Anarcho-Bicyclist Conference Manchester April 2011

Does it really need spelling out?

Btw, Veganism turns into Befallen on my phone.

Clearly, yes it really does need spelling out.

Rules are rules and without rules what would we have?

and this deserves rep.

Oh shit BlueRinse is here...

I was an anarchist well before you were born :-)

Amazing.

Oh shit BlueRinse is here...

'salright. carry on as normal, I've got to get back to work now.

I'm feeling rather proud of inventing your new nickname, Niall.

While I accept that serving vegan food caters for just about everyone, why is being vegan seemingly a sine qua non for being an anarchist? Why does a political movement that encompasses and occasionally encourages, political assassination not accept the slaughter of animals for sustenance?

OMG HITLAR WAS TEH VEGITARIAN THREAD ENDZ

Alternative politics is like anything else; some people want to boil things down into a blueprint for simplifying moral choices. Exactly the same as some people treat religion. That's my take on it.

That any anarchists can support violence as a means to achieving revolution is utterly mystifying to me. I can't see how any anarchist can find a mandate for the use of coercion or force to achieve political ends.

But it's fine for other Dogmas to use force and coercion?

anyone feeling excluded then feel free to hook up with me and we can go for a burger and talk about gender issues in modern politics and discuss the differences between Proudhonist and Marxist theories regarding the bicycle.

Wen Jian

It is difficult to write of anarchism as one unified body of political thought, because it isn't. Some anarchists believe, as do utilitarians such as Bentham, that the greater good transcends the impact on an individual. It is therefore acceptable to kill a prince or an industrialist if it benefits the masses. Bentham, in his wilder moments, justified the use of torture for this very reason.

Not all anarchists hold such views. Not all Untalitarians hold such views on torture.

i found this comment on a blog, i wonder if these kind of questions are at the forefront of hipster consciousness every time the buy or sell an aerospoke or heavy 531 conversion with a dented top-tube?
*
"Risk and investment have value too, not just labor. And there is no way to prevent risks and investments from having profit potential unless you artificially influence prices.

Let's say I have a brand A bicycle and my friend has a brand B bicycle. His bicycle is in worse shape, and if someone where to go out buying bicycles today mine would fetch a higher price. Still, I think certian things about brand B bicycles might become more valuable in the future than they are now. Maybe it has hand-painted pinstripes, which I notice are becoming more and more rare.

So, I take a risk and make an investment by offering to trade my bicycle for my friend's. I even explain my reasons for wanting to trade, but he agrees anyway because he would like something of more value now and he has no interest in engaging in the risk that I am engaging in.

Ten years down the road I find that brand B bicycles are selling for several times what brand A bicycles are selling for. My investment has paid off, but the appreciation of value has had nothing to do with my labor (that is, if you don't consider market research to be labor).

I have not read much Proudhon, but it seems like I have just met his definition of theft. Both parties agreed to the transaction, and both were informed. I haven't stolen from anyone, and yet I have still somehow committed theft.

And there is no way to prevent people from profiting in this way unless you set up a system where supply and demand have nothing to do with how items are traded or purchased. How could an anarchist accomplish this without violent government intervention?"*

Pure discrimination.** What's wrong with you right-handed people**?

Nothing, that's our point.

Amazing.

Amazing is calling vegan option inclusive.

Also amazing is chucking all the mumbo jumbo in one sack and sticking on it "an alternative" label.

.. so what? Why is 'not having a politcal framework' superior to having a political framework? Surely your club has some raison d'etre, and someone could quite easily glibly say "sounds like what I wrote an essay on over breakfast, except I didn't need to justify it!" I mean.

What did your club resolve about the corporate takeover of the bicycle and gender in the workshop (or at least, whatever the particular matters were that were similar to these)? It sounds you're in a pretty interesting club btw!
Not superior or inferior, what I meant was that many of the issues in the "anarchist" event are issues for all (semi) organised groups of cyclists: encouraging female participation, how to run group rides, how cyclists interact with non-cyclists. But no, our stance towards capitalism isn't antithetical as a matter of principle. Our club raison d'etre is to encourage sporting cycling.

Amazing is calling vegan option inclusive.

You must be referring to this post in which it's described as more inclusive. In my experience of organising events with catering this is the case. Costs less too if you shop around.

I am alternative.

I like their aims so I'm booking my train to the conference.
I bikemcr! in april

their aims are admirable and pro cycling in all it's forms.
i can't take the anarchist/vegan angle seriously though when contrary statements like this are to be found on it's forum.:

"We know how to get rid of slugs. The easiest way, a bit too messy perhaps, is to squash them."

mollusc squashing is murder, wanton and barbaric murder.
hypocrites should be strung up on the barricades and stoned by the proles.

hypocrites should be strung up on the barricades and stoned by the poles.

Yep, EEI, where are you?

Why let all that get in the way of a good weekend talking about bikes and riding
If you don't like vegan food bring some salami in your pocket to add to the lentils
and if you don't like the anarchism then ... ?

But it's fine for other Dogmas to use force and coercion?

Well if it's consistent with their ideology to consider the use of violence appropriate to the exercise or maintenance of power by a minority over the majority, then one can hardly react with suprised horror when it happens or is espoused.

Isn't it obvious that an anarchist (a minority ideology even by the broadest definition) using force or coercion is immediately voiding the legitimacy of their action?

Wen Jian

It is difficult to write of anarchism as one unified body of political thought, because it isn't. Some anarchists believe, as do utilitarians such as Bentham, that the greater good transcends the impact on an individual. It is therefore acceptable to kill a prince or an industrialist if it benefits the masses. Bentham, in his wilder moments, justified the use of torture for this very reason.

Not all anarchists hold such views. Not all Untalitarians hold such views on torture.

Since anarchism at it's fundamental point is about reducing constraint upon and maximising the opportunity for the individual, the impact upon the individual is the only measure of an anarchist act. 'Greater good' is a commie invention.

Anyway, yes, I am aware that within the broad term, there are a plethora of theories.

Why let all that get in the way of a good weekend talking about bikes and riding
If you don't like vegan food bring some salami in your pocket to add to the lentils... ?

I am not sure that that is correct. Their aims state:

· We reject all forms and systems of domination and discrimination including, but not limited to, patriarchy, racism, animal abuse/ meat and dairy industry and religious fundamentalism of all creeds. We embrace the full dignity of all creatures.

I think that means that you would not be welcome there with a Starbucks capuccino (however FairTrade) in your bottle cage unless you could show it was soya. If i want to mix anarchism with my cycling why should I have to foresake meat and cheese? Or jelly babies? Or a Brookes saddle?

If i want to mix veganism with my cycling why should I have to forsake the rule of law? Or banks? Or a police station?

ft