TOTW: Anarchy Fangirls

A fangirl is someone - typically but not exclusively female - who gets hyped out of their mind about a particular person, group, activity, or interest. We're talking full-on, unfiltered passion: shouting from the rooftops about their favorite band, binge-watching a TV series until sunrise, or obsessively collecting everything tied to a niche hobby.

So... have there ever been fangirls for anarchy? Are there any now? And, are you one?

There was a moment - back when "radical cheerleading" hit the scene - where it felt like anarchists (often anarcha-feminists) were channeling that fangirl energy. Sure, it was a little tongue-in-cheek, but let’s be real: there was something genuine underneath all the chants and pom-poms. It was hype. It was joy. It was collective enthusiasm spilling into the streets. But outside of that? I'm struggling to think of other examples that fit. Distros, maybe? Like, at their best, they’re at least promoting other anarchists' ideas. But let’s be honest: the vibe there isn’t exactly screaming “fanatical excitement.” It’s more aloof intellectual meets chill indifference. And that? Is. Not. Fun.

Why does anarchist culture seem allergic to hype? Is it about not looking “uncool”? Or is there something baked into the whole anti-authoritarian thing that makes us hesitant to go all-in on celebrating other people’s work?

Would it be a bad thing to have more anarchist fangirls (or fanbois, or whatever)? Would it make our spaces livelier, more connected, less cynical? Are your friends the ones hyping up projects or playing it cool in the corner? And what do you learn from being enthusiastic vs. detached?

Maybe it’s time we rethink what enthusiasm means in our communities. Because let’s face it - what’s cooler than unapologetically stanning freedom?