)
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
āPeaceful protests donāt work. Change will come with blood.ā
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"}
ācompassionate socialist c*m anarchistā
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 āknock it off with the violentpostingā 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 antiworkās 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/japanās-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
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Great article.
Thats a perfect way of explaining why i hate social media and modern activism.
I dont know if youre a moid or a foid, but id let you smash my bussy anytime
Call me 
Also, the end-note is really sympathetic to doreen, which is a really nice gesture. R-slurred as "she" may be, i feel bad for the shitshow she got dragged through through no actual fault of her own.
(Also, in the first paragrpah under "aftermath" you call her a "job walker" which is funny but im pretty sure is supposed to be "dog walker"
)
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
thanks bb
yeah, I had zero sympathy going in but couldnāt help but feel for her after seeing just how much sheād done there and how completely the space acted like she couldnāt possibly have any claim to represent them. sheās a trainwreck, but a million people hopped into her corner of the internet and then got mad she was still there. thatās gotta sting
lol I want to keep ājob walkerā but Iād better go at least put a strikethrough in
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
I almost didnt want to mention the "job walker" thing because its just perfect.
And yeah, i dont have much respect, far less sympathy, for people like doreen. But even though "she" is the refuse of modern society, she still doesnt deserve to have her little corner taken away from her. As you say, she's the ugly truth about what the subreddit has always been. Blaming her for pulling away the curtain is unfair when she didnt put up any curtain in the first place. The interview was pathetic and i enjoyed every second, but the subreddit had no right to stab her in the back.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
More options
Context