Is communism about total equality? - utopian ideals?

[Rebelde para Siempre]

We know that communism is about economic, social and racial equality, but in a communist world do you think people will behave differently?

I mean, lets take the example of the modern day high school. There is a social class system in place, it hasn't been contructed by authority yet it exists. There are "popular" people (ie. the bourgeois) and the people lower in the "social order". The same sort of hierachy exists in the workplace etc etc.

Do you think a communist world will produce a society where people do NOT instinctively align themselves into a particular class? I severely doubt it, but I just like to hear people's thoughts.

[onepunchmachinegun]

I think that it would turn out to be that way after a while. In the start it would be same as in an capitalistic system but after a couple of years it would be turn out to be better...

[The Muckraker]

I think that people would continue to be attracted to others with the same interests. Jocks would still hang with jocks, goths with goths, etc. I wouldn't go so far as to call them classes, though.

Something that struck me while thinking of your question is whether or not the hierarchy would be the same. For example, jocks tend to be at or near the top of the pecking order in most public high schools. I think that reflects the mainstream view. Sports are quite popular and backed by a multi-billiion dollar a year industry. Once that industry is gone, will the status of jocks be gone as well? There's reason to think so. People play games and always have. The Greeks honored great displays of athleticism, but for much of history, the real hero was the warror, for obvious reasons. When the social structure changes I have to think that the status of various interests and abilities would also have to change.

[anti machine]

Sects and clickes will form, of course. For these groups are based on interest. But the mindset of man, which Marx proposes will, in a communistic state, be turned upside down, will have overcome feudal animosity that now ensues with the establishments of sects. We will all become as cogs in the great machine of collective production and live life free from the chains of money. Yes, the goths and the jocks will exist, but in harmony, with no abercrombie and fitch or hot topic.

[Conghaileach]

I'm no expert on US society, but the concept of the Jock is quite young, maybe about 50 years old. The Goth is even younger - maybe 20 years.

These are basically fads. They come and go. They'll be around for quite some time, but they'll change with society.

[The Muckraker]

CiaranB,

You could substitute cliques, of course. I just used these as an example of people grouping themselves together based on common interests.

However, when we get into the hierarchy of cliques, why some are popular and others are scorned, I have to wonder about the relationship of money and athletics in US society (leaving aside for the moment the gender related aspects of largely female cliques). This was the point of my second paragraph in my first post.

That people will gather together based on similar interests isn't surprising. What's interesting to me is the status of various cliques.

[redstar2000]

I'm curious about the relationship between "cliques" and any repressive environment.

Whether it's a school, a work-place, or a prison, when you force substantial numbers of people to associate with each other in unpleasant environments, is it not possible that "cliques" form as a reaction to that situation? Whenever we feel powerless as individuals, what do we do? We look for allies.

Presuming an absence of compulsive institutions in communist society...people would still freely associate according to interests and inclinations, but would not feel it necessary to errect barriers of hostility and self-defense against other groups.

Or so it seems to me.

:cool: