this post was submitted on 17 Dec 2020
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Anarchism

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Basically, my question involves to what extent I should obey my parents as an anarchist. I'm breaking their trust right now by writing this. Basically, in a long series of events that's lasted my entire life, they've come to think that I'm obsessed with going on the computer, and recently with computer privacy and security. They only let me on the computer for school related purposes. Should I do what they say? I feel an anarchist might have a different answer about this. I feel like we've just been getting along so well lately, and we would all cry if they found out I broke their trust, but, on the other hand, child liberation? I'm really confused.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago

I am much older and was once in your situation. I grew up and really understood what it meant to be an anarchist. And is has not much to do with the "obey" but rather with the "obey blindly and accept it".

I believe the fact that they do not trust you with a computer arise from the fact that you are not mature enough — or at least the fact that you don't show them enough maturity. And I think, by the tone of your post, that you are not mature enough.

That is not a bad thing, at all! You need to take your time to grow up. And if you want to have more rights, in their home, try to understand their side of things. Ask them why they won't trust you, where does the need to restrict you come, how can you act to have more freedom.

Anarchy isn't about blindly disobeing. That's just disobeissance. It's about understanding what rights you don't have and the reason behind it.

One last thing : please don't forget that even if you think you are ready for the outside world, at 15 you are not. Some fifteen years old are, but they are not the ones to come on an internet forum to sort things out — they already have it all figured out. For the while, communicate with your parents and try to understand their point of view. And remember that as long as you live under their roof, you have to abide by their rules. You can also choose to continue breaking them as you are doing right now. But be smart about it.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

Lol what the fuck are these comments here. Literally just ageism and not really any youth liberation perspective at all. I feel like restricting access to a ressource like a computer or the internet is just fucked up and is more about control than genuine guidance.

Also this is 3 years old btw.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

How did this end up in hot? Also OP is 18 now

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 years ago (1 children)

Not an anarchist but you can't hope to achieve any sort of liberation unless you are self-sufficient financially or at least are living on your own for example for something like college/university. Best you can do is talk to them and negotiate for some recreational time on the computer or, if worse comes to worst keep it doing in secret like right now but this always runs the risk of being found out so you need to assess this option carefully according to your situation.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 years ago

I'm an anarchist and I pretty much agree. I think that it's important to try to understand where your parents are coming from and why it is, exactly, they are attempting to forbid you from accessing a computer and what kind of behavior they think they're trying to deter.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 years ago

This is a difficult question. Anarchism is not against all types of authority, but against hierarchy specifically (unjustified and unwanted authority). The question is whenever we can consider this as a hierarchy.

recently with computer privacy and security.

What do you mean? I don't understand the link between this and the fact you cannot go on your computer.

PS: I am 15 too.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Basically, my question involves to what extent I should obey my parents as an anarchist

I want this as a tattoo. Also, OP, now that you're 18, did things ever improve?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 years ago

hello young friend, first of all, only you can tell if your relationship with computers is healthy or not. as a rule of thumb when living with other people, when using the computer stops us from taking care of other responsibilities we might change how we spend time on computers. However I say this based on having being a teenager when there was no curfews/quarantines so I could actually go out, play ball, meet new people in real life. I would respect my parents for they cared about me, but again this is about me so I reiterate, only you can tell if you are obsessed with computers, and even if it's the case, you are the one who would be able to tell if that's a problem to you. Some people might argue that our urges are conditioned reflexes, which I interpret as, doing what we feel like doing doesn't always mean being free. TL,DR: only you can know what you should do ;)