Your ideology: Public or secret?

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Simple enough question;are you very out going about your beliefs or do you just kinda remain quit most of the time?

I'm somewhere in between,depends on who I'm with.

[Nolan]

The same.

But if you look through my facebook groups you can tell I'm a Marxist-Leninist.

[Bright Banana Beard]

In my case, I am quiet but at least I came out as anti-capitalist.

[gorillafuck]

I'll tell you if you ask me but I actually don't make it really obvious because my political beliefs aren't a huge part of my personality.

[Who?]

I hardly ever talk about my beliefs, although I naturally still get into the occasional debate, I doubt anyone I know in real life knows I'm a Marxist-Leninist. However most probably know I lean to the left.

[John "Eh" MacDonald]

Simple enough question;are you very out going about your beliefs or do you just kinda remain quit most of the time?

I'm somewhere in between,depends on who I'm with.

If the subjects brought up I'll tell people my beliefs, I wouldn't introduce myself John the communist despite how damn catchy that is (my real names not John.)

[Sam_b]

Very much open. Wouldn't be that much use in action otherwise.

[Stand Your Ground]

I'll talk about if it comes up, other than that pretty quiet, as I am a shy person. Although some people do bring it up to me as I wear my beliefs on my shirts lol.

[Ele'ill]

When I see family I usually don't bring it up but they're aware of my beliefs. I'm open about it with friends but most of my friends are left leaning. I have three or four close friends that are weird moderates and I've gotten good at knowing when they've had enough. With co-workers my beliefs come up naturally in conversations. I'm generally focused and calm but not necessarily quiet.

[Political_Chucky]

I have an Anarchist Tat on my neck so ain't much use hiding it. I got it when I was 18 :rolleyes: I'm glad I got it though because it does make people ask me what it means and why I got it there because if I ever wanted a professional job....:rolleyes: I think its important to exclaim what you are because in this society where education is shit and ignorance is on the rise, how else can you get your message across?

[La Comédie Noire]

I don't give myself a political label, but everyone who knows me is aware I lean as far left as one could go on any issue.

[Kuppo Shakur]

Before I allow anyone to speak to me, I ask them if they have read Capital, and if they do not answer yes, I PUNCH THEM IN THE MOUTH.

[Magón]

Parents, Friends, etc. all know I'm an Anarchist. It's not something that comes up in conversation a lot, but I'll talk about it when I need to.

[DecDoom]

With peers, I'm very open. All my friends know I'm a communist. If anyone asks me, I'm honest with them.

With family, except my immediate family (who knows I am), I'm always tight-lipped.

[Sentinel]

Well I'm a member of a socialist party now, so yeah. Beside that, pretty much everyone at work knows about my political views, as well as that I belong to a syndicalist union. As for personal friends, I try to avoid hanging with people who don't share my views to some point, purely for practical reasons: I talk politics a lot and prefer the discussions to be comradely.

[L.A.P.]

If they ask I tell or they could look at my communist hall of fame on my cork-board.

[scarletghoul]

sometimes, people who i hardly know ask me what communism is.. soo i guess im 'public'..

plus i have a phat DIY hammer and sickle hoody

[Il Medico]

It's hardly a secret if that is what you mean.

[Q]

In my direct surroundings everyone knows I'm a communist/socialist/you name it. Even my boss, who is a Spanish social-democratic activist-in-rest old enough to remember the Franco years, I also often talk about politics. He disagrees with me, but respects me for my positions.

[BeerShaman]

Well I don't hide it generally. Though sometimes there's the need, and I hide it. All my little life I've learnt to hide things. I talk politics every day, so most people know what I am. The first thing that comes out is my character, my feelings etc, but after one or two talks with most people they'll learn that I'm anarchist/communist. Plus, I often talk on public about matters, like when I'm in class and when I'm out with friends etc. I also act by sharing leaflets and posters on my school and stuff, thus they 've seen me. I also like to provoke a bit so that people come and open discussions. A great way is by throwing little double-page leaflets everywhere (they are great for propaganda). In the start I used to hide more, though while time passed and I acted all the more people which have to do with my ordinary life learnt me and accepted me or will soon. I found out that it's easier and better working this way. We have to be social.

I only hide it for some prick teachers or not close enough relatives. Though if anyone asks me I'll tell them everything. The only thing I really hide is how, where,when and with whom I act, mainly from my parents and my relatives. We have some matters about it.

[BeerShaman]

In my direct surroundings everyone knows I'm a communist/socialist/you name it. Even my boss, who is a Spanish social-democratic activist-in-rest old enough to remember the Franco years, I also often talk about politics. He disagrees with me, but respects me for my positions.
Very interesting! What is your job? I think it's hard to find a social democrat boss ,especially with that much experience!

[Raúl Duke]

I tend to keep my opinions to myself, unless I'm involved in (or dragged into) something where I have to take a stand and state what I believe in.
Even than, I rarely tell people I'm an anarchist out-right but I would say things like "voting doesn't matter, the rich are in control," "the working class is being screwed," or even "we need a revolution." Basically, I would state my leftist positions without ever having to label myself.

However, I assume that most people know I'm somewhere in the left yet obscurely not a Democrat/liberal.

[Quail]

I don't tend to mention it unless the subject comes up. Of course, if someone says something really stupid like "the cuts are necessary", I will give them my opinion on the matter.

[Q]

Very interesting! What is your job? I think it's hard to find a social democrat boss ,especially with that much experience!

I'm a paper boy ;)

And he's just a low level manager really, a "boss" in the sense he can hire and fire people. His income is total shit anyhow.

[Bandito]

Well, if you are active enough, people start to notice. If nobody or a small amount of people know you hold revolutionary beliefs, you ain't doing enough work in real life, you're just posting on a website.

[Quail]

^ A lot of my friends in Sheffield know about my activism, but none of the people where I grew up are remotely into politics, so I think they just think I'm a bit weird.

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

I was in a band called Friends of the Red Army Faction!

[Bad Grrrl Agro]

Most people know where I stand politically, but I'm not super political.

[Jazzratt]

Very few people I've met don't know my politics.

[TC]

Politics is my life and my principle interest and topic of conversation, everyone knows where I stand and I'd feel I was betraying myself otherwise.

[Bright Banana Beard]

I only say what is my politics when they ask, I specifically say I am a Marxist-Leninist with pro-Albania tendency.

[NoOneIsIllegal]

In the middle. I have a very public tattoo, and that really helps bring up conversation with co-workers and strangers. Thankfully upper-management have never asked about it's meaning, although they have acknowledged it's existence.
My dad is very vaguely aware of what I believe in. My brother knows some of my more "deeper" beliefs and totally supports it. Not a lot of my friends are into politics, but the few who are know where I stand.

[Raúl Duke]

Politics is my life and my principle interest and topic of conversation, everyone knows where I stand and I'd feel I was betraying myself otherwise.

TC, the real TC, is that you?

It's been like forever since I, perhaps we, seen you around here.

Besides politics, do you talk about anything else or is politics your utmost and perhaps only interest and topic in conversation?

[IronEastBloc]

Public. I don't go around calling everyone comrade, don't wear che or stalin t-shirts, but when people ask my political tendency, I basically tell them I'm a Marxist-Engels-Leninist-Stainist without using the word "Stalinist" (since in the west, it still gets a bad rap, but if people ask my views on Josef Stalin, I don't shy away from them).


Most people know where I stand politically, but I'm not super political.

then why are you here?

[kitsune]

It's no secret. Most anyone who knows me very well knows my views. I don't go around haranguing people or waving a banner, but it's just one of those things that comes up fairly often.

I tend to explain my position and views rather than putting labels on them, and usually people nod in agreement, regardless of their political affiliation. Labels often put up barriers to communication where ideas do not. Labels tend to come with a ton of cultural baggage.

[black magick hustla]

people around me kindof know politics is the least i talk about tho

[Red Future]

A mixture , friends know I am a leftist and generally are tolerant however I have met people who believe communism is fascism and other ridiculous viewpoints. I tend not say anything political around such individuals.

[Bad Grrrl Agro]

then why are you here?
Obviously to annoy you, right?:rolleyes:

[Bandito]

I basically tell them I'm a Marxist-Engels-Leninist-Stainist without using the word "Stalinist"
Stainist does not equal Stalinist. You're right. You're obviously into Marx, Engels, Lenin and stains.

[Bad Grrrl Agro]

Stainist does not equal Stalinist. You're right. You're obviously into Marx, Engels, Lenin and stains.
Wow! I was wrong about IronEastBloc who apparently worships the ground I walk on which is my carpet that has had plenty of beer spilled on it from my fiance and vodka cranberry from me.

[BeerShaman]

Well sometimes I wear some DIY shirts of Antifasistiche Aktion too. But rarely...

[Raúl Duke]

Obviously to annoy you, right?:rolleyes:

lol


I hate super-political people.

Come post-revolution and they'll be executed as enemies of the people.

[Bad Grrrl Agro]

lol


I hate super-political people.

Come post-revolution and they'll be executed as enemies of the people.
OMG! Where is a thank you button when I need it?!?

[Palingenisis]

Im hardly going to tell my boss that I believe in the violent destruction of the capitalist order....Generally Im open unless its a really, really stupid idea to be....But on the other hand I dont talk politics 24/7 when its not.

[Rusty Shackleford]

depends on who i am around.

i just got my first job.

and i am treading lightly but i openly talk about general things. i have not stated a political tendency though. im trying to figure out the consciousness of my co-workers.

i guess when the time is right, i state my ideology to people. i know its not illegal to be a communist in a workplace anymore but im trying to keep my hours so i can get on with political work.

other than that, if i know the person they will find out pretty fast. on campus, pretty much anyone, if they asked, would find out. i tried to remain outspoken in classes where there was heavy debate to force a third argument besides just liberal and conservative.


it was awkward having been placed into the anti gay-marriage side of a debate in ony of my classes though. but, i stuck to my position(for the purpose of the debate) that marriage was reactionary and useless and that marriage should be done away with in favor of strengthening civil unions. basically, perpetuating marriage does not advance the LGBTQ struggle. it was odd. :blushing:

[Raúl Duke]

OMG! Where is a thank you button when I need it?!?

:wub:

[Martin Blank]

I'm so public, and have been for more than 20 years, I couldn't be secret any more if I tried (actually, have tried -- such a fail). Where I grew up, I am simply known as "the Marxist" (sometimes with my real name preceding it) in pretty wide circles. And it's not some small town, either. The population of the city and immediate area is over 350,000 -- and I haven't lived in the area for 17 years.

[Bad Grrrl Agro]

:wub:
*flirtatious smile and eyelash batting*

[Raúl Duke]

*flirtatious smile and eyelash batting*
:tt1:

*wink*

lol

[Bad Grrrl Agro]

:tt1:

*wink*

lol
You are oh, so naughty!

[MarxSchmarx]

I'm pretty involved in my union and I am sure my comrades have pretty far-lefty beliefs. But you have to scratch the surface - most people don't want to talk about their tendencies because they can be so divisive. A lot is taken for granted (like the need for class unity against racism/nativism/etc...) but a lot is just never brought up (like who betrayed whom in post-Lenin's Russia...) and when it is is tongue-in-cheek (e.g. some people have that Marx/Che/Stalin party picture on their laptop as a background). On balance I think this is a pretty healthy attitude - at this stage, there is no sense dividing something concrete like a union up over a bunch of people that have in been dead for decades.