TotW: Anarchism at the work place

One of the main triggers for social movements during the 19th and early 20th centuries were the work conditions created by the industrialization. And, even though anarchists also understood that the work relations were not the only one affected by capitalism and industrialization, the work place was still an important space to express resistance. It was where the anarcho-syndicalists emerged, general strikes took place, sabotages were put into action, etc, etc. In some cases, it was the anarchist actions that forced governments to establish workers rights (for the curious ones, I would suggest checking the Anarchist General Strike in 1917, in Sao Paulo, Brazil).

In the early 21st century, some of the actions related to work had to do with stealing material, and using the space to somehow sponsor other activities (like making zines, pamphlets, posters). Some people would avoid the work place in general, doing gigs sometimes, but mostly relying in shoplifting, squatting, mutual aid. Others choose what they consider to be less horrible jobs, that allow them to keep most of their anarchist ethics, usually non-profits, local businesses, NGOs. And there's also the ones that manage to separate their anarchist life from their work life.

Since we don't stop being anarchist when we clock in, and it is not unusual for us to spend most of our time at our jobs, I wonder how people deal with the matter. Do you try to bring anarchist ideas to your work place? Do you find ways to practice anarchy in your job? Do you just avoid with work? How do you balance your job and your anarchist practice?

Listen to the TOTW discussion here!

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There's no awareness here that workplace based class struggle, at its best, and that's frequently, aspired to overthrow capitalism and class society. Instead, its, how do we steal Glue-stick so we can work on our zines...

Define work! Having a dump is "work". Preparing a meal is "work" Hik8ng down to the shop is "work" Repairing the leaking roof is "work" Sweeping the floor is "work" Having sex with someone or jerking off is "work" So what if I consciously absorb the idea that living is "work"and treat wage "work" just like every other chore in my existent, with the same mi dset I do my domestic chores, well then, there's no conflict, I have found freedom by using a conceptual mindset to my liking.

Look, everybody! It's trying to think AND be clever. Ha ha ha. It can use the internet but not a dictionary. So cute!

Look, everybody! It is thinking AND being clever like 90% of the 8 billion people just trying to survive in an oppressive society where the ONLY options are to work or else exist precariously, dangerously and poutine dive . Ha ha ha. It can use the internet and live a comfortable autonomous life by cutting out the seething ressentiment most workerists possess. So cute!

#readbobblack

Beautiful theory Bob, t.h.e.o.r.y. I heard that you were busy "working" at the moment and receiving a wage. Oh wait, THAT is the pragmatic side of you Bob, you're smart, can't see you poutine diving buddy!

Bro, you're spending WAY too much time on Anews. It's really kinda cringe. We all discussed it at last night's moist orgy (you weren't invited) and SOME of us are interested in making sure you find a new, fulfilling hobby. Leave details but then, most important, is to leave.

"Leave details but then, most important, is to leave."
OooOooh nooOoo, someone is attempting to suppress freedom of speech by someone with a knowledge deficit by evicting them psychologically. This is very authoritarian and ableist. HELP Me the collective, I'm being oppressed!

I AM A SUICIDAL BRO WHO JOINED THE MASSE SHEEPISH WORK CONTINUUM (cos H/G existence is awkward in the su urbs, unless pets) AND LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER!

Hey "bro", I see you're trying to blend in. It's tOoooOootally working!

In the beginning of Bob Black's "The Abolition of Work," he calls work an ideology. This use of the word ideology in relation to work is one that has never been previously used. This semantic misuse by traditional standards is a reflection of what is to come in the rest of the pamphlet.

Hey brah, it's the academic class's prerogative to "not work" and sit behind desks writing about what other folk should NOT do, even if they enjoy wage slavery and the luxuries wages can buy. If philosophers actually provide a working alternative (pun not intended) to replace wage slavery for 8 billion folk, fair enough, but they never do. Take JZ for instance, has he ever gone out into the wilderness with just the clothes on his back and survived for 30 days like in the Alone The Beast TV show? The folk who ctually go the whole distance are actual wage workers, the academics all pull out 'cos they're "scAred of thE beArs And iT's cOld wiThOut fIre"
I'd guess that in a survival crises where a whoe lotta heavy lifting had to be done to survive, it would be the former manual labourers who save the day. UP THE WORKERS!l

On a lighter note, the troll who used to post as Bob the Pig Fucker everytime Bob Black was mentioned has gone, hoorah. Better quality posts exist now.

Academics by definition are attached to academies. They work in universities, often for not very much money. The nothion that "sitting behind a desk" isn't work is pretty out of touch with the actual economy.

Zerzan is not attached to a university, hence not an academic, hence not a good example of "the academic class," however corect your critique of his work may be.

I've been thinking lately about the power of subversion. State apparatuses are relatively blind. They only really see symbols and structures. It deal horribly with subversion and corruption. So while In pretty firmly in the anarchy is way better if u don't work track. I do think ideas of how to subvert work and it's apparatuses is interesting.

Bc if u do under anarchy under the veil of an institution states like they see it as a non threat. Mexican prisons are a pretty good example where most prisons are more forts for drug cartels and keeping the prison guards alive but just corrupted is a better defense than just killing them.

How to go to work and do anarchy and make the workplace do no work is a interesting question. Tho tbh I think work as a system. Is so strong the subversion is mostly going to be limited to stealing stuff and slacking off.

I don't really have much to add as my workplaces weren't really something I could figure out how to corrupt.

Interestingly enough the workplaces with most opportunities for anarchy are probably working in law enforcement capacities and being as corrupt as u can get away with. The janitor who sneaks in food and phones or cause police evidence to go missing.

Tho I think the distaste of working around and in law enforcement positions is so strong that I don't want to encourage or even think about such a dreadful idea.

My closest thing to anarchic work that I ever did was when I worked as a cowboy doing fencing and mustering out in the wilderness, plenty of bud to smoke, no boss around, no deadlines, simple diet of free meat and beer, sleeping under the stars, no rules.

" I feel like making a jail is anarchist bc I could smoke weed while I did it. " The things people believe is allways going to be absurdly hilarious to me.

"I feel like making a jail is anarchist bc I could survive within a collective of revolutionary misfits who are all seething with ressentiment and feel virtuous about it at the same time" The things people believe is allways going to be absurdly hilarious to me : {)

sounds pretty great compared to other work i've done and heard of. and sitting around at home all day ain't that fun either. lol i assumed fencing meaning the sport with swords. cope and seethe lettuceleafer

1- Get to work.

2- Work work work

3- Organize organize organize the popular revolution

4- PICKET LINES n shit!

5- Decades pass.

6- ???

18- Profit. For teh capitalists after you're dead.

As always with what gets called anarchism in the United States, there is no hint of a real world opposition to capitalism here, just juvenile drop out culture gas.

So what is your better option.... mass popular movements?

When you grow up you'll realize that people really just are doing things for themselves, only to different levels of complexity.

As always, the attitude displayed here is indistinguishable from the attitudes of every other middle class to upper middle class product of U.S. style consumer society. You are an American down to the beta strands in your DNA.

"When you grow up you'll realize that people really just are doing things for themselves, only to different levels of complexity." This notion of reality could get you elected Governor of Florida.

shocked that an ancom found this website when itsgoingdown is right there already

Yep, unaccountable anarchism subculture dweeb censorship keeps this a safe space for anarchist subculture feebs.

hello,

this is why i strived to find something that the world would find valuable and I would try to do ethically. its obviously got its drawbacks being connected to powerful institutions and having to interact with agents of the state at times but the welfare people are different from the cops, and you begin to get to explore the gradations of social life and how these relationships function.

I get paid now decently. learn how to use a spreadsheet and statistics, it worked for me. get to reading up on those important concepts!

Do you try to bring anarchist ideas to your work place? Do you find ways to practice anarchy in your job? Do you just avoid with work? How do you balance your job and your anarchist practice?

Anarchism: not a subversive phenomenon, just a gutless accommodation to wage labor.

Aww , look: keating is drunk rage posting again. Isn't his drunken one trick pony show adorable? Too bad he Durant give away balloon animals along with his communist morality.

Thanks, autocorrect (another sad communist so-called "intervention"); obviously should be doesn't.

I'm sure depending on your job's culture the workplace could either be a great or difficult place to spread anarchy. I guess I don't do much to spread anarchy at work. I try to minimize hierarchy when interacting with coworkers, but of course some amount of hierarchy is inherent at most jobs (mine included). I mostly keep my work and anarchism separate, but lately some of my coworkers have found out about an action I was involved in so we'll see how that goes. I dunno, I guess I should be more open about my anarchism at work.

I do understand the critique of "jobs"/"work" but people on here acting like they've never had a job before. if you've been able to find a way to practice your life to the highest standards of your theory, that's fantastic for you, but you have to understand that it's not an option for most people.

I'd like to see more @s doing porn and the sex trade in general. Sex work tends towards higher time preference and more flexibility and being your own boss. It's still work of course but it's some of the most preferential type of work there is if you're built for it. It isn't suppressing at all why so many ideologues single it out. It doesn't exactly attract workerists. I myself have come across a few fellow travellers here and there who are down for work abolition.

Yes, sex is the most universal and flexible autonomous bartering-economy emotional-exchange unit in an anarch socio-economic system based on a social harmony and anti- war anti-violence aesthetic.

I WAS AN TERMINALLY ONLINE INCEL EGREGORE THAT CRASHED MY DKRACER INTO THE WASHING MACHINE AFTER READING PUA GUIDEBOOKS AND HEADED STRAIGHT TO THE ANEWS COMMENTS SECTOIN TO SHARE MY EXPERT (THEORETICAL) OPINION ON SEXWORK KNOWING THAT MY INCEL HOMEBOY LEWAY WOULD BACK EVERYTHING I SAY!

I do eometimes find myself in the "incel situation" occassionally, not at the moment though *waves at exotic young 20something gal lying in nearby bed*.
Try getting out more, mixing, having fun sex, does wonders for the anarch spirit!

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