posted November 04, 2011 05:26 AM            

I think he's overly optimistic on this happening naturally as I think he makes the common mistake that most other people think like him so if they actually stop to think about everything they'll come to similar conclusions as himself, and that they'll desire freedom (control of one's own life) over slavery (control of other people's lives), which I don't think is true. To all too many people, freedom means the ability to control others without checks on their power, the very opposite of freedom.

I've also noticed that ideology creates blinders (something neuroscience can actually detect with brain scans) and I have yet to see any ideology (including anarchism) that could accurately understand the complexity and subtle nuances of society. Therefore I'm very cautious of it.

Btw, you may enjoy this surprising Schoolhouse Rock vid on "pirates and emperors":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQBWGo7pef8

posted November 04, 2011 07:43 AM            

i think there is a slight confusion, or manipulation here. to give this sentence an actually equal value for both hen and man, it should be "you cannot threaten a hen and have the hen give you more eggs, but you can threaten a man and he will give you more sperms".

it's comparing physical capacity and ownership. but sure, the man WILL try to give more sperms i guess, but not more than his body can!

nitpicking aside, i AGREE that an anarchist society would function more efficiently. it's actually what i believe. what i don't believe is that it is actually POSSIBLE. one thing is that most people don't really have the grasp on the concept of anarchism. i used to mingle with lots of artists and musicians, and among them and with them, many leftist activists who all read Chomsky and were all about doing protests and provoking police and government and all that. my ex was nicknamed as an anarchist (who turned out to be an idiot hero-wannabe Pisces). they were taking actions, they were well-versed and intelligent. (not saying anarchists and leftists are the same thing though)

once i expressed my naive view, "i think if everyone just started caring only about themselves, the world would be a perfect place". and yea, it entered their right ears and existed from the left. they were too busy discussing how to overthrow the government and uncover conspiracy theories and drag greedy kings off their thrones.

posted November 05, 2011 10:12 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by PixieJane:
Oh, it's been awhile since I've seen this. I've heard some good podcasts by this guy too on like how an anarchist society could function even more efficiently than under current government. I actually found him convincing, save I don't see how the world could smoothly transition to the said anarchist model without a lot of work by the majority of people (which isn't going to happen, at least not without some kind of global apocalypse pushing people to abolish government which is hard for me to imagine happening). It's true that successful anarchist societies (or, if bad, were still better than when under a government--for example, Somalia has actually gotten better without a government with longer lifespans) have existed but they're exceedingly rare and easily subverted so it would take a populace conditioned to true liberty (and responsibility) than a populace of sheep. It's also true that some societies suffered when faced with less government as well (like when Russia gave up Communism for a more free market model).

I think he's overly optimistic on this happening naturally as I think he makes the common mistake that most other people think like him so if they actually stop to think about everything they'll come to similar conclusions as himself, and that they'll desire freedom (control of one's own life) over slavery (control of other people's lives), which I don't think is true. To all too many people, freedom means the ability to control others without checks on their power, the very opposite of freedom.

I've also noticed that ideology creates blinders (something neuroscience can actually detect with brain scans) and I have yet to see any ideology (including anarchism) that could accurately understand the complexity and subtle nuances of society. Therefore I'm very cautious of it.

Btw, you may enjoy this surprising Schoolhouse Rock vid on "pirates and emperors":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQBWGo7pef8

And just for fun here's the "annoying peasant" that got shown at 1:52-2:03 in your YT link which peasants describe themselves as anarchosyndacalists to King Arthur :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAaWvVFERVA

---

posted November 06, 2011 06:15 AM            

i don't have the experience of being inside of a community, be it a family, or government, small or big. i stand at the edge of the "system", and my freedom is flawed because i am affected as well. in fact i am affected even more, because i am a dysfunctional part in this society. i have less freedom, i have less choices, because of it. i don't like labels either, but i wish i had one (rather than "an outsider"). it would make my life much easier.