TotW: To be or not to be

You and I will probably never agree in a single definition of anarchism, and even discussing anarchist principles (which has happened here before), is not an easy task. There is always someone to disagree, and that's also some of the beauty of it :) So, of course, the ways that anarchism is part of people's lives also varies greatly.

So, why does anarchism matter in your life? And why does it matter in the world?

signed, still figuring it out myself

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The way I see the world is from an anarchist point of view; I see the inequality and oppression. And therefore anarchism can be a way of analyzing the world, to make sense of it all amidst all the chaos and impressions. It is a way I relate to other people; as it sometimes is put: “I refuse to rule, and refuse to be ruled”. I take this principle very seriously and won’t accept bigoted behavior in everyday life. This is a principle I started exploring before I knew of anarchism, and so anarchism became a logical place to find a home in. All this also relates to the bigger struggle for a world without authority; I won’t accept bigoted behavior when it’s a part of the system either. The logical conclusion is to fight capitalism in all its shapes to instead make the world a joyous place where we all can cooperate and be free.

you say “logical” twice, it highlights how there are different logics, like those that lead to modernity and capitalism, like colonialism, rationalism, science, mercantile logic, productivism, industrialism. are logics inevitable, in the same way that they lead to inevitable logical conclusions? are we logically doomed to follow logics like automatons? what are the emotional elements that lead people to enforce or defy capitalism? or even the irrational ones, the mad ones that don’t make any sense? does capitalism, and logics, even need to be central to a conception of anarchy? can anarchy be instead a thing that overflows and defies all logics and categories? can it be chaos, instead of the analytical tools that claim to make it legible, as you claim?

that's weird how desperate you are to sprint directly away from the logic of ... not being a billionaire?

almost none of us are. that's why sharing anti-capitalist logic isn't just a matter of "perspective". it's basic self interest, literal self preservation in many cases.

it's the logic of survival and the only rational response to power when the individual has very little. don't buy the rope to hang yourself without noticing the rope seller is a real prick and maybe he should get the rope instead.

I think you overthink a simple word. Anti-capitalism is a cornertone of anarchism, yes. Different anarchist schools of thought have different answers for some of what you are asking. I sometimes feel anarchism is a bad term because it has so many categories that are extremely different from each other. I'm focusing on a creating a better world and chaos is not a part of that.

"So, why does anarchism matter in your life? And why does it matter in the world?"

It doesn't.

Signed,
An anarchist

I like this TOTW, I look forward to seeing more responses.

I think anarchy in the sort of taoist sense matters in my life. But also, I probably could have found many of those ideas and orientations without ever having encountered anarchism. I think. But Anarchism in the sense of the political philosophy that started in 18th century Europe… doesn’t feel important to my life. And much of anarchist activity today (media projects) doesn’t feel important to my life. But it’s totally fine that it’s important to other people’s.

I might have more I wanna say about this later.

Anarchy stands still or goes backwards in to mire of pronouns etc!

If you’re worried about trans people getting in the way of class struggle, why not just get together with a crew of cis people and do class struggle organizing. Or even better, do robin hood shit. The world is your oyster.

it matters in my life because there are people that have made an analysis and a diagnostic of problematic conditions in everyday life, and have rebelled against them, and serve as encouragement, inspiration and example.

it’s just a keyword that lets me find stories of these people, who can be found all around the world. but i don’t determine its value by quantifying global impact by this or that aggregate metric, attributed to anarchists as the main cause. not because it can’t be measured, but because it can, and it doesn’t amount to much, so the value isn’t there, but also because that’s not the framework and mindset i with which approach this.

It matters as a constant reminder that there's no distant future liberation, I have to make my life as I want it here and now.

Communism is a much better word to use than anarchy. I see Anarchism as a redundant term that should probably be retired.

the people i know in my life as anarchists matter to me, and will continue to matter.

anarchism though is no longer up to the task of thinking through the predicaments of this world. anarchism is still clinging to 19th & 20th century notions of mind/body dualism & individuality such that the solution anarchism offers, of unrestricted autonomy, has the effect of perpetuating problems instead of easing them. i want theories of entanglement rather than theories of freedom through separation.

As a Stirnerian proponent of parasitism I'm totally fine with a level of entanglement, as long as it suits my needs and desires more than any external body's (physical or not). Beyond that I don't get where you took the notion that 19th and 20th century" anarchism was all about "dualism & individuality" and their assumed quest for freedom through separation, and can't recall prominent anarchists blatantly arguing for this separation...

So I'm under the impression this is more obfuscation you're doing here.

Bye, rabbit

look at you go with that appeal to authority from the 19th century.

Umm, there seems to be some contradictory confusion with your grouping of dualism, individuality and autonomy as seperating theories, yet if these same concepts/theories entangle themselves, then freedom is more acceptable to you.
I can only interpret this as your preference to join a movement rather than the more mindful quest to pursue an inner personal freedom, no?

i said mind/body dualism. individuality. unrestricted autonomy.

those are not the same as entanglement.

i would like to be able to succinctly explicate this for you, that is beyond me at this time.

Well you're never going to get it without the foundational theories of mind/being that the 19th century revolutionized the philosophy of life, existence and consciousness. Everything has a continuum, it's not like an automobile just appears out of thin air, it required a wheel to be thought of thousands of years ago. Sorry rabbit, but there will always be individualists seperating from the herd.

buddy, we (sentient beings) are always already herd, swarm, individual, duo, trio, quartet, body, mind, soul on the micro, the macro & the mezzo. nothing is ever all of one thing and none of the other. but modernity's anthropocentric ass is fixing to progress us into oblivion.

but go off, i guess.

I'm not your "buddy" which has connotations of the 20th century homosexual slang " bum-buddy ". I'm a solitary edge-wolf who prays on your kind and loath ll anthropcentric relationships and herd programs!

"who prays on your kind and loath ll anthropcentric relationships"

> prays

I pray you realize this wouldn't have been funny even if you hadn't blown it with the many egregious typos.

Anarchist feels further and further way from a word that holds importance to me and has become just another predicate that liberals use on their dating profile.

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