In an anarchy...

[Dimitri Molotov]

in a real anarchy, (not like a chaos riot killing "anarchy") from what i understand, is sort of like a totally pure democracy, no single leaders, and everything is voluntary, and people live in communities. when things need to get done, whoever wants to help can join in. anarchy is just a greek derived word, an meaning none or no and archy deriving from archon, meaning ruler or leader. if i am correct so far, does this mean a real anarchy could have laws or rules?

[Crusade]

if i am correct so far, does this mean a real anarchy could have laws or rules?

Yes. In fact, I even support police as an occupation. However, police cannot be given authority over citizens or any special entitlements. For example, police have to follow all laws citizens have to follow, and citizens do not have to obey laws police don't have to follow. This includes gun laws. I could only support this locally, however. And I only support the job simply because it requires specialization. If someone kidnaps a child for example, the parents can't take off work for months at a time to look for him or her. The thing about concentrated power is, it's not only required that you strengthen a minority, but also to weaken the majority. The state is powerless if its people are powerful. My stance is that equality of authority, combined with socialism, would mean progress anywhere is progress everywhere. You're not upset that someone is successful at their job, because nothing is being taken from you, unlike in capitalism where another man's success is food off your plate in most cases. And if a fellow citizen is armed, you don't consider him a threat, the same way a police officer doesn't see another police officer that's armed as a threat. You're in it together, you mutually benefit. I gotta stop saying mutually or I'll convert people to mutualism and they'll be restricted probably. :D

[ContrarianLemming]

real anarchy is the same as "true" communism. There would be rules.

[Crusade]

real anarchy is the same as "true" communism. There would be rules.

I don't see why people don't think there'd be rules. How is that even possible if we're creating a society? That's like saying we're playing basketball with no rules...including the rule that you have to put a ball into the hoop to score points...and that you have to be on a court...and that a ball even has to be there... etc At some point it stops being basketball altogether. The difference is it isn't likely that someone is gonna shoot you if you don't follow the other players' rules. :D You just can't expect them to let you play the game with them.

[ContrarianLemming]

I don't see why people don't think there'd be rules. How is that even possible if we're creating a society? That's like saying we're playing basketball with no rules...including the rule that you have to put a ball into the hoop to score points...and that you have to be on a court...and that a ball even has to be there... etc At some point it stops being basketball altogether. The difference is it isn't likely that someone is gonna shoot you if you don't follow the other players' rules. :D You just can't expect them to let you play the game with them.

see the thing is crusader, people think we do want to play basketball without rules

[Crusade]

see the thing is crusader, people think we do want to play basketball without rules

Well, that sucks. :(

[AK]

This discussion in the Anarchist usergroup could prove to be relevant to the topic at hand: http://www.revleft.com/vb/group.php?do=discuss&group=&discussionid=3593

The stereotype of Anarchism as something that is inherently lawless, chaotic, disastrous and infantile needs to be dismantled.

[Dimitri Molotov]

thank you i was pretty sure i was right about the rules and whatnot. i really really hate the stereotype of anarchism and whoever came up with it truly sucks because people dont understand how much better it could be than whatever they have now.:thumbup1: