How many Anarchists are on ATS?

More and more am I seeing the Anarchist symbol on people's avatars, and I am curious on how many Anarchists are on ATS. I think the Anarchist population here is growing, but I'm not quite sure. Is there anyway to find out the numbers?

I also have an idea if you would like to try it. If you are an Anarchist on ATS, put this (A) in your signature somewhere, so there can be a way to tell if the ideology on ATS is growing.

I dunno what an anarchist is. Do they actually have their own communities set up on land not owned by governments? I believe anarchy is ideal, but we're not yet ready. Government means centralized authority. Anarchy means the absence of government; of centralized authority. That is spectacular, except I don't believe we're civilly minded enough to govern ourselves.

Just think out a few situations that would normally involve cops. Think of how it plays out because of centralized authority. Now take that away and replay the events. I love the idea, but it's not yet practical, IMO.

don't mean to be rude but what would an anarchist actually mean and why do you want to know?

Originally posted by bredd77
don't mean to be rude but what would an anarchist actually mean and why do you want to know?

Do you not know what Anarchism means? I want to know if there are more of them because it is usually a sign that people are changing, and are unhappy if there are more Anarchists. Russia proves that point really well.

[edit on 9-3-2010 by Phlynx]

You've made a good point Phlynx but I would not reveal that information on the Internet. Maybe I sound paranoid but it's not something I want the world to know.

If I may make a suggestion? You might get more response if you give a definition of what an anarchist is.

With the dumbing down of the population there are many who really do not know what you're talking about.

reply to post by Phlynx


That sounds like a good way to get yourself even more monitored.

In that vein, count me in! I've been an anarchist since puberty. I can't imagine how any person could honestly feel he had the right to lord it over anyone else. But then I've never seen the Darwin Awards.

We need order as half the population of the world are followers. Without leader ship, it would be like Somalia. Even tribes have leaders. I think Anarchy is stupid. But thats my opinion lol.

I think I have said this once here already, but if you think Anarchism is cool or really want to try it out. Move to Mogadishu or the Darfur region or somewhere else. When, if, you return please be sure to let us know how it went.

You see Anarchism is just as flawed as any other political system. The flaw is: People. There will always be someone that wants power or wants more of whatever it is people want. Thus factions are created and there is war.

This is my opinion of course, I could be wrong.

Originally posted by Phlynx
More and more am I seeing the Anarchist symbol on people's avatars, and I am curious on how many Anarchists are on ATS.

How do we really define when someone is anarchist when it seems like there are no rules to define being in that state of mind and to continue to live that way?

People put on patches, show symbols, act a certain way, yet these are all movements. As you suggested, these movements indicate change. Once that change is obtained, then that state of anarchy seems to suddenly being removed by what they wanted.

Maybe it's more of not being oppressed by the government rather than no government.

Originally posted by dmor79
I think I have said this once here already, but if you think Anarchism is cool or really want to try it out. Move to Mogadishu or the Darfur region or somewhere else. When, if, you return please be sure to let us know how it went.

You see Anarchism is just as flawed as any other political system. The flaw is: People. There will always be someone that wants power or wants more of whatever it is people want. Thus factions are created and there is war.

This is my opinion of course, I could be wrong.

I am not an Anarchist anymore. I have changed my mind about it. Don't make assumptions just because I start a thread. I asked a question on this thread, and it is not being answered.

reply to post by Phlynx


I probably should have worded it better. My post was towards Anarchists in general. No offense intended.

edit - I also think that if there is a growing Anarchist movement here, or anywhere, they probably wouldn't advertise it these days. That's the best answer I can come up with to the question.



[edit on 9-3-2010 by dmor79]

What a ridiculous question! Anarchists at this stage would be considered either presumed "enemy belligerents" or domestic terrorists considering the patriot act and its amendments plus the new bill being pushed. Either way you get on the list for "Camp Phun."

How can you expect anyone to respond to that question, it would be like saying, "Yes, please, paint me with the laser."

Cheers - Dave

[edit on 3/9.2010 by bobs_uruncle]

en.wikipedia.org...:Anarchism

that link will pretty much tell you all you need to know about anarchism and its different schools of thought.

Anarchism (from Greek ἀν (without) + ἄρχειν (to rule) + ισμός (from stem -ιζειν), "without archons," "without rulers") is a political philosophy encompassing theories and attitudes which support anarchy or the elimination of state, abolition of private property, and prefigurative politics (i.e. modes of organization that consciously resemble the world you want to create. Or, as an anarchist historian of the Spanish Revolution formulated, "an effort to think of not only the ideas but the facts of the future itself".) Though the terms "anarchist" and "anarchy" have been used to describe purported anti-statists and their positions since ancient times, political anarchism originates with the first self-declared anarchist, Pierre-Joseph Proudhon's publication of What is Property? Or, an Inquiry into the Principle of Right and of Government in 1840. Proudhon's famous declaration that "Property is Theft!," along with his less famous declaration that "Property is Liberty", inspired different anarchist economic models throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.
While political anarchism has its roots in the same 19th century social foment that produced Marxism, the two philosophies diverged sharply, beginning with a personal split between Karl Marx and anarchist Mikhail Bakunin. Anarchists were active in the abolition of slavery, and have continually been active in the labor movement, civil rights, women's liberation, both anti-capitalism and pro-capitalism (with varying definitions of capitalism), the anti-war movement, LGBT rights, both anti-globalization and pro-globalization (with varying definitions of globalization), tax resistance, and other forms of anarchist activism.

contrary to many peoples thought, anarchy (chaos i.e. somalia) and anarchism are two different things. anarchism doesnt mean chaos.. however it does mean no structure, however no structure doesnt mean there has to be chaos... did u get that? there are many historical exmples of an anarchist society and guess what... it worked. but for one reason or another (usually war) eventually the anarchist society was stamped out by fascists, communists and monarchies..

en.wikipedia.org...

Icelandic Commonwealth (930–1262)
Rhode Island (1636–1648)
Albemarle (1640s–1663)
Holy Experiment (Quaker) Pennsylvania (1681–1690)
Libertatia (1670s–1690s)
Utopia (1847–1860s)
Modern Times (1851 to late 1860s)
Whiteway Colony (1898–present)
Tolstoyan Agricultural Communes (1921–1937)
Autonomous Shinmin region (1929–1932)
Spanish Revolution (1936–1938)
Anarchist Catalonia (1936–1939)
Anarchist Aragon (1936–1937)
Israeli Kibbutz Movement
Freetown Christiania (1971–present)

as well as: en.wikipedia.org...

Anarchist Ukraine (January 1919 - 1921) was the territory controlled by the Revolutionary Insurrectionary Army of Nestor Makhno where an attempt was made to form a stateless anarchist society in part of the territory of modern Ukraine during the Ukrainian Revolution.

so if your lookin for anarchist information.... there ya go. if you wanna know who anarchists are here on ATS, guess you'll just have to guess.

kind of ironic that the first anarchistic society was in iceland seeing as how they are telling the banking elite to shove it right now.. the spirit lives on apparently

reply to post by TheCoffinman


Right, it's a matter of the "I want more" attitude that is inherent in humans that makes this system, and all others really, fail.

reply to post by dmor79


indeed... currency, that is money, is evil... the power hungry and greedy have ingrained it in humanity that capitalism is the ONLY way...

Anarchy is merely the opposite of a monarchy.

I live in an anarchist/communion type setting. You could probably label me as an anarcho-nihilist, however, it's only because I believe in total self-control over the self, and have no interest whatsoever in the governance of any other body aside from myself, this has been interpreted as apathy and nihilism, so I'm content with this label/value I've asserted. I believe in the Common Laws that protect us, our friends and our families - however I am an anarchist in the sense that I believe Acts/Statutes and Bills are forms of corporate/fascist control and I've had enough of it! :]

Whether or not any like it, anyone who takes advantage of the world wide web via internet is a practicing anarchist. Maybe they should add that to wikipedia some day.

By participating online you all are anarchists. Yes, guilty by association. So least until you log off, you are a definite practicing anarchist without any doubt about it.

World wide web via internet is today's greatest anarchist model and forefront.

[edit on 9-3-2010 by Tormentations]

an·ar·chist   /ˈænərkɪst/ Show Spelled[an-er-kist] Show IPA
–noun
1.a person who advocates or believes in anarchy or anarchism.
2.a person who seeks to overturn by violence all constituted forms and institutions of society and government, with no purpose of establishing any other system of order in the place of that destroyed.
3.a person who promotes disorder or excites revolt against any established rule, law, or custom

Okeydokey. Well, I own a copy of the Anarchist Cookbook. It's cherry, probably worth a bit. Does that count?

Definition 2 above. Nope, and hell, no. I bled for that ******. Abolish it?

Definition 3 above. Well, I suppose only when I cook Kingfish rangoon. Incite revolt? What the hell has ever been the point of that??? Lets incite cooperation and a sense of mutual well-being. You all can catch the fish, I'll grow the vegetables augmented by a few weird tropical fruits and coconuts, how'd that be?

Anarchy is a piss-pore, lazy mode of adressing societal woes. Revolt if you must, but don't just piss away all forms of government. What do you suppose fills that vacuum? Always? Some form of dictatorship by a collection of those who know better than you what is good for you.

reply to post by purplemonkeydishwasher


I know who you are though, where I think I might be anarcho-socialist. I think you might just be anarcho-sitaboutist. you still owe me a tenner dude!
Damn that capitalist system!

Well, you're pretty damned demanding aren't you?

"Put a mark in your signature so I know who is anarchist and how isn't damnit."

"I don't see anyone answering my question!!"

This is highly suspect, in my opinion. No offense, but you are being quite rude and hostile, and suspicious. What are going to ask for next?

"Please, if you own a gun, list what type of firearm you own in your signature and your home address and your local sheriff's contact number in your personal profile, thank you."