I'm seeing some dumb-ass takes about how "online isn't real" and how it's "a drop in the bucket." But seriously, how did you all become aware of leftist ideas? How does anyone in nations such as the US become politically literate? How many of you were former atheist edgelords or shitposters on reddit?

Seriously, online does matter. It wasn't Fox News that created the alt-right Charlottesville rally. It was the fucking Sargon/skeptic/manosphere pipeline, which was primarily a youtube phenomenon. Or how about the comrades that listened to Chapo, and were inspired to travel to Iowa to help Bernie win the Iowa caucus? For Christ's sake just look at how much of an influence Facebook has had on the CHUDs. To ignore that we live in a neoliberal hellscape where the vast majority of us only find some kind of solace or connection in the online world is to ironically ignore material conditions. Something can be "not real" but still have a HUGE affect on the "real world" (e.g. money, gender). Have the recent voices of trans comrades and POC comrades about their issues here not taught anyone anything? Doesn't take a genius to see this.

For those that scream "rEaD tHeOry" take a step back and think, what the hell were many those "classic Marxist texts?" A lot of them were political pamplets or, as others have pointed out before, literally debate-bro replies to others. How is that any different than online shit now? Honestly, if Marx et. al were alive today, wouldn't they use podcasts, tweets, and youtube vids to spread their messages?

TL;DR: online does matter. Seriously, how did any of you become politically aware, be honest.

  • queenjamie [none/use name]
    ·
    4 years ago

    A wise person once said (https://hexbear.net/post/67786/comment/701856):

    Yes, you can hate Dore all you want (and I have stopped listening to him a long time ago), but he is the only “left” podcaster that I know that some of the working class people I know irl listen to (and to a lesser extent, I hate to say this, TYT).

    Of course this is a limited sample size based on my personal experience, but if you ask me I have no doubt that Dore’s platform is reaching the working class people.

    The same person also said (https://hexbear.net/post/67786/comment/701834):

    The real question to ask here is why did it take a foul mouthed comedian to bring up an idea and a strategy that resonates with so many struggling working class people?

    Oh wait... that was... you.

    So does "radicalization" not matter, as you say now? Or should I listen to the you from 7 days ago?

    This is dangerous when people are radicalized with shaky foundations. They are just as easy to sway toward becoming reactionaries

    But you're talking about how Jimmy Dore is reaching people? So is online stuff good or not? You seem to be contradicting yourself.

    There is almost systemic effort to promote political education, generate discussions on theory and political discourse, strategy, tactics, on organizing both locally, internationally or virtually.

    Maybe but I haven't seen anything like this. This seems like a stretch.

    • fratsarerats [none/use name]
      ·
      4 years ago

      OP makes a good point here, I don't know of any "systematic effort" to promote leftist political education, strategy, etc. Also, it is kinda weird to talk about how Jimmy Dore and TYT are reaching the working class but shit on online radicalization at the same time.