Camping isn’t communist
Posted on July 7, 2010As anyone who has spent time on a campsite will tell you, it is not a socialist utopia. Who could possibly think that it is?
Well, someone does: the Guardian’s Aditya Chakrabortty. Drawing on the philosophies of G.A.Cohen he has laid out why he feels a weekend in a damp tent is the best way of living out Marx’s dream.
As someone who once spent two and a half months living in a tent (for good, professional reasons, I promise), I can confirm he is wrong – read my Comment is Free response here to find out why.
Tags: camping, Comment is Free, Communism, Guardian, opinion
Categories: Opinion
Couldn’t agree more!
16.07.2010 08:31
It’s part of a bizarre series of “all vaguely team related activities are just like socialism”. They did one on how football is just like socialism too…http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jul/06/footballs-debt-socialism-world-cup
Coming next week – socialism, just like gang-rape.?
16.07.2010 09:35
You are quite right.
The only reason camping resembles communism is because you have lots of people living in reduced circumstances and making no effort to ‘improve’ them.
Don’t get me wrong, I love camping – the ‘reduced circumstances’ are part of the experience and part of the charm so no one needs to ‘improve’ them – however camping is a temporary experience whereas poverty in communism is permanent.
16.07.2010 18:00
white on black is so last ice age – and unsuited to old eyes.
17.07.2010 12:07
Some bird said to me the other week, “Do you prefer legs or breast?”
I replied, “I prefer a nice shaven pussy…”
I’m now banned from KFC for life
17.07.2010 13:33
Another way of looking at things ….
Last night, I swam in the Adriatic from my Istrian campsite which is FKK and set upon a spectacular oak tree peninsular from which no man-made structures are visible. It was one of the many glorious experiences of my lifetime. The sea was warm and I stayed in for ages, unhampered by unnecessary clothing.
I sat down and nattered with some folk from Austria outside their Niesmann & Bischoff touring van that probably set them back €0.25m. I was talking to some beautiful women who were also stark naked and we were discussing technicalities employed in the theatre to move scenery. I was doing my best not to notice their delightful jiggly bits, and failing spectacularly (I am but a man) but not beyond the bounds of decorum.
In a discussion with a German camper here a few years back, he said that the nice thing about our being without clothes was that we are all placed on the same level, at least initially. What others think about us is based on what we say, and how we behave, rather than what designer clothes or jewellery we might be wearing or what position in society we enjoy.
So socialist? Hardly! Utopian? As close as I have found on this planet. Socially egalitarian? Yes, initially. Consciously politically motivated in our actions? Not beyond our normal inclinations.
17.07.2010 14:06