Does this website prevent you from rebelling?

[japagow1]

I'm a situationist.

I believe in the 'spectacle' as defined as 'the domination of social interaction (as) mediated by images' OR in other words, I see the world I live in dominated by commodities and consumption.
Everything has become a commodity in my world including T.V radio the internet, thoughts and ideas etc and in my world of the spectacle 'rebellion is sold back to us as an image that pacifies us' by power.

Hence the question. If you spend time on this website is your feeling for revolution and social change really being neutered by power. Haven't we become armchair revolutionaries who will reach for the remote control and switch channels when the time comes for activity and change.

Does power stupefy the masses and control them via the internet.

[Blackscare]

Yes this place sucks but I have no outlet for real political work yet. That should change in a month or so though.

[28350]

This is a social website for learning and discussion.
No one's pretending it has any sort of revolutionary aspect aside from ideology.

[Peace on Earth]

I don't think being on this site destroys any ability or desire for rebellion. Even if I were to never visit this site again and take up a weapon for revolution, how much better off would I be, other workers be, and the world in general be? For the time being, learning and discussing with others is the best course of action, one where I can enhance my usefulness to the cause, for me.

[Kotze]

Everything has become a commodity in my world including T.V radio the internet, thoughts and ideas etcNo. A commodity is something you pay for. Because of technological progress, things like films and songs cease to be commodities, despite what the law says. Aside from recycling old media, millions of people put their texts or software or songs or movies online. It is amazing what idealism and narcissism can do.
If you spend time on this website is your feeling for revolution and social change really being neutered by power.No. Besides, having some feeling isn't enough if you want a different society. Knowledge about history and economics is important, knowledge that you can get from hundreds of sites and this is one of them.

There is a fundamental difference between the internet and TV. The internet is more like an improvement of the telephone. Think about the barriers to entry when you want to run a channel compared with the cost of putting stuff online. The internet is more democratic than TV ever was and ever could be.

[Dimentio]

I'm a situationist.

I believe in the 'spectacle' as defined as 'the domination of social interaction (as) mediated by images' OR in other words, I see the world I live in dominated by commodities and consumption.
Everything has become a commodity in my world including T.V radio the internet, thoughts and ideas etc and in my world of the spectacle 'rebellion is sold back to us as an image that pacifies us' by power.

Hence the question. If you spend time on this website is your feeling for revolution and social change really being neutered by power. Haven't we become armchair revolutionaries who will reach for the remote control and switch channels when the time comes for activity and change.

Does power stupefy the masses and control them via the internet.

Situationism is really something which only could exist in urban environments during times when the proletariat largely is unaware of anything else than some form of primitive we against them mentality. I'll guess the ultimate situationists are the soccer hooligans.

[Ele'ill]

I'm a situationist.

I believe in the 'spectacle' as defined as 'the domination of social interaction (as) mediated by images' OR in other words, I see the world I live in dominated by commodities and consumption.
Everything has become a commodity in my world including T.V radio the internet, thoughts and ideas etc and in my world of the spectacle 'rebellion is sold back to us as an image that pacifies us' by power.

Hence the question. If you spend time on this website is your feeling for revolution and social change really being neutered by power. Haven't we become armchair revolutionaries who will reach for the remote control and switch channels when the time comes for activity and change.

Does power stupefy the masses and control them via the internet.

I agree that 'media' or 'media entertainment' controls people through a variety of ways- I won't get into it since you seem to already know about it.

I think that this website- books on theory- hanging out with friends that have similar views and the general fetishization of 'alternative ideas' slows certain people down. It becomes their version of a hobby.

I think there are a lot of people on this forum though that are already involved- their interests are in action-to-change. They have been through the trenches of the lack of social justice and they want to do something about it because seeing other people go through it- and to continue to go through it themselves- breaks their heart.

I think it's interesting that this world is in such a critical state yet a lot of supposed activists would rather 'act normal' and spend the majority of their time doing 'normal' things.

I understand there are a lot of other issues preventing people from getting fully involved and I don't hold it against them. I'd even go as far to say that a lot of the 'revolutionary hobbyists' would probably make really great friends.

I like the quote "Don't speak to me of revolution until you're ready to eat rats to survive."

Much motivation for me in troubled times.

[Magón]

I'm a situationist.

I believe in the 'spectacle' as defined as 'the domination of social interaction (as) mediated by images' OR in other words, I see the world I live in dominated by commodities and consumption.
Everything has become a commodity in my world including T.V radio the internet, thoughts and ideas etc and in my world of the spectacle 'rebellion is sold back to us as an image that pacifies us' by power.

Hence the question. If you spend time on this website is your feeling for revolution and social change really being neutered by power. Haven't we become armchair revolutionaries who will reach for the remote control and switch channels when the time comes for activity and change.

Does power stupefy the masses and control them via the internet.

I see what you mean, but myself personally, can live without television. In fact, I've lived without TV for sometime now, and haven't had the urge to watch any. Mainly because TV has become the same thing over and over again, just with different characters and a different location. Though I will watch TV for things like documentary's and various news programs. So when the time really comes, I'm sure I'll be able to openly get up from my chair or whatever and go out to help.

As for my "slavery" to the internet, I can live without the internet as well. Sure I might not be able to see or speak with many of you anymore, but I've always been an outdoorsy person who likes to be outside somewhere, rather than inside just sitting at my Computer while my eye sight goes bad from the constant staring.

For everyone else, I can't speak for them, but I can say from the people I've seen and know, that they'd have a very hard time. Probably not all of them, but maybe 40% of them would rather turn the TV on, than actually go out and get a first hand account of the activity, rather than just watch it on the local news or whatever.

And also, the only commodities I'd have a really hard time letting go of, is my library of books. Sure it's not yet in the 200s, but I'd still have a hard time letting so many of them go, because I've loved each and every one of them that I've read and owned. TV, Radio, Car, that sort of stuff I can live without pretty well. I might turn the radio on, incase I'm somewhere that I might need to get the latest news on this or that.

Most Americans would sure have a hard time though, that's for sure.

[Widerstand]

A bunch of stuff I read here motivates me to do things. A bunch of other stuff I read here makes me want to kill myself. Hm...

I'd say overall it's a somewhat okay place for the purposes of educating yourself, getting to know new things and testing your own arguments in debates. The problems you describe seem to be more related to the media in general, rather than to the website. Especially the internet serves as a replacement for a lot of real life social interactions.

[japagow1]

Situationism is really something which only could exist in urban environments during times when the proletariat largely is unaware of anything else than some form of primitive we against them mentality. I'll guess the ultimate situationists are the soccer hooligans.

I'm not sure that soccer hooligans are celebrating the anti capitalist sentiment behind the Situationist International and the movement towards freedom in everyday life as they beat the crap out of each other.

Plus, Situationism, the spectacle, exists in any capitalist society where we have a better relationship with commodities rather than ourselves.

How much time do we spend sitting on our backsides talking about 'real change' in society in forums and chat rooms when action or activity is needed? This great website is a focus for debate and learning, fine, but it cannot be a substitute for actively challenging what goes on around us in the real world. If that happens then this is all hot air and recuperation has worked.

[Reznov]

Well of course this website isn't meant for us to rebel. Its merely a tool to discuss, learn, read up on news and such.

But its up to you staring at the screen right now to be the Revolutionary. Because you and only you can make the decision to go out and start doing things. Obviosuly staying on this website and talking wont do anything, just like anything you do on the internet.