Lifestylism

[Fistful of Steel]

Alright, can anyone give me a clear-cut and easy to understand definition of whatever the hell is meant when people say "life-stylist" or whatnot? I've never heard the term before coming here and I don't quite understand it, so any explanation would be appreciated.

[Nachie]

"dropout" culture.

see: CrimethInc.

Doing things like riding bikes, dumpster diving, squatting, being vegan, and generally other "lifestyle" choices, usually aimed at evading or minimizing the consumption and spectacle of capitalism. "Lifestylism" would be the belief that getting down with stuff like that is in and of itself a radical act. Consequently many lifestylists do nothing.

Crossovers with nihilism and individualist anarchism, IE the belief that there is no need or benefit from organizations and praxis should take place through individual acts of rebellion.

"Lifestylist" tactics can be incredibly good at developing discipline against consumerism and freeing up cash flow from things like rent, which can then be used for various projects. Basically I think lifestylism is like intentional communities: if you build it to be a resource and integration into larger community struggles, it can do a lot of good. But if you retreat into it and make it an end unto itself, you're a utopian.

[The Feral Underclass]

Originally posted by Fistful of [email protected] 18 2006, 09:42 PM
Alright, can anyone give me a clear-cut and easy to understand definition of whatever the hell is meant when people say "life-stylist" or whatnot? I've never heard the term before coming here and I don't quite understand it, so any explanation would be appreciated.
The term "lifestylism/ist" is a perjorative term and used mainly as an insult to Individualist Anarchists and sometimes Insurrectionary anarchists.

Lifestylism, generally, is the belief in creating a culture of anarchism among anarchists and often comes with evolutionary ideas about change rather than revolutionary.

Lifestylists often reject class struggle and believe in "living" like anarchists and creating "anarchy" in their lives, rather than building a movement to overthrow capitalism. Many lifestylists do indeed engage in confrontational politics but usually at spectacular events or with things like animal rights.

[violencia.Proletariat]

The feeling I get from lifestylist literature and speaking with them is that they want to create their own "network" through living a lifestyle that will lead to the downfall of capitalism. They think that dumpster diving, stealing, squatting, etc will help create some alternative culture that people will prefer over capitalism. This strikes me as nothing more than complete idiocy and denial of real class struggle politics.

[YSR]

The best thing that I think we class struggle anarchists can do is use some of these so-called "lifestyle" tactics to reduce our dependence on capitalism, while not buying into their ideology.

It's sort of similar to the situation with Gandhi/non-violence. There's nothing wrong with non-violence as a tactic, it can be very useful. But tying yourself to it and only it as a philosophical belief is absurd. Likewise with lifestylism. I ride my bike to get places quite frequently in warm weather (all three months of it in Wisconsin). But giving up cars or dumpster diving for food is dumb if that's all you do.

[FinnMacCool]

Well put YSR.

There are actually a lot of things about crimethinc that I really like but then again there is a lot about it that I really hate. So basically what I do is take the good ideas and keep and take the bad stuff and throw it in the shitter. The good ideas will always survive.

[Fistful of Steel]

Alright, thanks a lot. I'll be sure to read more about it before I consider any implementation/evaluation of their policies.

[violencia.Proletariat]

we class struggle anarchists can do is use some of these so-called "lifestyle" tactics to reduce our dependence on capitalism, while not buying into their ideology

Why? The only way we can reduce our dependence on capitalism without going the revolutionary route is to go backwards (primitive communes :( ). Why would we divorce ourselves from capitalist society if we wish to overthrow it?


There's nothing wrong with non-violence as a tactic

Yeah theres a big problem if thats your main tactic :lol:


I ride my bike to get places quite frequently in warm weather (all three months of it in Wisconsin).

But there is a material reason for this, it's cheaper and you can get "exercise." It's also less of a hassle. These should be the reasons for doing such a thing not because in some abstract way its helping to overthrow capitalism :lol:

[Brekisonphilous]

Originally posted by [email protected] 18 2006, 09:34 PM
The feeling I get from lifestylist literature and speaking with them is that they want to create their own "network" through living a lifestyle that will lead to the downfall of capitalism. They think that dumpster diving, stealing, squatting, etc will help create some alternative culture that people will prefer over capitalism. This strikes me as nothing more than complete idiocy and denial of real class struggle politics.
Would I be considered a lifestylist?

I ride my bike rather than putting money in the oil corporations deep pockets.
I conserve energy and water.
I believe in recycling, composting, and light meat eating to help the environment.
I would like to build my own house rather than buy.
I do the best I can to not buy sweatshop clothing, animal tested products, or any articles of clothing that come from an animal.

But by no means do I think that this would lead to a change to our society. It is just some of the things that I do to minimize my impact on the earth, and my indirect support of capitalism. I don't preach to anyone to do the same or anything like that. It is just how I prefer to life. therefore it is my "lifestyle" so I think I just answered my own question...

The bottom line is, these are things I do in conjunction with focusing on revolution and social change. I would carry these traits with me into the post revolution world.

[anomaly]

I don't think the blanket generalizations expressed by some here are quite accurate.

While I am about as far from 'lifestylist' as one can get, I do talk with some lifestylists. And a lot of them are just more 'eco-anarchists'...the 'green' wing of anarchism.

Certainly I would agree that some lifestylists are detrimental to the cause, but I do not think all are.

Indeed, crimethinc, which is usually labelled 'lifestylist', has done a good job of publishing a lot of leftist material. And some crimethinc ideas are rather good, too. For example, the idea of a neighborhood cop watch is a fantastic idea, in my opinion.

As long as they are willing to support the armed fight toward anarchism, I don't see a problem with 'lifestylists'. After all, in the end, it is just what it says: a lifestyle. If someone chooses to live in such a way, but still supports, and plays a part in, the struggle for anarchism, I cannot fault them.

[wet blanket]

Originally posted by [email protected] 19 2006, 03:38 AM
Indeed, crimethinc, which is usually labelled 'lifestylist', has done a good job of publishing a lot of leftist material. And some crimethinc ideas are rather good, too. For example, the idea of a neighborhood cop watch is a fantastic idea, in my opinion.

As long as they are willing to support the armed fight toward anarchism, I don't see a problem with 'lifestylists'. After all, in the end, it is just what it says: a lifestyle. If someone chooses to live in such a way, but still supports, and plays a part in, the struggle for anarchism, I cannot fault them.
I agree.

There's a lot of unnecessary hostility among anarchists towards 'lifestylists' for whatever reason. Most of them are not full-on primitivists(reactionaries) and their tactics do no real harm towards the working-class. I feel they are a societal element that has a small place in an anarchist movement. They do represent a very big threat to the leninist paradigm for revolution, which explains the hostility coming from the statist camp.

They are people who simply opt-out of class struggle(can you really blame them for not wanting to work?) and create their own, such as the ELF, which can prove to be worthy causes.

[apathy maybe]

There is nothing wrong with living a lifestyle that minimises the support of capitalism.

Not matter what people say, it is still better to be a leftist and not believe in revolution then to not be a leftist and not believe in revolution.

However, the two concepts (not supporting capitalism in ones daily life and believing that a revolution is necessary to remove capitalism and bring about equality) are not the same. You can easily have one without the other.

Lifesylism is not about no organization either. Food not Bombs is a 'lifesylist' organization. IndyMedia could be classified as one too.

Individualist anarchism is also not the same as lifesylism. Individualist anarchism is a separate distinct anarchism, proponents of which generally promote the idea of building alternative structures to capitalism and the state rather then revolution.

Yes many individualists are 'lifesylists', but so are many class-war anarchists. You an also find communist anarchists who are not class-war anarchists.

Generalisations are bad people.

[violencia.Proletariat]

Indeed, crimethinc, which is usually labelled 'lifestylist', has done a good job of publishing a lot of leftist material. And some crimethinc ideas are rather good, too. For example, the idea of a neighborhood cop watch is a fantastic idea, in my opinion.

Good job of publishing a lot of material? Yes. Good leftist material, FUCK NO :lol:

What I find hilarious about crimethinc is they say the left is alienated to the people, yet lets poll how many workers know of and relate to crimethinc in any way shape or form. PEOPLE DON'T THINK EATING OUT OF A DUMPSTER IS COOL :lol:


As long as they are willing to support the armed fight toward anarchism, I don't see a problem with 'lifestylists'.

They don't support the anarchist movement. They support people who loosely organize themselves under the title of anarchist yet who do not hold any principles aside from those similar to what crimethinc proposes.

Remeber, "forget all the old guys with the beards" :rolleyes:


I ride my bike rather than putting money in the oil corporations deep pockets.

This is a rather pointless reason. If you ride your bike because it's cheaper, less of a hastle, or because it's just better for the environment, then those reasons make perfect sense.

Your trivializing revolutionary leftism by making it so invidual. A few people riding bikes does not harm oil company profits. The sensible thing to do is to actually "provide" (not promote by demanding people to ride bikes, because this IS NOT a plausible option for most people) alternatives. It is also sensible to support third world anti-imperialist movements because these actually harm oil production for western companies!


I conserve energy and water.

This isn't over environmental choices. You obviously don't do this thinking if just more people would do it capitalism would fail :)


I would like to build my own house rather than buy.

I do the best I can to not buy sweatshop clothing, animal tested products, or any articles of clothing that come from an animal.

Why? It seems you are just making a niche for yourself inside of capitalism so you don't have to take part in its "evils." Instead you should actually be trying to overthrow it, not live in a world within it.


But by no means do I think that this would lead to a change to our society. It is just some of the things that I do to minimize my impact on the earth, and my indirect support of capitalism.

We aren't here to minimize or impact on supporting capitalism, WE ARE HERE TO OVERTHROW THAT SHIT. Why waste time with irrelevant and often time consuming choices that have no real effect on the system you wish to "change" in the distant future. Just work to getting rid of the WHOLE thing RIGHT NOW.


The bottom line is, these are things I do in conjunction with focusing on revolution and social change.

No you obviously don't. See above.


I would carry these traits with me into the post revolution world.

Why? There will be no more oil corporations or "housing market." Are you trying to say you will resist imaginery things?

This is a major problem I have with this post left movement, it's more about venting your frustration and anger into pointless paths, not a real revolutionary stance.

[ComradeOm]

Originally posted by [email protected] 19 2006, 03:38 AM
Indeed, crimethinc, which is usually labelled 'lifestylist', has done a good job of publishing a lot of leftist material. And some crimethinc ideas are rather good, too.
It also publishes some amount of shit (http://www.crimethinc.com/downloads/source/wasted.pdf).

Its inevitable that they stumble across the odd decent idea, monkeys with typewriters and all that, but the defining feature of lifestylism is the elevation of trivial matters and trends above actual theory.

[FinnMacCool]

Originally posted by ComradeOm+May 19 2006, 05:11 PM--> (ComradeOm @ May 19 2006, 05:11 PM)
[email protected] 19 2006, 03:38 AM
Indeed, crimethinc, which is usually labelled 'lifestylist', has done a good job of publishing a lot of leftist material. And some crimethinc ideas are rather good, too.
It also publishes some amount of shit (http://www.crimethinc.com/downloads/source/wasted.pdf).

Its inevitable that they stumble across the odd decent idea, monkeys with typewriters and all that, but the defining feature of lifestylism is the elevation of trivial matters and trends above actual theory. [/b]
Like I said, good ideas you keep, bad ideas you throw out.

Personally I can't see myself giving up Guinness lol.