What bothers me about Communists and Socialists.

[Voice_of_Reason]

The thread should be titled what bothers me about communists and socialists on THIS FORUM I realize.


I have been paying attention to this forum for a good six months now, and I have noticed some things. First of all RARELY do people here talk about "Current Events", rather I see most of the talk revolving around the "ists" meaning "If communism vs. Socialism vs. Anit-communisosocialistidemocracyitis, who would win!?" things such as this. I have also realised that people like to act smart, and not really apply to the current topic. They like to discuss past tense things in every single thread such as If I was to say that "Northern Ireland is in conflict with south koria" someone would say "This is like the days when Stalin.... or Hitler..."

Most people try to aruge with every single thing you say even if it was off topic such as if someone typed and entire paragraph someone would quote them on something that has nothing to do with the subject just to argue for some false sense of pride. I think that half this forums has to be self-arrogent college students who think that they are smarter then everyone else.

Granted there are some intellegent people on this forum it just seems that this is a forum talking about past tense things that have happened over and over, living in a fantasy land glorifying the good old "Che Days" instead of talking about whats happining in the world around us.

Just an overservation please feel free to do the
argue for some false sense of pride part.

[Invincible Summer]

The thread should be titled what bothers me about communists and socialists on THIS FORUM I realize.


I have been paying attention to this forum for a good six months now, and I have noticed some things. First of all RARELY do people here talk about "Current Events", rather I see most of the talk revolving around the "ists" meaning "If communism vs. Socialism vs. Anit-communisosocialistidemocracyitis, who would win!?" things such as this. I have also realised that people like to act smart, and not really apply to the current topic. They like to discuss past tense things in every single thread such as If I was to say that "Northern Ireland is in conflict with south koria" someone would say "This is like the days when Stalin.... or Hitler..."

Most people try to aruge with every single thing you say even if it was off topic such as if someone typed and entire paragraph someone would quote them on something that has nothing to do with the subject just to argue for some false sense of pride. I think that half this forums has to be self-arrogent college students who think that they are smarter then everyone else.

Granted there are some intellegent people on this forum it just seems that this is a forum talking about past tense things that have happened over and over, living in a fantasy land glorifying the good old "Che Days" instead of talking about whats happining in the world around us.

Just an overservation please feel free to do the part.


You do realize that there are "Politics," "Worker Struggles" etc forums, right?

It's mostly in "Learning," "Theory," and "History" where people talk about the past, because that's where you learn about the above topics.

[punisa]

The thread should be titled what bothers me about communists and socialists on THIS FORUM I realize.


I have been paying attention to this forum for a good six months now, and I have noticed some things. First of all RARELY do people here talk about "Current Events", rather I see most of the talk revolving around the "ists" meaning "If communism vs. Socialism vs. Anit-communisosocialistidemocracyitis, who would win!?" things such as this. I have also realised that people like to act smart, and not really apply to the current topic. They like to discuss past tense things in every single thread such as If I was to say that "Northern Ireland is in conflict with south koria" someone would say "This is like the days when Stalin.... or Hitler..."

Most people try to aruge with every single thing you say even if it was off topic such as if someone typed and entire paragraph someone would quote them on something that has nothing to do with the subject just to argue for some false sense of pride. I think that half this forums has to be self-arrogent college students who think that they are smarter then everyone else.

Granted there are some intellegent people on this forum it just seems that this is a forum talking about past tense things that have happened over and over, living in a fantasy land glorifying the good old "Che Days" instead of talking about whats happining in the world around us.

Just an overservation please feel free to do the part.

Don't take it so much to the heart comrade, I do agree mostly with what you said. But besides the obvious, this forum is also a great mine of knowledge. Just that search bar over there will answer many questions you might have :)

Many here are still kids (no offence, but if you're 15 you're a kid) and many use socialism only as an outlet of their frustration, boredom, anty-social life etc.
It doesn't take long to realise this.
Majority will become good capitalists very soon anyway, but on the other hand there are indeed some very intelligent people here and certain conversations are extremely good.

You'll have fun, just don't take it everyone too serious here.

[Invincible Summer]

Many here are still kids (no offence, but if you're 15 you're a kid) and many use socialism only as an outlet of their frustration, boredom, anty-social life etc.
It doesn't take long to realise this.
Majority will become good capitalists very soon anyway, but on the other hand there are indeed some very intelligent people here and certain conversations are extremely good.

How wonderfully condescending of you... but I hope by this statement:


You'll have fun, just don't take it everyone too serious here.

you were being tongue-in-cheek.

[Bitter Ashes]

I think what Punisa was saying is basicly:
"There's an excess of hormones around here"
And I think I agree. There is some good debates around here and there is some stuff that I think moves things forwards. However, there is more than an ample sprinkling of undirected teenage rage and even what looks a fair bit like a kind of fundamentalalist thinking.
I wouldnt let it scare you off, just stick with it and I'm sure you'll be able to find everything you're after if you keep an eye out and your mind open :)

[JimmyJazz]

Most people try to aruge with every single thing you say even if it was off topic such as if someone typed and entire paragraph someone would quote them on something that has nothing to do with the subject just to argue for some false sense of pride. I think that half this forums has to be self-arrogent college students who think that they are smarter then everyone else.

Welcome to the internet.

[punisa]

I think what Punisa was saying is basicly:
"There's an excess of hormones around here"
And I think I agree. There is some good debates around here and there is some stuff that I think moves things forwards. However, there is more than an ample sprinkling of undirected teenage rage and even what looks a fair bit like a kind of fundamentalalist thinking.
I wouldnt let it scare you off, just stick with it and I'm sure you'll be able to find everything you're after if you keep an eye out and your mind open :)

There definitely is "an excess of hormones", but then again it is springtime :lol:
No, seriously, I think this all contributes to a unique atmosphere around here. Its a great opportunity to get an insight how socialism affects all of us across our generation gap.
I don't think this should bother anyone too much, as long as the debates are being conducted in a civilised manner.

Overall, this is a great place. Probably the best leftist den on the web :)

As for socialism, despite our dedication to learn/act, we must agree that we are definitely in a "learning" period. There just isn't enough room for action, at least not for grand scale action.
Some youngster that doesn't have the urge to learn steadily might just go smash property in the night, thinking how he is "fighting the system" and similar nonsense.

But let us not preach too much, I was myself more/less just like that when I was 16. Yes, it was the youth rage, but it mostly came because of pure ignorance anyway.

The only thing that worries me about such young people is that they might dismiss it all as rubbish when they get older, like "maaaan... when I was 16 I was into communism - oh my god lol ! Can you imagine?? Me !"
Let's hope I'm wrong on that one.

[rednordman]

Granted there are some intellegent people on this forum it just seems that this is a forum talking about past tense things that have happened over and over, living in a fantasy land glorifying the good old "Che Days" instead of talking about whats happining in the world around us.

Just an overservation please feel free to do the part. To be honest I think there should be a seperate 'current events' forum where people are encouraged to give their opinions on various matters without worrying about getting anihilated by someone wanting to look big and smart. I know that this is usually left to the politics forum but i have noticed that alot of stuff is missed out or not talked about. Saying that though, things are looking rather bad for these kinds of things at the moment. At a time where governments should be looking left, they seem to be completely transfixed on maintaining the same type of capitalism that caused the mess (2008 market crash) in the first place. So i cannot blame people for feeling like discussing some current events as a bit futile. This probably explains why there is a little bit of glorifying the old che days. Sadly, it doesnt look like there is going to be anything like 1968-9 riots, even though there may actually be even more a reason for something like it. But hey, I hope im proven badly wrong.

As for the hormones...just taken no notice. As mentioned by nearly everyone on this thread, its actually rather obvious. so dont take it to heart.

[mykittyhasaboner]

Voice of Reason, maybe your just over critical?

[BlackCapital]

I completely understand where the OP is coming from and is actually one of the reasons I generally refrain from posting besides in civil, purposeful debates or if I think I can answer somebodies question well. That said I mainly just browse. I have learned a massive amount which I feel has really supplemented my education and enhanced my understanding of history, politics, economics, ect .

There are definitely pseudo-intellectuals and arrogant kids on here, but that should not discredit the large amount of very smart and knowledgeable individuals on these forums. I think the current-events section that was mentioned earlier would be a good idea, because I too think there is sometimes an overload of historical (sometimes irrelevant) debates.

[Decolonize The Left]

I have been paying attention to this forum for a good six months now, and I have noticed some things. First of all RARELY do people here talk about "Current Events", rather I see most of the talk revolving around the "ists" meaning "If communism vs. Socialism vs. Anit-communisosocialistidemocracyitis, who would win!?" things such as this. I have also realised that people like to act smart, and not really apply to the current topic. They like to discuss past tense things in every single thread such as If I was to say that "Northern Ireland is in conflict with south koria" someone would say "This is like the days when Stalin.... or Hitler..."

Members are often discussing current events. Other times, members use current events to place ideas within a theoretical context and contemplate a situation within the context of history - this is often called "historical materialism" and is foundational to Marxism.

Perhaps you focused on certain types of posts too much?


Most people try to aruge with every single thing you say even if it was off topic such as if someone typed and entire paragraph someone would quote them on something that has nothing to do with the subject just to argue for some false sense of pride. I think that half this forums has to be self-arrogent college students who think that they are smarter then everyone else.

Again, I feel as though you are generalizing the actions of a few onto the forum as a whole.


Granted there are some intellegent people on this forum it just seems that this is a forum talking about past tense things that have happened over and over, living in a fantasy land glorifying the good old "Che Days" instead of talking about whats happining in the world around us.

This forum is dedicated to the revolutionary left. This entails both historical discussion, present discussion, and theoretical discussion of the future.

The vast diversity of membership on this forum (compared to many other political internet forums) often leads to a diversity of approaches/views/discussions/interests, etc..

This diversity is to be celebrated - not insulted.

- August

[Idealism]

Don't take it so much to the heart comrade, I do agree mostly with what you said. But besides the obvious, this forum is also a great mine of knowledge. Just that search bar over there will answer many questions you might have :)

Many here are still kids (no offence, but if you're 15 you're a kid) and many use socialism only as an outlet of their frustration, boredom, anty-social life etc.
It doesn't take long to realise this.
Majority will become good capitalists very soon anyway, but on the other hand there are indeed some very intelligent people here and certain conversations are extremely good.

You'll have fun, just don't take it everyone too serious here.

What the hell? too often there are leftists who marglinize the youth. the youth are going to be radicals of tommorow and to say that politics is just some "outlet" for thier "anty-social" teenage frustration, is just so dicriminitory. you cant be a true communist/anarchist/socialist and be ageist, just like you cant be a true communist/anarchist/socialist if youre sexsist.

[ZeroNowhere]

What the hell? too often there are leftists who marglinize the youth. the youth are going to be radicals of tommorow and to say that politics is just some "outlet" for thier "anty-social" teenage frustration, is just so dicriminitory. you cant be a true communist/anarchist/socialist and be ageist, just like you cant be a true communist/anarchist/socialist if youre sexsist.
From what I've heard, it seems that most adults are frustrated and bored. Presumably they have ants in their social life, I'm not entirely sure, though I'm not entirely sure how the fuck that makes a difference anyways. There were quite a few INTPs here, IIRC, and we're at least somewhat anti-social.
Oh, wait, no, all socialists are such because of greed and jealousy for the bourgeoisie.

[Sean]

Could I ask why on earth such a thread is in Learning? This is a rant about the forum and the only thing I've learned is "Voice of Reason" has never looked at the meat and bones of the site which is Workers Struggles, one of the actual action forums.


http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/3616/workerstruggle.jpg
Not pictured, any the stuff Mr. "I'm too good for Revleft" wasted 5 minutes of my life by getting me to read and facepalm.


Granted, circumstance dictates that right now I'm not part of anything postworthy in Workers Struggles, but you should all actually lurk in there are see what people in the real world are doing instead of just reading one or two ism debates or che guevara appreciation threads. And by all, I mean to ones that agreed with this guy enough to thank his post.