Threads on ARRSE have titles for a reason. It’s so that a specific subject can be discussed and folks get to read other opinions and information that helps them to better understand events and incidents and to widen their viewpoint. It might even prompt them to revise their own opinions in light of contributions made by other ARRSErs. Conspicuously absent from practically all thread titles is any addition stating: “Turn this thread into another “Bugsy-bashing” fest”.
I can well understand that the ARRSE vermin have an intense desire to work off their personal frustration at their own inadequacies, but their stupid and inane remarks continually derail the thread and put off others who have a genuine interest in the subject.
The title of this (resurrected) thread is: “Oh dear, so the GDR really wasn't nice then?” It’s formulated as a question and is a statement with which I disagree. So what’s the situation on the thread now?
On the one hand there’s me. I argue, and have always argued, that normal everyday life in the GDR was far superior to what we normally experience in Capitalist countries. The reason I state that is because GDR citizens never had to deal with the soul-destroying anxieties and worries that are part and parcel of the societies in which we live. They never had to worry about having no money to pay their bills at the end of each month. They never had to worry that they were going to suddenly find themselves homeless and destitute. They never had to worry that their children weren’t going to receive an outstanding education and they never had to worry that they wouldn’t receive treatment if they were sick. They also had far more democracy in the workplace than would ever be possible, or even tolerated, in any other society. In short, they had a profound peace of mind completely unknown to folks in the US, UK or other Capitalist nations.
All that meant that they were, in the literal sense of the word, “carefree”. It meant that they could pursue their personal cultural interests to a very high degree. It meant that their minds were free to follow creative ideas and thoughts that folks in our societies have no time for because they’re fully occupied with the constant, desperate struggle for existence.
What I’ve never done is to defend in any way the profoundly undemocratic GDR regime, because it was shite. I’ve also never defended the barbaric GDR border policy, or the oppressive Stasi state organ in its role as the “eyes and ears” (Schild und Schwert) of the regime. I’ve also never once described the GDR as a “Socialist paradise”, because it was never that.
On the other hand (or “team”), there are those who’ve maybe spent a day-trip in East Berlin or East Germany. There are far more who’ve simply read or heard the boundless propaganda about the GDR and have condemned it out of hand, but have spent no time whatsoever in the country and made no effort to inform themselves either about the GDR in particular, or Socialism in general.
Then again, there are a few ARRSErs who really did spend considerable time in East Germany; first and foremost the former members of BRIXMIS, @RoofRat and @Brotherton Lad. However, as far as I’m aware, I’m the only ARRSEr who actually lived in the GDR as a normal citizen. I’ve never made any secret of the fact that my personal and subjective view of the GDR and normal life there is coloured by my Socialist sympathies and by my upbringing in the Republic of Ireland. At no time have I ever maintained that my opinion is the only valid one. What it should be doing is giving folks food for thought and discovering that even in the most negative circumstances there’s a silver lining. What I say is that, on balance, life in the GDR was inclusive, benevolent, remarkably peaceful and it was possible to live a very satisfying and fulfilling life there.
What the “other team” maintains is that I’m wrong. Even though I’ve only ever presented my own subjective and personal viewpoint, I’m still fundamentally wrong. But how can I be wrong when I’m working on experiences and incidents I witnessed with my own eyes?
It’s notable that the only two ARRSErs who actually have practical experience of the GDR, the former BRIXMIS members mentioned above, and who in no way can be accused of being in the same political boat as me, broadly agree with my assessment of normal, everyday life in the GDR, while those who’ve never been there and have gained their entire knowledge about the country from the gutter-rags and “official propaganda” vehemently disagree.
MsG
I can well understand that the ARRSE vermin have an intense desire to work off their personal frustration at their own inadequacies, but their stupid and inane remarks continually derail the thread and put off others who have a genuine interest in the subject.
The title of this (resurrected) thread is: “Oh dear, so the GDR really wasn't nice then?” It’s formulated as a question and is a statement with which I disagree. So what’s the situation on the thread now?
On the one hand there’s me. I argue, and have always argued, that normal everyday life in the GDR was far superior to what we normally experience in Capitalist countries. The reason I state that is because GDR citizens never had to deal with the soul-destroying anxieties and worries that are part and parcel of the societies in which we live. They never had to worry about having no money to pay their bills at the end of each month. They never had to worry that they were going to suddenly find themselves homeless and destitute. They never had to worry that their children weren’t going to receive an outstanding education and they never had to worry that they wouldn’t receive treatment if they were sick. They also had far more democracy in the workplace than would ever be possible, or even tolerated, in any other society. In short, they had a profound peace of mind completely unknown to folks in the US, UK or other Capitalist nations.
All that meant that they were, in the literal sense of the word, “carefree”. It meant that they could pursue their personal cultural interests to a very high degree. It meant that their minds were free to follow creative ideas and thoughts that folks in our societies have no time for because they’re fully occupied with the constant, desperate struggle for existence.
What I’ve never done is to defend in any way the profoundly undemocratic GDR regime, because it was shite. I’ve also never defended the barbaric GDR border policy, or the oppressive Stasi state organ in its role as the “eyes and ears” (Schild und Schwert) of the regime. I’ve also never once described the GDR as a “Socialist paradise”, because it was never that.
On the other hand (or “team”), there are those who’ve maybe spent a day-trip in East Berlin or East Germany. There are far more who’ve simply read or heard the boundless propaganda about the GDR and have condemned it out of hand, but have spent no time whatsoever in the country and made no effort to inform themselves either about the GDR in particular, or Socialism in general.
Then again, there are a few ARRSErs who really did spend considerable time in East Germany; first and foremost the former members of BRIXMIS, @RoofRat and @Brotherton Lad. However, as far as I’m aware, I’m the only ARRSEr who actually lived in the GDR as a normal citizen. I’ve never made any secret of the fact that my personal and subjective view of the GDR and normal life there is coloured by my Socialist sympathies and by my upbringing in the Republic of Ireland. At no time have I ever maintained that my opinion is the only valid one. What it should be doing is giving folks food for thought and discovering that even in the most negative circumstances there’s a silver lining. What I say is that, on balance, life in the GDR was inclusive, benevolent, remarkably peaceful and it was possible to live a very satisfying and fulfilling life there.
What the “other team” maintains is that I’m wrong. Even though I’ve only ever presented my own subjective and personal viewpoint, I’m still fundamentally wrong. But how can I be wrong when I’m working on experiences and incidents I witnessed with my own eyes?
It’s notable that the only two ARRSErs who actually have practical experience of the GDR, the former BRIXMIS members mentioned above, and who in no way can be accused of being in the same political boat as me, broadly agree with my assessment of normal, everyday life in the GDR, while those who’ve never been there and have gained their entire knowledge about the country from the gutter-rags and “official propaganda” vehemently disagree.
MsG
