TOTW: Early Adopters vs. Late Bloomers

What are the consequences of becoming an anarchist earlier in life vs. later? Which of these options better describes your path? How can diverse entryways influence new forms of anarchy?

Motivations for wanting to rebel can differ with age. A younger person might seek to escape a senseless life laid out ahead of them, while an older person might be fed up with having lived one for decades. Given these different paths lead to different results down the road, what can we learn from when we started pursuing anarchy? Do you credit striking while the iron is hot in your youth, or did your delayed entry into anarchism lead to more longevity? Looking back, what stereotypes proved true and which did you avoid? Did you arrive too early or too late? How does this perspective guide you going forward?

Regardless of when someone first calls themselves an anarchist, this pursuit of self-liberation can often morph into the subculture trap, where radicals accidentally reinforce what they critique by playing its loyal opposition. How does this trap differ for new anarchists across different age groups? For example, it’s easy to assign young anarchists the role of bright stars that burn out early in a blaze of glory, but what about late bloomers who didn’t die young? Are they restricted to stable roles in publishing and NGOs due to a softened impulse to rebel — or flat out ageism?

Can diverse entryways into anarchism complicate the subculture trap and its alluring aesthetics? Can reflection on how we got here help us abandon prescriptive anarchists templates and predictable linearity to achieve different results, not just an inversion of what we hate? If nothing else, is there value in making the same mistakes differently?

There are 44 Comments

Perps are born with an anarch potentiality, and if it is nurtured, anything is possible, even anarch democracy of individualists when a critical mass level of consciousness is realised within a region.

Anyone who pretends to anarchy in their teenage or 20s must be placed down on a waiting list for assessing if they're still anarchists in their 30s, 40s and beyond.

Reason being, like somewhat expressed above, that anarchy is such part of some youth subculture that it's very hrd to know whether it was just some socializing routine for trendy youngsters, or something deeper and more serious.

A true anarchist consciousness can only grow beyond these grouip gimmicks, as realization of how these are just part of society.

I'd perhaps be a bit more generous to the kiddos and point out how this is just how identity formation tends to work? young folks are trying stuff out, usually through osmosis. we all did it. reflection and depth of analysis comes with time, if the right seeds are planted in good soil.

Life expectancy factors-in if you have prospective view of anarchy and self-realization. An immediatist outlook doesn't find age to be an obstacle to anarchy. If people's entry-level anarchism is what's commonly known as "baby anarchist", then usually it takes a lot of reading and/or life experiences to develop it into something more sophisticated (take that to mean informed and grounded in contemporary reality, not just parroting "bread book"). People with less time or ability to read and acquire new life experiences will experience some limitations with regards to overcoming that phase, but those with already a long backlog of diverse life experiences may be able to look back and reflect, without having to live an entire life again as an anarchist in order to gather that insight.

If you stumble into the ideas of anarchy at 90, you will have less time to consider it, but also less time to fall out of it. A young person might be an anarchist for a while and live long enough to fall out of it. Also, people have different life paths. Someone may stumble upon the ideas of anarchy at a late age, but found that this is what they thought and how they lived like all along, without knowing the terms or the historical precedents. Meanwhile, someone may find anarchy and realize it goes against everything they previously thought and how they lived. This later case could benefit from more time to make changes and turn things around.

Place and social context also matters greatly: becoming an anarchist in prison vs at a punk scene or within academia or on the internet.

When Reagan tried to bing back the draft in 1982 for his dirty war in El Salvador, he essentially drafted me nto the antiwar movement of that time. I quicky realized that Reagan was fighting on the WRONG SIDE. I have been taking action against governments and corporations ever since.

Later in life I realized I was contining the fight of my Indigenous ancestors who fought the same enemy. We are still here and still resisting, as any pipeline security goon can attest.

I've been in a lot of stuff in DC yet this the first I've heard that group name (emanciparion).

those who start anarchy young tend to have way worse employable skills, job prospects, and savings, while having a lot more interesting "when i was younger" stories. folks who get into anarchism older can all share tales of how they got into grad school.

do you prefer someone who started out in grad school or someone who started as a nazi? https://anarchistnews.org/content/green-market-agorist-episode-18

or why not both right? people from all walks of life. but there's not really any pooling going on of all those diverse life experiences. anarchists live mostly away, apart and unaware of each other. at most they might read about each other.

I came to anarchy relatively late, but I did not go to college and I have some of the best "when I was younger" stories - due to where and when I was younger.

directly. not sure what that says about youth or age, but when i was young post-left was not a thing, so i went through the left to become post-left.

there's something about trajectory, and how we learn lessons as part of a coming-of-age, as well as the ideas that we actually like... that is, if i'd been around anarchists sooner in my life, then maybe i would associate them with my youth and be more blase about what anarchy/anarchists have to offer.

is it chance/popularity that (helps) determine where we decide to stand?

But I had the views that brought me there throughout my whole teenage and adult life. I thought I was just an outcast, or crazy. I’d always felt a great deal of confusion as to why everyone was just ok with capitalism, the government having such a say in their lives, all sorts of nonsensical social norms that just seemed to harm themselves and others.
I hit a pretty hard bottom at 30, and really sought out to find the source of what makes me feel so disconnected, and found this ideology that mostly aligned with how I felt, and that I had virtually never heard of… and it pushed me in a direction where I could have a meaningful sense of purpose.

Yup trajectory is important, I went from neo-nazi to post-left and now, in my older days, are a anarcho-nihilist. On my death bed I suppose I will make the final move to post-nihilist, or hopefully an eschatological pining for eternal recurrence.

I'm 21 years old non-native English speaker and found Anarchism about 1 year ago. First I started reading What is Anarchism-Communism by Alexander Berkman, then went to Anarchy Works by Peter Gelderlos and then found to individual anarchism (Wolfi Landstreicher) and then found to post-left and ant-civ (Ziq). I think I'm going to need to read more works in post-left though and anti-civ in able to be more of a "full anarchists", not to forget I'm missing real life skills such as primitive skills. And I'm missing capital as an unemployed that never had a job since they quit school back then. And I don't want one, if I am going to be honest. There's just shitty temp jobs around here. Well, it's still a long future ahead but I'm pretty sure I'll stay an anarchist; I'm against hierarchy and having had to go to school for more than 2 years when I dreaded EVERY DAY to be there, this will be an experience which will let me never let go of anarchism. Although there was this streamer that said that I'm just young and that's why he can't take me serious (he's not an anarchist and probably thinks I'm just doing this as a lifestyle), I found this really strange considering that once you read some basic theory and you agree on the principles like mutual aid, autonomy and no hierarchy, then there's no good reason to not be an anarchist anymore.

but have you rioted or set anything on fire? do you think it would have made a difference if you had found anarchism sooner or much later in life?

I'm not going to tell whether I did illegal things or not, that would break my security culture.

I think I could have suffered more in my life if I wouldn't have found anarchism sooner. I was already in a deep depression before I found to anarchism.

As I was reading "Caught in the net" from Fire vol. 4 meanwhile writing the comment (but not reading the chapter 'Updated Illusions' to the end where this website is mentioned), I realized now why you asked the question. Just let me tell you that I will reflect on the text and I was recently the kind of person you criticize: a person only being on twitter.

Submedia with its Trouble #19 smart city actually was one of the places that helped me getting to this text from fire vol. 4 in the first place. But also twitter; I followed a person that was anti-civ and they posted destros with a (language translation) text including about green capitalism, etc.

I'll will still reflect on the pros and cons but I think I will definitely reduce and maybe stop my internet usage.

I dropped out of college at 18 to do manual labour on a popular boomer land project. I'm not sure if it was the right decision but they make me feel good about myself and let me do computer work often. We don't discuss anarchy often but communization is a popular topic after supper cleanup.

have you considered anarchy as a result of those sporadic conversations?

Communism, Communes, and Communization Projects are incompatible with anarchy. Conversations after chores include how to make more money for the commune to better sustain it.

so ... you're troll larping as a youth exploited by a hypothetical "boomer commune", to make a point about how this imaginary kid made a bad decision at 18 (didn't we all) in a world where 99.9% of everyone is being exploited by boomer businesses under capitalism?

like, if I get a shitty job at quiznos, they don't let me sleep behind the counter after close but you think the nonexistent threat of "boomer communes" is worth trolling about? america is a hell of a drug ...

Are you saying that because "everyone is being exploited by boomer businesses under capitalism" point out that being exploited by a boomer commune is somehow invalid or trolling?
Can't more than one thing be shitty, lumpy?
There are a number of people whose direct experience would oppose your calling commune behavior a "nonexistent threat."
Are you prescribing Chomsky's theory of "expanding the floor of the cage" with your Quiznos analogy?

"a number of people" ... look, seems you got your little axe to grind and your sense of proportion is very strange to me. Or maybe, you just don't bother? I won't bother with the rhetorical question of just how many "a number of people" is...

and yes, lots of things are shitty. sometimes I ask myself which shitty things are more relevant. wtf did chomsky come from? i'm not prescribing anything except maybe not fixating on "communism" as if that's what you should be worried about at the end of 2021.

anon: commune life can be abusive, I'd like to point ou...

lumpy: whoa, whoa, whoa! Stop right there! CAPITALISM is bad you troll!

someone is talking about their own experience (you have no reason to doubt them), with communists, who plenty of anarchists are prone to hang out or work with. and your response is other things are worse?

wtf? go touch grass dude.

I have no reason to doubt them hmmm? none at all? that seemed like a legitimate post to you? mmmk

Moro! :)

i've been doing a lot of reading and reflecting on just this TOTW today, lot's of troubling, yet relieved/distracted, thoughts considering my life and where it's going, whether i've been screwing up too much recently, etc...i need to question why you jumped to a bunch of imaginary assumptions at this statement by our "communizer"?:

"Communism, Communes, and Communization Projects are incompatible with anarchy. Conversations after chores include how to make more money for the commune to better sustain it."

So, to me this is pretty straightfoward, a modern "community" worries about money and basic property maintenance, "okay, nice talking i gotta to go to work now"...these things unfortunately being bound up by this thing often referred to as society or globalism. Lumpy, do you like this new country you've moved to? Do tell. Seems like Quiznos gave you some pretty hardcore abuse! You a ragin' boy! So if I leave amrikkka, i'm not gonna get to do drugs anymore?!

"Communism, Communes, and Communization Projects"

CCCP!

LMFAO

sorry, that joke made me pretty excited.

Even if that's not an FBI trap they can read your response. If rhey tie it to writings proven tobe yours, look out

Others have said of this "those that do, don't talk. Those that talk, don't do." Jan 6 coup attempt is an exception-and look at all the arrests even wirh white privilige

i rioted in all mayor US cities simultaneously.
and i was talking the whole time.

or did i? if i’m a liar, and i say that i’m lying, am i telling the truth? does the set of all sets that do not contain themselves, contain itself?

anyways, i was an anarchist since before the day i was born. i was a dumpster baby; that whole doctors-as-justified-hierarchy thing wouldn’t do. i’d have slapped the doctor right then and there. instead, i raised myself alongside raccoons. greek raccoons, from exarcheia. i never went to school. as soon as learned how run, i was robbing banks. but i composted all that cash, i’m not a capitalist. i was stealing so much cash, they had to invent debit cards and digital money, and now crypto and such. and you can’t compost that shit. they try.

me and the gang of feral greek raccoons mostly get by on our cash mulch food garden. we dumpster, we steal, we train hop and riot all across the world. don’t call yourself a train hopper unless you travel all across the world, fucking casual. poser.

anyways, i peaked when i shot JFK. all kinda went downhill from there. but i’m still on the loose, free, living life. sad to see so many generations of my raccoon homies pass, but that’s how we roll.

i think people that get into anarchy later in life really need to make up for so much lost time. all these so-called anarchists are slacking and it shows. posers.

When I discovered anarchism and anarchists about six years ago, I was already middle aged, well-read in certain narrow areas, and had put together my views on the world cobbled from various theoretical knowledge spaces. I was surprised to discover that there were other people out there interested in sort of all of the same things I was, and that anarchy was a name that brought together all of these interests. I had of course known about anarchy but had never really looked into it and so hadn't realized that my other interests tied in well with peripheral concerns like nihilism, egoism and individualism, or denominational categories like green. For my first few years, as I was fortunate to be in the company of anarchy-literate peers, I just read and listened -- absorbed, really. Now, I am pleased that I can sometimes make original connections and explain them to others. But I had to be patient with myself those first few years, kind of stay humble, and absorb. That would maybe be my summation of my experience and actionable advice to other people who read and think but are new to anarchism. Do join study groups. Do sit in on conversations that run over your head. Absorb.

^here's a pretty qualitative difference! the idea of the (slightly) older anarchist quietly absorbing and waiting until they've thought things through, instead of drawing a whole bunch of embarrassingly bad conclusions way too fast, starting fights with everyone in the study group or room or whatever, having a meltdown when everyone starts to get mildly annoyed with them, etc.

I like to think i've done my share of both!

"starting fights with everyone in the study group or room"

Anarchists are fighting in the streets and from the shadows. Anarchists do not waste time in study group rooms.

you're lucky if you honestly don't know what i'm talking about but I doubt it ;)

I was an anarchist from about the age of 13 during the Clinton years. I'm native and it appealed to me. Years later I became a big Obama progressive type, totally fed up with Bush. Then I heard Ron Paul talk about being pro life in my late 20s. It snapped me back into reality, as the one thing that's never changed is that I'm a Christian with the goal of anarchy and peace. It's a spiritual endeavor for me. A deep one. The goal is to stop the influence of governments and corporations in the digital realm. I can abide by worldly laws when in fact I agree with them. Gold rule, silver rule, and protection. Very simple.

I joke these days that I'm a Conservative Anarchist. I'm registered Republican. I'm an old school Republican. Like the anti slavery, pro native rights kind. Not necessarily a Trump guy but there were some decent policies I agreed with.

It all kinda makes sense when you realize the world IS chaos.

Even the weapons grade communications technology militaries and corporations use to harass people and get them to be subdued or do violence are free to use for anyone who has money.

So it's weird. Almost, epistemologically I'm an Anarchist - like Jesus.

But in the meantime I try to influence systems people rely on to be healthy.

I don't think it's hypocritical. Anarchism is "an idea" just like America is an idea.

It's the same as a libertarian running as a Republican. Rhetoric matters, and you're entitled to your opinion, and you use your words to discuss your ideas.

What's the point of being a capital A anarchist when the world is damaged beyond repair, and the people are poisoned beyond repair?

However, I do basically believe that only anarchists should be allowed in government. Lol

Obviously there is room for certain institutions.

In the modern age, I vote 15 hour work week.

About 12:35 -- what happened to the funny response to this one> The one indicative of a full fledged sense of humor?

Rage, rage, rage...

I was reflecting on The Deep Question, "what's my age again?", to find that i unfortunately know the answer, and I will die. How is this for academic humorism?

There's a lot of developmental psychology in question. "If the question is the state, then fuck you." I've never been particularly interested in having my picture taken. Maybe people are inherently hierarchical in nature if they get enough nutrition. In "scientific society", everything is a prescription. Everyone is The Other. Thinking, the absolute.

Only reflections allowed. Stop signs, coffee, cash, covid.....

I knew such a thing as anarchy could be from, of all things, Latin class in HS. (Yes, anarchy [the word] has Greek roots but the Romans stole a lot). But I didn't really become an anarchist until my mid 30's, when I stumbled upon an anarchist study group.
In this weird way I'm both an early adopter and a late comer to anarchism.
As a grumpy old, it seems infinitely better to discover anarchy in dusty used book shops than from the internet, alas, that ship has sailed.

Add new comment