An open letter to our anarchist, socialist and radical leftist comrades

From Freedom News UK

I wrote a letter to my comrades the other day. 
They opened and read it; it said they were suckers. 
They wanted me to get infected or whatever. 
Picture me giving a damn; 
I said never 

~ Covi D

Dear comrades

We think you may have forgotten about us. Or, at the very least, you are trying to. The new normal in society at large excludes many people, among them some of your comrades: us. Need we remind you that disabled and chronically ill people can be radical leftists? The entire range of self-proclaimed radical leftist politics should include anti-ableism by default. Without anti-ableism as a founding principle, all that remains of the radical left project is hypocrisy.

Inclusion and solidarity are not empty words. They call for practice. Without practical implications, they are buzzwords made up of hot air.

Together, we can create a world that includes everyone. If you still want to, that is. And you should want to because being abled-bodied and healthy is temporary–it might not last forever. Most people experience disability or illness at some point in their lives. Or, at the very least, they will have loved ones with this experience.

COVID-19 can disable anybody. The risk of getting long COVID is estimated at over 10%, and with every new infection, this remains the case. In the so-called “new normal”, a world with such high rates of re-infection, we can expect the number of people who become disabled through long COVID to keep rising consistently. For that very reason, many call this a mass disabling event. It is why some of us who have long COVID keep shouting about it on social media, desperately trying to warn people and remind them to be cautious.

At what point will there be enough of us for you to start to notice?

In our circles, at our events, and gatherings, we can stop – or at least decrease – the damage. And by doing so, we make society better for everyone. More inclusive. Safer.

Here, we outline some of the tools we already have, alongside all the protective measures that could or should be used to achieve a safer and more inclusive setting during our events, gatherings, parties, and circles. These guidelines are meant to inspire better accessibility and inclusion at events planned in the coming months and possibly years.

As you may have guessed, this text was written by people who were pushed into self-isolation because of the lack of solidarity we have experienced in society at large, but – and this was much more shocking – even among radical leftists. Some disabled anarchists are in a state of shock because of the abandonment we experienced from our (former) comrades, who we had always assumed would have our backs in a crisis, maybe one just like the ongoing pandemic. We obviously expected nothing else from the state, the capitalist system, including the health care system, and maybe even from our families. But from our comrades, who love to use words like “inclusion” and “solidarity”? It came as a huge shock to get abandoned by them, as well.

How could this happen?

This cannot stand.

The following checklist/guide is not optional. It is not a menu to pick certain items from. Most protective measures listed here are needed at all times. But at the same time, every little thing can help. The most important part is an open and honest communication. What will get done? What won’t? Crucial.

Feel free to contact us with further suggestions.

Digital and hybrid events

We know that some people do not enjoy the digital format for gatherings and meetings at the moment. But the full potential of digital-only events may well not have been exhausted. We believe many more possibilities exist to make our online events more fun, entertaining, varied, and beautiful. Let us use our imagination.

So yes, digital events are still the best option during an ongoing pandemic to keep everyone safe and not risk any infections or the possibility of developing long COVID.

If you choose to plan in-person events in the so-called meat space (go vegan, lol), organising them as hybrid events is of absolute importance. This means offering parallel remote access with a possibility for interactions for all attendees to ensure those who need to or choose to avoid indoor gatherings are not excluded.

And let us tell you, it is excruciating how lonely it feels out here when your friends, or maybe former friends, gather at an event that you wanted to attend, but now you can’t because you are socially isolated at home, chronically ill, or disabled. And then there’s not even a bloody video stream for it? Wow.

However, hybrid events should not be considered an afterthought or an “add-on” to events planned in the classic in-person format. Simply having a camera pointing at the speaker during a conference and allowing people to tune in does not make it a hybrid event: that’s a live broadcast and/or a webinar (which can sometimes be the appropriate format!). But in a hybrid event, we are looking at actual participation for all the attendees in different ways, aiming for the same level of engagement in the same flow of communication for all involved, whether via remote access or in the room.

Upstream and downstream participation are not only technologically possible, they can be organised securely, even encrypted, to protect all participants’ privacy (if that is preferred), and they can enrich an event in amazing ways – as the Chaos Computer Congress has proven in practice for many years already. The know-how is out there. Ask for help.

Some speakers or panellists would prefer to participate remotely if given the choice. This needs to be offered as an option.

Asynchronous options offer further possibilities to enrich the experience before and after the actual event, be they recordings, texts, slide sharing, data sets, or other files sent out beforehand, or transcripts, feedback sessions, etc. afterwards.

But it starts even earlier. Already in the choice of the location for your event, crucial questions for accessibility are raised. How easy is the location to reach? How easy is it to find? Is there a need to put up street signs pointing out the directions? Does transportation need to be organised? Weather and time of the year permitting, does the location offer open-air options (especially for sustenance in drinks, food and smokes)? Are all rooms, bathrooms, and outdoor spaces wheelchair accessible?

The building needs to be thoroughly scrutinised with all the accessibility considerations in mind. And – during an ongoing pandemic – air quality, ventilation, and air filtration can determine how suitable a certain location is; more on that further down.

Disease control

Masks

One of the most important factors in preventing airborne diseases from spreading (one of them being COVID) is the implementation of masks. Although masks can be worn to somewhat protect people against contaminated air intake, one-way masking is not a guarantee for staying safe. The most effective way to prevent the spread of viruses is to not contaminate the air in the first place. With two-way masking, we can prevent inhaling and exhaling virus particles in shared air.

Masks work best to protect others. Even if a person is sick, wearing a mask keeps others around them fairly safe. As such, masks are a fantastic expression of communal care, as they most practically protect other people’s health. I protect you, you protect me, we protect each other. The more people willing to protect those around them, the less virus gets into the air. It really is that simple.

It is important to strongly emphasise the need for masking at any event. A simple recommendation is not enough, as this will result in inconsistent masking. Masks should be required, be it by a consensus or by committee decision. Only when everyone is wearing masks do we truly protect each other from viruses such as COVID.

Another critical point to stress is the type of masks that should be worn. Scarves, fabric, and surgical masks aren’t as effective as needed. Even though they are an improvement to wearing no masks, the quality is still not good enough. Events should require masks of KN95, N95, FFP2, FFP3, KF94 quality or better. Elastomeric respirators and PAPR systems do the trick as well.

To ensure good quality masking all around, events can provide masks for free at several locations throughout the venue, not just at the entrance. Informational posters on how to wear them properly (over the mouth AND nose, ensuring a good seal) are also a good idea. Event organisers can set an example by wearing their masks at all times.

How do we deal with people who refuse to cooperate? This depends very much on the philosophy of the organisers. Communicating clearly about the mask requirements ahead of time and providing free masks might well foster a social dynamic encouraging people to adhere to the consensus.

Clean air

All rooms need clean air, which is crucial in a layered approach of protection against infections (see: swiss cheese model). This can be achieved by going outside or opening some windows (during the summer), filtering (i.e. air purification systems using HEPA filters) and/or by ventilating the rooms. CO2 monitors can be helpful to monitor the air quality as well. A detector that detects COVID in the air is in the works, and as soon as these are available, they could be quite helpful as well. (For more info, see the links section.)

But it is just as important to not overcrowd rooms. As a rule of thumb, it’s better to have rooms that are too large, just in case more people than expected show up. And even if they don’t fill up, this allows people to sit apart and socially distance themselves if they don’t like crowded settings.

A DIY Corsi-Rosenthal box can be a good, cheap solution for air filtering, especially for organisations and groups with a limited budget – if the necessary parts (like the filters) are even available where you live. 

Personal hygiene

Ensure that soap and hand disinfectant are provided, but also frequently disinfect items collectively used, like elevator buttons, railings, door handles, etc. These are good ways to fight fomites. However, it must be understood that this does almost nothing to prevent spreading airborne diseases like COVID-19. These spread through aerosols. Counting on disinfectant and personal hygiene alone is insufficient to keep attendees and organisers safe during an ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Sanctuaries of Silence

For neurodivergent people (and others), crowded settings can be overwhelming. It is crucial to consider scenarios for attendees who may experience stress in crowds. Sometimes a small (or large) side room can be set up as a sanctuary of silence, maybe even with a care person on standby, to be available if someone is in a crisis and chooses to ask for such help. This would be the ideal setting: a dedicated room in the care of the awareness or accessibility team, but the issue can also be solved in other ways. For instance, when the weather permits, such a sanctuary can be outside in summer. If the event is planned as a hybrid, such measures turn into nice-to-haves instead of must-haves.

Sign language interpreters/accommodations for people with hearing disabilities

Captioning and transcripts are helpful to many, not just HOH/Deaf people, but also neurodivergent people. Sign interpreters should be standard for accessibility at our events.

Accessibility for people with various mobility needs or chronic illnesses

It should be clearly stated in all descriptions of the event whether the venue will be wheelchair accessible and if wheelchair users can enter all or only some of the rooms, including the bathrooms. Disabled people should not have to ask for this information.

If there are stairs, it should be stated if they are accessible for people with canes, leg pain or similar conditions. Are the stairs steep? Are the steps very high? Are there railings?

If there are heavy doors that people need to open, this needs to be stated as well. They might be a difficult barrier to cross for people with, for example, pain in the hands, arms, and shoulders.

Help should be offered to enable people to enter and navigate the venue if needed.

Are there toilets? Are they accessible to the public? Are they accessible to wheelchair users? Is there a toilet designated for disabled people? This information is crucial for people with bowel and bladder issues (which are common in long COVID).

Are there places to sit comfortably? And the floor does NOT count, you fucking hippies.

Are pacing or bathroom breaks planned during the event? If and how many are needed depends on the type of event, the duration, and the general context. If the event is pretty informal and has more of a loose structure, and no one will miss out if they take a break whenever they need to, then there might not be a need to schedule pacing breaks. Otherwise, it would be good for people with various health issues to have regular breaks in short intervals.

Vaccination/tests requirements

Vaccination requirements are a controversial issue, especially in the case of COVID-19, where the vaccine offers only limited protection from infections. Vaccine requirements can exclude people from participation in various devious ways. For instance, some people cannot get vaccinated for health reasons. Some countries do not or cannot offer the boosters regularly.

A recommendation seems like the better solution here.

Tests should be freely available for all people who attend (just like quality masks), and this can be discussed as a requirement in case of a camp. But this is also a controversial issue that raises the question of policing and power differentials, as in who controls these things and in what way. Since in the layered approach to protection from infections – the famous Swiss cheese model – vaccines and tests represent one single layer among many, it is better to focus on the mask consensus and air quality and add/promote tests/vaccine recommendations as optional additional layers.

Another issue is the sensitivity and accuracy of the easy-to-use antigen tests (so called “rapid tests”). While false positives are rare, ​​​​​​​false negatives are very common in asymptomatic infections. A positive test result means you can be sure you have COVID, while a negative result’s meaning is more ambiguous. Newer variants might increase the problem even in symptomatic cases; who knows? The prediction remains that the tests will continue to work well. Still, a negative rapid test result might bring a false sense of comfort. Researchers state that the best, most reliable way to test for asymptomatic infections is 3 consecutive tests at 48 hour intervals

(For more info on COVID testing, see the link section). For events, this sounds like a very complicated process.

PCR tests are considered reliable, but it is almost impossible to get tested that way in many places worldwide unless you are perhaps in a DIY biohacker/biotech collective.

COVID is not the only respiratory disease we do not want to spread. If we want events to be truly accessible for all chronically ill or immuno-compromised people (and again, long COVID is creating large numbers of them), we should try to avoid spreading other harmful airborne viruses and bacteria as well. —–> Masks, Personal Hygiene

Policy for people with symptoms

This should be a no-brainer. No, really. If a person has symptoms of an airborne disease, they should not spread it by attending in-person events. At the same time, many governments have started to relax quarantine policies. This is all the more reason to remember the simple and logical things at our events. If a person has COVID-19, they must stay away. Given the general situation, this needs to be stated in the communication for the event. But the anguish of missing out on an event or gathering because you have gotten ill can be eased somewhat if streaming allows remote access and various ways to participate.

At the same time, it is important to trust people. Not every person who coughs or sneezes has an infection; allergies can also cause that.

Open communication

tl;dr: Every event should offer clear information that is easy to find about all these various factors that concern accessibility. Obviously, all the communication needs to be barrier-free, meaning there are alt-tags on images online, all the textual content is screen-reader tested, etc. 

Communicate with extreme honesty about what is and what is not done to protect people, which helps people decide whether they can attend the event or not. It also helps if there is a process to receive constructive tips, information, feedback and complaints before, during and after the event. Some improvements may still be possible for implementation even during an ongoing event, and if not, the feedback can be collected for future improvements. Many events already have care teams, but an accessibility team can focus specifically on these aspects while accommodating people’s needs.

Please consider the following: Many disabled, chronically ill people are tired of always having to ask for inclusion or even for accessibility information. Many things discussed above should be a given, but sadly, even in radical left spaces, they are not. Somehow, it seems to be our job to keep asking for these improvements. And many of us are tired of it. That is our reality. And it has been for some time already.

Accessibility has all too often only been an afterthought. Proactive measures would be much appreciated, as they signal an inclusive attitude in practice, not just in theory.

Information about accessibility (including the COVID safety consensus) for your event or gathering space should be easy to find and read for everyone (including screen reader users or people with vision impairment). This information, or at the very least a link to it, should be attached to all information channels you are using to promote your event (for example – social media, invitations, and leaflets) and, of course, on your website, if you have one.

If, for reasons that you may or may not have any control over, your event will not be fully accessible to everyone, you should clearly state this. Do not ever promise accessibility that you cannot offer. By being radically honest about what you can and cannot do, you offer accountability and show others what can and should be improved soon. You are also saving disabled people the trouble of asking for this info and making the decision about participation easier for us.

Make sure to have an easy way for people to give you feedback about accessibility concerns regarding the event, such as an email or an online form. This will allow organisers to evaluate which tools and solutions worked well in the context of the space/event and which ones need improvement.

If possible, have a person or a team dedicated to handling all things accessibility and involve them in the design and planning of the event. During the event, this team, maybe helped with volunteers, can be tasked to help people with access-related issues and even to ensure that attendants respect preventive and protective measures. It is a great idea to involve a range of people, from accessibility experts to volunteers, to help prepare your meeting space, such as a squat, your new NGO office, or your mutual aid project’s base of operations. It is important not to forget about accessibility from the onset of your projects and to think of it as an integral part of your activism.

Because … who else is going to do it?

We know it is sometimes complicated, costly, and difficult to step up to do the right thing for more accessibility. We also know that leftist organisations are often underfunded sometimes troubled by conflicts with the law or the targets of fascist attacks. We are aware of the all-encompassing propaganda by the state to keep dissenting voices a minority.

But just because something might be hard, it does not change what is the right thing to do.

We need to try and create the kind of events, spaces and groups that can serve as models for a future, better world. This is what prefigurative praxis looks like. It is the work we need to do.

We should collectively reject the eugenics, fascism, and ableism of all state institutions.

We should publicly grieve everything that we lost because of the ongoing COVID pandemic. Here, we mean not only all the unnecessary losses of life and the increased rates of disability (because of an insidious virus, because of perpetual growth imperative under capitalism, because of nation-states, because of misinformation) but also the loss in solidarity and inclusivity, that have resulted. We should face these truths about the pandemic together and process them together.

Practice grieving as a revolutionary praxis.

Together, we should fight the forces that want some of us dead and the rest of us meekly agreeing to their tyranny. The disabled or the chronically ill are considered as surplus under the neoliberal capitalist system – we are no longer of economic value and thus worthless. Refusing to fight this notion means being subservient and compliant to the interests and wishes of the rich and powerful – the same people responsible for the continued oppression and genocide of many groups of both humans and animals, for inaction against climate change, and normalising inaction against COVID.

That is why an anti-ableist stance and a clear position against eugenics are essential to our shared struggle. Since more and more of us under the current system will end up disabled, chronically ill, and turn into surplus, this is bound to become an even more important battlefield for both our mobilisation and our resistance in the coming years.

There will be no anti-capitalist revolution (whatever form it might take) without anti-ableism and anti-eugenics.

We need to fight the virus together: the respiratory virus (like COVID) and the virus of capitalism.

And who else will do it, if not the radicals, the socialists, and the anarchists?

With solidarity and love,

~ some comrades

(We are a radical communal care group for chronically ill and disabled comrades and their carers; please feel free to contact us if this interests you)

Further reading, link-list:

Refusing Ableism In The End Times
Pandemic Praxis
The mourning of the crippled body, a body in ruins by Itxi Guera
Itxi Guera The Fight Against Ableism Anarchism and Ableism
Eugenics Ender Squad
COVID Hasn’t Disappeared — But Empathy, Care and Solidarity Have
How to Talk to Your Loved Ones About Covid (warning: google docs!)
Broken Sociality (peste)
A zine by “Anti-eugenics action” – found here
Pandemic zine, Pride and Rage by sour queer press
a long winter crip survival guide for pandemic year 4/forever (warning: google docs!)
Practicing Inclusion in the Time of COVID
Good Crip/Bad Crip! Practicing a Love Ethic in the Ongoing Pandemic Part 1 Practicing a Love Ethic in the Ongoing Pandemic Part 2
You Are Not Entitled To Our Deaths: COVID, Abled Supremacy & Interdependence
Abled-Bodied Leftists Cannot Abandon Disabled Solidarity to “Move On” From COVID
​​​​Those who are Disabled and Immunocompromised need to be supported, not ignored
Covid air monitor 

Links about safe indoor air recommendations and CO2 monitoring: 

https://www.rehva.eu/rehva-journal/chapter/co2-monitoring-and-indoor-air-quality
https://ozsage.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Safe-Indoor-Air-advice.pdf
https://ozsage.org/media_releases/protecting-children-from-covid-19-and-making-schools-and-childcare-safer/
https://cleanairstars.com/steps/
COVID Safety for Protests 

COVID testing: 

https://covid19.nih.gov/news-and-stories/how-rapid-antigen-tests-perform-against-viral-variants
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02254-9 https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M23-0385
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8178956/
https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD013705.pub2/full
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33930607/

====

What have we missed? Found a mistake? Please let us know

This article first appeared in Rant.li


Image: conceptphoto.info / CC BY 2.0 Deed

There are 33 Comments

"It is important to strongly emphasise the need for masking at any event. A simple recommendation is not enough, as this will result in inconsistent masking. Masks should be required, be it by a consensus or by committee decision. Only when everyone is wearing masks do we truly protect each other from viruses such as COVID."
Every event must have mask requirements? What happened to the notion of free association? Not every event can be accessible to every kind of person. If we want to appeal to a made-up conception of disabled masses (which is not real, not every disabled person holds these views or is impacted by COVID-19 the same way), then where is the commentary on those who cannot wear masks because of sensory issues. If the response is the online/hybrid option, what about those with digital audio processing issues or even just shit internet/devices? I am not against events being mask-based, but not every event needs to be. That is the choice of the organizing group and the audience/attendees. Acting as if they do is extreme authoritarianism. What if events don't do it? Are you going to condemn them for not following your particular moral framework? How long do we need to mask for? Indefinitely, as some suggest?
How do we deal with people who refuse to cooperate? This depends very much on the philosophy of the organisers. Communicating clearly about the mask requirements ahead of time and providing free masks might well foster a social dynamic encouraging people to adhere to the consensus.
That last part about "to adhere to the consensus" is just fucking crazy.

Regarding mobility related issues, I am largely in agreement, but what if no venue with these accommodations is possible? Should the event be canceled? What if the event is outdoors? It seems that by the logic of most of this post, and its underlying framework, outdoor gatherings (Such as GA's old Feral vision gatherings) would be massively off-limits. Deep in the woods, accommodations like that aren't as possible. Obviously you have people you can rely on, but the post doesn't even mention direct support, only creating spaces that can be considered accommodating, which is a massive blindspot..

like most ultra left righting it is pompous; the writers are possessed of the TRUTH and woe to any who disagrree
IT is prolix and verbose; a trait also found, almost universally, to those who are marxist leninist maoist avakaianist
It makes DEMANDS
who are you to make demands

probably a lot of other flaws, but what the heck

I wish the writers of this silly stuff would clearly spell out who they are claiming to represent or talk to. Like who is "comrades" to this person? Is the author even an anarchist? What is a "radical" group?

Beyond the silly nature of the entire article, why are people making demands about this stuff in the first place? Because if we are making demands I have a ton of them. Much more important IMHO than making sure there's a fucking Livestream at every protest so you can sit at home on your ass and watch with the cops.

- Anarchist news stop posting shit from people who don't identify as anarchists unless it's very clear that the article relates to anarchists
- Anarchists start taking seriously the actual anarchist principle of free association
- Anarchist events where people are making decisions should make sure the people involved *are anarchists*
- Anarchists stop working with fucking liberals

Should I go on? Cause I could list all sorts of actual demands related to anarchists. This text could be released by literally any group on the planet.

One last request, the anews collective *refuse* to post anything else that includes extremely questionable, obviously paranoid science. Specifically in this case that the whole planet will have COVID forever. That is not a real thing, it's clearly promoted by people with an illness (that isn't COVID) and it's designed to scare people.

Stop posting this shit it's embarassing. Thanks.

Bro 10:46,

Do you identify as an anarchist? Of course I don't mean that in the Elon Musk or Javier Milei usage of the term.

Because you sure to complain a lot about anarchist stuff and seem to get upset when it doesn't fit your identity. Is anarchist identity sOoo important to you? Is it as important as saving the world from the masks that are killing them with fear from an imaginary virus that is jUst like a common flu? Does it make you want to never go upstairs to reheat your own tendies because your mom is sOoo controlling (she's such a bitch!)?

What's your favorite anarchist text, comrade?

Happy Hannukah

Should we really be listening to anyone from the UK? That seems like a horrible idea.

It's so good of you to care so much about peoples' lives. You must care so much about even the most vulnerable amongst us that you'd be so kind to wear a mask when you leave your house to buy more tendies at the grocery store because your mom is tired of doing it for you (she's such a bitch!).

I'm glad you feel comfortable trusting the government experts whom all say the pandemic is OVER and we should all just get on with business as usual. You're sOoo good of a person.

Thanks, brow.

"I'm glad you feel comfortable trusting the government experts whom all say the pandemic is OVER and we should all just get on with business as usual"
Hilarious point to try to make here given ~45% of the supporting links for this article are to government publications or publications by nonprofits with explicitly stated intent to be used by governments.

i say all this as a disabled person, coercive guilt politics are liberalism. full stop.

beyond that, each event can be organized however the folks involved see fit and they can accept responsibility for when their organizing decisions essentially result in most people not wanting to attend. this will likely correlate with how much PUSHY LIBERAL BULLSHIT they attempt to foist on to everyone. want everyone to take responsibility? two way street.

i'm happy to meet people where they're at or not attend if i find their accessibility requirements to be heavy handed, on a case by case basis BUT this article is attempting to solve for X where X equals all times, places and contexts? prefiguration is hard.

last of all, ever notice how this type of rhetoric is always taking the infinitesimally small handful of people who care enough to do anything, ANY organizing at all and putting them on blast for not being pious enough?... CUZ I DO.

Now kiss

"The following checklist/guide is not optional. "
I assure you it is. I can prove it by doing none of the things on this list and you not ever stopping me.

The trend of anti-creativity in the "anarchist" (read: leftist) west has been really disappointing to me for the past ~10 years in ways that are perfectly summed up by this needless screed. One MUST embrace technology, one MUST practice safety, one MUST do this, one MUST do that, it's all boiled down to an authoritarian mindset that if the author is not coddled in an environment that others build specifically for them then it's oppression. It's so boring. The reliance on others to create safety for you is boring and your demands to be catered to by people who, on the whole, can hardly cater to their own damn selves is boring. "The homeless punk kids who live in lean-tos near train tracks and eat mostly garbage and heroin didn't hire an ASL interpreter for me at their book fair," yeah dawg you bet your bippy they didn't. It's pretty ridiculous to think they would.

This piece is the product of the "we police ourselves" mindset anarchists were warned against back in the Occupy days. We don't police ourselves, or if we do we get tired bullshit like this list of requirements to being a True Anarchist Rebel.

What passes for an anarchist release now? "You must rely on the medical industry. You must rely on the tech sector. You must abide by the rigidity of language and be perceptible and legible in all ways." I'm starting to feel a bit governed, boss!

When did "anarchy" become synonymous with "inclusion" anyway? When did we lose interest in free association?

Anyway, I guess this is for anyone with an interest in "mak[ing] society better for everyone. More inclusive. Safer." Which, like, eep. Don't know why you'd sign up for that chore. I sure as hell didn't. But the author seems to have it all pretty figured out, so I look forward to their event that provides all of these things for all attendees. They're not optional, after all, so their event that will definitely happen because they're definitely putting in the effort themselves oughtn't be anything less than what's outlined here. Right?

Right?

stop stop! you already killed me with this line

"The homeless punk kids who live in lean-tos near train tracks and eat mostly garbage and heroin didn't hire an ASL interpreter for me at their book fair," yeah dawg you bet your bippy they didn't. It's pretty ridiculous to think they would.

Flawless victory. Fatality. etc

I encourage you to destroy these people on a much more regular basis anon.

I don't really get the criticism that you shouldn't expect to easily rely on others. Interdependence is at the core of all libertarian & anarchist theory, isn't it? Moreover how are we supposed to prevent stuff like ethnic discrimination occuring in our free associations if we don't build a more "inclusive" environment as the article puts it.

As many people have mentioned, free association is the key. I am not here to rely on dumbass right winger antivaxxers, or anyone else I don't actually have affinity with. My job isn't to protect 8 billion people from every possible risk to their safety, and their job isn't to protect me.

"I don't really get the criticism that you shouldn't expect to easily rely on others. "

Libertarian and anarchist theory are not about that at all. You can easily rely on others, SOMETIMES, but i have been to a place where people are absolutely thrilled to do things for each other. People do things for each other out of empathy and wanting attention, nobody likes to be severely inconvienced or stressed.

I like how the above article emphasizes voluntary association, yet it seems odd to insinuate that more stay at home type instructions should be taken seriously. Maybe its a reflection of society doesnt really accomodate the disabled and marginalized. I cant make sense of all this support for fear and control on here.

It unfortunately reminds me of the boomer quip that nobody knows how to do anything for themselves anymore. I mean, maybe its true on some level and not just annoying octogenarian speak.

It would explain a lot of these issues away. It specially makes sense when you consider the "subject" is a college student. Not exactly hands on people.

Ageist trash and i actively avoid it. If you want to lump everyone into categories, then yes you brought up college. YOU brought up the fucking boomers, not me. I fucking hate my parents. Theyre fucking stupid. I also hate the individualists on here, theyve said a lot of dumb trash to me over the years.

You can also blame the mods too, i dont fucking care. The way i look at masking is its one authority [someone who wants me to do something], and me, someone who might listen. If the default was thqt i always listen to every stranger, then i am the prey. You should understand that we don't live in a perfect utopia, and fear doesnt mean stupidity.

Society doesnt really support the disabled and marginalized.

Anarchists and normie society cant support everyone, the spooky "it" cant save us. I hate it that i cant type when im mad.

Furiously rubbing 2 neurons together to arrive at a thought,,,,,,

"We think you may have forgotten about us."

Did I ever know you?

This article is insane. It's like a helicopter parent wrote it while hovering over their child making sure it doesn't get boo-boo. It's a very authoritarian article. They say their demands are not optional and one must do this or that lol. All of these demands are optional, whether these people like it or not. What are these people gonna do. Throw me in anarchist jail?

The demands are absurdly insane and very expensive. If event organizers actually followed this lists of demands, they'd have to shell out over $1,000. They'd have to interact with state institutions and those big tech companies to accomplish all the demands.

What is anarchism now? There seems to be a lot of articles on here about anarchists trying to force people to follow their demands and preferences. Even liberals aren't this demanding.

Or rather they could not put on events. Which is really the thing here. These people just don't want anything to happen. Never did. And honestly the existence of these types of people causes huge issues when it comes to how to deal with conflict.

The fact that the anarchist movement constantly gives bullies/manic people a pedestal is a huge part of why people just stop coming around after awhile.

That very well could be the case, or at least it to be online, which would have the same effect of preventing things from happening. Trying to avoid having to deal with the slightest conflict and inconvenience causes more conflict. These people need a little bit of self-reflection. They're very entitled. Mayhap, they'll realize their disability and/or fear of getting sick doesn't give them a special privilege to dictate what all others must do. Instead of demanding others sink thousands of dollars into an event to limit the possibility of someone getting sick, they can buy themselves a hazmat suit and wear it.

I sure as heck wouldn't want to be around these people who're screeching about others must wear masks and carry copious amounts of rubbing alcohol, and to make sure someone has a gopro attached to their head so the event can be streamed to facebook/youtube.

Where or why do these people have the idea that anarchism is about protecting people from potentially get sick, or protecting people from harm in general. Protecting people from potential harm is something liberalism espouses.

yeesh. yeah, I'm also chronically ill, at times disabled by that illness, and it has certainly changed parts of my life, but uh, this is authoritarian as fuck. Maybe some of these points (most I think are garbage regardless) would be better heard if it didn't come across like a compliance letter written to staff from a non-profit ED. I live way the fuck out in the middle of no where and don't really do "events" anyways, but I see the value in thinking about accessibility stuff if you do plan one. But, framing things as non-optional and requirements is about as far away from anarchist as you can get. It's also just fucking pointless. People, especially and ideally, anarchists, are gonna do what they're gonna do. This ultra humanist, uber safety-pilled state-building perspective posted on anarchist sites is so fuckin cringe.

seriously. no really, seriously. more of this. seriously. for fucks sake, just do what the fuck you want and stop telling other people what to do.

Really???

“The new normal in society at large excludes many people”

That is just absurd. We live in the times of unending bending over backwards for just about every single fucking conceived identity possible. You know this, and that is why you play your fucking games. Yes games! I have many alter-abled people in my life (in fact, by some of your criteria, I could be included) and none of them act pathetically like you do.

And who cares about “radical leftists”?
We are anarchists, or at least some of us are, and your colors are showing.

“Inclusion” is NOT an anarchist principle, especially the way you describe it. Go back to school, I hear Cuba has some good ones.

“Many call this a mass disabling event. It is why some of us who have long COVID keep shouting about it on social media, desperately trying to warn people and remind them to be cautious.”

No, you keep calling it out because you are authoritarians who want your way, at least be honest.

“And by doing so, we make society better for everyone. More inclusive. Safer.”

Keep me out of your social engineering project. The world is neither inclusive or safe, that is at the core of being an anarchist, recognizing this and being self-motivated, personally responsible, autonomous, and free. Oh wait, I forgot, you are not an anarchist, that’s why your Maoist rant is on an anarchist site, oh wait???

Ok. I already hated you, but once you start to proclaim the essential guidelines for gatherings, well….fuck off!

“Digital events are still the best option during an ongoing pandemic to keep everyone safe and not risk any infections or the possibility of developing long COVID.”

Who do these people think they are? They go on to basically demand every detail of events that they are not organizing. I guess this is about right since just about everyone these days is this entitled and narcissistic hiding behind screens with their constructed identities.

This is trash, so I need to ask again, where is the anarchy? And why this gets left up when other anarchist stuff does not?

Seriously, can you respond to that moderators?

Why should ANY anarchist care about radical leftists? They are as much our enemy (perhaps more so, if one takes an objective look at anarchist history) than the nebulously-defined "right"...

So true that is, backstabbing leftists got the passionate anarchists to do their dirty fighting for them!

letf and right, they're both pretty nebulous tbh. and also not that relevant as markers. plenty of people mix social conservatism with economic liberalism and vice versa.

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