Anarchist here. As a famous philosopher once said, we're in fuckin 1320 motherfucker. Trying to explain anarchism to the average person is like trying to explain representative democracy to a medieval serf. Even if they understand, seeing a path towards achieving it is a process. So if you want to take inspiration from existing movements who you think live up to your values, then take the time to actually study some of their literature and practices. That's fine. But if they don't identify with the western canon of anarchism, don't call them anarchists. It's not complicated.
The process of decolonizing anarchist movements is important, but if you're not indigenous and are not working with anyone who is indigenous, chances are you aren't working towards that goal even if you wanted to be. This isn't some team sport aesthetic where you can put them in your corner just to feel like a revolutionary. This is, in fact, behavior that anarchists tend to criticize western ML's for. Frankly, as much as I think it's more common in terminally online ML circles, I think this particular brand of sectarianism is more based in western nihilism and inaction than in anything else. And it is indeed sectarianism.
Yeah, people making the world better is exciting. Having a semblance of hope in hellworld is exciting. Just don't carried away to the point where you're alienating the people doing the work.
Anarchist here. As a famous philosopher once said, we're in fuckin 1320 motherfucker. Trying to explain anarchism to the average person is like trying to explain representative democracy to a medieval serf. Even if they understand, seeing a path towards achieving it is a process. So if you want to take inspiration from existing movements who you think live up to your values, then take the time to actually study some of their literature and practices. That's fine. But if they don't identify with the western canon of anarchism, don't call them anarchists. It's not complicated.
The process of decolonizing anarchist movements is important, but if you're not indigenous and are not working with anyone who is indigenous, chances are you aren't working towards that goal even if you wanted to be. This isn't some team sport aesthetic where you can put them in your corner just to feel like a revolutionary. This is, in fact, behavior that anarchists tend to criticize western ML's for. Frankly, as much as I think it's more common in terminally online ML circles, I think this particular brand of sectarianism is more based in western nihilism and inaction than in anything else. And it is indeed sectarianism.
Yeah, people making the world better is exciting. Having a semblance of hope in hellworld is exciting. Just don't carried away to the point where you're alienating the people doing the work.