To ask if there's a right way to be an anarchist?

[Makinitrain]

School mum I know is constantly posting anti-capitalist, anarchist type memes on FB. I consider myself pretty far left, but is there a way to be 'in' society and not be part of capitalism? She doesn't work, is it not being part of the system to claim money which has been earned through taxation? I was trying to think of a way in which someone could opt out, is self reliance, living in the woods the only way?

Having rules on how to be an anarchist seems to be slightly defeating the point.

I don't think anarchism has any problem with rules. It projects the idea of hierarchy.

Rejects!

"Anarchy" tends to be equated to "chaos" but also means "absence of government and absolute freedom of the individual, regarded as a political ideal."

So I think your definition is correct, complete self-reliance. Receiving benefits by definition means being part of the system of government. A true "anarchist" would not claim money in this way - they would prefer to be destitute, to be homeless, therefore in the faces of others and in turn demonstrating their point that society doesn't work.

Asking mumsnet how to do anarchy properly? Priceless.......

She’s a champagne anarchist 😀

She doesn't work, is it not being part of the system to claim money

She is dependent on the state. She hasn't 'opted out.' She is a cog in the welfare state paradigm which dominates Europe. Tell her that OP.

To be fair it would be almost impossible to live a life which is not affected in some way by political hierarchy and the nation state. That's not necessarily her fault.

A London listings magazine (wtf that? Ask the over 40s) had a regular small ad for an Anarchists group walk, Sunday at 2 etc. Always puzzled me how they got enough of them to agree with each other to do something so organised.

Anarchists group walk, Sunday at 2

I'm an anarchist, so I'm turning up on Saturday at 3.

Is your friend actually an anarchist, though, or just critical of the capitalist system?

What do her posts say?

Capitalism is a scourge on humanity in my opinion, we're nearing the end of it and it's give or take whether it'll make humanity extinct on it's way out.

I remember a guy I knew thinking he was a dead cool anarchistic and was very pissed off when I pointed out his ‘Rules to Anarchy’ pamphlet was slightly contradictory of the fundamentals 🤣

Exactly 1555cc

True anarchism isn’t left wing though. It’s anti capitalist but it’s also anti communist, anti socialist, anti any organised way of living basically.

@eleventy3isthemagicnumber really? It’s been the most effective way of freeing people from poverty. Pretty much every good thing that’s happened in the past two centuries has been a result of the freedom of capitalism. If you think capitalism is a scrounge on humanity you should try living in a socialist, communist or, feudalist order, you’ll soon realise your mistake.

There's a lovely irony in asking the "right" way to be an anarchist

Anarchists are like toddlers, but taller. The minute they realise they want you to do something for them it falls apart.

Love the idea of trying to organise an anarchist walk

"Capitalism is a scourge on humanity in my opinion, we're nearing the end of it"
I'm not a great fan of Capitalism, but I've yet to see a viable alternative.

The best we can do is a capitalist society, but with the important industries owned by the tax payers as shareholders.

I'm not a fan of anarchy at all (and I rather like capitalism) but its critics here seem to be attacking a straw man. Anarchy is not an absence of rules, society or norms.

I have seen plenty of "anarchists" with their hands always out for whatever subsidies they could claims.
Begging hypocrites, most of the time.
And I loath the sexism of its forefather.

And there's all that herbal tea as proper tea is theft. Ouch. Am going now.