Submitted by Stolenfromreddit in Anarchism

We live in mostly authoritarian systems based on fear. We fear we won't be able to take a day-off, then we fear we're going to lose the job, then the roof over the head, then we fear we won't be able to care for our loved ones, then we fear for our own lives because we've reached a point where basic survival and security isn't something guaranteed even in developped western countries. Then someone comes and point at other people, telling you to fear them because they're at the root of your other fears, feeding into them. At some point, fear turns into terror when some groups take direct action and kill.

That same soneone who told you to fear other people then tells you that they will make that fear go away. That they are the strong one needed for the job. They speak with violent terms, firm terms, brutal sentences, are not afraid to threaten and use a lexicon of violence and military linguo, words that incite fear. Except it's not directed at you : he tells that to the people you fear. And suddenly, you feel safer. They make it go away. They stand between you and your fears. You feel more protected. Safe. And the safer you feel, the bolder you get. You stand up for yourself. And you find yourself repeating what they say, because they are so strong and protective, why wouldn't you stand for everything they do ? They're here for you ! It doesn't matter what they are doing behind your back, what they are doing in the privacy of their offices, their hypocrisy or how they can laugh at you and abuse you on whatever scale they can : you are so afraid of everything, they TAUGHT you to be afraid, what to fear and HOW to be afraid, they must be the only ones that can do anything for it and you will endure everything to make the fear go away and feel safe again.

It doesn't matter how many times you fall down for it. Until you have actually thought about it and learnt to recognize the patterns, how they manipulate you, you fall for it.

What can you do as an individual ? Learn how to defend yourself against manipulation, and educate others not to fall for it.

Basic personal defense against manipulation is, I think, overlooked in politics. I'm a survivor of narcissistic abuse. What I see with current political leaders such as Trump, Bolsonaro, Duterte, Le Pen, the Golden Dawn, the alt-right, is a circle of manipulation and abuse that uses THE EXACT SAME TACTICS on a grand scale. It never surprises me when I see studies about sociopathy and narcissism in global leaders and CEOs. Authority requires this.

Now excuse me I'll have to go cry under my sheets a little more.

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wanab3 wrote

Mutual-aid.

No one has any real control. Just lots of people pretending. Every day can be a day off when we seize the means of production.

Everything around you is meant to distract you from these facts. No matter what happens or is said, the people always hold the power.

We ultimately live in anarchy, no matter what's going on.

Live the life you want to live. I have a reddit sub, super small, buildingalternatives. I think I'll seed here, if I can figure it out how.

The idea is to share functional ways to radicalize a persons livelihood despite capitalism. How to create your own means of production. It's a collaborative effort at this point. I have a few small answers that really amount to practice.

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