The image is a bit of circular reasoning, as it’s very close to one of the definitions of what a state is.
But it’s good to be reminded of it once in a while.
this post was submitted on 31 Dec 2025
354 points (94.7% liked)
196
5228 readers
1579 users here now
Community Rules
You must post before you leave
Be nice. Assume others have good intent (within reason).
Block or ignore posts, comments, and users that irritate you in some way rather than engaging. Report if they are actually breaking community rules.
Use content warnings and/or mark as NSFW when appropriate. Most posts with content warnings likely need to be marked NSFW.
Most 196 posts are memes, shitposts, cute images, or even just recent things that happened, etc. There is no real theme, but try to avoid posts that are very inflammatory, offensive, very low quality, or very "off topic".
Bigotry is not allowed, this includes (but is not limited to): Homophobia, Transphobia, Racism, Sexism, Abelism, Classism, or discrimination based on things like Ethnicity, Nationality, Language, or Religion.
Avoid shilling for corporations, posting advertisements, or promoting exploitation of workers.
Proselytization, support, or defense of authoritarianism is not welcome. This includes but is not limited to: imperialism, nationalism, genocide denial, ethnic or racial supremacy, fascism, Nazism, Marxism-Leninism, Maoism, etc.
Avoid AI generated content.
Avoid misinformation.
Avoid incomprehensible posts.
No threats or personal attacks.
No spam.
Moderator Guidelines
Moderator Guidelines
- Don’t be mean to users. Be gentle or neutral.
- Most moderator actions which have a modlog message should include your username.
- When in doubt about whether or not a user is problematic, send them a DM.
- Don’t waste time debating/arguing with problematic users.
- Assume the best, but don’t tolerate sealioning/just asking questions/concern trolling.
- Ask another mod to take over cases you struggle with, if you get tired, or when things get personal.
- Ask the other mods for advice when things get complicated.
- Share everything you do in the mod matrix, both so several mods aren't unknowingly handling the same issues, but also so you can receive feedback on what you intend to do.
- Don't rush mod actions. If a case doesn't need to be handled right away, consider taking a short break before getting to it. This is to say, cool down and make room for feedback.
- Don’t perform too much moderation in the comments, except if you want a verdict to be public or to ask people to dial a convo down/stop. Single comment warnings are okay.
- Send users concise DMs about verdicts about them, such as bans etc, except in cases where it is clear we don’t want them at all, such as obvious transphobes. No need to notify someone they haven’t been banned of course.
- Explain to a user why their behavior is problematic and how it is distressing others rather than engage with whatever they are saying. Ask them to avoid this in the future and send them packing if they do not comply.
- First warn users, then temp ban them, then finally perma ban them when they break the rules or act inappropriately. Skip steps if necessary.
- Use neutral statements like “this statement can be considered transphobic” rather than “you are being transphobic”.
- No large decisions or actions without community input (polls or meta posts f.ex.).
- Large internal decisions (such as ousting a mod) might require a vote, needing more than 50% of the votes to pass. Also consider asking the community for feedback.
- Remember you are a voluntary moderator. You don’t get paid. Take a break when you need one. Perhaps ask another moderator to step in if necessary.
founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
I find that most people are not actually familiar with the definition of a state. And it helps remind just how brutally direct that definition is
Thats such a spook lul (Stirner quote)
This spook?
https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/max-stirner-the-ego-and-his-own
I’m afraid I’m not really understanding what he’s getting at. It seems like some weird cross of superstition and social construct, but I’m not sure what makes it different from either of those things.
Also, I really hate 19th century prose for anything but fiction ;)
Social construct would be a more nuanced less derogatory modern term. 'Bullshit we just made the fuck up' is good too and a little closer to what he meant
Common stirner W
Catboy Stirner catboy Stirner
All societies impose rules on individuals.
since you are not explaining what you are trying to say with this, i have to assume.
i assume you are trying to imply that since all societies impose rules on individuals, states are no worse than any other way to organize a society, and criticising them (pointing out how they arbitrarily legitimize their own violence and criminalize that of individuals) is hypocrytical or pointless.
if this is what you are trying to say, then i have to disagree. not all power structures are equal. states are a hierarchical way to organize societies, disempowering the many, to empower the few. rules are not imposed on people, by themsleves, but by a higher authority. they are authoritarian and oppressive. state violence is illegitimate and defence against it is likely legitimate. this is something states try to obscure and it is something people need to realise, so they will consider overthrowing the states ruling over them.
if you did not mean to imply this. i am sorry for misunderstanding you. tbf i did try to get you to explain yourself. i would still like to read what you meant.
what are you trying to say?
That you deserve it and that no society was about you, because the elites deserve their privileges of causing everyone else pain for their own profit.
“All the other kids do it too mom!”
Exactly what I wrote.
What did you think I meant?
your comment does not seem directly related to the content of the post. i assume you are therefore implying something with your statement. otherwise, what led you to comment it?
Which particular word confused you?
none. i am trying to understand why you said what you said. how is "all societies impose laws upon individuals" related to "states legitimize their own violence and criminalize the violence of individuals"?
Every society has rules. Anarchists advocate for rules.
I've yet to meet two anarchists who agree on what an 'anarchy' system would actually look like.
ive met plenty.
I could probably count on one hand the number of anarchists I know that can agree on the fuck it is.
And iv met a lot of them.
i would need at least two hands, and i havent met that many yet
Part of the point is not deciding on the end before you get there, only the direction, so everyone can have a say.
If you want to meet anarchists that agreed on how to organize, you have to meet organized anarchists
Here's my controversial opinion. Using phrases like 'anarchy' or 'socialism' is a complete waste of time if you're interested in making any kind of change.
Look at the campaigns of Mamdani and AOC. They talked much more about actual issues and laws than they talked about utopian plans for the future.
If you say you're a 'socialist' you give the MAGat ammunition. "Well, wasn't Hitler a Socialist?"
If you say 'tax the rich' you avoid that.
You can spend time getting people elected, or you can spend time arguing about things that you can't control.
I kind of agree; actions matters, world shall support. However, actions of many have to be coordinated to aime the same goal. And to do so, we shall be clear of the ideal we want. Hitler do not want to abolish capitalism, but you could have a fascist state that tax the rich. Without upper hand, confusions is counter productive
what’s ur fav boot flavour, you seemingly enjoy licking the dirt off them
A state is just a group with a monopoly on violence.
Yeah ghastly is essentially just being definitional here
i do not believe stirner opererated on that definition.
here is maletesta's definition of the state, which i find far more useful for critiquing states.
“Anarchists, including this writer, have used the word State, and still do, to mean the sum total of the political, legislative, judiciary, military and financial institutions through which the management of their own affairs, the control over their personal behavior, the responsibility for their personal safety, are taken away from the people and entrusted to others who, by usurpation or delegation, are vested with the powers to make the laws for everything and everybody, and to oblige the people to observe them, if need be, by the use of collective force.”
i would go as far as to say that the entire anarchist critique of states builds on such a an understanding of states, and in turn becomes less coherent with a defintion like the one you are using.
I don't understand why those 2 definitions are excluding; if the last thing that enforce everything is the collective force, it means that everything has been built to be protected by the collective force. Legit violence is what is structuring everything else. It means that when justice have to choose between defending the police and the army (the wole institutions), it will defend it.
(and that is good)
I do enjoy stirner. He was very weird in many ways and had some baffling opinions on things but he also had some intresting insights.
Ghastly
bro thinks he's a philosopher who drops crazy one liners
Translation needs work, its 'terrorism' now