Some notes on my local occupy event

[Broletariat]

Well I went to my local Occupy. I talked around and handed out fliers, people seemed very impressed by me and my knowledge in general coupled with my charisma. I could only talk to so many people obviously. Most were liberalish who rejected the two-party system. I ran into a guy who identified as Anarchist but clearly had no idea of the history behind the word or real theory.


Later, speeches were given, I gave one myself and I believe I did the best. The main organisers when they gave their speech was overly self-centered. Right before we went to march they were like, anybody got any good chants? So I offered up "The rich run, the rich win, the poor get fucked again." The organiser was like ... ANY OTHER ONES. Obviously a bit scared by my radicalism. Me and one of the guys that clung to what I said a little closer began chanting "From Oakland to Greece, fuck the police." for a little bit before dodging out because it had obviously just become a liberal orgy of WE THE PEOPLE kind of crap.

Apparently it meets weekly so I'll be going next time armed with more fliers.

Also, there were roughly 40 people TOPS.

Here's my notes on how I engaged with people.

Honestly, its about confidence. If you can put forth some basics (which is all I really did, I skimmed the iceberg's tip with these people and did it in a way to leave them hanging and want more... then I mentioned my reading group).

I found that my knowledge of history (and my knowledge of history is shit), helped me out a lot. Being able to talk about Anarchist Spain ( http://struggle.ws/spain/pam_intro.html basically my only knowledge of anarchist spain), and the betrayals of the USSR etc. really made people think I knew what I was talking about. Once people view you as an authority and as intelligent, they're more likely to listen to what you've got to say. If you come off strong and confident, it allows for some slip-ups/stuttering later.

My specific tendency helped too, when they asked about Stalin/Mao/etc. I was able to denounce all of the above with a great degree of success.

I really did love that chant "FROM OAKLAND TO GREECE, FUCK THE POLICE."

I chanted that a few times for my own benefit.

[OHumanista]

I generally disagree with you. but that was GOOD:D
Raising conciouness is always great, plus vocal leftists are highly needed in moments like these.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

I defend all leftist institutions when talking with others about socialism, so far I have had luck in talking with one person who was interested in the difference between Trostskyism and Stalinism.

Good that you are spreading the (leftist) word though.

[Commissar Rykov]

I hear you about it being a Liberal Orgy it is disgusting at times and a real circlejerk of, "we can make capitalism work this time!" Then my occupy has conspiracy and antisemitic nutters, Paulistas, and some guy into Autarky who wanted to form a militia and engage in individual terror against the police. There are some with sympathies towards Marxism but it only goes as far as we can fix the things Marx said was wrong with capitalism. I feel odd man out being the only Socialist of any stripe.

[socialistjustin]

I have the knowledge, but I stutter like a muthafucker when in debates with people. I really have no social life which is why I get nervous and stutter. Any tips on how to overcome this?

[TheGodlessUtopian]

I hear you about it being a Liberal Orgy it is disgusting at times and a real circlejerk of, "we can make capitalism work this time!" Then my occupy has conspiracy and antisemitic nutters, Paulistas, and some guy into Autarky who wanted to form a militia and engage in individual terror against the police. There are some with sympathies towards Marxism but it only goes as far as we can fix the things Marx said was wrong with capitalism. I feel odd man out being the only Socialist of any stripe.

I hear ya loud and clear;same way hear with all the reformist shit (boy are they going to be in for a disappointment).

[Commissar Rykov]

I hear ya loud and clear;same way hear with all the reformist shit (boy are they going to be in for a disappointment).
I have told them repeatedly that shit isn't going to go down with love and sitins and to expect the ruling class to just stand down is hilariously naive. To which they claim I am just being a downer, apathetic? or pushing my own agenda. I have especially grown tired of the police are our friends bullshit pushed by some as well as the maybe we should try to warm up to the Tea Party because they are big here. Honestly it is all I can do just to go out and show support at times because otherwise I feel like I am ramming my head into a wall. Too many think the system is just fine it just needs a few reforms and don't get me started on the idiots who want to abolish regulations on corporations. How the fuck does an anti-corporation movement adopt the language being put out by corporations? As Michael Moore said on CNN yesterday from Oakland that thinking shows a serious disconnect from reality.

[Broletariat]

I have the knowledge, but I stutter like a muthafucker when in debates with people. I really have no social life which is why I get nervous and stutter. Any tips on how to overcome this?

Honestly, I have little to no social life myself. I have one friend, and that's my wife.

I guess it's just a case of realising that if we don't get this right, we're all going to fucking suffer and rot in the muck and mire of this society. That tends to make me pissed off at capitalism enough not to care about my social awkwardness.

[Broletariat]

Also, I really felt like liquid, I would talk to one person and when I felt it was too hopeless I could seamlessly flow to the next, talk to them for a bit, and drag them with me as we moved to the next person.

In roughly 10 minutes I had about a dozen people listening to me with intrigue.

The unfortunate thing was, they had nothing to say, I was hoping for some discussion or questions, but they were simply so baffled and impressed by me all they wanted to do was listen. I was hoping to engage in some dialogue with them but I felt more like I was a mix of a teacher and a preacher. That's good insofaras they're learning, but bad as a symptom of how people are only just now waking up to the system, and have nothing to add/contribute of their own.