I like the idea of living free, away from society, creating a new lifestyle and all. But whenever somebody mentions commune, the only thing i can think of is "cult cult cult" and when the word cult is brought up, i almost get that disgusted feeling, it just seems... creepy. I know there are some pretty good communes, but i'm sure there are a buunch of messed up cult-like ones as well... Religion, gangs, and communes all kind of seem like cults in their own little way to me... especially religion though.
I was actually thinking the same thing right after i posted this, now that i think of it... society itself is a cult, along with each town, culture, government... there's not much a difference, the difference all lays within the people in each "cult" and behavior. Some are pretty messed up, yet others are pretty awesome.
I'm sure there are some great communes and sustainable communities that are very much un-cult-like, if you look around.
Taken from: http://personallifemedia.com/podcas.../3746-ecovillages-intentional-community-diana Just about all the intentional communities (some are communes) I know of do not have any one leader. In fact I would not consider living in any community where all members did not have an impact and a voice/role in the decision making for the community as a whole. But I think people need to be careful and research the community before visiting. There are communities where it appears a small group sometimes makes decisions for the whole, and/or there are very strict rules, regulations and guidelines to follow in order to live in that community. There are big differences in the economic structure to. http://www.permies.com/t/4044/intentional-community-city-repair-ecovillage/No-One-Seems-Discuss
Check out my site for info on communal living www.yaketyblah.org Has links to some communities too. Short answer is no. Many, like me, fed up with where the world is going is just looking for a more natural and basic existence. Most are just living free and working hard to make a life for themselves they can be proud of.
well, I think the reason that people associate communes with cults are the legacies of Charles Manson & Jim Jones [the mass "suicides" in Guyana]. Like all organizations there are some that are "good" and some that are "bad", some you will like, and some you won't. Our group is organized so that everyone has equal power in the group, regardless of age, gender, money, etc. etc. Its worked for us for over 43 years now.
On problem with communes is when one or two people do all the work and 5 or so want to party all the time.. well it just doesn't work and sooner or later the workers leave and the partiers lose everything or learn to work. I am a worker myself and can't stand people who just want to goof off.. i would rather stay alone than have a freeloader.. now if the person is physically disabled and kind and has some income i might understand but healthy lazy people just don't fit with me.. been there done that toooo many times..
That is a problem I face. I have several physical impairments, and I am more than happy to work and out my labor into the mix when I'm not in severe pain. I'm always in pain, no way around that. I just try to accommodate it. I have money, but it's not a lot. But I ain't no dummy. Maybe i can't hoe weeds much, but there's always something else that I can do. In my experience, that's not good enough for most communes & ICs. Those that will accept me want far more money to join than what I have.
Well Logan your welcome to apply to me privately and see if we can work anything out. I am not against the disabled. I am a caregiver to my 89 yr old mom.
I have a relative who is a manager at a Fortune 500 corporation I will not name. Everybody has heard of it. She is brainwashed. She may have done it to herself, though, out of fear of losing her job. But, that is still brainwashing, just indirectly. Subtly. She worships at the altar of business. As for communes, do they really need a leader to be cult-like? Peer pressure can replace a leader, and free spirits and freethinkers can be ostracized.
