As you probably know by now, I like to keep up with.....

[socialist_n_TN]

Last edited Fri Jul 5, 2013, 06:43 PM - Edit history (1)

the number of subscribers to our little talk fest here in the Socialist Progressives group. I've watched steady growth since TBF started this at the beginning of DU3.

We are now at 209 subscribers and as a host, I want to thank each and every one of you for making this one of the most informative places I've ever had the pleasure to learn.

Thank you ALL!

Edited to fix a brain fart. It's TBF, NOT TBD. Whether my memory will ever be right is TBD. Also, it seems we're up to 210 subscribers now.

[BOG PERSON]

1. they should all post more n/t

[socialist_n_TN]

2. I agree BOG.......

That's the only thing I'd criticize, if I criticized at all. We have some slow times and with the originality and knowledge we have in our group's members, I'd learn even more than I do now if everybody would post more.

[Starry Messenger]

6. I hope our subscribers will post more too.

I'm curious about all 209 of them. I appreciate the material people share in here.

[Shankapotomus]

3. I just subscribed last week

I can't believe I never noticed this place all this time.

[socialist_n_TN]

4. Thanks for subscribing Shank...

Don't hesitate to throw in. Well, read the TOS of the group first of course. We don't have very many rules, but the few that we do have we are pretty serious about. BTW, those few rules were formulated during the first few days by all of us posting together on what we thought the rules should be, so it wasn't a "top down" process. The thread is probably still around somewhere.

Anyway, once again, thanks for joining!

[Jackpine Radical]

5. Crowdsourcing is the New Socialism--

Or, actually, the new anarchy, I suppose. With our highly networked system of intercommunications, I think anarcho-syndicalism makes a whole lot more sense than it did 100 years ago. It's a whole lot harder to corrupt a crowd-driven system than it is a top-down hierarchy. Actually, I have about as much trust for government systems as I do for corporate-run systems. (And at the moment, we have both.)

"those few rules were formulated during the first few days by all of us posting together on what we thought the rules should be, so it wasn't a "top down" process."

[socialist_n_TN]

10. Trots and anarchists haven't always gotten along, but....

we do share one very important commonality and that IS a bottom up style. Now, Trotskyists do "bottom up" within the framework of democratic-centralism and a vanguard party and it is MAJORITY based rather than consensus, but that is a commonality that is not shared by some democratic-centralist groups which are heavily top down.

And under a United Front type of setup (which is what I consider this to be), the way we ALL formulated the rules is the way it should be. That doesn't mean we give up our individual tendencies and that doesn't mean we can't argue FOR our conceptions of strategy and tactics, but in a UF the Front partners make the rules for the Front. If the rules get too onerous then you can leave the Front, but until then, those rules are the ones you abide by.

[BOG PERSON]

11. on the merits of crowdsourcing

formal hierarchy is better than the informal hierarchies that would emerge otherwise. imo

[Shankapotomus]

7. Thanks for the welcome.

I plan to do the lurk and learn for a bit, as I'm not sure I qualify as a full socialist. I do think capitalism and corporatism are out of control, though, and need to be highly regulated. That much I'm sure of.

[limpyhobbler]

8. I must say, this is a really informative group.

I've learned a lot reading in here and been inspired to go read things on my own. I do appreciate it.

[socialist_n_TN]

9. And we've learned from you limp.......

I LOVE the way you just throw in and, most importantly, the way you don't hesitate to ASK QUESTIONS. When you ask questions and someone tries to answer them coming from a certain perspective and/or tendency, you really have to think about any contradictions inherent in your answers and, by extension, your belief system. THAT is SO positive.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

13. Absolutely true.

Now, don't ask me any questions.

[limpyhobbler]

14. oh yeah cool.

It's a good little corner of the internet. My ideas are always evolving in relation to stuff I read, including here. I like the stuff you post from the Workers Power site. It's a good bunch of assorted anti-capitalists here. It's cool to get the different perspectives and see what people are working on.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

12. Hoorah!

I would like to thank everyone here, too. I'm quite busy, but when I can, I do read and post. I'm glad to have learned and taught in this group.

Solidarity!

FA