Your thoughts on RevLeft.com....

[Taverner]

Do you think this place will welcome critical thinking, freedom of thought and a full-school view?

Or will it be like many other Neo-Marxist sites where they will brush away Stalinism and Maoism's flaws?

I think it looks OK - but I'm sure I can't be the only one who tried this site...

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Taverner]

2. But in the end it may not be courting voters, but instead shaping destiny

Yeah, I know, sounds like a cultish statement

But one big thing I noticed was that they understood what contribution Karl Marx made to the political conversation

They may not always be Marxists but at least they see the value in his work

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Well, they allow free thought in their ads

The first thing I am greeted with is:

"Nine Investing Mistakes You Should Avoid in 2011" by a Forbes columnist. Very revolutionary, comrade.

[Taverner]

4. Hey - sites have to make money somehow

I have no problem with Capitalist companies giving money to Marxist sites

When we're in a Socialistic or Communistic economy, then you change

But today, when everything and anything is for sale - you gotta pay the bills

[socialist_n_TN]

5. Yep. Wasn't Engels quite the capitalist?

Just because you want to change a system doesn't mean you can't game the system. And as you say, right now you gotta pay the bills somehow.

I would expect business people who have a Marxist philosophical outlook though to be MUCH more honest than a capitalist businessperson. At least their ethical base would be people oriented rather than profit only.

[Taverner]

6. He owned THE printing press in town

Doesn't get more Capitalistic than that...

[white_wolf]

7. I used to post that so I'll talk about my experience and try to address your questions.

As for your first question it depends. They have an opposing ideologies section for pretty much any group, but fascists, where you can discuss pretty much any topic with the main members of the site and ask questions and things. As to your question on Stalinsm and Maoism, it depends on the members. They have members of every socialist type from the various types of Marxists to anarchists. The Trotskyists often get into very long very dull sectrain feuds with the Stalinist and Maoists. The anarchists will often get into arguments with the Marxists especially over Krondsalt. Over all, I did learn a few things from them, but they will restrict you to OI forums if you are not a socialist.

[LiberalAndProud]

8. How do they determine if you are a socialist or not?

[white_wolf]

9. Based on your posts.

For example if you post something in support of the free market or private enterprise you will get restricted, or if even if you are a socialist, but don't support gay rights or women's right they will restrict you.

[socialist_n_TN]

14. That Trotskyist/anarchist thing over Kronstadt

happens here a little bit too. I actually think it goes back even farther than Kronstadt. Trotsky ALWAYS had a problem with anarchists. He didn't see the sense in indiscriminate bombings and assassinations or vandalism. To Trotsky, if it didn't lead to the overthrow of the SYSTEM, it wasn't worth doing. He couldn't see how assassinating a political figure made any difference when another one took his place and the system went on. I agree with LD.

[nc4bo]

10. Something I liked right aways was the description from the Learning forum...

A place for beginners and learners to ask their political questions about theory or specific issues. Don't worry if you think your questions are stupid or pointless, ask away. Learning is not stupid and is never pointless.

May sound silly to some but reading that alone gave me a warm, fuzzy, maybe-there-is-something-to-learn-here, feeling.

[Starry Messenger]

11. I've lurked a bit

It always seems rife with sectarian in-fighting. "My tendency is bigger than your tendency" sort of thing. LibCom is more interesting if you are looking for just a leftist forum, although I think they are based in the UK. http://libcom.org/ Just my .02

[socialist_n_TN]

13. LOL! "My tendency is bigger than your tendency"............

:rofl: That is fucking HILARIOUS, Starry.

One nice thing about posting on a generic leftist forum (like this) is that you'll wind up with LESS sectarianism IMO. When you get a bunch of commies together, the differences come out. When the commies are on a left site, they tend to accentuate the similarities of programme.

[Starry Messenger]

15. "Get out the ruler!"

:D I like posting here too. It's stimulating and it makes you tackle things in different ways than just being a part of a leftist amen corner. Not that there isn't a place for that too. :)

[socialist_n_TN]

17. Well sure, they both have their place.....

I learned a LOT about arguing politics from a political board on a sports site of all places. It was like 75/25 RW, including some that were EXTREMELY RW. I learned to recognize the RW arguing style, which is why when I see it here, I know it. I can't call it because of the rules, but I DO know it.

[some guy]

16. I've never heard of it.

Why would they "brush away Stalinism and Maoism's flaws" if they're a neo-Marixst site?

Neither Stalinism nor Maoism have much in common with Marxism.

It's like asking if a Democratic party site would brush away the flaws of the Republican party.

[rug]

18. Thanks for the link.

Looks interesting. More refreshing than GDP defenses of benefits cuts.

Although I did a search on PLP and the one thread I found was against it.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Shagbark Hickory]

20. I was not aware that forum existed. I lean communist so I checked it out just now.

My initial impression is that JonTheGreat hit the nail on the head in reply number 19.