Nate The Prole

Cooperative mammals show lower cancer rates than solitary, competitive species Cancer is a common disease among mammals, but some species, such as the naked mole rat and elephants, have evolved resistance. According to new research published in the journal Science Advances, this...

In other news: What If Cooperation Fought Cancer? (& Competition & Individualism Made It Worse) - phys.org/news/2025-11...

#Capitalism #Cancer

What is mutual aid? And why are more people turning to informal efforts to help each other? Organizers say that in response to government funding cuts, high prices and political uncertainty, interest in mutual aid efforts has picked up.

Mutual Aid In The News

apnews.com/article/mutu...

#mutualaid #community #anarchism

Buurtzorg Nederland - Anti-Authoritarian Communities

‘the organisation has grown to over 10,000 nurses working in 850 self-managing teams, providing community-based healthcare while rejecting traditional hierarchical management structures.’

anarwiki.org/wiki/Buurtzorg

#community #anarchism

If capitalism collapses I'm not sure the structure needed to achieve democratic socialism would still exist, based as it is on state institutions which would either collapse or become ultra-authoritarian in such a situation - but I admire your hopefulness in such a path.

I wish I had your confidence that we have that kind of time or that it wouldn't end up being undermined.

Having said that I can see a transitionary path that keeps much of the structure already in place and just de-hierarchises and decentralises it while keeping everything (that needs to) running

I agree that there needs to be a transition - to work with what exists to get where we want. There are plenty of ideas (& some of which have been tried successfully and are going on now) -

* anarwiki.org/wiki/Anarchi...
* anarwiki.org/wiki/Anarchi...

The Zuni People - Anti-Authoritarian Community

‘the dominant value is life and living itself, not things and their possessions … there is no valid reason to question the picture of an unaggressive, life-loving, cooperative system’

anarwiki.org/wiki/Zuni#Va...
#anarchism #community

Sadly not surprising - fits the pattern - anarwiki.org/wiki/Marxist...

There are no perfect words for sure - although I guess I don't see agreements / guidelines / consequences necessarily as restrictions, especially if someone can leave the community and go to a more permissive one, start another one etc.

Emphasis is important. I'm an Anarcho-Communist myself - in the sense of no rulers + pro commune. But Anarchy is an oft misunderstood word, and people should call themselves whatever fits. I quite like Liberationist (free from restrictions), as a possible alternative.

There is a definitely a large cultural element to this, and cultures which prioritise individualism will definitely find co-operation harder, until their understand or hearts change or circumstances forces them into it.

It's fine, you are under no obligation to answer my questions or explain your position further.

Interesting comment. Would you consider 'statist' to mean a belief in the need for a political system in which the state has substantial centralised control over social and economic affairs? What would you call someone who does not share that belief?

True - the gap between theory and praxis is often very large - some off those I know who are best at supporting others (and doing the dirty jobs) are not the most proficient in theory, because they are too busy living by their principles. But greater knowledge and awareness helps.

The Bayaka Of Central Africa - Anti-Authoritarian

‘Decisions are made by consensus at horizontal assemblies called mosambo. [which] also serves as a place to share news, opinions, and advice. The tone is generally lighthearted, and humor is often used.’

anarwiki.org/wiki/Bayaka
#Anarchism

Sorry that was your experience. Those people I know who call themselves Communalists (often inspired by Bookchin) are also Anarchists. But I guess that isn't the case where you are? I've not had much experience with individualistic Anarchists (except right-wingers who call themselves that).

What makes you think Anarchism is not compatible with communalism? Most Anarchists I know are communists. Communalism is a term that has been used to describe a type of Anarchism. Why wouldn't communally-minded Anarchists do things for the common good? They always have.

Thank you for sharing that - I've had some very bad conversations lately too - some of which I have to take the blame for (not giving enough attention, being impatient) - I've found our exchange interesting and do think it is important to question my assumptions and value others insights

I wasn't the one who made a remark about child rape & accused anarchists of countenancing it

I agree that Leninism has led to a lot of state power and some beneficial outcomes & against capitalist state power it seems like a powerful counterbalancing force. If I was convinced that kind of power could achieve communism and a sustainable world I'd be backing it too.

If you think Anarchists countenance child rape or that this is an outcome of it then I have to question your understanding

Yes, I agree, it is very intimidating and often may seem insurmountable - I guess I'm pretty stubbornly hopeful that they will mess up enough for us to rally a great number of additional people to work / fight to undermine and ultimately remove their power - but there are precedents

And being of British cultural origins I do not think peanut butter and 'jelly' go together at all ;-)

You are thinking of right-wing propertarians who sometimes miscall themselves 'libertarians' - Anarchism has a long feminist tradition directly against such presumptions.

I agree that in order to speak to a Marxist constructively I need to understand certain concepts and how they use certain words.

But are you claiming that to understand whether Anarchism is true / right / good (possible, preferable, beneficial, ethical) that I need to understand Marxism?

But really interesting work has been done in cybernetics etc on how such decentralised networks of production and distribution can work effectively with technology that address many of the older economic objections

A point Graeber brings out in Dawn Of Everything - it has previously been assumed that pre-historic trade was very localised and yet we have since found (non perishable) goods travelling thousands of miles across complex networks …

In some ways yes - in some ways no - the past does show what people are capable of and what is possible - but the setting is definitely different - the thing is that for Indus to have worked it would have been more socially involved & complex tha typical modern societies …

But if you say it relates to transitional states I'll take your word for it and make some notes

The thing about Surplus value is that it is just Adam Smith & David Ricardo with more implications - Marx didn't come up with the theory (as I point out to defend Marx to pro-capitalists who try to criticise it) - he did a great job showing its implications for coercion and exploitation though ...