Anarchism

3863 readers

2 users here now

Are you an Anarchist? The answer might surprise you!

Rules:

Be respectful
Don't be a nazi
Argue about the point and not the person
This is not the place to debate the merits of anarchism itself. While discussion is encouraged, getting in your “epic dunks on the anarkiddies” is not. As a result of the instance’s poor moderation policies and hostility toward anarchists by default, lemmygrad users are encouraged not to post here, though not explicitly disallowed if they aren’t just looking to start a fight.

See also:

founded 5 years ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

when what they do is no what they preach (external-content.duckduckgo.com)

submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

6 comments fedilink hide all child comments

i'm part of a relatively new group. this group was born after the training of a bigger and older collective, but it's been said that the group, since the beginning, is autonomous from the other. the group is not openly an anarchist group (also because probably not everyone identifies as one), but it is definitely an abolitionist group with a non-hierarchical organising.

as part of this group, there are also two members of the older and bigger group. this was a great thing for us at the beginning because it kind of helped start us up. however, now things are getting a bit sour.

since the beginning, due to their "louder" voices they always managed to steer the group towards decisions and path they preferred. a thing which is happening still now especially when the group is involved in actions where they do nothing but backup the bigger and older group.

on top of that, there is some sort of "internalised worshipping and leadership culture" constantly coming up from the other members. no one ever actually challenge the elders and, by never feeling challenged, they probably not even notice what they're doing. i've seen people literally step down from the facilitator role the moment one of these elders entered the room.

i'm writing this here as a first post because it's something that's obsessing me. right now, i just think i want to leave the group since i cannot stand following a guru, but i would also like to discuss the thing with anyone who has been in a similar situation and managed to get out of it.

so, please, hmu. :)

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[+] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

[deleted]

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

Members who were active from since the group’s founding or part of a particular friend group seemed to hold the most power.

i am also part of a group which could easily fall in this dynamic, however, in here, the "founders", are always way more aware of leaving space to others (especially the new ones) to speak up and take part to the conversation and feel comfortable and so on. fun thing, in the group mentioned in the post instead, the "core member", present and active since the beginning, have always been quite numerous, all of us with a background of organising on our shoulders. but, just because the "elders" are from this specific group that everybody likes/respects/worships, they are automatically granted more power.

open and honest dialogue is a fundamental part of organizing collective movements

that is very true and thank you for pointing that out. i am already voicing my concern with the closest members, but it's very hard to discuss this thing with the ones i don't know much. i should definitely try, but i don't want to end up creating a dodgy situation where it seems im talking shit about people on their back lol.

i was thinking about the possibility of also trying to take up more prominent roles to show that anyone can do it? although it's always hard. every time i propose something (and i'm one of the few who does it beside those two), if the "elders" don't approve, the thing it kind of gets shut down because there is no conversation beside backuping their dismantling of my idea.