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Thoughts about anarchy.

brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,432
edited October 2011 in A Moving Train
Anarchy is a term that has gotten to be very broad in meaning. People as divverse as John Lydon (AKA Rotten) to Edward Abbey have written about it. (Lydon's thoughts are well represented in his book Rotten and writer/ wilderness defender Abbey wrote about ararchism a number of times in several of his many books.)

How do you define "anarchy"? Do you see it as a philosophy varying in meaning? Do you see any forms as being useful?

I know- this is a "hot topic" bound to digress into chaos very quickly but my hope here is to generate some intelligent discusion. It's a topic that intrigues and, quite frankly, confuses me a bit. I've known few people who claim to be anarchists but they either do not define the term comprehensively or they live a sort of dual life revolving around it- a sort of "do as you please/do as I do" philosophy. Others like Abbey seem to be very clear on their beliefs about anarchy.
"Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!"
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"

"Try to not spook the horse."
-Neil Young













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Comments

  • VINNY GOOMBAVINNY GOOMBA Posts: 1,818
    I prefer the term(s) voluntarism or voluntaryism over "anarchy." :D They can be synonomous, but the term "Anarchy" tends to bring about this idea of a violent society with no rules, kill or be killed, etc... When really, voluntarism is all about code, un-written, and enforced only by individuals, not by a third party with monopoly use of force (government). It requires the adoption of the non-agression principle, that is, no one has a right to anyone else's life or property, and cannot take these away from anyone else via force. Self defense of one's life and property are permissible. All transactions that are voluntary between consenting individuals are acceptable. I feel like this concept is in our future, maybe distant future, but I do believe this is as "progressive" as society can get-- the ability to live in peace trading with each other without the use of violence or coercion.
  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,156
    I associate anarchy to mean there is no governing body over the people. No government, no police ... just a bunch of people wandering around.

    Based on looting that occurs instantly after a power black-out or a big storm, this is not the way to go. The masses have proven to be unable to police themselves appropriately. This is especially true in the U.S., where narcissism is becoming epidemic.
    Be Excellent To Each Other
    Party On, Dudes!
  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    i equate anarchy with punk. doing things your way and not the way society expects. saying no im not gonna play by your rules cause ive got a few of my own and if you dont care for my rules i simply do not care. this is the way ive chosen to live and basically fuck you.
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • bennett13bennett13 Posts: 439
    Defining anarchy would defeat its purpose.
  • ajedigeckoajedigecko \m/deplorable af \m/ Posts: 2,430
    contact the local travel agent about a week long visit to mogadishu.
    live and let live...unless it violates the pearligious doctrine.
  • ByrnzieByrnzie Posts: 21,037
    ajedigecko wrote:
    contact the local travel agent about a week long visit to mogadishu.

    I hear they include Iraq as part of that package deal.
  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,432
    bennett13 wrote:
    Defining anarchy would defeat its purpose.

    :lol: Kinda like God, huh? :lol:
    "Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!"
    -Eddie Vedder, "Smile"

    "Try to not spook the horse."
    -Neil Young













  • ajedigeckoajedigecko \m/deplorable af \m/ Posts: 2,430
    Byrnzie wrote:
    ajedigecko wrote:
    contact the local travel agent about a week long visit to mogadishu.

    I hear they include Iraq as part of that package deal.
    your agent is better, than mine....i was not offered this deal.
    live and let live...unless it violates the pearligious doctrine.
  • FiveB247xFiveB247x Posts: 2,330
    The older I get the more I believe in anarchy. Not because I like or have some desire for disorder, but more so because I look around nations and societies in the world and see we have such a false sense of control of order and civilization. The world is in constant flux and we control very, very little individually, but as a whole, we alter everything. It's such a false assumption and illusion that we control the world or a nation.. we are always in a state of anarchy...people just fail to acknowledge it out of a sense of self-preservation and worry.
    CONservative governMENt

    Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. - Louis Brandeis
  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,432
    FiveB247x wrote:
    ...we are always in a state of anarchy...

    It would be interesting to find out that all this "control from mysterious powerful people" is all an illusion. What is fact, what is fiction? Are we living in a dystopian novel or is this all really unscripted? I honestly don't have a clue.

    The things I've read about anarchy lead me to believe that the idea to too ill defined to be useful. The ideas seem to range from total self-centered screw everything and everybody chaos to benevolent volunteerism.
    "Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!"
    -Eddie Vedder, "Smile"

    "Try to not spook the horse."
    -Neil Young













  • FiveB247xFiveB247x Posts: 2,330
    It is a very wide ranging belief. I personally, think that we as humans on this planet have very little control, yet pretend we control everything.
    brianlux wrote:
    FiveB247x wrote:
    ...we are always in a state of anarchy...

    It would be interesting to find out that all this "control from mysterious powerful people" is all an illusion. What is fact, what is fiction? Are we living in a dystopian novel or is this all really unscripted? I honestly don't have a clue.

    The things I've read about anarchy lead me to believe that the idea to too ill defined to be useful. The ideas seem to range from total self-centered screw everything and everybody chaos to benevolent volunteerism.
    CONservative governMENt

    Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. - Louis Brandeis
  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,432
    FiveB247x wrote:
    It is a very wide ranging belief. I personally, think that we as humans on this planet have very little control, yet pretend we control everything.
    Do you believe there is something else besides humans controlling things, are we just subject to endless chaos, or have we just not arrived yet to a point of figuring things out? (Sorry- I know, it's Saturday night. Who wants to think about such things on Saturday night?! :? :D )
    "Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!"
    -Eddie Vedder, "Smile"

    "Try to not spook the horse."
    -Neil Young













  • FiveB247xFiveB247x Posts: 2,330
    I do not believe in any god or higher power if that's your question. I believe in nihilism...we're just here and I don't believe we'll ever "figure things out". I believe as humans grow and as technology improves they cross in a very detrimental manner. The planet's natural processes erase its own history and causes blank spots of the unknown. This merely adds to the confusion and we as humans like to account and fill in the unknown in life. We fill in the unknown in order to make ourselves more comfortable and safe. Knowing that we are just here, on a planet, in space, living a life in a world of anarchy is far to deep for most to address and come to terms with. It puts their own beliefs, actions and thoughts on call and in their face far too quick and far too often. So instead we create false illusions such as gods, nations, societies and governments and laws in order to direct and reiterate our control of fate and our own sanctity.

    Push Me, Pull Me
    I had a false belief
    I thought I came here to stay
    We're all just visiting
    All just breaking like waves
    The oceans made me, but who came up with love?
    Push me, pull me... push me, or pull me out
    Push me, pull me, or pull me out
    Push me, pull me

    So if there were no angels, would there be no sin?
    You better stop me before I begin
    But let me say...if I behave...can you arrange
    a spacious hole in the ground
    Somewhere nice, make it nice
    Where the land meets high tide
    Push me, pull me, or pull me out
    Push me, pull me
    Push me, pull me, or pull me out

    Like a cloud dropping rain
    I'm discarding all thought
    I'll dry up, leaving puddles on the ground
    I'm like an opening band for the sun
    Push me, pull me
    Push me, pull me...pull me out

    I've had enough, said enough, felt enough, I'm fine, still in it
    brianlux wrote:
    FiveB247x wrote:
    It is a very wide ranging belief. I personally, think that we as humans on this planet have very little control, yet pretend we control everything.
    Do you believe there is something else besides humans controlling things, are we just subject to endless chaos, or have we just not arrived yet to a point of figuring things out? (Sorry- I know, it's Saturday night. Who wants to think about such things on Saturday night?! :? :D )
    CONservative governMENt

    Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. - Louis Brandeis
  • Thoughts_ArriveThoughts_Arrive Melbourne, Australia Posts: 15,165
    catefrances wrote:
    i equate anarchy with punk. doing things your way and not the way society expects. saying no im not gonna play by your rules cause ive got a few of my own and if you dont care for my rules i simply do not care. this is the way ive chosen to live and basically fuck you.

    No, fuck you! :lol: JK
    Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/2014
  • pandorapandora Posts: 21,855
    teen angst comes to mind :mrgreen:
  • ed243421ed243421 Posts: 7,671
    FiveB247x wrote:
    I do not believe in any god or higher power if that's your question. I believe in nihilism...we're just here and I don't believe we'll ever "figure things out". I believe as humans grow and as technology improves they cross in a very detrimental manner. The planet's natural processes erase its own history and causes blank spots of the unknown. This merely adds to the confusion and we as humans like to account and fill in the unknown in life. We fill in the unknown in order to make ourselves more comfortable and safe. Knowing that we are just here, on a planet, in space, living a life in a world of anarchy is far to deep for most to address and come to terms with. It puts their own beliefs, actions and thoughts on call and in their face far too quick and far too often. So instead we create false illusions such as gods, nations, societies and governments and laws in order to direct and reiterate our control of fate and our own sanctity.

    Push Me, Pull Me
    I had a false belief
    I thought I came here to stay
    We're all just visiting
    All just breaking like waves
    The oceans made me, but who came up with love?
    Push me, pull me... push me, or pull me out
    Push me, pull me, or pull me out
    Push me, pull me

    So if there were no angels, would there be no sin?
    You better stop me before I begin
    But let me say...if I behave...can you arrange
    a spacious hole in the ground
    Somewhere nice, make it nice
    Where the land meets high tide
    Push me, pull me, or pull me out
    Push me, pull me
    Push me, pull me, or pull me out

    Like a cloud dropping rain
    I'm discarding all thought
    I'll dry up, leaving puddles on the ground
    I'm like an opening band for the sun
    Push me, pull me
    Push me, pull me...pull me out

    I've had enough, said enough, felt enough, I'm fine, still in it
    brianlux wrote:
    FiveB247x wrote:
    It is a very wide ranging belief. I personally, think that we as humans on this planet have very little control, yet pretend we control everything.
    Do you believe there is something else besides humans controlling things, are we just subject to endless chaos, or have we just not arrived yet to a point of figuring things out? (Sorry- I know, it's Saturday night. Who wants to think about such things on Saturday night?! :? :D )



    five

    another perfect post that paints a precise portrait of my own perceptions
    push me, pull me
    The whole world will be different soon... - EV
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    BOSTON 9-29-04
    BOSTON 5-25-06
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    BOSTON 5-17-10
    EV SOLO BOSTON 6-16-11
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    WRIGLEY 7-19-13
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  • FiveB247xFiveB247x Posts: 2,330
    Thanks for the kind words.

    [quote="ed243421"

    five

    another perfect post that paints a precise portrait of my own perceptions
    push me, pull me[/quote]
    CONservative governMENt

    Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. - Louis Brandeis
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