What are the communists responsibilities on the internet?

[T5seconds]

I've argued that the internet has an immense amount of socialistic concepts. The ideas of free information and comradery that are prevalent in some internet cultures, most notably hackavist culture, are huge socialist ideas. See the open source movement. See the gorilla source movement. Which makes me ask,

What are our responsibilitIes? At least for those of us here who are technologically gifted. Do we contribute to these movements? Do we fight online fascist movements? From a marxist view, what is the communist supposed to do? Do we agitate online? I consider the internet to be THE tool for solidarity. Hell, look at revleft!

[Jimmie Higgins]

This is an interesting question - that I probably can't do justice to. I'm a little predjuiced in that I tend to downplay the potential of the internet, but I'm probably curmudgenly in regards to that.

I think there is a great deal of potential, but fundamentally, I think it may be an aid to real-life struggles, rather than a main sphere of struggles itself (outside of internert-specific issues like privacy and information-sharing, etc). So I tend to see it as a more accessable, more flexible version of the kinds of media that have already existed, rather than something fundamentally unique. That's not to say it's not important either - radio and print in the past have played big roles for working class and radical folks organizing and getting their views to more people.

As for the role of the on-line revolutionary, I think that the important thing is to use skills in connection with wider real-wold forces and movements. Anonomous has done some impressive things, for example, but they are also totally unaccontable to any sort of democratic or collective efforts. They help us when they help us, but say then someone decides that a union is on the wrong side and releases their information, etc - what if they decide that the Black Bloc is harmful to the movement and unilaterally decide to out people? It's also vunerable in that it could be shut down and the people behind it repressed and no one knows or is able to do anything about it. It can also be used or misrepresented in COINTELPRO type disinformation - and apparently has been!

But generally because I think the way forward is through collective class action in its own interests - and there is an element of "savior of the people" to some of the internet vigilante idea. I'd hope we can figure out ways to use this amazing tool to help people to empower themselves, learn and trade information about how to struggle, etc.

So in my limited imagination in regards to the possibilities for online tactics, I'd say the most important aspects of it are in the agitation/propaganda (discussion and information) uses as well as in being able to network people and allow for larger collectives to discuss things quickly and easily.

[Rafiq]

Absolutely nothing. You don't have any obligations as a Communist aside from retaining your identity as a Communist.

[Brutus]

Absolutely nothing. You don't have any obligations as a Communist aside from retaining your identity as a Communist.

I suppose we could agitate over the internet but its not a responsibility

[Blake's Baby]

I disagree.

If we are communists it's because we believe that it's necessary for the working class to overthrow the existing social conditions.

If that's necessary, then it's also necessary that those who understand that help to prepare the conditions where it becomes possible.

As we - communists - are those that understand it is necessary, it is our responsibility to work towards that end. Our 'identity as a communist' is the same as having a responsibility to work for the overthrow, by the working class, of the existing social conditions.

[Dennis the 'Bloody Peasant']

I wouldn't consider it someone who identifies as communist's absolute duty (wouldn't pelt anyone who didn't with rotten fruit and call them a traitor). But the internet has such potential to spread ideas and organise that it seems only right that anyone who wants to fight for the over-throw of capitalism should use it to the best of their ability.

[MarxSchmarx]

to listen and learn, amongst others.

[Yet_Another_Boring_Marxist]

I disagree.

If we are communists it's because we believe that it's necessary for the working class to overthrow the existing social conditions.

If that's necessary, then it's also necessary that those who understand that help to prepare the conditions where it becomes possible.

As we - communists - are those that understand it is necessary, it is our responsibility to work towards that end. Our 'identity as a communist' is the same as having a responsibility to work for the overthrow, by the working class, of the existing social conditions.

Although me and blake diverge in many areas of our thought, I fundamentally agree with him here. Being a communist isn't an ideological orientation, it marks a position within class society. To be a communist is to be opposed to the existing state of things. That means that the idenity of being communist actually has to translate into material behavoir that defines one as being a communist.

Although as a side note. I don't think that makes us "class conscious". I don't think that's really adequate. To a certain extent the working class does need Marxism. But that ideological consciousness is something separate from class consciousness and that it is somewhat elitist to say that a non communist worker isn't class conscious.

[InvalidPacket]

.

[human strike]

Absolutely nothing. You don't have any obligations as a Communist aside from retaining your identity as a Communist.

I would say not even that much.

[Dogs On Acid]

Well, I seem to spend most of my "internet debates" outside RevLeft dispelling anti-communist bullshit.

Sometimes I post Left-Wing stuff on Facebook and explain to people what it's all about.

That's about as far as it goes on the internet, there really isn't a point to try anything more because we should all take part in the physical, "real-world" struggle anyway.

[Comrade #138672]

I have a Twitter account. It is very political (and openly Communist / Marxist). I don't see it as fundamental, but I love how much potential it has to help us.

[Thirsty Crow]

Absolutely nothing. You don't have any obligations as a Communist aside from retaining your identity as a Communist.
And who will oblige me to retain this identity? The host of dead communist martyrs?

[bcbm]

What are our responsibilitIes?

trolling, mostly


I consider the internet to be THE tool for solidarity. Hell, look at revleft!

i think it encourages a faux 'solidarity' where people feel good for doing things like changing their fb picture, which does basically nothing.

[human strike]

i think it encourages a faux 'solidarity' where people feel good for doing things like changing their fb picture, which does basically nothing.

I would say that political activism in "real life" is not all that dissimilar.

[T5seconds]

i think it encourages a faux 'solidarity' where people feel good for doing things like changing their fb picture, which does basically nothing.

There is a phenomena that has been observed that two people on a jury, are exponentially more likely to hold out than just one. The second juror has not exactly paved the way towards success, but the simple fact of his existence there improved the chance of them holding out.

I would think our responsibilities would compound with knowledge. I'm not sure who keeps revleft running (meaning the people taking care if the architecture) but they are a shining example of what I'm talking about. A communist, who's good with a computer I think should at least consider his responsibilities.

For our blackhat friends in Revleft, what is the extent of your anti facist, no rape, anti bigotry, actions on the internet? No specfics, naturally, but if your out there a salute to you.