Andy

What exactly is in the picture though? Is the scratch-off lottery ticket a liberal fascist who has been scratched off? Is that the metaphor?

I don’t understand what the meme means. Also, does this have alt text? If so, how do I view it?

I readily admit to this. I’m not totally naive: I’m aware that my thinking is more dependent on hope than evidence. But I also believe that the things I want to accomplish can’t be attempted (much less achieved) by someone guided entirely by reason.

It’s pay walled.

This is very articulate and very motivating.

Okay. That’s what I thought. So can you see where my confusion is coming from? Because I didn’t dismiss the utility of violence. Did you possibly misread my comment? I described violence and non-violence as a synergistic practices and ridiculed people who think that either one can function independent of the other.

I mean no disrespect, but you’re perpetuating a myth. Revolutionary action relies heavily on benign protest for cover and recruitment. Anyone who wants to see a radical overthrow of the government should be thrilled by the No Kings marches. I have this conversation often with a very experienced, very radical anarchist frequently. It’s sad when radicals shit on the people who cultivate the recruiting pool and create giant, peaceful crowds for the more extreme element to operate concealed within. Be radical. But also: understand that peaceful protest has a very important purpose.

See this is what a good clapback looks like

I think this joke is only 40% true, but also still very funny.

I’m glad this meme belongs to the commons because I’m going to make extensive collective use of it.

I posted the meme as a lighthearted joke, but if I can be serious for a moment, the joke isn’t that reading isn’t useful. It’s ridiculing the practice of approaching Marxist texts in a way similar to religious or academic study. It’s also (lovingly) ridiculing mutual aid radicals with an overly simplistic worldview. Reading is good. Although I recommend people read the things that they’re interested in and that they think would help them in their goals, and not fall into the practice of assigning other people reading or falling into a mentality of chasing after a complete understanding of subjects no one can ever understand to completion.

I don’t get this. Can you explain this?

Surprise twist: I am aware anarchists like reading; I like reading; and I’m not actually an anarchist! It’s just a fun meme making fun of upright overly intellectual Marxist-Leninists (that part is sincere).

I think you’re taking the meme way too literally. I’m not advocating for an illiterate revolution. Anarchists are famous for reading and writing a lot of manifestos too. I do believe that there are a lot of overly intellectual Marxist-Leninists who need to go touch grass and actually practice more mutual aid among working class neighbors, though. But I’m definitely not anti intellectual. (I’m also not actually an an-com. I just shared the meme because I agree with the broad sentiment).

Holy shit, really? That is Sony levels of stupid.

View from the Top. I saw it when I was in my twenties with a friend because we (two mostly straight guys) thought we were going to see the latest silly Mike Myers movie. And then it turned out that he was barely in it! They just took all his scenes and put them in the trailer! The actual movie was a very dull romcom staring Gwyneth Paltrow and some guy who I don’t remember being in the trailer at all. When it ended, we walked out of the theater and just said to each other ‘What the hell was that?’. Also, I think Shallow Hal kind of falls in this too. I don’t recall the trailer being great, but it had to be good enough that it got me to see that terrible movie.

Please desist

I feel like a lot of people are missing the obvious conclusion that everyone involved here is awful. Maduro? Brutal dictator. His domestic opposition? Violent fascists. His international opposition? Absolute war criminals. It’s really sad. My primary opinion is that the US needs to leave Venezuela the fuck alone. If you want democracy in Venezuela, you can’t get it through sanctioning the population into starvation if they don’t vote the way Chevron tells them to. Did Maduro steal an election? Yes! But the opposition stole it too! Hey the fuck out and let them actually decide what they want. The US is the clearly the greatest villain in a story with no obvious good guys.

It would explain a lot