A phase?

[Noah]

Hey guys,

I've been talking to alot of adults recently about socialist movements. I found out alot of them were socialist and involved in movements in their teens but then as they grew older they simply lost interest in socialist movements, I don't know why...

I do not understand why the majority of adults I have talked to reject socialism as they grow up and 'mature'. Many are reluctant to even talk about it or suggest it even as a possibility. What concerns me more is that the very people that socialism helps sometimes reject it like, cleaners, builders and teachers although they were socialists when they were younger.

So here is my question.

Why do many people 'grow out' of participating in socialist movements? and why do many working class people reject socialism in the UK?

Thanks,
Noah.

[Roses in the Hospital]

Inevitably people grow up and thus have to get jobs/look after families, thus, a lot of people simply don't have time for politics as they get older.
Other people's beliefs simply develop, as other factors affect their lives.
A lot of my teachers are/have been formally marxists/communists when they were younger and that still reflects in their ideas today, even if they don't consider themselves 'communist' anymore.
Very few people, though, abandon leftism totally on the grounds of 'growing up,' if you read Marx as a teenager it's unlikely you'll suddenly start voting concervative just because you hit 30, though obviously your politics might not be as eseential part of your life.
I think my mum (a socialist) summed it up when she said she simply didn't have time for politics, but if there was a revolution, she'd go with it...

[Sir Aunty Christ]

Originally posted by Roses in the [email protected] 14 2005, 07:46 PM
Inevitably people grow up and thus have to get jobs/look after families, thus, a lot of people simply don't have time for politics as they get older.
Other people's beliefs simply develop, as other factors affect their lives.
A lot of my teachers are/have been formally marxists/communists when they were younger and that still reflects in their ideas today, even if they don't consider themselves 'communist' anymore.
Very few people, though, abandon leftism totally on the grounds of 'growing up,' if you read Marx as a teenager it's unlikely you'll suddenly start voting concervative just because you hit 30, though obviously your politics might not be as eseential part of your life.
I think my mum (a socialist) summed it up when she said she simply didn't have time for politics, but if there was a revolution, she'd go with it...
Damn! This is pretty much what I was going to say but I'd add that some of those people who abandoned socialism may just have seen socialism/communism as an expression of teenage rebellion whuch they did "get over." I dare say there are some members of revleft who, as they get older, will abandoned what they believe in now.

[Noah]

My dad was a hardline communist in Iraq and supports socialism but he just 'gets on with life' within capitalism because he thinks his years of being active are over and were ... very bloody to say the least.

But he laughs at me when I talk about the socialist movement in England and says I will grow out of it but I can't imagine 'growing out of it' as I have grown up determined to help people ever since I was young and by changing society, I can help people and stop exploitation.

My dad just says 'We were all like you' meaning him and his friends. Meh old people :P

Noah.

[Morpheus]

The events of the last 30 years have done a lot to persuade people that socialism isn't viable. This is especially true of the more popular types of socialism (leninism, etc.) and a lot of people, including a lot of socialists, didn't know much about them. I was once told that I would stop being a radical when I got older, but I've only gotten more radical as I've gotten older. That kind of stuff is what they say when they don't have a good response but aren't willing to change their mind.

[Clarksist]

A big thing that happens, that you can't stress enough: kids.

When you have to put a roof over a babies head... suddenly you couldn't give a fuck about some guys with beards who are talking about revolution.

Suddenly, all you care about is this small little child that you can't stop but being terrified about their safety. And you don't want a violent revolution taking place to hurt your little baby.

That's why I think rubbers are super.

[Rockfan]

Originally posted by [email protected] 15 2005, 06:59 AM
Meh old people :P


Enter Readstar2000 :P

But now days there seem to be fewer hard leftists than our perents generation, maybe because there are so few, many people will carry there belifes thruogh there whole lives but than again maybe they won't, I think I always have been leftist and always will be to some degree.

[Djehuti]

I think it often depends on what you build your commitment on. "Middle class" kids who don't have a genuin self interest in the revolution and instead fight for some abstract ideal, or just because it is cool or popular et cetera, are more common to quit when they grow older.

For example the maoists in the wester world in the late 60ies and 70ties. They often came from wealthy homes and where engaged in the anti-war movement and attracted to the popular teachings of Mao...then the war ended, capitalism changed and maoism was not very popular any more. They became intellectual liberals and reached high in society as politicians or journalists et cetera. Opportunists. Those who where more serious (often those with working class background) still keep their opinions and still participate in class struggle. Many do so less activly though, they have grown old and lost their energy, also they are often very confused; capitalism changed large scale during the 70ies, we went from fordism to post-fordism, from keynesianism to vulgar economics, and somewhat leftist morals and values where replaced by market-worshiping and ultra liberalism. Black turned white and right turned wrong and vice versa. Some let them selves be blown with the wind while others where left confused not knowing what to do. Others turned apathic.


And I know plenty of communists and socialists who grew much more radical once they got a kid, I think I would to. When you are a parent you do not just have the responsibility to fight for your own future but also that of your children.

[Raisa]

You know, it all depends why you are involved with Socialist struggle.

There are alot of folks who are students in college and shit, and I guess they care then or got nothing to do, and there are others who just dont see another solution cause they are living the problems that capitalism is causing.

You got to think why you care about this shit.