I had started a different post, but Ian just said something to me that completely blew my mind. We were talking about societal powers and how we both called ourselves socialists. Comfortably. I would not even blink twice if someone callde me that. I mentioned that I was a libertarian with a small L because as long as you did not harm someone, I did not care what you did. I do not follow societal norms that are meaningless to me, which, to be fair, are pretty much all of them.
Ian fired back that he thought I was past libertarian and into anarchist. My immediate reaction to that was, “Fuck no!” because while I don’t care for societal norms, I am also a rules-follower to a certain extent.
I thought about it, though. What I know about anarchy is that it’s about dismantling all systems and lawlessness. It’s very much a pejorative as it’s used in society in general. But, as I’ve learned in my many years on earth, that’s what the powers that be want us to think. Same with calling people communists during the Red Scare.
I looked up anarchist and talked about it more with Ian. He said it’s not thinking you can dismantle all systems of power, but always holding those feet to the fire. Anarchists know that there will always be power structures in the world; they just want to make sure they are as fair as possible. Of course, some anarchists want to take them down, but others acknowledge that it’s more about improving the systems.
Yes, it’s a far-left ideology. I knew that already. I have also heard people use it in terms of romantic relationships, meaning that they didn’t want any struture to their romance. No partners, no obligations, etc. I have to say that I find that unrealistic, but only because i do think you owe people you love some courtesies. And I think it’s really hard not to have any jealousy at all, but I suppose it’s possible to have a very low level. But, I think it’s going to be difficult to find many people who don’t have any jealousy at all. Also, I think it’s reasonable to expect someone you love to, say, not disappear on you for two weeks at a time.
I have to say, though, that I have been reevaluating my feelings on romantic relationships for the past decade. Back when I was a youngin, I thought I’d marry and have children. That was just a given. My mother made it plain that I was going to get married and have children because as a girl, that was my fate. I was not happy about it, but so be it.