Tips for Radicals

Aiming to be a "blog of the gaps" to cover things that other radical blogs oftem miss — what we want, our journey there, and issues along the way.

To help you searching the blog, I use the following tags to categorise posts:

theory - ways of structuring the world
strategy - plans to achieve the theories
tools - specific ways to (help) achieve the strategy
tips - advice that could help you in your life and action
examples and analysis of existing campaigns

For more info, see the about this blog page.

Please send in your own blog posts, links, comments, or article ideas either as a submission or an ask - always welcome.

"if you don't have a strategy, you're part of someone else's strategy."
– a. toffler

"What can we do today, so that tomorrow we can do what we are unable to do today?"
– Paulo Freire

I also run a more scatter-shot blog full of incoherent rants and tumblr arguments. Sorry about that.

Featured Posts

Posts tagged "ask"

genderbutt replied to your link: Tools for guys who are working for social change to challenge your own domination

I have to object to referring to LGBTQ* folks as ‘queers’ in general, especially in a post aimed mostly at straight people. It’s still a slur, and that is exactly how it is used as a slur.

firstly, I definitely don’t think the post’s aimed “mostly at straight people”. the original was aimed at men, and I’d strongly disagree that (for example) gay men don’t frequently speak over women etc. at meetings

as for the point about it being a slur, it’s the whole debate about reclaiming language, right? some reclaim “queer” as an adjective, some as a noun, and some hate the word and don’t want to reclaim it. obviously your objection to the term is entirely valid, but so’s the use of it by other queer people, right?

reclaiming is in the way it’s used as a slur is exactly how people try to reclaim things, normally :)

anonamuss Asks:

Regarding your post on sexism/racism after capitalism falls: They tried the same thing with Civil Rights / Women's Suffrage, where Black people and women worked together to help each other's cause. After slavery ended, guess who forgot their obligation? And about 60 years later, finally it happened. All the revolutions need to happen at once, or else they get forgotten.

tipsforradicals Said:

on one level: yes, totally!

on another level: the way you said it made it sound like (a) “black people” and “women” are two separate groups (b) the civil rights movement was to blame for sexism, or something?

I dunno your background, obv, but I think it’s worth mentioning that anti-racist movements throughout history have had both feminist and patriarchal parts, and the blame for that lies (in my eyes) solely in the patriarchal society that we live in, and at the door of those who benefit from the system without doing anything to change it

brujacore Asks:

Hi! Regarding your recent post on privilege, you need to credit my work. I don't know where you found my drawing, but I'd appreciate it if you linked to my page. seesuzysketch [.] blogspot [.] com. Thank you.

tipsforradicals Said:

mega-apologies! I found it somewhere other than your blog, but that doesn’t make it OK. I’ll add a link into the two places I’ve used it ^_^ thanks for not being angry at me!

Anonymous Asks:

I didn't see Anarcho-Capitalism anywhere on your graph about anarchy. Where is it?

tipsforradicals Said:

burning in hell with other capitalist ideologies <3

fly-catcher Asks:

This blog makes me really happy. Keep it up.

tipsforradicals Said:

aah thank you! I’m really glad people are starting to find the blog useful ^_^ maybe contribute something?

reading yr blog, I feel like you could have good thoughts about music and radicalism?

up the punks!

Anonymous Asks:

I think I may have said this before at some point, but you curate an excellent blog. I'm not a radical, but what you post and share is always high quality. It is at times challenging to my beliefs, but that is exactly why I follow this blog. Moreover, even if I don't agree with the political ideologies behind some of the posts, the tips are often applicable in a broader context. Moreover, the social justice aspect to many posts (e.g. the MLK post) is wonderful. Keep up the great work. =D

tipsforradicals Said:

oh wow that’s like the nicest ask ever - thanks anon!

I’ll convert you yet ;)

anon
ask

Is anyone here a (radical) web developer? →

Was talking to someone involved with the new tactics handbook Beautiful Trouble (seriously badass book) and an idea came up that we need a developer to be able to pull off.

Are you interested? Shoot me an ask for more info, and please reblog!

P.S. by radical developer I don’t mean someone well-versed in a language “radical”. I just mean a developer aligned with the principles of this blog/that book!

genderbutt Asks:

I am a student in a French-language program in Quebec that went on strike back in February. I can believe that some student associations have everyone speak once before they repeat, but mine doesn't, and we don't alternate men and women (this would favor the men, given that our association is more than half women) but some assos, including CLASSE, do. General assemblies can take 3+ hours, and transparency is variable (CLASSE is good, not so much FEUQ). There's also a split around tactics.

tipsforradicals Said:

ooh, great to know, thanks for sharing!

what sorta split around tactics, if you don’t mind providing more info?

Anonymous Asks:

As someone trying to find their way in the political world, I really appreciate your blog. I do not identify as a radical. Rather, I am a privileged student that for a long time identified as Republican. I don't agree with many radical things, but I love seeing theories placed in context, and the stories of radical success. My ideology is far from perfect, and I want to be surrounded by things that will challenge me. Just... keep up the good blog!

tipsforradicals Said:

Ah, that’s really sweet!

Maybe read something like Anarchy in Action by Colin Ward? good book covering concrete instances of radical theory, sounds like just what you’d need to put you on the road to conversion ;)

ask
anon

oldenough2burmom Asks:

Hi! So glad to find your blog. I am trying to connect with very occupier I can via tumblr.

tipsforradicals Said:

awesome, definitely check out http://www.thepoliticalnotebook.com/ too!