chat

i mean what counts as bullying? the answer is no becasue nobody reads on Hexbear /hyperbole. also, i personally feel as if the word leftist is a somewhat nebulous term that doesn't actually mean much or tell me much about a person.

This is the least serious leftist space. You will be just fine here. If you make a bad take, you may get called out on it. But the correct response is to just investigate what they are saying and adjust your views accordingly. That's all it takes to be a "good" leftist; the only "bad" leftist is someone who refuses to do that navel-gazing, refuses to critically examine their own views.

Yes I admit, I haven't tried to read theory. I have no confidence that I would do it correctly.

two points. first, the only incorrect way to read theory is to not read it. even if you don't understand 100% of a book -- hell, even if you only understand 25% of a book the first time you read it -- you can still get a lot out of it and become a better, more informed leftist. second, theory is only one side of the coin. what makes a good leftist is a combination of theory and praxis that inform each other, so if you're still really that worried about not being able to read theory, getting out and actually contributing to a leftist cause will both help you feel like you're a Good Leftist and make reading theory more approachable, bc praxis informs theory and vice versa

Death to America

No one reads theory, they just tell people to read theory. One day someone will actually read theory and tell us what the hell we're all doing here.

No, you won't be bullied as long as you act in good faith. It's a good sign that you want to grow and learn and are willing to ask questions.

In my book, you're a leftist if you want the end of capitalism. The rest of theory is just for learning the how and the why.

For something that's easier to read, I'd suggest Blackshirts and Reds by Michael Parenti.

@mathemachristian@hexbear.net already linked my basic beginner guide in this thread so I won't spam it. Instead, I'll leave you with advice for if you never read theory, as much as I think you should.

Don't speak on what you haven't thoroughly investigated. If that is, say, whether or not revolution is required, don't immediately say yes or no, or even say that you think revolution is required but aren't sure. This sounds mean, but I promise, this right here will eliminate the vast majority of any real bullying you could come across. You can learn the answers to those questions by reading theory but also by listening to others.

Secondly, browse effort-posts and the News Mega. Just see what people are saying, and try to look up online what you aren't familiar with.

Third, just have fun in the general megathread and hobby comms like c/games! Those are just comfy and cozy.

Being gatekept on being a leftist is extremely leftist, the more times you've been purity tested the more leftist you are. Doesn't matter if you actually pass those purity tests, mind you, but it means you've stuck around long enough to not have given up and succumb to becoming a lib or fash.

As for theory, you can start with listening to Dolly Parton's seminal "9 to 5" as a primer on communism

We're all liberals here, so no worries

The important thing is to engage in a continual process of learning and self-education, so that you can engage in correct practice. Liberals don't have to do this because a. we're constantly bathed in propaganda that disseminates their worldview and b. they don't want to change the world in any meaningful way. You can pick up a lot by just hanging out with other leftists here and listening and chatting, but eventually you will want to read theory to better understand why they think the the things they do. Better yet, join an org irl, engage in political education through them and put it into practice.

At the end of the day, leftism isn't something you are, it's something you do.

Just learn a handful of quotes and drop them here and there in discussions, no one will notice that you haven't read theory

Also there isn't like an exam for leftism. Being an educated leftist is always better but if you say you're a comrade, you are to me until proven otherwise and that's done through actions

'having lots to say is what matters the most here, and that is something I cannot do.'

• something you cannot do... YET.

my first year or two of leftism was hanging out in online forums and reading 'easy' theory by Chomsky and other similar palatable modern theorists, who aren't exactly Marxist with a capital M, but have valid critiques of capitalism. Naomi Klein, David Graeber, even Michael Moore.

I'd recommend 'How The World Works' by Chomsky. The title makes it clear what it's about. It's my go to recommendation to anyone who's curious. The whole book is taken directly from his radio appearances and the like, so it's totally conversational and written for maximum digestibility. Each chapter is very short, sometimes even just a page or two iirc. He gets into the big debates, without throwing jargon around.

For me, it was illuminating, and made me pretty angry with the world and the lies I'd been told. This drove me to go further and further. I found what interests me most: imperialism. I've spent about 3 years reading about it, and will probably read about it until the day I die. I can't get enough of it. I've even written plays about it. I could talk about it for days on end. And yet three years ago, I probably couldn't have even put Congo or Venezuela on a map.

All this is to say that it'll all come to you. And that I think a knowledge of imperialism is the key to unlocking Marxism.

Not everybody is a debate bro. That's okay.

Not everybody comes to the conclusion that being a communist or socialist or humanist or antifascist through rigorous theory reading and debate. It can be okay to take these things on faith alone if that's all you've got right now.

Learning theory and reading/watching debates can be good for hardening your position against potential self doubt. Learning theory can be good in showing you that "Nope, nothing that I'm thinking or feeling is new. I'm not alone. Here's what others that came before me learned and have passed down as an act of solidarity with a future that they will never see." But it can be difficult to get started, keep up with it, or retain what the lessons were. And there's nothing wrong with that.

Shit, I've spent the last two weeks trying to read Marx's, Capital - Volume 1. Wanna know how far I am?

Page 39.

...

...

...

And the actual text doesn't start until page 27 of the copy I'm reading.

You're fine comrade. We're all libs here.

Nah, I don't meet theirs as well. Just be economically socialist, superstructurally progressive, and foreign policy-wise anti-western

If you hate capitalism and injustice with a burning passion that's all you need to be leftist in my book.

A work like Capital may be a little much to start with and the style is a little old fashioned, but I think you're underestimating yourself. Reading any sort of non-fiction just means taking it at the pace you are comfortable with. Sometimes you have to look up a word or a phrase, sometimes you have to sleep on something and come back to it with fresh eyes -- that's fine! Understanding isn't something you get immediately -- it comes over time. If you're still intimidated, maybe try starting with something outside of direct theory. Pick a topic that you're interested in, and find a book on it. Reading is like any habit, it gets better with practice!

what do you mean by you haven’t been able to read theory? like is something making it difficult for you or are you not sure where to start, or is it something else? someone here might be able to help you out

The other day, I was questioned on whether I "actually am a leftist", by a friend. After I nervously answered fairly basic questions such as believing in healthcare and collective labor, they weren't convinced. Ever since that day, I felt like I couldn't be a leftist, especially since I lost any confidence in my ability to be "better" according to that person's standards. If I couldn't satisfy their standards that one time, what would be the point of trying to read theory and trying again? Yes I admit, I haven't tried to read theory. I have no confidence that I would do it correctly.

This is why you're supposed to join an org. Most serious orgs have an onboarding process where you'll be taught basic precepts and foundational texts of the ideology embraced by that particular org. You'll also be assigned to do work by the org, and be build up to become someone who embodies the ideals of the org. You have imposter syndrome because you haven't done anything to advance the emancipatory project, and you haven't done anything to advance the emancipatory project because you are not part of an org.

Unless you're some rich multimillionaire quietly funding underground Maoist insurgent cells, you'll not be able to contribute unless you're part of an org. If there are no suitable orgs near you, your responsibility is to either create your own org or support other orgs. Creating your own org is self-explanatory in a "draw the rest of the fucking owl" sense. Supporting other orgs can range from financially supporting them to doing agiprop for them. Even if you're the only leftist in a sea of Christofascists, you can still contribute to the cause. But you can't do this on your own. None of us can.

I want to second what propter_hog said, being a leftist is a process. There is always more to learn about the world and the forces that drive it. Keep learning, and develop some healthy skepticism and media literacy with regard to capitalist depictions of socialist countries, and you're on track.