How do I find out what kind of ist am I?

[Dust Bunnies]

I hear Stalinist, Trotskist, Anarchist, but I'm not certain what I am. Is there a generally form or quiz I can fill out and a person or machine could tell me?

[More Fire for the People]

As lame as this may sound, experience. You will know what you are by what you do (and sometimes, what you read). But that doesn't mean you'll find a label.

[RedAnarchist]

Don't look for a label, look for an idea. Worry about what you consider yourself to be, not what others consider you to be.

[Dros]

Think about your politics. Then, read a variety of leftist authors and see who you agree with the most.

Then, take that person's name and add the suffix "ist"!:D

[Holden Caulfield]

stay on revleft, follow your own ideas, learn off the ideas of others, give it time and keep posting then the 'ist' will find you

[Dust Bunnies]

Could I be a Jesusist? :P Anyone got any good online books I could read (like that marxist online library) since my library I doubt has a lot of communist works... I've read the Communist Manifesto already.

[Holden Caulfield]

Could I be a Jesusist? :P Anyone got any good online books I could read (like that marxist online library) since my library I doubt has a lot of communist works... I've read the Communist Manifesto already.

(i feel the need to post this) i cant read e-books or whatever they hurt my eyes, give me a paper back tatty edged second hard pencil scrawlled book anyday

my communist manifesto is from 1933, and my book on the french revolution is from 1886,

[Dust Bunnies]

I don't like e-books either... I don't like books in general but when you got to know you got to know. I'm a bit cautious on posting on theory forums and OI and such, I've seen some people restricted and I don't want to become restricted.

[mykittyhasaboner]

I'm a bit cautious on posting on theory forums and OI and such, I've seen some people restricted and I don't want to become restricted.

as long as you dont say anything xenophobic, racist, sexist, anti-communist, conservative, or primitivist, then you wont get restricted.

if you ask me about your OP, i dont think you should be concerned too much about what your "ist" is. its nice to know where you stand, but dont take it to far and become a sectarian asshole. its important to know that were all revolutionary leftists and we should stand united.

[More Fire for the People]

Could I be a Jesusist? :P Anyone got any good online books I could read (like that marxist online library) since my library I doubt has a lot of communist works... I've read the Communist Manifesto already.
Liberation theology (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberation_theology): not an 'ism', but a movement.

[Dust Bunnies]

I was joking Hopscotch, I'd prefer not to base a nation off of a man/religion, freedom for all!

[F9]

I was joking Hopscotch, I'd prefer not to base a nation off of a man/religion, freedom for all!

maybe an anarchist?:lol:
men you just have to grown up your ideas,maybe have some conversations about politics and leftism with someone who may knows better etc.But is really important to know what you support,not just labeling;)Reading and learning never harms!

Fuserg9:star:

[R_P_A_S]

reading about shit like this really irritates me. I think we are pathetic as humans looking to identify with an "ism" fuck all that B-S. look around, people have spent centuries arguing over isms and ist.. what the fuck has it done for them? or better yet for our class, and for the struggle? not a damn thing.

fuck isms. real talk!

[nvm]

just read some trotsky
Order some books online.

[welshboy]

You could check out the library over at libcom (http://libcom.org/library). Though I would stay away from the forums, which whilst they have improved can still be pretty brutal.
Also you could read this (http://afed.org.uk/ace/aspects.pdf) and this (http://afed.org.uk/ace/awsi.pdf) from the Anarchist Federation. I am obviously a bit biased here. Reading Marx is obviously a good way to get your grounding in class politics but also looking at the current organisations and how they act and the things they campaign and work on will help you figure out where you stand. When I say that I mean looking at what the organisations actually DO not what they say they are doing or what they are going to do.
Welcome to the startlingly varied and colourful world of the left. :D

[Joe Hill's Ghost]

I would say you should think about how you act and react towards certain things. I didn't realize I was anarchist till I was 17 but I was articulately attacks on state power years before. Think of questions like "Is power something that universally corrupts?" "Are gender and race tied to class or completely byproducts of class?" "Is there a need for a Vanguard party?"

Shit like that tends to separate the Trots from the Maoists and the Anarchists from everyone else.

[Anarch_Mesa]

My suggestion would be look for an idea and let others label you as whatever they think you may be. I don't think that it matters if your a MARXIST or a SOCIALIST or a TROTSKITE just fight for what you believe I think in the end all of the labels will be put aside and we will just fight

[Dros]

just read some trotsky
Order some books online.

Yeah! All you need to do is read Trotsky and then you to will be able to talk about planning the global revolution all day and predict recessions and such!:D

I'm just kidding. I highly suggest you read some Trotsky. I also suggest you read some Stalin. And some Mao. And some everyone. Read as much as you can until you find what you agree with.

And once you've read enough, you'll become a Maoist!:p:drool:

[gla22]

Yeah! All you need to do is read Trotsky and then you to will be able to talk about planning the global revolution all day and predict recessions and such!:D

I'm just kidding. I highly suggest you read some Trotsky. I also suggest you read some Stalin. And some Mao. And some everyone. Read as much as you can until you find what you agree with.

And once you've read enough, you'll become a Maoist!:p:drool:
Drosera, what Mao would you recommend?

[Dust Bunnies]

I'm currently reading The Revolution Betrayed by Leon Trotsky, too strong for a beginner or should I continue?

[Dros]

Drosera, what Mao would you recommend?

"Quotations" is a good place to start!

I'd also suggest "On New Democracy", "On Practice" and "On Contradiction", and Mao's "Critique of Soviet Economics".