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When you tell people you're an anarchist...

Discussion in 'General political debates' started by we're_all_dead_anyway, Dec 27, 2009.

  1. we're_all_dead_anyway

    we're_all_dead_anyway Active Member Forum Member


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    how do they usually react? Do they ask questions? Do they dismiss it out of hand? Do you see it as a time to educate? For me when i tell people they first give me this nervous look like i'm a dangerous person or something, but when i begin to explain to them what anarchism actually is they begin to respond more positively towards what i have to say. Even though most think it's nothing but a utopian dream. how about everyone else?
     

  2. ungovernable

    ungovernable Autonome Staff Member Uploader Admin Team Experienced member


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    Well it depends of the type of the political opinions of the person i am talking to.

    For patriots/nationalist/convervative peoples and right-wing assholes, they will most likely think i'm some sort of communist and will start talking about the millions of death in URSS, cambodgia or communist china....

    For the rest of peoples they think "anarchism" is the same thing the mass medias make referrence to when they talk about an unstable situation. They will think anarchism is anti-organization and anti-order...

    But in all cases, of course peoples will think it is utopian and impossible to work... And yup, some of them will think you're some sort of dangerous extremist ayatollah of the revolution who will raise up a guerilla to take over the country by force

    A few tips: always back up your theories with facts and examples in history, insist on the fact anarchism works and history proven it, and a cheap but effective tactifs: use words like libertarian and anarcho-communist instead of anarchist ;)

    Or if you want to be a real pro with debates, read Normand Baillargeon's book "a small course of intellectual self-defense" (Normand Baillargeon is a famous anarchist from Montreal who collaborate with Noam Chomsky very often) ;)

    or get this book by Errico Malatesta that answers most of the questions on anarchism:
    viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2937
     
  3. BlinkoChrist

    BlinkoChrist Experienced Member Experienced member Forum Member


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    Man, im fifteen so everyone laughs at me and im not smart so i dont know what to say back in debates. I know anarchism is truth but im retarded...
    But at least i always stick to it, even though i get laughed aat.
     
  4. Saering

    Saering Experienced Member Experienced member


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    Dec 18, 2009
     
    What ungovernable said pretty much sums it up, but if they really want to give me a hard time about it though the conversation usually results in bad blood between us, but of course most people aren't that bad and will at least listen to an explanation regarding views on anarchy without going off on me. or calling the cops for that matter
     
  5. punkmar77

    punkmar77 Experienced Member Uploader Experienced member


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    I went through exactly the same thing at your age Blinko, start reading about Anarchy little by little and you will begin to have answers. Its not easy to have the convictions we have, but remember you have friends who think of you as a brother all around the world, and it will give you some strength.
     
  6. Rabbit

    Rabbit Experienced Member Experienced member Forum Member


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    Oct 26, 2009
     
    I generally get an "oh that's cute but it doesn't work" type of response.

    In a spanish class I had the mistake of responding to the question ¿Hay leyes que no deben ser? And I said "Soy un anarquista, creo que no debe ser gobiernos o leyes. Creo que la gente pueden vivir como personas buenas sin autoridades falsas." I got some pretty weird looks.

    It's tough to respond to people who flatly deny that anarchy is workable, so I usually respond with "well, is our current system working?"
     
  7. lax_punk_sneakz

    lax_punk_sneakz Active Member Forum Member


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    when i mention that i am a peaceful anarchist, they see it as an oxymoron, like, "i thought anarchists like to blow shit up...?" Um.... no. that's the mainstream biased media trying to warp definitions for people who believe one plus one equals 4 instead of 2 because they refuse to take the time out to actually look at people and understand them, and figure problems out, and find open-minded positive solitions that won't end up killing thousands millions type of human beings... i'm ranting..... sorry
     
  8. lax_punk_sneakz

    lax_punk_sneakz Active Member Forum Member


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    Sep 21, 2009
     
    when i mention that i am a peaceful anarchist, they see it as an oxymoron, like, "i thought anarchists like to blow shit up...?" Um.... no. that's the mainstream biased media trying to warp definitions for people who believe one plus one equals 4 instead of 2 because they refuse to take the time out to actually look at people and understand them, and figure problems out, and find open-minded positive solitions that won't end up killing thousands millions types of human beings... i'm ranting..... sorry, love ya... :)
     
  9. Vegetarian Barbarian

    Vegetarian Barbarian Experienced Member Experienced member Forum Member


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    Oct 19, 2009
     
    Well... i say there are beliefs i have that fall under anarchism, but i explain that a lot of my beliefs come from all over the place and then go onto what ungovern said
     
  10. BlinkoChrist

    BlinkoChrist Experienced Member Experienced member Forum Member


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    It's just a bitch, especially with my family, they think it's attention or something, but that's not it you know? People don't take teenagers seriously.
    And thanks man that helps, and it's nice to think that people all over the world got my back haha.
     
  11. dwtcos

    dwtcos Experienced Member Experienced member Forum Member


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    Very similar situation over here.
     
  12. Carcass

    Carcass Experienced Member Experienced member Forum Member


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    Oct 12, 2009
     
    It's rarely to my advantage to tell people I'm an anarchist, so I don't. I prefer to let my ideas speak for themselves rather than prefacing them with the caveat that I identify with an ideology that is widely and profoundly misunderstood.
     
  13. Vegetarian Barbarian

    Vegetarian Barbarian Experienced Member Experienced member Forum Member


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    Wow, your stupid.
     
  14. ungovernable

    ungovernable Autonome Staff Member Uploader Admin Team Experienced member


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    lol it reminds me an Aus Rotten song...

    The system is working..... FOR THEM !!

    System works for the bourgeoisie.


    Well before calling yourself an anarchist it is logical that you should know what you're talking about

    Start by reading, or just read wikipedia/anarchopedia pages, evryone has to start somewhere but if you don't inform yourself you will never learn anything...

    Being aware that capitalism isn't working is one thing, and being an anarchist is another different thing.

    Yeah, your age will play against your credibility, but you will not stay young forvever.... Back a couple of years ago i was in your situation, and look where i am now.... If you're still an anarchist after, say 10 years, then you will have way more credibility and on top of all you will have a couple of years of activism to back your ideas on
     
  15. Carcass

    Carcass Experienced Member Experienced member Forum Member


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    A really easy rhetorical device when people try to tell you that capitalism is the only system that works is to remind them that four out of six billion people live in abject poverty--$2 a day or less.
     
  16. Cocytus

    Cocytus Experienced Member Experienced member Forum Member


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    I dont really talk about my political ideals much when im out at bars or other places, unless its with friends.

    Ive gotten in violent altercations due to my "extreme" views and refusal to put up with peoples patriotic bullshit.
     
  17. BlinkoChrist

    BlinkoChrist Experienced Member Experienced member Forum Member


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    Yeah I get what you're saying, and I'm not completly useless on it, I know the basics and all, and I CAN hold my own in a political conversation, I guess I just need more practice and more reading n stuff, thanks for the suggestions, they help a lot.

    And to vegetarian barbarian...okay? That's really really helpful, after all, don't teach youth, just tell 'em that they're stupid, great idea.
     
  18. QueerPunk

    QueerPunk Experienced Member Experienced member Forum Member


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    Dec 29, 2009
     
    Ok I studied French for 7 years in high school and still speak it well but my Spanish is kinda shite so I am going to try and guess what it means.

    ("Soy un anarquista, creo que no debe ser gobiernos o leyes. Creo que la gente pueden vivir como personas buenas sin autoridades falsas.");

    English translation???: I am an Anarchist, I don't believe in government or class. I believe that people should live with/like good people without the false notions of authority.

    ...is that correct?
     
  19. QueerPunk

    QueerPunk Experienced Member Experienced member Forum Member


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    Dec 29, 2009
     
    I don't usually talk about it to the family but they know where most of my politics stand so we don't bother arguing it.

    To others I tend to have no issue in disclosing my belief in Anarcho-Syndicalism or whatever...I tend to shy away from that topic with employers but if ever asked by them I tend to say Libertarian...it takes away the "bomb thrower" connotation haha.

    If asked by a union organiser I tend to show my IWW membership card, which draws many interesting reactions.
     
  20. punkmar77

    punkmar77 Experienced Member Uploader Experienced member


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    pretty damn close except leyes are laws not class but you definitely got an A-
    ;)
     
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