Why is it so difficult to find leftist material online?

[Rooiakker]

Whenever I search to a topic related to leftism, private property for instance, I can only ever find Libertarian-Capitalists ranting about how it's sacred. It seems like the internet is chock full of capitalist propaganda, but there is such a suspicious lack of leftist media.

On social media pages like facebook, I see people posting infographics about An-Cap politics constantly, but I can only find a few leftist equivalents. Are we as a community not using this sort of media to our advantage? Or are we just such a small group?

I want to see Vlogs of leftists talking about politics, or infographics about how private property hurts people. Where are the socialist webcomics? Where is our web presence?

[LOLseph Stalin]

We have MaoistRebelNews, that's about it. He only represents one tendency though and even many leftists don't even like him. But yes, I agree our material seems to be lacking. Sure, real life activism is important too, but nowadays the internet makes a massive impact so we definitely need some activism here too. I have managed to sway at least one person through internet discussions and sources alone.

[Ele'ill]

Whenever I search to a topic related to leftism, private property for instance, I can only ever find Libertarian-Capitalists ranting about how it's sacred. It seems like the internet is chock full of capitalist propaganda, but there is such a suspicious lack of leftist media.

On social media pages like facebook, I see people posting infographics about An-Cap politics constantly, but I can only find a few leftist equivalents. Are we as a community not using this sort of media to our advantage? Or are we just such a small group?

I want to see Vlogs of leftists talking about politics, or infographics about how private property hurts people. Where are the socialist webcomics? Where is our web presence?


youtube has quite a few anarchist discussion panel videos and regular 'news roundup' mini shows, http://theanarchistlibrary.org/ has texts with text responses from other authors - there's also speeches (in text form), libcom, try searching for stuff near where you live or a larger city near where you live I'm sure there are local websites/pages

[AConfusedSocialDemocrat]

Whenever I search to a topic related to leftism, private property for instance, I can only ever find Libertarian-Capitalists ranting about how it's sacred.

lulwat? Leftist resources are all over the internet, the Marxist internet archive, various left wing economist have their blogs, papers are availble easily at university websites.

[cantwealljustgetalong]

no matter what you think of Trotskyism or the ISO, WeAreMany.org (http://www.wearemany.org) is a very well-done series of talks from their annual Socialism conferences. some of the analyses are surprisingly deep, as they get a lot of talent from Haymarket Books to speak.

the ISO's non-profit has a decent media empire as well (http://cersc.org/), and this list doesn't include their daily newspaper Socialist Worker (http://socialistworker.org/).

many revolutionary leftists thumb their nose at the sources above, but I think they can be important superstructural tools even if you don't like their parent org.

and yeah, it's more about finding these lefty niches online more than anything. they don't go out of their way to reach beyond their part of the blogosphere, for the most part.

http://www.leninology.com/
https://kapitalism101.wordpress.com/2012/08/23/law-of-value-9-abstract-labor/
http://akliman.squarespace.com/crisis-intervention/

[Comrade #138672]

I'm not sure whether you are just looking for Leftist news or more.

Anyway, http://marxists.org has more Leftist material than you can read in a lifetime.

Anarchist stuff: http://infoshop.org

[The Idler]

There is still some cost associated with extensive propaganda campaigning even online. Guess what ideology will get those with money spending to support it?
If you can't find any socialist propaganda, you need to look harder.

[Bronco]

Well if you're searching 'private property' you're probably likely to find more libertarian/an-cap stuff because it's the cornerstone of their entire philosophy, they reduce pretty much everything down to property rights. There are a wealth of leftist resources out there too though particularly with historical writers; MIA (http://marxists.org), Anarchist archives (http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/index.html) etc.

[RedMaterialist]

I've had the same question. Lately I've found some good blogs by just googling Socialist blogs or marxist, communist blog. You have to include the word "blog" in the search.

It's important, I think, to link a blog, comment, story, etc., to as many other people as you can. This builds the "networking" effect. For instance, this site doesn't have any linking icons. Which may, I suppose, be due to fear of being discovered.

The problem with marxist.org is that while indispensable for reading Marx, Engels, Lenin,
Trotsky, etc., it isn't updated with recent Marxists.

[Comrade Nasser]

Whenever I search to a topic related to leftism, private property for instance, I can only ever find Libertarian-Capitalists ranting about how it's sacred. It seems like the internet is chock full of capitalist propaganda, but there is such a suspicious lack of leftist media.

On social media pages like facebook, I see people posting infographics about An-Cap politics constantly, but I can only find a few leftist equivalents. Are we as a community not using this sort of media to our advantage? Or are we just such a small group?

I want to see Vlogs of leftists talking about politics, or infographics about how private property hurts people. Where are the socialist webcomics? Where is our web presence?

A little thing called censorship.

[Starship Stormtrooper]

I can't post links yet, but I would like to add that the libcom archives are also quite extensive and hold many harder to obtain PDFs that I couldn't find elsewhere (the anarchist faq is also quite a good resource easily accessible online). As to the question at hand my best guess would be a combination of what others have said, namely that the internet mirrors the composition of those who use and peruse it. As such, it features the dominant narratives of society most prominently and downplays alternatives.

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

I've never found it too difficult.

[pinkfishegg]

As an American leftist I find I never really express myself as blatantly on Facebook, etc as a democrat or republican would. I'm immediately attacked and really need to know where you stand and the history of all political movements associated with communism/socialism in order to respond. I'm still deciding exactly where I stand but am not that vocal outside the sphere of history classes/talking to other lefties. Do other people have the same experiences?

[The Idler]

A little thing called censorship.
Don't kid yourself. If you're threatening to "blow shit up" then fair enough.

[TheRedAnarchist23]

It is what I always say "You must do it yourself if you want it".
If you want leftist material online, then make leftist material and upload it.
If you need help you can ask your comrades here on revleft!

[Brutus]

http://Acatheunderground.wordpress.com
Shameless self promoting

[Comrade Nasser]

Don't kid yourself. If you're threatening to "blow shit up" then fair enough.

Lmao :laugh: :laugh:

[human strike]

Whenever I search to a topic related to leftism, private property for instance, I can only ever find Libertarian-Capitalists ranting about how it's sacred. It seems like the internet is chock full of capitalist propaganda, but there is such a suspicious lack of leftist media.

On social media pages like facebook, I see people posting infographics about An-Cap politics constantly, but I can only find a few leftist equivalents. Are we as a community not using this sort of media to our advantage? Or are we just such a small group?

I want to see Vlogs of leftists talking about politics, or infographics about how private property hurts people. Where are the socialist webcomics? Where is our web presence?

Surprises me to see someone say this; there's shed loads of leftist resources online:

http://theanarchistlibrary.org
http://libcom.org
http://infoshop.org
http://anarchistnews.org/