A Discordian argument against Anarchism

[Suu]

All the comments seem to be coming from pseudo-intellectual hipsters, IMO.

Good article, Cain.

[Phox]

All the comments seem to be coming from pseudo-intellectual hipsters, IMO.

Good article, Cain.

What Suu said. 

[the last yatto]

Why cain, o wait your not telling me...

[BabylonHoruv]

What I'm getting from all this is that it's a generally bad idea to support a political system that is centred around a single ideal, because everything else will suffer and the ideal itself will end up being a major victim of the proposed model. Eg. Communism/Equality, Anarchy/Freedom, Totalitarianism/Safety, Capitalism/Opportunity, Democracy/Satisfaction. Discordianism/Dischord

Thus, perhaps it is best not to pursue a particular ideal for the world so much as it's best to focus on our own activities and how we affect things locally. Perhaps it's best not to shackle ourselves to an ideology.
Of course, this should be a matter of course for Discordians.

Amended.

[East Coast Hustle]

Discordianism has no ideal, and if it does that idea is not "discord".

"Lulz" is a much better candidate.

[BadBeast]

Discordianism has no ideal, and if it does that idea is not "discord".

"Lulz" is a much better candidate.

[YNWA]

I would agree with that while adding in the basis that the concept and practice of anarchism, like communism both rely rather heavily on the concept of people being perfectible which we're not, and also that everyone in that particular system wants to be a part of it which they do not.  Therefore there will always be those people that would try to get a leg up over the system and exert control of others, resources, or any number of things that folks happen to have a demand for.   Also true anarchy could never be realized because a system would still exist in the taboos and social mores that make up every culture and group of people. 

[The Ingenuous Hidalgo]

Anarchism seems to start with the premise that people are sucky to each other because of the machinations of the Rulers.

By removing the Rulers one frees people to be less and less sucky to each other. Because nobody can rise to a position of Rulership the king-rat syndrome will gradually diminish.

I cannot think of any large scale long lived example of this actually happening. I suspect that Hakim Bey was on the right track with his idea of the TAZ and being the closest form of pure anarchism that can exist.

[East Coast Hustle]

I just don't understand why anybody would even WANT an anarchist system, even a realistically-impossible perfect one.

I mean, I guess it's great if you have no ambition, but I LIKE being better than most other monkeys, and I WANT to claw my way into a position where I can dominate and exploit the aforementioned inferior monkeys.

[Placid Dingo]

Anarchism seems to start with the premise that people are sucky to each other because of the machinations of the Rulers.

By removing the Rulers one frees people to be less and less sucky to each other. Because nobody can rise to a position of Rulership the king-rat syndrome will gradually diminish.

I cannot think of any large scale long lived example of this actually happening. I suspect that Hakim Bey was on the right track with his idea of the TAZ and being the closest form of pure anarchism that can exist.

This makes me think of the ideas of the Situationists, which you might like.

[Jasper]

Anarchy sounds like a fun place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. 

Reread the OP. Good stuff!

[Epimetheus]

On second thought, let's not go to Anarchy. 'Tis a silly place.

[The Ingenuous Hidalgo]

It may be a problem of language, with the accepted political/philosophical use of Anarchy and Anarchism having been subsumed by the modern use of the term.

I use the term in relation to Bakunin, Goldman, Makhno (and Revolutionary Army of Ukraine), Durruti, Joe Hill etc. The modern usage seems mostly to in relation to brick throwing youths and failed third world states. This, for me, is like confusing Communism with Stalinism.

[Telarus]

That redefinition was done on purpose. See the Toronto G20 Protests.

[The Ingenuous Hidalgo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQczen4rECY

Uncle Bob talks about Anarchism.