Sorry to bring in the negativity this Xmas Day but here's my scenario:
I'm a grill who dated a perpetual reactionary (I'd describe him as a NeoCon) for almost two years; we met as seniors in college out of a mutual interest in political philosophy and metaphysics. He knew I was a very active anarchist but liked me for who I was; I liked him because he was very smart and knowledgeable, even though I knew his politics were shit. For most of those two years he constantly tried to tear me down by calling my politics "stupid" and "irrational", telling me I was naive for following a philosophy which he said was impossible, saying my goals were unachievable and "nothing you want to happen is going to happen so why bother idealizing?", etc. He was also a very big American chauvinist who was always shit-talking Chinese and Indians (Yellow Perilism basically - "the world is going to suck once the damn ch*nks take over"). Needless to say, his words did a lot to me emotionally-speaking to the point where I now feel radical leftism is no longer in my heart because it's not "true".
Has anyone else gone through something like this? What's the best way for me to get back into anarchism and overcome my ex-bf's completely reactionary bullshit, knowing full well what he told me is all bullshit?
And how does one effectively snap out of mindfuckery?
Landon Powell
So capitalism is the best but actually the Chinks are taking over. krek
Jaxson Clark
Similar things have happened to me as well. I remember like a year ago I was shifting rapidly between socialist and socdem, pretty much because I felt that socialism was impossible. And there's a certain feel to it which makes it seem that way. When you analyze socialism, you realize it's by far the most ambitious ideology that exists. I remember thinking that socialism is way too advanced for us to ever accomplish it. The way I got over it is by stopping to discuss and think about politics for a while. Don't get so caught up with it to the point it consumes your whole life. That's my advice.
Hudson Fisher
Yeah, that's a pretty big paradox on his end, thinking it's logical for the US to be no.1 but then fearing a Chinese/Indian takeover any day.
Thanks. It's tough, because I've always considered myself a very principled person, but for the past year or so I've been broken beyond belief. I can see why so many comrades distrust intellectuals who just sit around and put down others without engaging in any kind of meaningful actions themselves.
Brandon Stewart
Join a socialist organization, and participate in their activities. Read Marxist literature. What else do you expect us to tell you? There is no secret meditative technique to steel your resolve, you are what you do, so do more of what you want to be.
Liam Garcia
That's the thing: I DO read literature, but there's always my ex's voice in the back of my head saying: "this is wrong, I can debunk this."
Nicholas Allen
Find another man, comrade. It's not healthy you think about him in such scenarios. Such mind habit will pass away eventually, but you need time.
Jason Cruz
Save motherfucker
Jace Powell
...
Jason Howard
Part of me thinks I have some kind of mild PTSD, just in the sense that every time I attempt to dive back into anarchism/communism I keep "hearing" my ex put me down, telling me "this is all false, if it were true I would adhere to it" (keep in mind, my ex is *very* smart actually, he's doing an MA in poli phil at the moment). I can't just snap out of it, which is killing me.
Angel Martinez
...
Jaxson Sanders
A lot of political philosophy which is taught in mainstream unis is pretty reactionary. It's primarily Plato/Aristotle, Aquinas, classical liberals, Hegel, with very little Marx, definitely no anarchists.
John Clark
You are just human being after long term relationship. The fact you are haunted by realizing his opinion on stuff like this is just temporary mind habit created simply because you spent a lot of time with him, cared for him. Happens to everyone after breakup with serious gf/bf. You need just time.
James Johnson
Much thanks.
Jose Perry
How is Hegel reactionary?
Henry James
Weak. It's sad how many people ITT do not firm enough ideological training
Andrew Cruz
When someone you think is brilliant turns out to be a scumfuck, it does do a lot of psychological shit to you.
Jose Hill
Was he white? I'd start fucking non-whites if I were you. Real talk. It's a lot more likely a non-white male can be a half-decent lefty in America then you're average white man. You know what to do.
Luke Butler
By tumblr's definition, he's white.
By Zig Forums's definition, he's not.
Levi James
t. white liberal
Mason Thompson
This is retarded Zig Forumsyp logic. Ironically though, it implies anyone on Zig Forums is white at the same time.
Ryan Hughes
Read Stalin and Lenin unironically. Think dialectically. Exercise. Eat healthy. Post boobs
Sebastian Barnes
I'm a little too advanced for Lenin and Stalin.
Cooper Jenkins
If you were too advanced for comrade Stalin you wouldn't have to ask for an advice here
By that I mean, I've read a lot of philosophy and can pinpoint the stuff Lenin and Stalin get wrong too easily. I need something much more advanced, like something which would "debunk" (for lack of a better term) the bulk of western poli phil from a Marxist or anarchist perspective (especially classical liberals, or anyone promoting the idea that the state is "natural" or whatever).
Hunter Wood
Ok anarkiddie, you get the bullet too. On a serious note, I'm not that good at theory so I can't suggest you any literature. But if you are so advanced, then I'm sure you can apply your own spicy dialectics to debunk whatever you want. It's unethical to just be a consumerist of others knowledge and theory when you have advanced dialectics that are indistinguishable from magic, I think
Why would Lenin debunk Aquinas, Locke or Hegel, or whomever else neocons read?
Levi Powell
I don't hang around tumbler. But whatever /pol thinks is wrong usually. Yeh, so I'd avoid white meat if I were you. I mean, date who you think you should of course. I was only pointinting out a probability.
Dylan Edwards
Basically saying Avoid white people. user what the fuck. Well then may as well as avoid black men as well if you want to look at statistics here. Or you don't judge people on skin tone like an actual Communist and make an informed decision on their personality and stuff.
Fucking radlibs
Aaron Russell
Read more theory, if you were well read you would of been able to crush him in any political discussion but it sounds like your lack of knowledge allowed him to berate you with retarded arguments like calling it stupid and irrational. Capitalism lets America shit all over everything. BASED MERICA Something happens back. Waaaaa muh Capitalism, hope this disgusting neo-con gets gulaged by future Stalin
Jaxon Lee
Okay well you don't know what statistics are if your taking voting history and shit into consideration. Also, damn bro be a little less triggered.
His whole thing is, the status quo is "rational" or else it wouldn't exist. To an extent I agree (see: Parenti) but he says it is irrational for any kind of socialist revolt to take place.
Juan Hall
Cut this asshole out of your life completely, find a new BF who is actually revolutionary, and learn from him instead.
Aaron Morales
Your weird and dumb. I never disagreed with what Hampton is saying. I'm only pointing out that on a political basis white AMERICAN men are some dumb cunts. Also I never said don't associate just beware dating. And your also not doing your argument any favors by quoting a black American male.
Nathan Watson
Basing you're relationships purely on race, especially if its due to political assumptions, is not only stupid but putting yourself at risk of going down the rabbit hole of basing everyone on their race. You could easily just say be careful to understand your partners politics before you date, but by aligning personal politics with race you send people down the rabbit hole basing every persons politics on their race before even interacting with them.
Parker King
He told me he was an anarchist in high school (and studied anarchism "thoroughly"), a Marxist during his first two years of uni (and again, studied it "thoroughly"), then picked up Hegel, the ancients, and the classical libs and decided Marxism and anarchism were garbage. I feel as if every time I try to turn back to radicalism he is right there next to me going: "I can debunk this you stupid c*nt".
