How many leftists do you know in real life?

[Susurrus]

You have to have met them in the flesh and be certain they are a leftist. Democrats, social democrats, etc do not count.

[Nox]

None. The only Leftists I know are on here.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Zip...not a single one. :(

[Die Rote Fahne]

One, my oldest brother...that's it.

[Landsharks eat metal]

Zero. At least I now know people who are willing to discuss my beliefs in a non-confrontational manner, though.

My one Facebook friend's profile says he's an anarchist, but I'm suspicious that he's saying that to look cool.

[GPDP]

I know several, actually. At least one of my professors from uni was a legit leftist who considered himself a revolutionary. I also know people from a collective who I would say are communists or anarchists of some kind. I'm also in the process of converting a friend and my cousin over to the left side.

So yeah, I'd say I'm actually in good company.

[Dumb]

My current housemate is an anarchist, and I suspect my younger sister to be a socialist.

[#FF0000]

A handful. Maybe ten or so who are generally anti-capitalist.

[Iron Felix]

In Russia, dozens I know personally(that is, we're close enough to call each other friends). But not so much in Sweden.

[Dimmu]

Probably around 100 or something. :)

[Sentinel]

Well, I think I've met at least 100 members of our organisation here in Sweden. I've also 'met' around 300-400 from other countries at the last (my first so far) CWI school, but I have to confess that I didn't talk with all of those. A substantial amount though.

Then we have all the other trots, stalinists and anarchists I've met in Sweden and all around the world during various rallies, actions and meetings -- or just for fun -- over the years. Plus of course my parents and most of their friends when I was a kid.

Add all totally random encounters to that.. Hard to be sure, but I'll just say 'around 500' to be on the safe side and to exclude people I haven't talked to, but only attended the same event or something, with.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

I'd say I've actually had conversations with about 5-10 revolutionary leftists, possibly more but I'm not sure.

[ВАЛТЕР]

Real life leftists? None, well except for my mother and my father. However, I'm not counting them since they aren't too extreme, after all they have a family to care for.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

Involvement in uni stuff led me to make acquaintances and organise for a short while with a good 2-3 dozen revolutionaries in the whole fees fiasco.

Before that I wasn't much exposed to activism, aside from an odd meeting with a bloke from SPEW which turned me off their organisation (when I asked about the existence of markets [I was still a soc-dem at the time] he started talking about fruit and veg markets with no exchange mechanism, odd!).

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

Shows that a lot of people on here (well, some that have posted in this thread) really aren't involved in any activism at all. Disappointing surprise, for me.

[Sir Comradical]

Do Cliffites count?

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Shows that a lot of people on here (well, some that have posted in this thread) really aren't involved in any activism at all. Disappointing surprise, for me.

Not necessarily. Many times in order to do activist work you will have to work with non-revolutionary organizations simply due to restrictions on your location.

[Catmatic Leftist]

I know only one, and he's currently taking a break from politics due to disillusionment.


Shows that a lot of people on here (well, some that have posted in this thread) really aren't involved in any activism at all. Disappointing surprise, for me.

I just started to get familiarized with leftist thought and I'm looking VERY carefully before I leap into any organizations and such and I still haven't made up my mind.

[Magón]

21+ I guess, but that's only because Santa Cruz has a number of various Leftists, and you're likely to peg a leftist in a crowd here, than else where. (Plus the May Day march is kinda big here.)

But there's still plenty of people who are "Wolves in Sheep's clothing" too.

[The Man]

I know 1..

[Ose]

None. I have known a fair few fellow leftists in the past, but I don't tend to stay in touch with people.

[Sentinel]

None. I have known a fair few fellow leftists in the past, but I don't tend to stay in touch with people.

According to the OP it counts if you have 'met them in flesh and were certain they were leftists'.

[A Revolutionary Tool]

Like 5. The two that live in my city I personally hate. Both their personalities and their politics suck so I rarely talk to them.

[Geiseric]

My street has about 5 leftists on it, we're all in the same party, and one friend has 3 other leftist friends, two of whom have joined. I know like 8 people from the party I joined, but i've been pretty busy. i know a maoist who is very young, and like 5 kids at my school are at least intrested in socialism.

[Leftsolidarity]

Fuck I clicked the wrong one. I meant 21+

[Os Cangaceiros]

The only ones I've met are ones I've gone out of my way to meet.

[StarCityPartisan]

I have met a hundred at least. I live with 3 members of my party, and that's just what I wake up to.

[Susurrus]

To those with lots of leftists friends, lucky you! As for the whole non-activism thing, 1. many people here are young/still working out their leftist beliefs and might not have the time or ability to be politically active and 2. they may well live in an area bereft of leftists, a common thing in the south. I myself know only one other leftist.

[StarCityPartisan]

It's definitely tough in the south! I am in Virginia myself. However there is a huge growing radical population in my city. Makes me smile everyday.

[Stand Your Ground]

None. :( I heard there's some in my area but I have yet to meet them.

[DarkPast]

If you mean people who were serious about it and not just acting cool, I'd say around 10 or so. I've also met a few people who claimed to be "leftists" or "communists" but were in fact nationalists who wanted a "great leader" who'd save the country and set up a welfare state.

[Ostrinski]

Not a one. But this is Kentucky so..

[Smyg]

A fucking lot, given that I'm an active member of a very active political party.

[graymouser]

Not a one. But this is Kentucky so..
We have a pretty good branch of Socialist Action in Lexington. Just saying.

[graymouser]

I have to say I've been a little surprised by the voting patterns here. Considering that I think of my own party as consisting of revolutionaries, and I know more than 21 people in it, I have that taken care of without going into the people outside that group. The exact number depends on your definition - if you count Solidarity I would think it'd be over 100 - all in-the-flesh acquaintances.

(BTW, if TheGodlessUtopian is the comrade I think he is, he's met me and while we didn't get to sit and chat, I would at least say he met some revolutionaries at April 9th.)

All things considered, I think that it's a failure of revolutionary left culture and outreach that the answers here are what they are. For me, ever since my first protest six or seven years ago, leftism has been about being around and acting with others.

[Admiral Swagmeister G-Funk]

Loads. Just got to my uni and I haven't met anyone that doesn't identify as a leftist.

[TheGeekySocialist]

at Uni I know at least 30 people who are leftists :) outside of Uni? know none really :crying:

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

Wasn't trying to be a dick, btw. Graymouser probably explained my point more clearly. It's a massive shame that there are good posters here who (I was surprised) don't seem to be that active IRL.

[Ele'ill]

21+ would be the most accurate option for me however I would not consider all of them to be friends, close friends, or even acquaintances. I have, however, met them. In regards to close friends who are leftists I would say 5-10.

[Queercommie Girl]

I've met dozens of revolutionary socialists from different tendencies in real-life, but there are only less than 10 of them who I would consider as friends. I've also interacted with dozens of reformist socialists. (People who explicitly call themselves "socialists" but who are not revolutionary Marxists)

[TheGodlessUtopian]

(BTW, if TheGodlessUtopian is the comrade I think he is, he's met me and while we didn't get to sit and chat, I would at least say he met some revolutionaries at April 9th.)


That is right! The demonstration! Haha...I feel foolish...for some reason I was thinking in my home community;about how many leftist I have met in my local area.

Yes,so taking the really into consideration I would say around six or seven I have met in real life.

(It really was a shame we didn't get to chat.There was another member I was looking forward to talking with but never got the chance).

[Rusty Shackleford]

easily 50 that i see a few times a year met a few hundred. especially at the national conference.


joining an active organization is an incredible experience, though, thats not what im in it for, but still. its amazing :lol:

[Astarte]

I can understand why Democrats don't count, but why don't social democrats? Shouldn't the question really be "how many revolutionary socialists do you know"?

[Ocean Seal]

A lot, but many of them I know from leftist organizations so they don't really count. Aside from that I know ~10 leftists.

[RHIZOMES]

The highest number in this poll is 21+? Really?

I know at the very least around 100+ far leftists, through official organisations and my student life (unaffiliated leftist students and academics).

[Kamos]

A classmate and two of his friends. That's three. And I suspect a fourth who just hasn't come out yet. All in all, that fits in the "1-4" group.

[Susurrus]

I can understand why Democrats don't count, but why don't social democrats? Shouldn't the question really be "how many revolutionary socialists do you know"?

This is true. If a mod/admin should care to change it, that'd be great.

[Rooster]

I hope the ones who are telling us that they know zero communists in real life aren't the one preaching to us about how to run a communist group.

[ColonelCossack]

-parents
-nan
-one guy at school

[Il Medico]

I've met a hand full or so, wouldn't say I know any of 'em very well.

[Искра]

I know more than a thousand...

What kind of people are you guys when only left people you know are here?

[TheGodlessUtopian]

I know more than a thousand...

What kind of people are you guys when only left people you know are here?

I think I barely know a thousand people in my life.Period.

And many people don't exactly live in "progressive" areas so I do not see the point on harking on them for being unable to find others in an environment hostile to leftist ideology.

[Nox]

-nan


Your nan is a legend! :lol:

[Искра]

I think I barely know a thousand people in my life.Period.

And many people don't exactly live in "progressive" areas so I do not see the point on harking on them for being unable to find others in an environment hostile to leftist ideology.

Dude, I live here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94fIFwSqXJY
(they are singing song which starts with fascist salute)

http://www.virovitica.net/arhiv/2007/6/18062007/thompson.jpg

http://www.e-novine.com/thumbnail.php?file=photo/region/hrvatska/ustase/mlade_ustase/Young_ustase_01_a_320_321240707.jpg&size=article_medium

And look at all those progresive fascists :D

Only reason why I know a lot of leftists is because of student movement and comrades I know internationaly (but not just from Internet, I mean on the people I talked face to face). You should find some organisation a fight. Marxsism or anarchism are crap if they are just a theory.

[Delenda Carthago]

I know, as if close friends, i d say 50. I ve met more than 1.000 for sure.

[Kornilios Sunshine]

I know one,my father.

[Quail]

I've met loads of leftists. There are quite a few in Sheffield, and events like anarchist bookfairs mean I have passing conversations with lots of like-minded people.

[citizen of industry]

Shows a lack of organizational structures or a reluctancy to join them, or just youth/school/parents/etc. Hopefully youth accounts for the below 10 group, and that it will change in university.

I'm in the 11-20 group of leftist individuals I know personally like friends. If you include union and party 300 or so. But I've felt the solidarity of thousands of people on the left marching together. It's a high.

[Fawkes]

I've probably met hundreds of leftists, I never really kept count. Only a couple of my good friends are leftists, though, with the rest being at least receptive to revolutionary ideas.

[Jalapeno Enema]

Fewer every year/ :(

[ellipsis]

Somewhere in the 75-150 range. Probably 30-50 who are friends.

[Iraultzaile Ezkerreko]

I know at least twenty here in Atlanta.