Why /r/communism is essentially a bunch of condescending douches

UPDATE 12/10/12

I wrote this out of anger really. I wouldn’t take this seriously I was the reader. I’ll let it stand, because I’m not going censor myself.

 

Recently, I was banned from the sub-reddit/r/communism. What had happened, is I was browsing /r/communism because I was curious in different political ideals, and was also reminded by /r/MURICA as they’ve had some recent posts about raids on their sub-reddit. I was browsing, and saw some post that included in the title “Anti-Amerika week”. Amerika, refers to the United States of America, as it’s a common viewpoint outside of the USA, to view anyone living in North or South America as American. This doesn’t really bother me, as this isn’t really insulting, and more just a different ideology.  I saw a post called “Anti Amerika Week: Trail of tears” which was a link to Wikipedia  with a comment mentioned that Lincoln was on the $5 for freeing slaves, and Jackson was on the $20 for forcing Native Americans to leave their home, and essentially murdering them. I pointed out that Jackson’s actual thought was that he was saving them from the white people of the surrounding areas, because if they didn’t move, they would be destroyed. This was followed by some posts, where I was called a Reactionary which I guess means I’m on the political right by communist standards. Some other notable events was what I thought was a horrible response to my argument  as the person just bashed my overall skill, and really only addressed one point. Now, honestly, I don’t really mind that I was banned from a sub-reddit that doesn’t really meet my political interest, as I find communism way too far left, to the point of opposing free speech, promoting violence to solve problems, and  their user base is filled with condescending douches, who don’t want to take the time to help others see their point of view.

Whats annoying is, the fact that /r/Communism  opposes free speech. Now, I understand this rule. You don’t want negativity in your discussions on communism, and you don’t want your use base to insult one another. However, if you read a little down, they’re essentially using their opposition to free speech, so they don’t have to deal with oppressive speech, claiming that if you use free speech, oppressive speech has to be defended. Okay, seems like a good reason. I don’t agree with it, but it’s not like they’re skipping logical reasoning anywhere. Know, what’s baffling to me, is this line “Opposing free speech does not mean we reject the notion of debating opposing viewpoints”. I get the feeling that they use their opposition to free speech in order to reject debating opposing viewpoints. My ban message doesn’t say anything other than, “You have been banned from posting to /r/communism: Communism.” Now, I find it odd, because all my post did was debate a viewpoint, to which I hoped I could have a intelligent conversation.  Nope. Instead, like mentioned before, I’m met with images, calling me a Reactionary, and I’m met with hostile words debating my point. I’ve read over the rules, and my post didn’t really break any rules of theirs. So I’m forced to come to conclusion, that they don’t want to debate those with other political viewpoints, nor do they want to teach them their own, as obvious by the last section of their rules. (More on that later)

As mentioned before, a user posted a video where Woody Allen talks about beating Nazi’s to get their point across, while his liberal friends say that satire and words work much better. Both of these aren’t really good solutions, as I personally think that meeting hostility with friendliness is much more productive, as it’s hard for people to be mean back to you if you’re being nice to them. While the two ideas mentioned in this video aren’t really super effective, Violence is by far, much worse than speaking out against it. Violence is like somewhat like the first law of motion, which states that objects in rest tend to stay in rest, and objections in motion tend to stay in motion, unless acted upon an external force. The object in this analogy, is Violence, and the external force is the friendly response. I’m not saying “lets go hug the people shooting at us” I’m saying that you have to approach them peacefully, and not act hostile to them. Assuming their the normal human being, this will allow them to eventually give a friendly response to you, and will let you progress into a relationship where you can talk about the problems at hand. /r/Communism obviously doesn’t have this intention,which is scary, because it means they want to crush their foes with violence, and not try to reach sensible, peaceful solutions.

So, go ahead and call me a hypocrite, as I’m about to get a little hostile here myself, but I’ll try not to go overboard. I mentioned that I believe I was essentially banned for wanting to debate the trail of tears, and was met with a image from a mod, and nothing else really happened, other than a few users insulting my skills as a historian. What I’ve found however, is one of the mods, is a huge dick, which leads me to believe, based on my limited experience with other users, is that they don’t want to promote communism, rather, they want to circlejerk around about how great it is. Reading the final part of their rules, “On the participation of non-marxist posters” they have some interesting rules. Rule V states “This forum is not for capitalists, nor does it aim to educate or convert them”, which is a sign to suggest that they’re a circlejerk of their communist ideals. Continuing on to the next rule, I’m going to break it down.

“Everyone, regardless of ideology, is free to probe into marxism” Right off the bat, their hostile attitude prevents this, as they would rather you not show up at all, if your capitalist, or if you’re a MRA (Men’s Right Activist, which is somewhat complicated to explain).  ”develop their understanding of marxism in this forum with legitimate levels of antagonistic questioning” This isn’t true. Referring to this thread, the mod pretty much mocks the user, for asking questions, trying to better understand their point of view. The rest of the rule stats the forum is used to trolling, and the search bar is your friend. This kind of behavior is obviously hostile, and while they are certianly entitled to their own opinions, I find it a little odd, as they come off as they’re better than you, and that their club is better, yet they wont let you join it.

So, what does this prove? Well a lot of things really. It shows that the brand of communism they’re selling is, interesting to say the least, and really shouldn’t be a place to go and learn about communism  and what it was intended for. I don’t think Karl Marx ever intended communist to be condescending reddit users, who bash all views they oppose. Rather, it was solution to a problem he saw, but like all political ideologies  as time goes on, the ideals evolve, and what it means, and who appeals to changes. So, in essence, I guess I’m trying to say that /r/communism isn’t the place to go to learn about communism, rather it’s a place to go if you know about it already, and want to talk to like minded people, and don’t want to help people understand what’s going on.

Afterthought

The Allocated Divergence Age  Machine Or ADAM for short was the world’s first time machine. My grandfather always remarked that a time machine was against the will of the gods. However, my grandfather was also suffering from dementia long before I was born. Everyone marveled at the fact that we could go back in time, and many did at first. It was made possible for the fee of $200,000,000 which was advertised as a remarkably cheap price. But in reality it wasn’t cheap, and only if your great great great grandfather was Warren Buffett could you afford to go on such an indescribable trip.

In order to have money for something extra for the kids outside of their college fund( Which was started before we even seriously had the idea of kids just so they had a decent amount) I worked as a janitor at Warwickshire Co. The company that invented ADAM. As I was making my rounds, I got to the ADAM labs, and I heard an abased laugh in the corner on the far right side of the labs, where the ADAM engineers had their desks. More out of adventures sake did I walk, than for the sake of other people. In the corner I found Dr.McPherson laying there.

“Dr. McPherson…?” I gingerly said.

“Why hello my boy!” He replied, the vodka on his breath transpired out of his mouth

“Are you….ok?”

“Why certainly!”

“Don’t you think you should go?”

“No! I most certainly think I should stay! After all it is only…” He lost his thought as he looked at his watch. “Well never mind the time!” He piped out a second later

“Dr. McPherson, You need to go. I can drive you home, I’m almost done.”

“But don’t you want a try with ADAM over there before I do take my final glamorous leave?”

His question hit me like a ton of bricks. A shot at ADAM? I had never even thought of such a thing. I knew it was wrong. But I wasn’t going to waste this opportunity.

“Yes. Hook me Doc, would you please?”

“That’s the spirit!” McPherson piped out as he stumbled up from his corner full of vodka and piss.

The ADAM machine was dimly lit as I step inside. The florescent lights were humming a low tune. It was very small, and I stood there waiting for further instructions. McPherson must of hit a button, because a watch popped out from a panel in the grey wall. I looked at the watch, and next to it, there was a information sheet. It said to wear the watch, and hit the button with the word “BACK” on it. I put it on. It was heavy.

McPherson was saying something, but through the thick shower like glass, it was all mumbles. I couldn’t make anything out. As soon as he finished talking, he tripped over his own foot and threw the switch in the process.

“Fuck” I said aloud.

The ADAM machine whirled to life. Light started flashing, and a spinning halo formed around my body. Then black. Then white. Then more black. Then sunlight in my eyes. I opened them. I was in an alley way, from what looked to be some time in the middle of the 19th century. I stood up. Thankfully, the ADAM machine replaced clothing items for more appropriate cloths for the given time period. As I stumbled out of the alley way, I saw a boy selling newspapers. He was shouting something about a man named Lee. I didn’t quite catch it. I saw the date, it was 1864.  Not paying attention, I stepped on a soldiers foot, which caused him to fire his rifle, which in turn shot a important looking man.  He looked like a general, and he was in a blue uniform of sorts. I quickly ran away, and into an alley and hit the “BACK”  button.

I awoke in the lab. But McPherson wasn’t laying on the floor. He wasn’t there at all. I walked out, and looked around. I saw a African American man sweeping.

“Hello..? I thought I was the last janitor until the morning…”

“I’m the only janitor around here sir”

“Sir? That’s a little too formal for me.”

“But it’s the law sir. All slaves must call white folk sir or madam.”

“Since when…?”

Then it hit me that he said slave.

Fuck.

The uninteresting life

“No”

“No?”

“No”

John looked at the floor as we walked out of the office his boss had occupied. He felt a sort dejection. Not the normal kind when it was just a bad day. This time it was more hard hitting. Closer to home. He asked his boss for a pay raise. After all, he did singly handily code the best selling program in the history of his small computer firm.

The company John worked at was a small local computer firm, that had maybe about 100 people. It specialized in everything from repair to coding. John worked as a coder. He had worked there for 12 years. Ever since it started. Everyone knew John was the best coder. But his work never brought his mind justice. He had only codded meager programs, that were often packaged into bigger software suites and overlooked. But John was ok with that. After all, he only had to support him and his wife.

Until nine months ago. Nine months ago, his wife got pregnant. They we’re both excited a great amount, but John was secretly worried. He knew that the apartments they lived in where no place for a child. And a house and a baby cost a lot of money. For nine months, John had been doing amazing feats for the company, in order to get a big pay rise. And with only two weeks left till the baby was due, he needed money and fast. John had gotten enough money for the house, but they could still use a lot money to buy the baby things.

John walked down the stairs. The elevator was packed at this time of day, with everyone leaving and whatnot. He got to the lobby of the building he worked in. It was a tall building. It was in downtown after all. He walked down to the docks, where he waited for the ferry to take him across the river. He was 20 minutes early. As always. He liked to have a hot chocolate before he left, especially in the colder months, when the wind would be bitterly freezing. He sat down at the stand’s counter.

“What will it be mac?”

Mac wasn’t Johns real name of course. And the counter boy knew this. But he always forgot Johns name. So he called him mac.

“The usual, without the extra whip cream though. I need to lose some pounds.” John said as he put the $1.50 he owed on the counter.

“Here you go mac” Said the counter boy as he handed John the hot chocolate

“Thanks” John said as he went to take a sip.

“Hows the wife mac?”

“She’s hanging in there. She’s due in two weeks.”

“Is she really?! Well then, Here take this as a small gift to the baby” The counter boy handed John a small necklace. It was a pendent.

“It’s a good luck charm. I don’t need it no more. You baby can have it.”

“Thanks…. You didn’t have to do such a kind thing.”

“Oh nonsense! Every baby should have a bit off luck”

And with that, John waved bye too the counter boy as he was off to his ferry. He took his usual place, down on the lower deck, by the furthest window on the left. He looked at the pendent and then got a call from his boss.

“John, I thought about it, and I’ve decided to give you that raise after all”

“Th-Th-Thank you Sir! Thank you so much!” John said with a hint of gratification in his voice.

“Hey, no problem”

John got off the boat, and into his car. He then stopped for a second before he turned the car on, and then cried tears of joy. He then knew everything would be alright.

 

IZ BE MAKINZ STOIRES!

Im making a story. About Zombies. Here’s the first Chapter.

CHAPTER ONE

Max, and his Childhood.

I grew up in Small town America. Riding Bikes, Running around outside, walking down main street to the movie theater with friends. Getting lunch at the local diner.

Oh how I wish that was true. Truth be told, I grew up in Zombie town America. I was only 12 when the outbreak started. Me and my brother were the only ones left after our town got hit. So we tried to stay there long as possible. But it didn’t work. We ran out of food. So we traveled to the nearest city. There wasn’t many people there. And the ones who were there didn’t wan to trust us. So we raided empty apartments and took food and water.

One day we got steaks. We cooked two of them that first night. My brothers turned out to have to have a very bad stomach virus. And there’s no doctors in Zombie town America. He died after a week of the day he ate it. How lame is that? Dying of a stomach Virus in the Zombie apocalypse. It’s very lame. So here I am. With no one to keep me company but this journal and a shotgun with 300 rounds. I plan on going to the coast and take my uncles boat who’s dead by now. Or at least he should be. Why would you take a boat to survive in this hell on earth you might ask? Because Zombies can’t swim.

Preditcing the apocoalypse

So with all the 2012 hype, I felt in the slight chance is does happen, what would happen? Know many people predict that god will save the non sinners. What if he doesn’t? So how do we predict it? We turn to movies, books, and video games. I mean one of them have to be right. Right?

Like for example, Lets say a nuclear fallout happens. What do we turn to to predict that? For movies and books, in the 1960′s that was one of the most popular sci fi genres of books and movies. Why? Cold war answers it all. Although if you enjoy video games, Turn to the Retro Future Series Fallout.

Zombie invasion? Oh that’s to easy. There’s even videos on you tube telling you how to survive it. But if your not the You tube type there’s plenty of movies on it. Like Zombie land, I am legend(Thats more vampire zombie but same thing) Or for books I am legend(Book)  Some book about how to surive it(I forgot what it’s called) and for videos games there’s a ton. Half life(A little bit) Halo (A little bit) left 4 dead series, House of the dead etc etc.

So in the event it happens, Remember what you learned from those movies books and video games.

-From the basement of Alex_N

Wisdom and Obama.

Well hey there. Sorry for not posting for a bit but what the hey! Lets get into it.

So two days ago in English class we were reading about two famous wisdom lovers. Solomon  and Socrates. Who had two different views on wisdom. Solomon believed Wisdom is a gift of god while Socrates believed in… Well I feel best to sum his views up with a quote

‘All I know is that I know nothing’-Socrates

See? He didn’t think wisdom is a gift from god(neither do I but I do believe wisdom can be gained) But wisdom is knowing you have none minus the fact of what I just said. So while I pondered it for a bit I came up with this.

Wisdom is not knowing more then other but understanding People, Events, Or actions with little time or effort.

So I leave this to you. What do you think wisdom is?

Anyways in some other news Obama’s rating is at a all time low.

I think Obama is a good guy in the wrong time. Although I do believe that the fact that he’s black gave him a advantage. I still think he would of won its just do people want to say “I was alive when The first African American President was elected” Versus  “I was alive when I voted another republican into a 4 year term that could of messed us up” But what am I talking about I’m more of a Independent that goes for whoever has the better ideas.

-From The Basement of Alex_N.

It is not living that matters, but living rightly- Socrates.

Relationships

Relationships. I just broke up with my girlfriend. Then I said I was sorry. Only to find she was dating some one else all ready. Let me explain the whole thing to you.

7:00 Am

I turn on my phone and find a text saying good morning from my soon to be Ex.

7:50 Am

I get to school and Im in head for first hour.

9:25 Am

I hear my friends taking about me and my girlfriend. I feel angry but keep cool

10:00 Am

I tell my one friend that I think me and her would be better off as good friends.

11:00 Am

I found out that my Girlfriend says that my good friend likes her more then me. I get pissed

Lunch.

I break up with her then feel bad.

2:45

I here them saying I love you to each other. I’m heart broken.

That was my day. And to my surprise I toke it worse then her. Know to keep my mind off things I sit here listing to pink Floyd and posting. I feel like life is pointless and I can’t do anything.

-From the Basement of Alex_N

You would think.

You would think the Economy should be better. But it’s not. And yet the idiots in Washington are taking ever to fix this. I already have 1 idea that would help us. Get rid of  The Lottery. Know you might say ‘Whoa whoa whoa whoa that’s the only hope I have of not being poor anymore’. Yeah but you win like $200 million(Major lottery were talking about) Only to give about a quarter back due to taxes. Why not Keep the 200 mil? But you might say we make a shitload of money because of the fools who buy them. I don’t think 200 million people buy lottery tickets every time. But Michigan’s governor has falled to see that. Oh well Stupid Michigan voters. Don’t go Democrat. Go independent. Go for some one who cares.

-From the basement of Alex_N

Welcome to my mind

Well This is a new theme for me. It’s funny. All those Noobs go with whatever is popular. But I felt I should chose a different theme. Just to stand out. Anyways this is my blog were I shall post whatever is on my mind and isnt worthy for The Federation.

-From The Basement of Alex_N