I'm not a Communist Anymore!

[Laika]

When I joined RF at the start of 2015, I said that: "I am not an apologist for communist atrocities and I realise that many people, particularly religious, have good reason to be hostile towards communists." Whilst I have often openly contemplated what such apologetics may look like as an intellectual and moral exercise, I have stuck by that position as consistently as I was able.

I have come to realise however that this is not a sustainable position and I cannot sincerely advocate either "social revolution", "class struggle", the "dictatorship of the proletariat" or "state atheism" without also implicitly advocating serious violence against members of this forum based on their beliefs. The abstract nature of Marxism makes this at first very difficult to see and it was not obvious but it has become clearer the greater my understanding that this is the political reality of communist ideology whether I like it or not or approve of it or not. After a great deal of thought and turmoil, I have not found a sustainable alternative to that conclusion and this is not a position I am willing to entertain even in principle. I am therefore effectively no longer a Communist and I am no longer willing to carry the burden of trying to reconcile my views with my conscience. my views must change as my conscience will not. Nor would it be fair for me to misrepresent Marxism to accommodate my own reservations as that kind of hypocrisy is not a truly "communist" thing to do.

I still think like a Communist as it has left such a mark on my personality and thinking and have an interest in the history, theory and philosophy, but I can no longer say there is anything "meaningful" behind it. This is sort of like being a "cultural" Communist in the way people can be "culturally" Buddhist, Muslim or Christian without accepting the theology. I will probably keep posting in the Communist sub-forum for a while on a number of communist related subjects until I know what best to do. This is not an easy thing to let go of even with the best of intentions as any one who has had deep convictions will understand. If I am not quick to respond to various questions on the forum or become uneasy in replying, it is because I don't have the luxury of certainty that I once had and will have to search more deeply and widely for the answers than I have up till now.

I gave ten years of my life to this idea and I was wrong. I want to do good, but I no longer believe that Communism can foreseeably be part of that even if I can draw inspiration from it. I feel gutted and hurt about that and these beliefs have been valuable in many unforeseen ways, but its time to move on and turn the page.

Thank you for being part of the journey and being there for me when I needed you.

 

[Revoltingest]

Congrats!
But this should mean you can no longer post in the commie forum.
Would that create an itch you cannot scratch? There's always bacon.

 

[Quetzal]

I'm proud of you.

 

[Laika]

Congrats!
But does this mean you can no longer post in the commie forum?
Would that create an itch you cannot scratch? There's always bacon.

I don't think it will be a major issue. I can still post in there as a "sympathiser" or as a "respectful" outsider as in a DIR but it won't be the same.

 

[Laika]

I'm proud of you.

I needed that. Thank you.

 

[YmirGF]

I am so very happy to hear this, Laika.

You are far and away one of the most intelligent posters on RF.

I know I'll be reading your last posts in the Communist foxhole, trembling with excitation.

 

[sayak83]

When I joined RF at the start of 2015, I said that: "I am not an apologist for communist atrocities and I realise that many people, particularly religious, have good reason to be hostile towards communists." Whilst I have often openly contemplated what such apologetics may look like as an intellectual and moral exercise, I have stuck by that position as consistently as I was able.

I have come to realise however that this is not a sustainable position and I cannot sincerely advocate either "social revolution", "class struggle", the "dictatorship of the proletariat" or "state atheism" without also implicitly advocating serious violence against members of this forum based on their beliefs. The abstract nature of Marxism makes this at first very difficult to see and it was not obvious but it has become clearer the greater my understanding that this is the political reality of communist ideology whether I like it or not or approve of it or not. After a great deal of thought and turmoil, I have not found a sustainable alternative to that conclusion and this is not a position I am willing to entertain even in principle. I am therefore effectively no longer a Communist and I am no longer willing to carry the burden of trying to reconcile my views with my conscience. my views must change as my conscience will not. Nor would it be fair for me to misrepresent Marxism to accommodate my own reservations as that kind of hypocrisy is not a truly "communist" thing to do.

I still think like a Communist as it has left such a mark on my personality and thinking and have an interest in the history, theory and philosophy, but I can no longer say there is anything "meaningful" behind it. This is sort of like being a "cultural" Communist in the way people can be "culturally" Buddhist, Muslim or Christian without accepting the theology. I will probably keep posting in the Communist sub-forum for a while on a number of communist related subjects until I know what best to do. This is not an easy thing to let go of even with the best of intentions as any one who has had deep convictions will understand. If I am not quick to respond to various questions on the forum or become uneasy in replying, it is because I don't have the luxury of certainty that I once had and will have to search more deeply and widely for the answers than I have up till now.

I gave ten years of my life to this idea and I was wrong. I want to do good, but I no longer believe that Communism can foreseeably be part of that even if I can draw inspiration from it. I feel gutted and hurt about that and these beliefs have been valuable in many unforeseen ways, but its time to move on and turn the page.

Thank you for being part of the journey and being there for me when I needed you.

Welcome to the light side. May the Force be with you!

 

[Rival]

Pshhh. You were never a true Red. Not like me

 

[Revoltingest]

I don't think it will be a major issue. I can still post in there as a "sympathiser" or as a "respectful" outsider as in a DIR but it won't be the same.

As I understand the rules, one must identify as something in order to post in the
something's restricted forum. A classical liberal, when I tried posting in the liberal
forum to support some liberal idea, holy Hell broke loose. (I still have a few welts
from that expulsion.) I sympathize with conservatives on some issues too, but I
know the mods would take a ruler to me knuckles if I posted there.
Perhaps your being such a beloved poster here will garner you a pass?
(But I wouldn't report you. Snitches get stitches.)

 

[Augustus]

Bourgeoise pinko turncoat

 

[suncowiam]

When I joined RF at the start of 2015, I said that: "I am not an apologist for communist atrocities and I realise that many people, particularly religious, have good reason to be hostile towards communists." Whilst I have often openly contemplated what such apologetics may look like as an intellectual and moral exercise, I have stuck by that position as consistently as I was able.

I have come to realise however that this is not a sustainable position and I cannot sincerely advocate either "social revolution", "class struggle", the "dictatorship of the proletariat" or "state atheism" without also implicitly advocating serious violence against members of this forum based on their beliefs. The abstract nature of Marxism makes this at first very difficult to see and it was not obvious but it has become clearer the greater my understanding that this is the political reality of communist ideology whether I like it or not or approve of it or not. After a great deal of thought and turmoil, I have not found a sustainable alternative to that conclusion and this is not a position I am willing to entertain even in principle. I am therefore effectively no longer a Communist and I am no longer willing to carry the burden of trying to reconcile my views with my conscience. my views must change as my conscience will not. Nor would it be fair for me to misrepresent Marxism to accommodate my own reservations as that kind of hypocrisy is not a truly "communist" thing to do.

I still think like a Communist as it has left such a mark on my personality and thinking and have an interest in the history, theory and philosophy, but I can no longer say there is anything "meaningful" behind it. This is sort of like being a "cultural" Communist in the way people can be "culturally" Buddhist, Muslim or Christian without accepting the theology. I will probably keep posting in the Communist sub-forum for a while on a number of communist related subjects until I know what best to do. This is not an easy thing to let go of even with the best of intentions as any one who has had deep convictions will understand. If I am not quick to respond to various questions on the forum or become uneasy in replying, it is because I don't have the luxury of certainty that I once had and will have to search more deeply and widely for the answers than I have up till now.

I gave ten years of my life to this idea and I was wrong. I want to do good, but I no longer believe that Communism can foreseeably be part of that even if I can draw inspiration from it. I feel gutted and hurt about that and these beliefs have been valuable in many unforeseen ways, but its time to move on and turn the page.

Thank you for being part of the journey and being there for me when I needed you.

Did Donald J. Trump change your mind?

Just be ready for withdrawal symptoms.

Does this mean you no longer can access all your threads in the communist only section?

 

[Nous]

When I joined RF at the start of 2015, I said that: "I am not an apologist for communist atrocities and I realise that many people, particularly religious, have good reason to be hostile towards communists." Whilst I have often openly contemplated what such apologetics may look like as an intellectual and moral exercise, I have stuck by that position as consistently as I was able.

I have come to realise however that this is not a sustainable position and I cannot sincerely advocate either "social revolution", "class struggle", the "dictatorship of the proletariat" or "state atheism" without also implicitly advocating serious violence against members of this forum based on their beliefs. The abstract nature of Marxism makes this at first very difficult to see and it was not obvious but it has become clearer the greater my understanding that this is the political reality of communist ideology whether I like it or not or approve of it or not. After a great deal of thought and turmoil, I have not found a sustainable alternative to that conclusion and this is not a position I am willing to entertain even in principle. I am therefore effectively no longer a Communist and I am no longer willing to carry the burden of trying to reconcile my views with my conscience. my views must change as my conscience will not. Nor would it be fair for me to misrepresent Marxism to accommodate my own reservations as that kind of hypocrisy is not a truly "communist" thing to do.

I still think like a Communist as it has left such a mark on my personality and thinking and have an interest in the history, theory and philosophy, but I can no longer say there is anything "meaningful" behind it. This is sort of like being a "cultural" Communist in the way people can be "culturally" Buddhist, Muslim or Christian without accepting the theology. I will probably keep posting in the Communist sub-forum for a while on a number of communist related subjects until I know what best to do. This is not an easy thing to let go of even with the best of intentions as any one who has had deep convictions will understand. If I am not quick to respond to various questions on the forum or become uneasy in replying, it is because I don't have the luxury of certainty that I once had and will have to search more deeply and widely for the answers than I have up till now.

I gave ten years of my life to this idea and I was wrong. I want to do good, but I no longer believe that Communism can foreseeably be part of that even if I can draw inspiration from it. I feel gutted and hurt about that and these beliefs have been valuable in many unforeseen ways, but its time to move on and turn the page.

Thank you for being part of the journey and being there for me when I needed you.

I "liked" your post not because you are "not a communist anymore," but because your posts are invariably so mature and intelligent. You say, "I was wrong," and regardless of whether or not you actually were wrong,, the ability to say that is so very unusual. I bet one cannot find a handful of times on RF when someone said "I was wrong," despite how may thousands of times people have been shown to be wrong about something. Laika, you are exceptional.

 

[sun rise]

@Laika I read your post here with great interest and appreciation. It is part of the journey of life to explore some idea very very deeply until one realizes that the idea is limited and has serious consequences. Many never do accomplish but you have. So I salute your accomplishment.

 

[DavidFirth]

I am confident that Communism would work if and only if the people making the decisions at the top limit themselves to the same exact conditions as the workers they are claiming to be representing with their decisions.

It would work if there was no corruption (not going to happen) and the leaders considered themselves on the same exact level with the lowest workers.

In other words, it won't work.

 

[Jumi]

As long as you're alive and didn't kill anyone for the cause, it's all part of a learning experience. Just like people switching religions, losing or gaining faith, I'd say you didn't lose out on anything by giving yourself to it.

 

[Laika]

Thanks to everyone who has replied as it is greatly appreciated...

...especially @Nous and @sunrise123 as you both made me cry (and in a good way).

I am confident that Communism would work if and only if the people making the decisions at the top limit themselves to the same exact conditions as the workers they are claiming to be representing with their decisions.

It would work if there was no corruption (not going to happen) and the leaders considered themselves on the same exact level with the lowest workers.

In other words, it won't work.

*Laika imagines a future without having to respond to the phrase "communism looks good on paper but doesn't work in practice" *

*begins celebrating*

 

[PureX]

As far as I am aware, "communism" has only ever been attempted on a very small scale (a single village) and even then it has failed nearly every time in less than a decade or so. So I have no idea what you are referring to as "communism" on a grand scale or as a practical sovcial ideology. Nor do I understand why you would assume that violence would be required to achieve it, unless you assumed it would fail under it's own lack of buoyancy to begin with. Which in fact would seem to be the case, historically. So why use violence to establish a social system that couldn't establish, or even maintain itself, on it's own merits?

I guess what I'm asking is, why did you support it in the first place?

 

[SabahTheLoner]

Best of luck with that "new page" in your life.

 

[LuisDantas]

Best of luck in your search, @Laika .

 

[oldbadger]

OK, you're not a Communist any more.
Fair enough.
So from now on your 'open' and 'inclusive' threads will be supported by many more members?

The idea of initiating closed communist threads excluding all but only a few members just never seemed to be a communist tenet to me.