How to put some Anarchy into your Life

I didn't see anything about anti-religion

 

Dude, this isn't like some Anarchist code of honor. These are just a few pointers on how to have an alternative lifestyle which isn't as capitalistic as the current one most americans live by. Like Shane said, Anarchism isn't just absence of authority, it's a state of mind.

If you noticed, the first thing on the list is "Think For Yourself", meaning, don't always rely on a dictionary for your answers. And what the hell is up with taking things too litteraly. When someone suggests you consume less, do you honestly think that person is telling you to consume less oxygen?

The points are free to interpret however you like, but please THINK before you try to argue.

 

A state of mind is a state of mind, anarchy is a political type. I know not to take things literally like that, but consuming less doesn't make you any more anarchistic.

 

Read the article again, anarchy is antcapitalist, an anticapitalist stresses production over consumerism. anarchy is not just political (now im repeating myself). are you even bothering to read the article or any of the links we're providing you?

Anarchism is anti heirarchal, hence against organised religion (even the thought of subservience to an all powerful being is heirarchal so the concept of a god is not anarchist in nature).

even the die hard bushites on this site recognise that anarchy is not just a political train of thought.

 

streamlight, regarding anarchism and religion (from one of the links already provided to you (note it's antireligion not anti spirituality):



Anarchists traditionally have been skeptical and opposed to organized religion. Most organized religions are hierarchical in nature and, more often than not, aligned with contemporary power structures like state and capital. This does not mean that anarchists are in opposition to personal faith, only to the perceived authoritarian nature of organized religion. Anti-authoritarianism is a central theme in some religious sects and some variants of mainstream religions. Many notable anarchists have been religious. Some anarchists, like Leo Tolstoy and Ammon Hennacy, were firm believers in Christian anarchist principles and nonviolence.

 

streamlight, regarding anarchism and capitalism, from one of the links already provided to you:


Though the libertarian socialist critique of capitalism is rooted in socialist theory, there are certain key distinctions in their critiques, which this article attempts to elucidate. Some anarchists, notably those in the anarcho-capitalist school, selectively agree or disagree with the following anti-capitalist arguments. However, anarcho-capitalists are not considered to be anarchists by those who argue that capitalism is inherently exploitative. Some of the critiques listed here may mirror Marxist ideas but were authored by anarchist writers of the same era. Certain critiques of capitalism may even be completely unique to the anarchist movement.

One source of ambiguity in these matters is that the definition of capitalism has changed over time. Anarchist movements of early origin operated with a definition unlike contemporary definitions. For example, the 1909 Century Dictionary defined capitalism as "1. The state of having capital or property; possession of capital. 2. The concentration or massing of capital in the hands of a few; also, the power or influence of large or combined capital." In contrast, the contemporary Merriam-Webster Dictionary (unabridged) refers to capitalism as "an economic system characterized by private or corporation ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision rather than by state control, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly in a free market."

 

streamlight, regarding anarchism and the environment, community involvement, and turning off the damn TV:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_anarchism

Green anarchists compose a diverse and open movement of people who take influences from a variety of different places. These include anarchists, social ecologists, feminists, egoists, Situationists, surrealists, Luddittes, primitivists, post- and anti-leftists, indigenous, anti-industrialists, and pre-civilized people, the feral and the wild.


Green and black flag of green anarchism.


The green anarchist critique focuses on the institutions of domination that make up society, all grouped under the broad term “civilization”. Such institutions include for example, the state, capitalism, globalization, domestication, patriarchy, science, technology, or work. These institutions, according to green anarchists, are inherently destructive and exploitative (to humans and the environment) – therefore, they cannot be reformed. This movement generally rejects progress through current political lines, favoring direct and autonomous action, sabotage, insurrection, bioregionalism, and reconnecting with the wild to create meaningful change.

There are two main points of contention among green anarchists: civilization and technology.

Green anarchists can be described as anti-civilization anarchists and sometimes anarcho-primitivists, though not all green anarchists and anti-civilization anarchists are primitivists. Likewise, there is a strong critique of technology among green anarchists, though not all reject it entirely.

Civilization is taken to be the totality of institutions (described above) that are responsible for the destruction of human freedom and the environment. Physically, civilization is demarcated by the domestication of plants, animals, and humans (though its beginning have been traced back through time, language, art, and symbolic culture – see John Zerzan). Agriculture created a surplus and the conditions for the rise of these institutions. Before agriculture, humans often lived as autonomous bands of gatherer-hunters without any leadership, authority, division of labor, organized violence, environmental destruction, etc. Essentially, gatherer-hunters are perceived to be part of human anarchist ancestry since all humans practiced that mode of life for around two million years. Civilization is often seen as more of a paradigm than a physical thing, and one that places human beings above and outside of the natural world. This is seen as the first step towards, and justification for, the destruction of nature (humans included).

Technology is seen as a system rather than a specific physical tool. Technology requires the exploitation of the environment through the creation and extraction of resources, and the exploitation of people through labor, work, and slavery, industrialism, specialization and the division of labor. There is no “neutral” form of technology as things are always created in a certain context with certain aims and functions. Green technology is often rejected because it simply keeps the same exploitative system and only changes it on the surface to make it seem environmentally friendly despite the constant level of human and natural exploitation. In place of technology, green anarchists favor living ranging from low use of technology to no use at all, using sustainable and local resources.

Green anarchists are not advocating a return to the stone age or the replication of gatherer-hunter lifestyles; instead they are advocating a deep questioning of the reality humans have been given, and wish to see those questions (namely the questioning of civilization) be put into effective praxis by creating new communities that exist without these institutions of domination while at the same time resisting the current ones in place.

 

streamlight, also regarding anarchism and the environment:


Anarchism and the environment

See also: Green anarchism, Eco-anarchism, Social ecology, Anarcho-primitivism, Ecofeminism, and Green syndicalism
Since the late 1970s anarchists in Anglosphere and European countries have been agitating for the natural environment. Eco-anarchists or green anarchists believe in deep ecology. This is a worldview that embraces biodiversity and sustainability. Eco-anarchists often use direct action against what they see as earth-destroying institutions. Of particular importance is the Earth First! movement, that takes action such as tree sitting. Another important component is ecofeminism, which sees the domination of nature as a metaphor for the domination of women. Murray Bookchin's work on social ecology, David Watson's work with Fifth Estate magazine, Steve Booth's work in the UK publication Green Anarchist, and Graham Purchase's writings on green syndicalism have all contributed to the broad variety and scope of green anarchist/eco-anarchist thought and action. Green anarchism also involves a critique of industrial capitalism, and, for some green anarchists, civilization itself.[citation needed]

Primitivism is a predominantly Western philosophy that advocates a return to a pre-industrial and usually pre-agricultural society. It develops a critique of industrial civilization. In this critique technology and development have alienated people from the natural world. This philosophy develops themes present in the political action of the Luddites and the writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Primitivism developed in the context of the Reclaim the Streets, Earth First! and the Earth Liberation Front movements. John Zerzan wrote that civilization — not just the state — would need to fall for anarchy to be achieved.[citation needed] Anarcho-primitivists point to the anti-authoritarian nature of many 'primitive' or hunter-gatherer societies throughout the world's history, as examples of anarchist societies.

 

Hmmm.... well... I have my rights to my opinions! Isn't life great the way that works. I have my own opinions that might not see eye to eye with yours... does that make me any less of an anarchist than you? I do not see where I was telling you and your merry band what is or isnt anything... I was offering an opinion. I am starting to wonder if you know what opinions are or respect other people's opinions.

Where do you get off in telling someone that thier beliefs or opinions are wrong? Thats just down right fucked.

Heed your own advice... You are the one that is getting off telling another anarchist what anarchy is and should be!

You know nothing about me or my history, nor anything about my knowledge on certain subjects. Yet, you seem to think you are an anarchist and I am not. How can this be, when I am a total stranger, and you have no clue what my interests even are?

I am simply stating my opinion on what i feel is more being human than an anarchist act. I state my opinion.

Can you state the same? You seem to be the one that is trying to dictate what anarchisim is to others. Instead of helping an individual understand what anarchisim is to you and others... you talk down to the individuals and get forceful with your own opinions and ideologies. Theres that anarchist spirit!

I cannot argue that the things on the list are not anarchist. But, I can state that I feel they are just everday acts that I personally feel have very little to do with my concept of anarchy... and if they do... they are at the bottom of my anarchist heap! And I know alot of other people that would agree. Does that make me any less of an anarchist than you? Them?


Personally, I think descriptions come better when they are not copy and paste whored. A personal opinion on what something is or should be... goes alot further and shows more of an understanding upon the subject from the individual!

I have read your opinions and have not criticised you personally for them... so keep that part to yourself. Hard to hold a conversation with someone that is so gung ho in dictating to others what Anarchy is! Especially when it means many things to many people.


You will find me stating my opinions... but they are just that! Opinions made saying what I do not think is anarchy... rather than life and living and being human. NOTHING ANARCHIST ABOUT BEING HUMAN! YET... EVERYTHING!

I think stating an opinion is alot different than forcing an opinion on someone.

So.. is trying to dictate and force opinions on people anarchy?

Soo... did we make the opinion thing clear

Az

PS... are all boyscouts anarchists?

 

What the fuck are you talking about?

Im not dictating anarchism, it's you two idiots who are trying to limit it!

copy and paste whore?

I dont know about you but i like to have more than just an opinion, like some sources to back up what i say and write!

Fucking morons, green_ revolution and i have been more than a little patient with your bullshit, but if you're just interested in a pissing match... fuckit!

i should know better than to try to have an intellegent discussion over the net, never happens...

 

Fucking smart ass...

Why do you want to waste peoples time?

 

I'm not trying to waste peoples time, but consuming less doesn't make you an anarchist. It makes you a concerned person. God, you people get so pissy about your beliefs that it causes a haze around your eyes, and you miss the point.

 

The list seems to be a bunch of good ideas.
Is the list a suggestion for action or an aid for defining anarchism?
If it is a suggestion, is it important whether they are "anarchist" acts?

 

Duh, that's the point.

forget it.

 

Being a concerned person has nothing to do with anarchy. you're an idiot.

 

YES IT DOES.

Are you doing research on your own at all?

Have you read any of the threads in this forum?

or any of the links?

I dont have the time for smartasses looking to aggravate people, you're a click away from Anarchist Faqs thread....

 

God damn you are a fucking retard, anarchy is the absence of authority. You can be an anarchist with or without being concerned.

 

"Anarchism, therefore, is a theory that aims to create a society which is without political, economic or social hierarchies."

get off your ass and do your own research, ya lazy douchebag.

 

Exactly, a hierarchy is authority, that has nothing to do with consuming less.

 

Think about it for a second.

political, social and E-C-O-N-O-M-I-C...

Anarchists are anticapitalist because it's heirarchal and coercive.
Whats the best way to defeat a consumer culture?
Be less of a consumer!

Dont shop at Walmart, Gap, or Sears, growing your food, ride a bike or the bus instead of shelling out $14,000 on a new car every 4 years...