I think now you’re coming around! 🙏 A task can be accomplished with people providing guidance apart from any hierarchy or coercion.
In a way, something like r/place is a perfect example of how anarchism works on a small scale.
With that being said, I’m sure there are r/place communities where one person insists on total control, which most of us would immediately recognize as toxic.
Unfortunately, scale this toxicity up to a systemic scale, and suddenly we tend to fear even the suggestion that these systems might be harmful.
Sure, if you’re using “leader” to mean coordinator or guide, then there’s absolutely nothing about this that is antithetical to anarchism. In fact, this can be (as I have previously stated) an example of anarchism working on a small scale.
No it doesn’t. You just recognized this yourself when you noted that a leader can be a coordinator or guide. This by no means necessitates or even gestures toward a hierarchy.
“Orders” is a pretty unsavory, cynical way to frame a leader’s role. In fact, one could argue that a good leader does not need to lead by coercion or orders. This is the capitalist’s way of leadership: “I have more; therefore I’m above you.”
A good leader guides by expertise and experience, and need not place themself above others.
Leader does not equate authoritarian. Anarchism recognizes such hierarchical leadership for what it is: Abusive and destructive
A leader must inherently be up in the hierarchy, since if they weren’t everyone would be a leader. Differences that may only be genetic can definitely give you a position over others, without even needing to use “coercion and violent orders” that you seem so obsessed with.
Think of that teacher almost everybody had that was able to keep absolute order and silence without even raising their voice or punishing anyone, but imposing by their mere presence. That’s what these kind of organic leaders have, an imponent presence that puts order without violent actions. But it’s clear than a teacher is hierarchically superior to students in a school, and that doesn’t mean they’re always gonna be imposing themselves by force.
But whatever, this is too focused on how survival without leadership is impossible when I said that an anarchist society would be constantly raided by opportunistic people
Wow, it’s amazing how you are wrong about almost everything you say! You seem to be replying to your own strawpeople instead of the words I actually say.
First of all, you are the one who brought violence into the discussion, so I’ll just summarily ignore that at this point since you’re just barking at the end of your chain.
Second, a leader by no means needs to be “up in the hierarchy,” and I pity you for thinking they do. It’s funny you mention teaching since my background is in education, and I was prepared to use a teacher as another perfect example of a non-hierarchical structure. Granted, there are hierarchies that are forced on some teachers in certain circumstances due to the flaws inherent in our inequitable system, but effective classroom management is by and large a non-hierarchical relationship. In fact, creating a classroom hierarchy is a hallmark of an untrained, ineffective teacher! A teacher who is “in charge” is far less effective than one who sees themself as a guide walking beside their students.
I said that an anarchist society would be constantly raided by opportunistic people
Okay, so you take issue with Kropotkin et al’s argument that it would not? Which parts of his argument do you care to address? Or is this just based on some vague incorrect notion you have of what anarchism is, without looking further? Personally, I subscribe to the notion that a stateless society in which everyone feels personally invested and in which it is in our own best interests to engage with the community would effectively eliminate the toxic power structures that have led to things like poverty and greed. Certainly, it’s at least an idea worth investigating, without arrogantly proclaiming what you think would happen, without even understanding what it is.
Care to quote where I referenced violence?
I think now you’re coming around! 🙏 A task can be accomplished with people providing guidance apart from any hierarchy or coercion.
In a way, something like r/place is a perfect example of how anarchism works on a small scale.
With that being said, I’m sure there are r/place communities where one person insists on total control, which most of us would immediately recognize as toxic.
Unfortunately, scale this toxicity up to a systemic scale, and suddenly we tend to fear even the suggestion that these systems might be harmful.
In a way, we’re all sort of like abuse survivors.
Bro do you want me to mention again how a “coordinator” is actually a leader?
Sure, if you’re using “leader” to mean coordinator or guide, then there’s absolutely nothing about this that is antithetical to anarchism. In fact, this can be (as I have previously stated) an example of anarchism working on a small scale.
So I’m glad we both are in agreement!
A leader implies hierarchy
No it doesn’t. You just recognized this yourself when you noted that a leader can be a coordinator or guide. This by no means necessitates or even gestures toward a hierarchy.
A coordinator coordinates by giving orders, a leader gives orders. A guide is followed by others, a leader is followed by others
“Orders” is a pretty unsavory, cynical way to frame a leader’s role. In fact, one could argue that a good leader does not need to lead by coercion or orders. This is the capitalist’s way of leadership: “I have more; therefore I’m above you.”
A good leader guides by expertise and experience, and need not place themself above others.
Leader does not equate authoritarian. Anarchism recognizes such hierarchical leadership for what it is: Abusive and destructive
A leader must inherently be up in the hierarchy, since if they weren’t everyone would be a leader. Differences that may only be genetic can definitely give you a position over others, without even needing to use “coercion and violent orders” that you seem so obsessed with.
Think of that teacher almost everybody had that was able to keep absolute order and silence without even raising their voice or punishing anyone, but imposing by their mere presence. That’s what these kind of organic leaders have, an imponent presence that puts order without violent actions. But it’s clear than a teacher is hierarchically superior to students in a school, and that doesn’t mean they’re always gonna be imposing themselves by force.
But whatever, this is too focused on how survival without leadership is impossible when I said that an anarchist society would be constantly raided by opportunistic people
Wow, it’s amazing how you are wrong about almost everything you say! You seem to be replying to your own strawpeople instead of the words I actually say.
First of all, you are the one who brought violence into the discussion, so I’ll just summarily ignore that at this point since you’re just barking at the end of your chain.
Second, a leader by no means needs to be “up in the hierarchy,” and I pity you for thinking they do. It’s funny you mention teaching since my background is in education, and I was prepared to use a teacher as another perfect example of a non-hierarchical structure. Granted, there are hierarchies that are forced on some teachers in certain circumstances due to the flaws inherent in our inequitable system, but effective classroom management is by and large a non-hierarchical relationship. In fact, creating a classroom hierarchy is a hallmark of an untrained, ineffective teacher! A teacher who is “in charge” is far less effective than one who sees themself as a guide walking beside their students.
Okay, so you take issue with Kropotkin et al’s argument that it would not? Which parts of his argument do you care to address? Or is this just based on some vague incorrect notion you have of what anarchism is, without looking further? Personally, I subscribe to the notion that a stateless society in which everyone feels personally invested and in which it is in our own best interests to engage with the community would effectively eliminate the toxic power structures that have led to things like poverty and greed. Certainly, it’s at least an idea worth investigating, without arrogantly proclaiming what you think would happen, without even understanding what it is.