I think you're mixing life style activism and life style politics, also blended together with political consumerism. Those are actually three different things.
To the people claiming "false dichotomy": he isn't making one. All he's saying is that most "lifestyle activism" (i.e. veganism or "green living") is ineffective and doesn't get to the root of the issue which is the overall system. We need more direct action which involves our communities and which directly challenges authority, not vain changes to lifestyle which give us a placebo effect or which give us "street cred". So yeah, less vegan BBQs, more squatting.
This has to be one of the greatest videos on Youtube! You have taken something I've been thinking for a long time but have solidified my thoughts. Excellent!
You present a false dichotomy. Thus, your argument isn't applicable to reality. You can't be an isolated lifer, just as you can't be an edgy corporate. You must live by your convictions, form communities, and educate the public.
But come on. Being a total hypocritical edgy corporate fuck is way more damaging than an hermit lifestyler. At least one is trying to abstain from being a little consumerist monster. Everyone is of the system, but we must strive to reject it rather than wallowing in it.
Is Special Interest Group politics a form of Lifestyle activism in that it does not attack the root of the problem but only some limited and isolated set of effects without ever questioning the "dominant culture"s more essential dogma?
For example, Voting for Sarah Palin, or Not voting for Sarah Palin, as a statement of feminism. Lifestyle Politics, or not?
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
You have created a false dichotomy between radical politics and lifestyle politics. There isn't one. You can do both. Now provide a good reason NOT to do both. I will be impressed then.
@nails3jesus0 The fact that you said 'you can do both' indicates to me that you didn't understand the video. I explicitly said in the video that it's not about what you are doing, but why you are doing it and what effect you think it's having. So it's an ideological difference. I then explained how the ideology of lifestyle politics hinders the development of radical politics.
I agree that some people think that way, but the problem isn't lifestyle politics, it is not seeing the other half of the picture. People who DO see both sides (like Peter Singer and people who follow his ideas) are making more of an impact than those who ignore lifestyle politics and are activists regarding the other half of the scenario. Both pieces are important, though not equally so.
@postleftist Yes, the trick to defeating Hitler was to form non-hierachical communes where prefigurative politics were practiced. That would've had the SS shaking in their boots!
I think this was your best video yet. I have wanted to make a video on this same topic, but you have done a much better job of it than I could have. My only criticism is that I would not have contrasted lifestyle activism with 'radical politics' but rather with class consciousness and class politics.
@br0kenmech hmmmm ulike the "anarchists" who support bureaucratic business trade unions and so-called "radical" syndicalist unions. it's total hypocrisy! The whole "let's-get-concessions-from-the-techo-facist capitalist-class" ideology is old and obsolete. Getting concessions from the state and big business LEGITIMIZES the state.
The only way to change society is to change our tastes in music, culture, food, etc.
good point. Any change must start with oneself and then take responsibility for and include everyone else, through let's say politics, or the change won't last.
its like feminists that support 'changing the laws' so as to eradicate pornography.. ..this will not make pornography not disappear.. and it doesnt make sense to use one type of hierarchical institution to take out another one.
i guess my point is, after anarchism, after the ''negative'' perspective, there needs to be positive perspective, to move beyond anarchism, and this is the role that 'lifestyle politics' can play. they both have their merits.
for the most part, i agree... i understand that we should cut the root.. but what then? ''every person tries to change the world but nobody tries to change themselves... the only ongoing revolution is a moral one" - tolstoy. changing ourselves, the language we use, what we buy, our 'lifestyle' can have long term positive effects.
Cool points here - Lifestyle politics is essentially a deceptive scam that Allows the System to continue as is, while the person who's starting-point is lifestyle activism seem themselves as washing their hands, having now taken their responsibility within the world. At the same time I agree that each of us has a Self-Responsibility for the whole of this World - but it is as you said, the root of the problem, which is the System itself that requires to Change.
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I think you're mixing life style activism and life style politics, also blended together with political consumerism. Those are actually three different things.
KingThallion 3 months ago
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KingThallion 3 months ago
Nice. Love your videos.
SyKmGl 9 months ago
To the people claiming "false dichotomy": he isn't making one. All he's saying is that most "lifestyle activism" (i.e. veganism or "green living") is ineffective and doesn't get to the root of the issue which is the overall system. We need more direct action which involves our communities and which directly challenges authority, not vain changes to lifestyle which give us a placebo effect or which give us "street cred". So yeah, less vegan BBQs, more squatting.
juliaisafilmbuff123 10 months ago
Great explanation, thanks
KellyPosey 10 months ago
This has to be one of the greatest videos on Youtube! You have taken something I've been thinking for a long time but have solidified my thoughts. Excellent!
NoMoreSunsets 1 year ago 2
You present a false dichotomy. Thus, your argument isn't applicable to reality. You can't be an isolated lifer, just as you can't be an edgy corporate. You must live by your convictions, form communities, and educate the public.
But come on. Being a total hypocritical edgy corporate fuck is way more damaging than an hermit lifestyler. At least one is trying to abstain from being a little consumerist monster. Everyone is of the system, but we must strive to reject it rather than wallowing in it.
thestreetsempty 1 year ago
Is Special Interest Group politics a form of Lifestyle activism in that it does not attack the root of the problem but only some limited and isolated set of effects without ever questioning the "dominant culture"s more essential dogma?
For example, Voting for Sarah Palin, or Not voting for Sarah Palin, as a statement of feminism. Lifestyle Politics, or not?
disqair 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
You have created a false dichotomy between radical politics and lifestyle politics. There isn't one. You can do both. Now provide a good reason NOT to do both. I will be impressed then.
nails3jesus0 1 year ago
@nails3jesus0 The fact that you said 'you can do both' indicates to me that you didn't understand the video. I explicitly said in the video that it's not about what you are doing, but why you are doing it and what effect you think it's having. So it's an ideological difference. I then explained how the ideology of lifestyle politics hinders the development of radical politics.
rubbleofempires 1 year ago 7
I hate false dichotomies.
petermaquire 1 year ago
I agree that some people think that way, but the problem isn't lifestyle politics, it is not seeing the other half of the picture. People who DO see both sides (like Peter Singer and people who follow his ideas) are making more of an impact than those who ignore lifestyle politics and are activists regarding the other half of the scenario. Both pieces are important, though not equally so.
nails3jesus0 1 year ago
lol way to conform to the dominant culture, Mr. "Anarchist."
The only way a social revolution will come about is for people to drop out of society and LIVE in a prefigurative present.
postleftist 1 year ago
@postleftist Yes, the trick to defeating Hitler was to form non-hierachical communes where prefigurative politics were practiced. That would've had the SS shaking in their boots!
jimmutennodesu 1 year ago
relevant: cartoon profile pictures on facebook will solve child abuse!
nixononacid 1 year ago
thank you; i needed to hear this today.
AntiLoquaxx 1 year ago 2
@AntiLoquaxx Yeah, I feel ya. I need to hear this everyday.
rubbleofempires 1 year ago
Have you read Lierre Keith's Vegetarian Myth? She makes a lot of the same points you do about lifestyle politics.
jimmutennodesu 1 year ago 7
@jimmutennodesu yeah, I have it's pretty good.
rubbleofempires 1 year ago
Interesting that a friend of mine and I are just blogging about this topic.
juliaisafilmbuff123 1 year ago
I think this was your best video yet. I have wanted to make a video on this same topic, but you have done a much better job of it than I could have. My only criticism is that I would not have contrasted lifestyle activism with 'radical politics' but rather with class consciousness and class politics.
br0kenmech 1 year ago
Advocates of lifestyle activism are inevitably deeply hypocritical.
br0kenmech 1 year ago
@br0kenmech hmmmm ulike the "anarchists" who support bureaucratic business trade unions and so-called "radical" syndicalist unions. it's total hypocrisy! The whole "let's-get-concessions-from-the-techo-facist capitalist-class" ideology is old and obsolete. Getting concessions from the state and big business LEGITIMIZES the state.
The only way to change society is to change our tastes in music, culture, food, etc.
But "keep sticking it to the man", "comrade." lol
postleftist 1 year ago
@postleftist
How's that anti-civ internet working out for you?
br0kenmech 1 year ago
good point. Any change must start with oneself and then take responsibility for and include everyone else, through let's say politics, or the change won't last.
RobertStarsi 1 year ago
Good video.
br0kenmech 1 year ago
its like feminists that support 'changing the laws' so as to eradicate pornography.. ..this will not make pornography not disappear.. and it doesnt make sense to use one type of hierarchical institution to take out another one.
i guess my point is, after anarchism, after the ''negative'' perspective, there needs to be positive perspective, to move beyond anarchism, and this is the role that 'lifestyle politics' can play. they both have their merits.
sexdrugsRnR 1 year ago
@sexdrugsRnR ***..this will NOT not make pornography not disappear. aha
sexdrugsRnR 1 year ago
for the most part, i agree... i understand that we should cut the root.. but what then? ''every person tries to change the world but nobody tries to change themselves... the only ongoing revolution is a moral one" - tolstoy. changing ourselves, the language we use, what we buy, our 'lifestyle' can have long term positive effects.
sexdrugsRnR 1 year ago
Cool points here - Lifestyle politics is essentially a deceptive scam that Allows the System to continue as is, while the person who's starting-point is lifestyle activism seem themselves as washing their hands, having now taken their responsibility within the world. At the same time I agree that each of us has a Self-Responsibility for the whole of this World - but it is as you said, the root of the problem, which is the System itself that requires to Change.
annabrixthomsen 1 year ago 2
Good video. I chuckle a bit when people call Obama radical.
Gettinghitonattheban 1 year ago 5
@Gettinghitonattheban Oh, if ONLY!
TFYFWYA 1 year ago
Good vid man! :)
sportsportsport 1 year ago