Please don’t take this the wrong way, what do Anarchists do irl that is making a difference? From what I see, most of the posting is leftist views, but what seperates them from other left leaning groups aside from viewpoints?
Personally, I help run a makerspace. In fact, I had been doing that for years before calling myself an anarchist; seeing how things work in a volunteer community makerspace is what made me think that maybe, just maybe, we actually can run society in an anarchist way. Yeah, things are a little messy there sometimes, but in the end, I think we do get the stuff done that needs to get done. People are a little less dependent on a capitalist system because of it, and learn a little more to rely on their local community.
Politically, I tend to work alongside a lot of socialists. Anything that takes us towards improving unions and mutual aid is good for me. Partially, this is also because anarchist groups are notoriously inconsequential. It’s a lot of “I’ll get this done, right after I have this joint”. Socialists are more like “lets get this done, then have an edible”. One of these is more productive than the other.
I might be wrong but I feel that anarchy is on slightly different axis (like x vs y) than simple left/right divide, but definitively more to the left than right. Different means, similar goals?
I yield to more experienced anarchists here for explanation, I’m just learning to be one!
However, I remember one trip with my dad when I was a teen. We were talking, I can’t remember about what exactly, him exclaiming “You must be some kind of anarchist!” to summarize my own worldview stuck with me to this day.
When I was applying to this instance, this has somehow resonated with me
Agreed. Even the political compass is just an imperfect model.
I think a better model is a connected graph. A socialist advocating for unions and an anarcho-syndcalist are going to have a direct connection. So does an ancap and a christian advocating the prosperity gospel. But you’ll have to go through a lot of steps in the graph to connect ancaps and anarcho-syndcalists, because as we all know, the two have nothing to do with each other.
Please don’t take this the wrong way, what do Anarchists do irl that is making a difference? From what I see, most of the posting is leftist views, but what seperates them from other left leaning groups aside from viewpoints?
Personally, I help run a makerspace. In fact, I had been doing that for years before calling myself an anarchist; seeing how things work in a volunteer community makerspace is what made me think that maybe, just maybe, we actually can run society in an anarchist way. Yeah, things are a little messy there sometimes, but in the end, I think we do get the stuff done that needs to get done. People are a little less dependent on a capitalist system because of it, and learn a little more to rely on their local community.
Politically, I tend to work alongside a lot of socialists. Anything that takes us towards improving unions and mutual aid is good for me. Partially, this is also because anarchist groups are notoriously inconsequential. It’s a lot of “I’ll get this done, right after I have this joint”. Socialists are more like “lets get this done, then have an edible”. One of these is more productive than the other.
You wouldn’t happen to have any resources regarding how to run a community makerspace, would you?
Prefiguration.
The idea of resisting domination by living outside it. Creating your own grassroots community structures without state or corporate control.
A focus on organizing in horizontal power structures.
A focus on direct action over electoralism?
I might be wrong but I feel that anarchy is on slightly different axis (like x vs y) than simple left/right divide, but definitively more to the left than right. Different means, similar goals?
I yield to more experienced anarchists here for explanation, I’m just learning to be one!
However, I remember one trip with my dad when I was a teen. We were talking, I can’t remember about what exactly, him exclaiming “You must be some kind of anarchist!” to summarize my own worldview stuck with me to this day.
When I was applying to this instance, this has somehow resonated with me
https://wiki.dbzer0.com/divisions-by-zero/the-anarchist-code-of-conduct/
Am I an anarchist or just a sane reasonable person? I have some reading to do… but I have the gut feeling.
I think the left/right divide is pretty bullshit, it gets rid of a lot of nuance in any political discussion.
I recommend you read: https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/david-graeber-are-you-an-anarchist-the-answer-may-surprise-you
And https://anarchistfaq.org/afaq/index.html
Agreed. Even the political compass is just an imperfect model.
I think a better model is a connected graph. A socialist advocating for unions and an anarcho-syndcalist are going to have a direct connection. So does an ancap and a christian advocating the prosperity gospel. But you’ll have to go through a lot of steps in the graph to connect ancaps and anarcho-syndcalists, because as we all know, the two have nothing to do with each other.