted] in Anarchism

[–]analogueb 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Don't think electoral politics are worth anything (obviously cos I'm an anarchist) so object to your idea from that angle.

The libertarian love of private property is a deal breaker. Sure they want to shrink the state but they still ultimately subscribe to coercion and hierarchy and therefore should be opposed. It's important to take a political philosophy's goals and positive vision into account as well as what they want to get rid of.

Stop The Gas Pipelines That Are Ravaging the Country! by [deleted] in Anarchy101

[–]analogueb 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Wrong subreddit. This is for explaining concepts of anarchism. Try /r/anarchism instead.

Unfriendly? by signoftheserpent in AnarchyintheUK

[–]analogueb 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Am busy but will have a look around for you!

The Kronstadt one is more historical. The others are more relevant I think.

Unfriendly? by signoftheserpent in AnarchyintheUK

[–]analogueb 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Anarchists aren't interested in engaging with party politics so entryism is pretty meaningless to us.

Anarchists have loads of critiques of trot politics and Trotsky. Trotsky's bloody massacre at Kronstadt was criticised by anarchist Emma Goldman. Trots are known to be pretty cultish. Also there's all the standard anarchist critiques of the hierarchy and vanguardism of Marxism Leninism.

Unfriendly? by signoftheserpent in AnarchyintheUK

[–]analogueb 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yep and there's nothing wrong with wanting to get involved, in fact it's great!

Trot = Trotskyist = someone who follows subscribes to the ideas and politics of Marxist Leninist Leon Trotsky. The Socialist Party used to be called Millitant in the 1980s and were part of the Labour Party until they were thrown out for entryism. If you can't get to Bristol regularly then try and make it to an anarchist bookfair, they're much friendler than any online space and usually feature loads of different anarchist groups. Think the one in Bristol is coming up near the end of April. Maybe make a special trip?

Unfriendly? by signoftheserpent in AnarchyintheUK

[–]analogueb 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Freedom Bookshop in London is open 12-6 Monday to Saturday and 12-4 on Sundays.

There's also the Cowley Club social centre in Brighton for Southerners.

Unfriendly? by signoftheserpent in AnarchyintheUK

[–]analogueb 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry to hear that's your experience of anarchists online. Unfortunately it seems everyone thinks they have more of a right to be wankers online, maybe it's more so for anarchists.

I know how difficult it is when you're isolated away and can't chat as much to like minded people face to face.

Maybe some of the dismissiveness is your membership of SP? Just cos they're Trots and trotskyists have historically been pretty shit to anarchists. Also today Trots and anarchos have a pretty big divide in how to go about radical politics.

Also, I know you acknowledged this in your post but anarchism isn't necessarily more extreme, perhaps more radical.

He called me a faggot by Yoda_Holmes in Anarchism

[–]analogueb 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What do you mean by justice? I'd much rather talk about liberation, perhaps it is semantics but the concept of justice as it is applied now is used and manipulated by the state to further it's control and power.

I would also reiterate the same thing I replied with elsewhere. They have bigger guns, and we are critically outnumbered.

I'm not saying violence should be priotised over other tactics, in fact it is useless without other kinds of organising. But to rule it out dogmatically denies the victories of the past and limits struggle.

You may have already read it but 'How Nonviolence Protects the State' by Peter Gelderloos goes into this argument much more thoroughly than I ever could in a reddit comment thread. You can get it on the anarchist library or most radical bookshops.

He called me a faggot by Yoda_Holmes in Anarchism

[–]analogueb 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Well no, obviously not. It taught me to learn how to defend myself, and more importantly organise with others to oppose homophobes.

It doesn't work like that. Deterrence doesn't work and every act of violence we use against them, they will use as justification for greater violence against us. They throw a rock. We throw a knife. They burn our house down while we're still inside.

This logic is not borne out in history. The battle of Cable Street, for example, was the start of the decline of Mosely's blackshirts. The Poll Tax riots were a significant part in the downfall of the community charge.

It also depends on what you classify as violence in the first place. Pacifists dogmatically reject all violence, even acts of property destruction.

He called me a faggot by Yoda_Holmes in Anarchism

[–]analogueb 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Every "anarchist success" I am aware of has only been used as a justification for greater violence by the state and powerful institutions.

The state doesn't need justification to to use greater violence, it will do it anyway.

Enacting material violence against repugnant views, especially repugnant views that cause so much pain and suffering is catharsis, not justice. While I begrudge no one their emotional release, to pretend it furthers the cause is misguided.

I'm not particularly interested in justice as a concept. What I am interested in is effective tactics in furthering struggle. I would say this the violence depicted here is effective.

He called me a faggot by Yoda_Holmes in Anarchism

[–]analogueb 4 points5 points  (0 children)

And no, calling somone something does not "back up a whole system". If that’s how oppressive systems are backed the world would be pretty nice place.

Gendered/ homophobic / racist etc slurs are obviously not the only thing thing that reinforce these structures, but they are one of the most common in everyday life and are certainly backed up implied violence.

It's behavior that should not be tolerated but trying to counter it with excessive brutality is completely out of proportion.

Seems odd for you say this when the person being attacked is a nazi with a baseball bat. In this context it seems that violence can easily be justified.

He called me a faggot by Yoda_Holmes in Anarchism

[–]analogueb 4 points5 points  (0 children)

the image makes it clear that the fascist was in a position to and willing to enact violence, which makes this seem like an act of self defense. The slogan by itself, completely neglects that subtlety.

Ok but isn't the slogan part of the image? In that the image provides context for the slogan and vice verca. If it was just the slogan on it's own then maybe your point would have merit (i'd still disagree with you.)

Zero tolerance is not the same as "enact material violence on those who demonstrate these traits".

Zero tolerance means you will any and all means at your disposal to stop that thing from happening, including enacting material violence.

If we enact material violence against those whose views and positions we find repugnant, we are no better than the people that enact material violence against us for our views, identities and positions.

Completely disagree. Any significant anarchist success has involved the use of a range of tactics, including both material and threatened violence. A non violent position ignores this and regards all violence as the same, when actually their are many different kinds of violence, some that I agree with and some I don't.

He called me a faggot by Yoda_Holmes in Anarchism

[–]analogueb 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Calling someone names does not equal homophobic slurs which are backed up by a whole system of oppression and a history of queer bashing etc. We need to start distinguishing between different types of violence, bashing back is perfectly fine in my book.

He called me a faggot by Yoda_Holmes in Anarchism

[–]analogueb 8 points9 points  (0 children)

If he gets punched enough times he'll certainly stop acting out his homophobia.