1. Don’t Act A Fool
Self-awareness. Have it. For everyone. The less we are aware of our actions, the easier we get ourselves into conflicts. Time check. Are you a participant who has been talking for the past three minutes nonstop? Hm, time to have a seat. Are you a facilitator and everyone is nodding off and checking their text messages? Time to flip your script. Have you been having a side conversation with your friends during the discussion? That’s not cool. Like we say…don’t act a fool.
2. C’mon, We Aren’t The Enemy
If you disagree with your fellow anarchist comrade, there’s no need to raise voices. We yell at protests, yell at cops, maybe even get yelled at by a few people ourselves. There’s no need for yelling at each other. Take off the aggro hat and put the “rad” back in comrade. We can build off of each other calmly and respectfully, to build the future we deserve.
3. Respect Yo’self Before You Wreck Yo’self
Ultimately, you know yourself better than anyone else. If you woke up on the wrong side of the sleeping bag that day, maybe think twice about going to that workshop that might be triggering for you. The organizers have tried to make the convergence as filled with as many activities and workshops as possible. Maybe go to a caucus instead?
4. Take a Walk, Homie
If you feel like you are getting to that point—you know. That point where our primitive reptilian brain wants to take over and blindly lash out at the world. Then at that moment before losing control to the lizard mindset, calmly (while you still can) get up and leave the room. You don’t have to knock shit over on the way out or get all huffy and puffy. Just leave. Take a walk. Find a friend. Cool off. The anger is not worth it. 99% of the time…it’s not worth.
5. Save the Passive-Aggressive and the Aggressive-Aggressive for the Catwalk and Streets Respectively
Work it out. All we have is each other. Some of us don’t have our blood families anymore. Many of us have lost friends in the struggle. Every minute we spend not talking to each other or screaming at each other because of some disagreement is another minute where they win. Ya know. “They.” The powers that be. The State that wants us divided. The mass media that just wants us to consume. Fuck that.