Why are kobolds?

[Prak]

Another counter-point: Jon doesn't understand what people in favor of anarcho-communism are actually talking about

[Kaelik]

The idea that a leader will take over by being good at things and this creates a new power structure is inherently a contingent material outcome of certain social conditions that are particularly prevalent in capitalism. There have been numerous societies and organizations in history that lacked this result.

Just like every other time someone has thought they discovered "human nature" what is being 'discovered' is a limited outcome in certain times subject to certain conditions.

[Prak]

I was more referring to this part-

the "leader" just has to be better at everything than anyone else... Which isn't hard with no infrastructure or organization to stop them... And you get fascism/feudal/hegemony/dictator society.

Also, leaving aside all the theory and academic debate, when I see people seriously talking about anarcho-communism, they're basically talking about extreme direct democracy, probably with specialised committees for various things. Yes, yes, I know, this isn't anarchism. It.. I don't have the formal political education or the energy to parse the distinction. Nor do I much care, tbh.

Plus goblins/kobolds in most settings are basically destined to be conquered and turned into minions of someone more powerful and/or wiped out, and the only thing that really stops that from being the fate of the entire race in question is that both are small, short lived, physically weak, and fecund. It would be like trying to round up every rat in the world to exterminate all of them. Could you do it if you put enough money and effort into it? Maybe. But any reasonable amount of effort/money is going to mean that some number will always scamper off to start a new free colony somewhere you don't directly control.

[Kaelik]

I was more referring to this part-

the "leader" just has to be better at everything than anyone else... Which isn't hard with no infrastructure or organization to stop them... And you get fascism/feudal/hegemony/dictator society.

Also, leaving aside all the theory and academic debate, when I see people seriously talking about anarcho-communism, they're basically talking about extreme direct democracy, probably with specialised committees for various things. Yes, yes, I know, this isn't anarchism. It.. I don't have the formal political education or the energy to parse the distinction. Nor do I much care, tbh.

I was not contradicting you, and was mostly agreeing with you and criticizing JonSetanta's take.

[Prak]

... then let my reply serve as evidence of my lack of formal political education

[JonSetanta]

I'll agree with Nockermensch's counterpoint about biology.
Hivemind, or species with "flocking" or "herd" inclinations may very well make it work.

But as someone that has witnessed and participated, at times, in Earth-reality human local movements, as well as about two dozen friends that showed me philosophy, theory, literature, and actual practice of AC in some communities over the last decade I can confidently say: it looks good in theory, but that's about it.

I do understand. I just don't agree.

[merxa]

at the risk of going far afield of the topic at hand, or even the topic in general, or even the forum itself, anarcho-communism or just anarcho-* has more interpretations than flag colors. I like to try and make a distinction between government and governance as any society is going to have some form of governance, even if it is only by custom.

By and large technology informs modes of governance, and by extension magic is just another form of technology, so it could by further extension introduce new forms of governance -- mageocracy being an easy and popular model.

We're talking about goblins in the kobold thread which seems appropriate, as kobolds are often the off-label, substitute goblin -- something that might be even weaker than goblins, less important, possibly dumber or less menacing, and of lesser geopolitical import.

But kobolds, I feel like Kobolds would be into bloodlines and dynasties, while a goblin is a goblin, this or that kobold is descended from this or that dragon, a family member of grayscale or copperclaw, or whatever bullshit. They grow up fast and die young, leaving behind mostly an oral tradition of how awesome they used to be before whatever current problem made everything go to shit. Perhaps they even recite their delineation as if they were quoting genesis, tracing each brood back to the ur-kobold-half-dragon-true-dragon ancestor; truth being a rather unimportant commodity to the kobold warrens where most don't breed and nearly everyone is dead in 15 years.

So you have the best in breed rising up, claiming whatever dynastic bloodline is somewhat plausible, with the goal of endless concubines and perhaps a entry in the genesis recitation, and if they are truly ambitious a territorial war for food stuff or an outdoor perch. And those who opt out of the ratkobold race opt out, and other kobolds don't especially care, most know that they may not go on to sire the next generation, but their ancestral bloodline is immortal, and emperor Zak the Black will ensure a glorious future for all ravenclaw or uh, copperclaw. or acidface or whatever clan crap the local kobold infestation is advocating for this year.

[JonSetanta]

Nice koboldpost. I apologize for derailing into goblins and political theory, this is high fantasy were talking about.

[Kaelik]

But as someone that has witnessed and participated, at times, in Earth-reality human local movements, as well as about two dozen friends that showed me philosophy, theory, literature, and actual practice of AC in some communities over the last decade I can confidently say: it looks good in theory, but that's about it.

LMAO Glad to know your diverse friendships with human beings in who have existed throughout time and space gives you information about material conditions outside of the present time.

[JonSetanta]

Thank you, Kaelik.