Flash Mobs In Seattle

[liberty2897]

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/124563344.html

Anyone else notice that when crowds get out of control, the news media automatically labels them as "anarchists" lately? Is this a new thing (the label I mean)? Seems like it would be better to just leave it with the "flash mob" label or something like that. Just wondering what others think about this.

[libertybrewcity]

putting a label on something draws more attention to it and will increase readership. that is why police and news media immediately label serial killers with a name.

[Brian4Liberty]

Dance Party? Rainbow flags? Gay Pride Week?

They went out of their way to avoid calling the rioters something else. ;)

[liberty2897]

Dance Party? Rainbow flags? Gay Pride Week?

They went out of their way to avoid calling the rioters something else. ;)

hahah Good point. I kind of read over that I guess. Doesn't really sound like the definition of a typical Anarchist to me. (if there is such a thing as a typical Anarchist)

[Danke]

A flash mob at our local mall today:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b79ZLsEwfw

[liberty2897]

OK, so maybe flash mob is not a good label either :)

I guess maybe something more like "rainbow-flag-waiving vandals" would be more appropriate.

OK, I'm new here, so take it easy on me. I'm not trying to "troll" here. My concern is that the label Anarchist being used in the media could be linked to the Libertarian ideology. Please correct me if I'm wrong here. I have the perception that an Anarchist (in an ideological sense), is someone who believes that there should be no government whatsoever. Pure liberty to say it another way. That doesn't necessarily mean violence and aggression toward others rights does it? I understand that is NOT the same as someone who believes in following a minimalist government that abides by the constitution. As Ron Paul supporters, I think we should be very careful with the term Anarchist during conversations with others. Am I right? For example, when you take some of the online tests to determine what kind of ideology you fit in, the Anarchist "ideology" would fall within the area of total social and economic freedom very close to a Libertarian ideology.

To Moderators: I'm not trying to cause trouble here. If this thread is inappropriate, please move or delete it. I will take no offense whatsoever.

[acptulsa]

You are new here, aren't you?

I'm a minarchist, myself. But some of my best friends here are anarcho-capitalists. @#$&ing bastards that they are... ;)

And, yes, the media does try to make a dirty word out of it. They apply it to a lot of radical socialists, too. But then, lately they've been trying to make a dirty word out of 'Constitution', too.

[liberty2897]

You are new here, aren't you?
.
Yes. My ignorance regarding politics is showing :o

I've been content for way too long. Never really been worried about having lots of money. My job consists of designing hardware and writing code. As long as I can pay my bills and survive, I'm fine. It is the erosion of civil liberties and endless war since 9/11 that finally got me looking into politics. I finally realized that I am a libertarian. I'm pretty certain that a lot of other people out there are and don't know it yet. After taking a quick look at minarchism and anarcho-capitolism on Wiki, it looks like I have some serious reading to do this evening. With lack of any projects/work right now, I have plenty of time to do that. Thanks!

[Austrian Econ Disciple]

You are new here, aren't you?

I'm a minarchist, myself. But some of my best friends here are anarcho-capitalists. @#$&ing bastards that they are... ;)

And, yes, the media does try to make a dirty word out of it. They apply it to a lot of radical socialists, too. But then, lately they've been trying to make a dirty word out of 'Constitution', too.

Well per the arguments of others on the board, its time to give up the word and use something else. It's all about perception and the media shapes it, so you better get a movin' to find a new word to use to qualify the meaning you are trying to convey. Can't use 'libertarian' anymore either, because Fascist News uses it in a negative connotation, etc. etc. Frankly, I'm ready to take back what was slighted from us (I want liberal back).

[acptulsa]

Can't use 'libertarian' anymore either, because Fascist News uses it in a negative connotation, etc. etc. Frankly, I'm ready to take back what was slighted from us (I want liberal back).

Me too.

Well, libertarians have one advantage over true anarchists. So far, they've only used the word to describe us (for better and worse). Better than having it applied to militant socialists. And a far cry from the days when the media deliberately tried to blur the major difference between libertarians and LaRouchies...

[flightlesskiwi]

Well per the arguments of others on the board, its time to give up the word and use something else. It's all about perception and the media shapes it, so you better get a movin' to find a new word to use to qualify the meaning you are trying to convey. Can't use 'libertarian' anymore either, because Fascist News uses it in a negative connotation, etc. etc. Frankly, I'm ready to take back what was slighted from us (I want liberal back).

+rep!

[KCIndy]

The media have been using "anarchist" in a way that is synonymous with "violent rioter" for years and years now. I'm not sure if it's agenda driven or if it's simply lazy and sloppy journalism combined with a really incompetent education system.

I attended university as a journalism major back in the early 90s and finally dropped the major in disgust. Not only was everyone else in the school an active statist/leftist (I was already a libertarian at that point) but to make it worse, few could spell. Fewer could construct a proper sentence. No one thought to consult a dictionary when the meaning of a word was in doubt. Most were in the habit of flagrantly misusing words and not caring when they did.

Ask any (so-called) journalist with any major network or news service what the definition of anarchist or anarchy is. Seriously, I challenge anyone to do this. You will be told that an anarchist is some violent masked rioter who wants to bring down civilized society and live in a "Mad Max" apocalyptic world.

And YES - I know that's not the correct definition, and I'm aware that those promoting anarchy here are peaceful.

But we're too far down the road. The term "anarchy" has been transmuted. Stolen. Lost. Bringing back the original meaning would be like trying to return the word "gay" to its original meaning. Therefore, I would encourage anyone with a belief in anarchy - true, peaceful non-government living anarchy - to invent a new word or term and start promoting the hell out of it. Sometimes a movement, a cause or a career has to reinvent itself to stay alive, and I'm afraid this is one of those times.



EDIT: Uh, okay, while I was sloooowwwly typing, Austrian Econ Disciple beat me to it, and did a better and more succinct job. (gotta take a speed typing course some day!) So: Yeah. What he said!! :D

[liberty2897]

Ask any (so-called) journalist with any major network or news service what the definition of anarchist or anarchy is. Seriously, I challenge anyone to do this. You will be told that an anarchist is some violent masked rioter who wants to bring down civilized society and live in a "Mad Max" apocalyptic world.


Is anybody aware of any good movies or videos that accurately portray what a libertarian / min-anarchist society might look like? I would love to watch anything along these lines...

[Vessol]

Is anybody aware of any good movies or videos that accurately portray what a libertarian / min-anarchist society might look like? I would love to watch anything along these lines...

Stefan Molyneux wrote a free book that goes into this a bit.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AidXSubb-2U

[liberty2897]

Stefan Molyneux wrote a free book that goes into this a bit.


Great short video. Thanks!