How to decide on a tendency?

[Soomie]

I've been a Communist since the beginning of this year. I guess I could just go around forever and just call myself that. However, I know there are certain tendencies within Communism. How can I go about deciding which one I relate more to? When I was still into bourgeois politics I was able to find comparison charts (democrats vs. republican for example) and compare beliefs. I've had no such luck with leftist ideologies, and don't know where to start. Could anyone point me in the right direction?

[Zukunftsmusik]

how to decide on a tendency? Don't. It doesn't really matter what you put as "main tendency" on revleft. Form opinions by reading and researching and debating, don't choose a tendency and then form opinions in accordance with that, that's just stupid.

[bad ideas actualised by alcohol]

Reading.
I know that picking a tendency and then read into it is the wrong way around.
If you want to learn about tendencies, just ask persons identifying with it.
Ask what you should read, if, after researching, you feel comfortable identifying yourself with a tendency do it. But having a tendency shouldn't be your primary concern, or a concern at al really.

[prolcon]

As a word of advice, don't worry about tendency. People will be more than happy to classify your ass on your behalf. The thing is, Marxism is a methodology, and tendencies just describe the conclusions one comes to when applying Marxism to one's analysis of history and class society. All tendency has really done for leftism is encourage sectarianism, particularly where the model of "revisionism" prevails in describing those socialist endeavors that have failed to eliminate bourgeois political hegemony or all elements of the capitalist world order. Marxist tendencies are a broad spectrum of conclusions, and the necessary course of action to take is to step back and critically examine what conditions foment the conclusions to which you've come; consider how the configuration of your society has played a role in determining how you approach questions of history and class.

[Yet_Another_Boring_Marxist]

Yea, read alot. Choose what sounds best. Don't just read direct sources, these are useful but they fail to give you a good sense of context.

[o well this is ok I guess]

get a list of books you wan't to read
choose which ones to read entirely at random
fuck tendencies, man

[Nox]

Just whichever one you agree with most.

I'll help you out:

Do you agree with the concept of a Vanguard party?

If yes, I'd recommend you look in to Anti-Revisionist Marxism-Leninism.

If no, I'd recommend you look in to Anarchism.

[Ostrinski]

This is what I was talking about in my thread. We need to stop perpetuating tendency culture.

[Ostrinski]

Just whichever one you agree with most.

I'll help you out:

Do you agree with the concept of a Vanguard party?

If yes, I'd recommend you look in to Anti-Revisionist Marxism-Leninism.

If no, I'd recommend you look in to Anarchism.Pretty much just took opposite ends of the socialist spectrum with that.

[bad ideas actualised by alcohol]

Just whichever one you agree with most.

I'll help you out:

Do you agree with the concept of a Vanguard party?

If yes, I'd recommend you look in to Anti-Revisionist Marxism-Leninism.

If no, I'd recommend you look in to Anarchism.

Glad to know the Hoxhaists you once were is still in you somewhere. ;)

[Le Socialiste]

I wouldn't listen to Nox, since he clearly doesn't know what he's talking about. ;)

[Flying Purple People Eater]

Tendencies are fer nerds!

You don't have to choose one. Don't become too accomodative, however - many 'leftist' currents are quite obviously diametrically opposed to each other.Most of the people who label themselves as 'Pan-Leftist' are really just stalinists with a bit of tolerance for dissent.

[#FF0000]

Look into the issues that divide tendencies. Decide how you feel on these issues and strategies. Get involved in actual politics with real organizations. That last bit will do more than anything else to shape your thoughts on strategy i think

[Zukunftsmusik]

Just whichever one you agree with most.

I'll help you out:

Do you agree with the concept of a Vanguard party?

If yes, I'd recommend you look in to Anti-Revisionist Marxism-Leninism.

If no, I'd recommend you look in to Anarchism.

don't do it like this.

ask questions, read, discuss, start over. form your opinions through studying the really existing world, not by studying the different tendencies (which often or at least not necessarily match with the really existing world) and form your opinions in line with that.

[Zeus the Moose]

1) Print out pieces of paper with all the tendencies on them, and arrange them together.
2) Get a dart.
3) spin around three times.
4) throw the dart in the direction of the pieces of paper.
5) Congratulations, you now have your tendency!

Seriously, #FF0000 probably has the best advice so far.

[Nox]

Pretty much just took opposite ends of the socialist spectrum with that.

That's my point...

If you aren't sure what you agree with, go for totally opposite ends of the spectrum and work your way from there...

[Flying Purple People Eater]

That's my point...

If you aren't sure what you agree with, go for totally opposite ends of the spectrum and work your way from there...
So if you're unsure of how to start an indigenous-rights movement in your area, convert to white supremacism?

[Zukunftsmusik]

If you aren't sure what you agree with, go for totally opposite ends of the spectrum and work your way from there...

i feel that I and others have argued against this already, but I really don't think this is a good idea at all. form your ideas first - see if it fits tendencies or not afterwards.