)
the real drama was in the making. it's been kinda a weird piece to write tbh
this isn't typical rdrama fare, but I figured I'd share it here since you guys kindly helped with a bunch of the background research.
oh and as thanks for providing me lots of pointers to links, here's a dump of every relevant link I dug up, including histories of jannies (shockingly: all anarchists) and a bunch of old archives of the sub, a tangent about violence that didn't end up going anywhere, and a heap of other nonsense.
cheers
TIMELINE:
18 August 2014:
https://web.archive.org/web/20130818004835/reddit.com/r/antiwork - sub origin - in praise of laziness
https://web.archive.org/web/20150703051842/http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/07/world-without-work/395294/ - atlantic - a world without work
https://www.marxists.org/archive/lafargue/1883/lazy/ the right to be lazy
3 July 2015:
https://web.archive.org/web/20150703071415/reddit.com/r/antiwork - Doreen Ford was second-ever mod of antiwork, becoming a moderator when it had some 1300 users
22 February 2017:
https://web.archive.org/web/20170222140844/https://www.reddit.com/r/antiwork/ - slow growth. 2300 readers
https://camas.github.io/reddit-search/#{"author":"phoenix--insurgent","resultSize":100} - main visible user besides AbolishWork, another anarchist who talks a lot about sabotaging bosses etc
31 October 2017:
https://web.archive.org/web/20171031035119/https://www.reddit.com/r/antiwork/ - discussion starting to pick up a tiny bit
3 September 2018:
https://web.archive.org/web/20180903051111/https://www.reddit.com/r/antiwork/ - i hate newreddit, but anyway, 4.8k subscribers and a new moderator. really starting to pick up steam within its niche
https://old.reddit.com/r/antiwork/comments/98wj7t/i_want_to_quit_the_corporate_life_but_feel_awful/ - randomly selected self-post from that time. note: AbolishWork there in the trenches, doing her thing
https://old.reddit.com/user/onedayitwillbedaisy - currently active in /r/anarchism and /r/destroywork
https://old.reddit.com/r/CrimethInc/ CrimethInc - run by that mod. rebel-left does its thing
19 October 2018:
https://web.archive.org/web/20181019205342/reddit.com/r/antiwork - 7.2k subscribers, helped by a boost from AskReddit and NoStupidQuestions https://camas.github.io/reddit-search/#{"author":"onedayitwillbedaisy","subreddit":"antiwork","searchFor":1,"resultSize":100,"query":"[META] frequently"}
13 February 2019:
https://web.archive.org/web/20190213030802/reddit.com/r/antiwork - 16.4k subscribers, well and truly taking off. New moderators:
DnLocky https://camas.github.io/reddit-search/#{"author":"DnLocky","resultSize":100}
IAmThe11 https://camas.github.io/reddit-search/#{"author":"IAmThe11","resultSize":100}
WinterTrabex https://www.reddit.com/user/WinterTrabex
pink_paperclips https://camas.github.io/reddit-search/#{"author":"pink_paperclips","resultSize":100}
(all anarchists)
21 November 2019: https://web.archive.org/web/20191121192009/https://www.reddit.com/r/antiwork/ - 67.9k subscribers
New moderators:
/u/Whitepirate15 - mostly apolitical. https://camas.github.io/reddit-search/#{"author":"whitepirate15","resultSize":100}
/u/Sehtriom - anarchist http://reddit.com/user/sehtriom
/u/Sasha_Unicorn - NEET, NeurodivergentPride, GenZedong communist, https://old.reddit.com/user/sasha_unicorn, https://old.reddit.com/r/GenZedong/comments/in9rqo/pov_youre_a_human_being_if_ussr_never_existed_be/g465m9t/?context=999, https://old.reddit.com/r/alltheleft/comments/hrfu29/can_someone_please_tell_me_what_my_ideology_is/fy45yqu/?context=999
29 June 2020: https://web.archive.org/web/20200629225114/https://www.reddit.com/r/antiwork/ - 131.9k subscribers
New mods:
elektrybaut_trurla - generic socialist - https://camas.github.io/reddit-search/#{"author":"elektrybaut_trurla","resultSize":100,"query":"socialist"}
CremationLily - egoist anarchist - https://camas.github.io/reddit-search/#{"author":"cremationlily","resultSize":100,"query":"anarchism"}
(others beyond the "...more")
19 November 2020: https://web.archive.org/web/20201119090644/https://www.reddit.com/r/antiwork/ - 194.8k subscribers, more and more memes
Early-ish media coverage:
22 October 2021: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/22/opinion/work-resignations-covid.html
https://x.com/Molson_Hart/status/1451549611974402048
10 November 2021: https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7waba/reddits-million-strong-anti-work-community-wants-to-blackout-black-frida - Vice on Black Friday Blackout
16 December 2021: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/12/16/reddit-kellogg-strike-antiwork/ - Kelloggs strike - wow they made fake job apps
https://x.com/JoshuaPotash/status/1468983773014470662 - viral tweet
16 December 2021: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-16/this-is-the-booming-movement-to-abolish-work-as-we-know-it - bloomberg interviews Doreen
"Sub culture" threads:
https://old.reddit.com/r/antiwork/comments/dzmbxh/unknown_easy_jobs_lets_share_our_knowledge_and/ - easy jobs
https://old.reddit.com/r/antiwork/comments/eay9e8/nothing_will_change/ - everyone is brainwashed into being happy working
https://old.reddit.com/r/antiwork/comments/ikcfeu/what_are_your_best_tips_for_being_a_slacker/ - tips for being a slacker
https://old.reddit.com/r/antiwork/comments/lf1uw2/if_you_think_capitalism_is_a_defendable_system/ - https://kiwifarms.net/attachments/screenshot_2021-02-08-if-you-think-capitalism-is-a-defendable-system-and-working-everyday-is-s-png.1904389/ - immature to approve of daily work or capitalism
https://old.reddit.com/r/antiwork/comments/lo6wov/my_dads_a_working_class_hero/ - anger at hard workers, in post history user mostly talks about drugs, anarchism
https://x.com/black_autonomy/status/1283155252091383808 - on twitter but the Hard Antiwork Stance
https://old.reddit.com/r/antiwork/comments/ragevj/i_straight_up_dont_want_to_work/ - I straight up don't want to work
"No, that doesn't actually mean antiwork"
https://old.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/rp1e85/what_do_you_think_of_the_anti_work_movement/hq31xvm/ - we just want better conditions
ON VIOLENCE:
AbolishWork was pretty strict about nonviolence on the sub, partially for optics but perhaps partially as principle:
https://camas.github.io/reddit-search/#{"author":"abolishwork","resultSize":100,"query":"violence"}
onedayitwillbedaisy is eagerly violent and pro-chaos, but avoids it on antiwork to avoid getting shut down:
https://camas.github.io/reddit-search/#{"author":"onedayitwillbedaisy","resultSize":100,"query":"violence"}
DnLocky recommends How Nonviolence Protects the State:
https://camas.github.io/reddit-search/#{"author":"dnlocky","resultSize":100,"query":"nonviolence"}
https://www.akpress.org/how-nonviolence-protects-the-state.html
“Peaceful protests don’t work. Change will come with blood.”
IAmThe11, by contrast, opposes violence and seems chill: https://old.reddit.com/r/antiwork/comments/aab2bu/i_want_my_boss_to_be_ripped_apart_by_dogs/ecqn30u/?context=999
https://camas.github.io/reddit-search/#{"author":"IAmThe11","resultSize":100,"query":"violence"}
https://camas.github.io/reddit-search/#{"author":"IAmThe11","resultSize":100,"query":"socialist"}
“compassionate socialist c*m anarchist”
WinterTrabax - roommate of Doreen/AbolishWork(https://i.imgur.com/a/o1JuifY) :
https://www.reveddit.com/v/antiwork/comments/cm7bh2/dont_forget_fight_club_was_released_in_1999/ew2ckdg/?context=999&ps_after=1565021097 - shoutouts for this and similar “knock it off with the violentposting” stuff
Sehtriom:
https://old.reddit.com/r/antiwork/comments/f6cuwy/well_when_you_put_it_that_way/fi6shyf/?context=999 - Appropriate response on violence
https://x.com/reddit_lies/status/1453361315397898250 sme violent posts
The sub evolves:
https://old.reddit.com/r/antiwork/comments/qe0cv5/the_subreddit_is_antiwork_not_reformwork_were_not/ The faultline between anti- and reform- exposed and explored, with gigachad meme dude stepping in: https://old.reddit.com/r/antiwork/comments/qe0cv5/the_subreddit_is_antiwork_not_reformwork_were_not/hhqfp0c/
https://old.reddit.com/r/antiwork/comments/rgyqud/i_do_not_want_to_work_let_me_make_myself_clear_i/honjuig/ people begin calling the originals plants
https://old.reddit.com/r/JustUnsubbed/comments/eqhpzt/rantiwork_is_getting_pretty_ridiculous/ poor lost soul on what it "used to be"
https://old.reddit.com/r/antiwork/comments/qown4a/i_do_miss_the_old_antiwork/ - wojaks wojaks wojaks
Anarchists complain about the shift:
https://x.com/_saintdrew/status/1452710096396595200
https://x.com/EcoTechBro/status/1452700071393472518
Viral tweets about text exchanges with bad bosses:
https://x.com/TravisShreffler/status/1449547981821206533
https://x.com/tadpr0le/status/1452033437389312001
The Interview:
https://web.archive.org/web/20220126190515/https://old.reddit.com/r/antiwork/comments/sdb68w/sorry_doesnt_cut_it_mods_are_not_leaders_of_this/ - mods how dare you, you're not our bosses
https://old.reddit.com/r/antiwork/comments/se3umd/petition_shut_down_rantiwork/ - Petition: shut down antiwork
https://archive.is/N9ePf - direct conversation with Doreen
https://old.reddit.com/r/antiwork/comments/se62xd/ualex_moran_is_100_an_alt_account_for_uabolish/ - ALT??? (no, people just fell for a troll: 
Doreen confesses to masturbating next to someone who didn't want it and putting their hand on her boxers:
https://old.reddit.com/r/WorkReform/comments/sdj1xl/rantiwork_mod_who_went_on_fox_news_admitted_to/
Kimezukae - NYT + other interviews.
https://archive.is/20220127200358/https://old.reddit.com/r/antiwork/comments/sdwd28/statement_rantiwork/ - post-left anarchist "long-term unemployed" NEET doing NYTimes interview
https://camas.github.io/reddit-search/#{"author":"kimezukae","searchFor":1,"resultSize":100} - stepping down
whitepirate15 - briefly head mod, all sorts of weird s*x stuff https://old.reddit.com/r/antiwork/comments/seechm/restructuring_recent_events_megathread/hujyyib/?context=9
EphraelStern - reddit powermod brought in to clean up and represent the will of its new userbase
https://old.reddit.com/r/antiwork/comments/seechm/restructuring_recent_events_megathread/
SRD RECAPS:
WORKREFORM PLOTLINE:
https://old.reddit.com/r/WorkReform/comments/sdlxqa/today_was_a_big_day_150k_members_and_counting_in/ - 150k members in a day (470k now)
(commies mad)
https://old.reddit.com/r/COMPLETEANARCHY/comments/sdjivd/rworkreform_is_a_liberal_attempt_to_coopt_a/ - anarchists notice its mods work at a bank
https://old.reddit.com/r/DankLeft/comments/sdyhjp/psa_rworkreform_is_run_by_literal_bank_executives/ - so do other commies
https://old.reddit.com/r/WorkersStrikeBack/comments/sdoq7o/stop_promoting_rworkreform/ - commies mad that it's reform
https://old.reddit.com/r/LateStageCapitalism/comments/se0rdg/i_tried_out_rworkreform_instead_of_rantiwork_holy/ - commies mad that some there don't hate right wing
https://old.reddit.com/r/DankLeft/comments/sdpkd2/when_i_looked_at_my_phone_after_work_referring_to/ - commies mad that mod is cryptobro
(commies mad)
https://old.reddit.com/r/WorkReform/comments/sdp8gn/yeah_i_work_in_a_bank_taking_calls_assisting/ - uh yeah i'm a low-level bank employee. spooky right?
https://old.reddit.com/r/WorkReform/comments/sedd6u/riop3l_heading_out/ - peaceing out
https://old.reddit.com/r/Workers_Revolt/comments/siloe5/transparency_is_key_screenshot_this_post_before/ (https://archive.is/XIO5v) - SandersForPresident mod takeover timeline
(moderates /r/SandersForPresident, /r/NewDealAmerica, /r/OregonForSanders, /r/ReadyForAOC, and /r/VoteAOC)
DestroyWork:
https://old.reddit.com/r/destroywork/comments/sibmpd/labor_must_be_voluntary_for_all_this_isnt_about/ - simple summary
https://old.reddit.com/r/destroywork/comments/sfmpkq/what_is_the_purpose_of_this_subreddit/ destroywork chronicling antiwork’s original story
Communist lesson from collapse:
https://x.com/SwampCommunist/status/1486730907637612553
Related concepts:
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/lying-flat-is-justice-chinese-millennials-are-chilling-and-beijing-isnt-happy-about-it/articleshow/84164663.cms - tangping or lying flat in china
https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/c05008/japan’s-hikikomori-population-could-top-10-million.html - hikikomori in japan
https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/neet - NEET
Fun:
- COAL MINING ENJOYER
https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/whats-your-job-on-the-leftist-commune - whats your job on the leftist commune
RELEVANT GENERAL INFO:
https://status451.com/2016/09/15/social-gentrification/ - Social gentrification
https://old.reddit.com/r/slatestarcodex/comments/9rvroo/most_of_what_you_read_on_the_internet_is_written/ - Most of what you read on the internet is written by insane people
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Unironically great content and very well written. You make me want to start my own blog as a writing exercise. Any tips? I enjoy your style.
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Thanks!
The main tip I have is to start not with an independent blog, but by making thoughtful self-posts in a few relevant communities that you can later port over to a blog. I don’t know about others, but I need feedback and interaction when I write. Drawing eyes to a new blog is tougher than drawing them to an effortpost, people are always looking for good community contributions in niche spaces, and it’s both fun and useful to build up a name for yourself within a small defined group.
I was lucky to find spaces that suited my style very well, starting with r/slatestarcodex back in the day before moving on to r/TheMotte and r/theschism as the spaces and my interests evolved. I like general-purpose spaces that are willing to let people post on basically whatever they find interesting. rdrama honestly does a good job of this despite (because of) its lack of self-seriousness.
So yeah—find a community you want to read your work and start by writing for them.
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