The WSM is 20

by anarchist Tue Sep 28, 2004 16:01

How do you find out more on anarchist organisations and activity? Do you have a meeting place?

by Joe - WSM (personal cap) Tue Sep 28, 2004 16:13

Err 'anarchist' your replying to a post inviting you along to one such meeting place and another was widely advertised on the same day. If you mean is there somewhere you can go 24 hours a day where you can meet us then the answer is no but we have regular public events advertised here and elsewhere. Just turn up at one of these.

Or email wsm_ireland@yahoo.com

by Joe Tue Sep 28, 2004 16:15

Forgot to aid that there other anarchist/libertarian groups and projects active as well. These are linked from http://anarchism.ws/ireland.html

by Chekov - WSM - personal capacity Tue Sep 28, 2004 16:15

Walk three times around a black church reciting the hail mary backwards and the anarchists will appear!!

But Seriously, to contact the WSM, email the above address and we'll let you know about upcoming meetings.

You could also subscribe to the irish-anarchism email list. Go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/irishanarchism/

Depending on where you are based, it could be easier to contact the organise group. Their website is at: http://www.organiseireland.org

There are also various regular events held by unaffiliated anarchists. For example, the bad thoughts discussion evenings and the bad books library. The next one is on this wednesday evening in dublin. http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=66775

by redjade Tue Sep 28, 2004 16:17

Happy Birthday WSM - keep up the struggle!

Happy Birthday WSM / Adbusting @ The Teacher's Club

by anon Tue Sep 28, 2004 16:31

Lads of the wsm thats not a nice reply to a wannabe "anarchist" less of the sarcarstic comments after all dont you want people involved in your "social revolution".

by Joe Tue Sep 28, 2004 16:44

What's 'not nice' about the reply unless you mean Chekovs joke about the black church. 'anarchist' asked a question and got a load of answers, not sure what else might be expected!

by pat c Tue Sep 28, 2004 16:51

yeah, the devil is supposed to appear if you go 3 times around the black church. it works!

the late great butch roche did the 3 step and then saw dessie o'hagan of the WP coming towards him.

by pain in the ass Tue Sep 28, 2004 17:54

it should be "WSM are 20".
or one particularly important "WSM member _is_ 20"

by Ray Tue Sep 28, 2004 18:21

"WSM are 20" would mean that all members of the WSM are 20.
"WSM is 20" means that the organisation is 20.

by Mr Fowler Tue Sep 28, 2004 18:22

Unless the WSM is a collective noun which then entitles it to take the singular.

by Ray Wed Sep 29, 2004 10:40

The name of the organisation (note singular) is the Workers Solidarity Movement (again, note singular). The organisation (singular) is (singular) 20. The Movement (singular) is (singular) 20. These are both correct.

The alternatives - 'The organisation (singular) are (plural) 20. The Movement (singular) are (plural) 20.' - are obviously incorrect.

The only way they could be correct is if there is an unstated sentence fragment, for example 'The [members of the] organisation are 20'. But I can assure you that the members of the WSM are not actually 20.

I hope this clarifies matters for the many interested readers.

by richard Wed Sep 29, 2004 13:39

mr ray says that wsm members are not 20. how old are them? this is an important issue. to say that an organisation is 20 is to say very little. to know how old are its members is the only way to establish if the wsm is a young or ageing oragnisation. also, are all the present members the original founding members? is any founding member still in the organisation? and if not why? did they die, join FF or what? if all the existing members have been in the organisation for less than 20 years, can you legitimately say that the organisation is 20?

also the age of its members says very little about an organisation. to assess if an organisation is healthy we also need to know if it has addressed issues such as equity. how many black members, women, people from disadvanted backgrounds are part of the organisation? are they in positions of power? are ethnic and religious minorities represented in its governing body?

what do members of the wsm do between meetings and demos? are they employed, unemployed, self-employed or what? how much do they earn?

are they single or married? do they have children and if yes, how many?

finally, we need to know why members joined the organisation in the first place. which were their motivations? what did they want to achieve by joining such an organisation? have their expectations being fulfilled? what would they like to see changed in the organisation? do they think that there is room for improvement in the organisation? do they think that the organisation is listening to their demands?

i look forward to your answers.

by Ray Wed Sep 29, 2004 14:05

"mr ray"

Aw shucks, no need to be so formal.

"says that wsm members are not 20. how old are them? this is an important issue. to say that an organisation is 20 is to say very little."

Yeah, all it says is that the first issue of the paper came out 20 years ago. (Or maybe it was the first meeting of the group that went on to produce that first paper, I dunno.)

"to know how old are its members is the only way to establish if the wsm is a young or ageing oragnisation."

It would be rude to answer this in detail, but I can reveal that each member of the organisation is aging.

"also, are all the present members the original founding members?"

Thanks to the miracle of time travel, yes.

"is any founding member still in the organisation?"

That depends. Do brains in jars count?

"and if not why? did they die, join FF or what?"

Its a fascinating story that I don't have time to relate now, but in fact they died, then joined FF, and then whated.

"if all the existing members have been in the organisation for less than 20 years, can you legitimately say that the organisation is 20?"

Fie on your bourgeois legitimacy!

"also the age of its members says very little about an organisation. to assess if an organisation is healthy we also need to know if it has addressed issues such as equity."

Well, the secret headquarters were bought back in 1984 for under a quarter of a million pounds, and are worth far more now, so yes, the WSM has amassed considerable equity.

"how many black members, women, people from disadvanted backgrounds are part of the organisation?"

I'll thank you to refrain from further implications. Readers will be glad, and unsurprised, to hear that all WSM members are white males, of good family.

"are they in positions of power? are ethnic and religious minorities represented in its governing body? "

Not the _real_ governing body, naturally.

"what do members of the wsm do between meetings and demos?"

Recharge their batteries. Literally.

"are they employed, unemployed, self-employed or what? how much do they earn? "

What's the current exchange rate between euro and the unblemished souls of the unborn?

"are they single or married? do they have children and if yes, how many? "

Thanks once more to the miracle of time travle, all WSM members are each other's children. Christmas is lots of fun.

"finally, we need to know why members joined the organisation in the first place."

To take over the world. Duh.

"which were their motivations?"

Evil ones.

"what did they want to achieve by joining such an organisation?"

The destruction of the known universe.

"have their expectations being fulfilled?"

Yes, but you won't notice until later.

"what would they like to see changed in the organisation?"

A vegetarian option.

"do they think that there is room for improvement in the organisation?"

Possibly, but its kind of academic since the universe is about to end.

"do they think that the organisation is listening to their demands? "

The secret headquarters is fully equipped with listening devices.

"i look forward to your answers."

Glad to oblige.

by haha Wed Sep 29, 2004 16:59

god the wsm are so secretive ye think they'd reveal something to us we are waiting for some gossip come we have had enough swp gossip wsm turn now!
where the hell has "anarchist" gone he/she was so eager for info!

by Leon (ADF) Wed Sep 29, 2004 17:05

Just read Ray's post. Youcan trust him because he thrown in bitter circumstances. [1] Let's just say he was framed and ruined (which ws necessary) and shaved 'all over' (which wasn't.

[1]Out of the WSM was

by brko Wed Sep 29, 2004 17:07

Who or what are ADF? Thnx Leon.

by Ray Wed Sep 29, 2004 17:07

But they keep coming back to shave me again. Come on lads, enough is enough.

by ADF Leon Wed Sep 29, 2004 17:08

Could also be WSM is 20 strong.

For the first time I think.

by Leon (Anarchist Driver's Federation) Wed Sep 29, 2004 17:11

We dion't have the technology to just shave your face and beards are forbidden to members :[1]
'for the term of this and all subsequent lives'

AS YOU WELL KNOW because you signed to contract (in blood [2])

[1] Wishful thinking
[2] not his own blood though (one of the ((many many)) reasons he was thrown out)

by Groucho Wed Sep 29, 2004 22:55

Well at least they have a sense of humour which means that they can't be Marxists (of the Karlist variety) ......