Socialism

***"In this complex and terrible development which has carried the epoch of class struggles toward new conditions, the proletariat of the industrial countries has completely lost the affirmation of its autonomous perspective and also, in the last analysis, its illusions, but not its being. It has not been suppressed. It remains irreducibly in existence within the intensified alienation of modern capitalism[.]"*** **\- Guy Debord\, *The Society of the Spectacle*** Welcome back readers! By popular request, we're bringing back (for a new generation of LMRG readers) an old favourite: the always-relevant Guy Debord and his masterful *Society of the Spectacle*. This is meeting two, where we'll be reading the fourth, fifth and sixth chapters. Find the classic text here: https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/debord/society.htm Or an alternative, possibly more readable translation here: [https://files.libcom.org/files/The%20Society%20of%20the%20Spectacle%20Annotated%20Edition.pdf](https://files.libcom.org/files/The%20Society%20of%20the%20Spectacle%20Annotated%20Edition.pdf) Often maligned as theorymaxxed nonsense but little-read, this slim volume is certainly dense with ideas - all of which carry as much relevance today as those half-forgotten postwar years when the Situationist International made its mark on the world, if not more. With the rise of the Internet and social media, the decline of literacy and the closing of the mass mind, the endless doom-loop of doomscrolling and bed-rotting, increasingly performative protest, the commodification of everything, the Epstein-approved culture war, and the theatre of spectacular cruelty that is imperialist colonial policy from Gaza to Venezuela, we really are living an age where everything that was once directly participated in has passed into representation. Every hand-grip one searches for to get some kind of grasp on the world seems to be a mirage; "participation" in anything, from politics to culture, has been reduced to fandom - limited to nothing more than expressing approval or disapproval through totally mediated social media platforms. Above it all stands an utterly corrupt, irresponsible elite class more and more transparent in how it relishes in conspiratorial play, power-games with unlimited stakes for us and no consequences for them. Such a world where power wears a shit-eating grin and keeps us off our balance by endlessly[ "flooding the zone"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flood_the_zone) (in Steve Bannon's terms) with distractions so intricate they short-circuit the collective brain is exactly what Debord not only predicted but described in frightening detail, with more than a little bit of humour. So let's dig in and find out: just what can we do to unplug from the spectacle? Is the spectacle even un-plug-from-able? Debord haters, cope and seethe: as a much more orthodox Marxist than he ever gets credit for, there really are some strategies in here. We just need to be creative. Take care and happy reading!

May's Book: The Age of Diagnosis :Are Medical Labels Doing Us More Harm Than Good? by Suzanne O'Sullivan. **A BEST BOOK OF 2025 IN *THE TIMES*, *SUNDAY TIMES*, *FINANCIAL TIMES, GUARDIAN*, *ECONOMIST, OBSERVER, LONDON STANDARD, NEW STATESMAN* AND *IRISH TIMES*** ***'Revelatory. Slices through the contradictions that had tied me in knots.'* \- CHRIS VAN TULLEKEN** ***'So well-written. Raising awareness of something that is critically important.'* \- RANGAN CHATTERJEE** **From autism to allergies, ADHD to long Covid, more people are being labelled with medical conditions than ever before. But can a diagnosis do us more harm than good?** The boundaries between sickness and health are being redrawn. Mental health categories are shifting and expanding all the time, radically altering what we consider to be 'normal'. Genetic tests can now detect pathologies decades before people experience symptoms, and sometimes before they're even born. And increased health screening draws more and more people into believing they are unwell. An accurate diagnosis can bring greater understanding and of course improved treatment. But many diagnoses aren't as definitive as we think. And in some cases they risk turning healthy people into patients. Drawing on the stories of real people, as well as decades of clinical practice and the latest medical research, Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan overturns long held assumptions and reframes how we think about illness and health. The meeting starts at 7:30. Shortly after 7.30, we will break up into small groups. Those familiar with the CLH Book Group meeting know how this works: in each group we take turns introducing ourselves and giving our 1 minute thoughts on the book. It's important not to go over a minute and not to interrupt other people's minute so that everyone gets a chance to participate. After this first round, each group discusses for another 20 minutes or so. We then shuffle the groups so as to talk to as many different people as possible and in the new groups repeat our introductions and 1 minute thoughts. We'll do this a couple of times before coming all together at the end in one last big group. While we are very social and welcoming, the book group's primary focus is on discussing books. Feel free to turn up if you haven't managed to finish this month's book but note that the group works best when we have all read at least half of the book and are prepared to share our opinions. *** £3 per person to attend. If it's your first time, come and try us out for free! If you prefer, you can [pay online, by clicking here](https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=ZWCNRJ25BDL96). We encourage dialogue, debate and sharing of information on our site but ask people to keep their comments cordial. Any views expressed here are those of the individual posting them and may not reflect those of CLH.

**Socialise, mix & mingle, enjoy conversations, make connections! BOOK VIA ONE OF THE LINKS : [https://fatso.ma/ffrkc](https://fatso.ma/ffrkc) or [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/social-networking-for-doctors-lawfinance-it-professionals-iconic-rooftop-tickets-1989877560349?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/social-networking-for-doctors-lawfinance-it-professionals-iconic-rooftop-tickets-1989877560349?aff=oddtdtcreator) *RSVP TOO PLEASE!*** **Admiring the iconic views of St Paul's in the background of this fantastic rooftop.** Mix and mingle with ladies and gentlemen alike, professionals in law, finance, IT, medical doctors, scientists or similar, with high expectations, demanding professional and fast paced lifestyle in general, with perhaps limited time and opportunities to chill out, socialise and connect. **Seize the opportunity to enrich your social life with like minded people and why not, trust in perfect synchronicities of the right people at the right time and place getting together.** Make new acquaintances, catch up potentially with who you might have met in a previous event, interact with all attendees, engage in fascinating stories. **Make a friend, maybe find someone special that can make your heart sing or simply go out & about, indulge in handcrafted cocktails and mocktails in this amazing venue.** Approach with the best smile on your face, make a first best impression, set the vibe, see it reflected back to you! **See what can potentially happen** **next!** **The DJ is setting an uplifting vibe as** **Thursday is the new Friday after all!** **HOW TO FIND :** **Come to SABINE ROOFTOP on top of LEONARDO ROYAL HOTEL St PAULS,** **Once upstairs, ask for Eleni's booking.** ***Please arrive at or about 18:30 and be in the flow of the introductions.*** **ELENI is hosting this event, making sure all guests are welcomed, introduced to each other and included throughout the evening.** **Welcome to Sabine Rooftop Bar, with stunning St Paul’s views from its terrace, where every day feels like the golden hour elevating your experience for those who know how to live in the moment, Bringing in its unique style, offering memorable experiences to kick start your weekend.** Dress Code: Smart Casual Refunds only in case of the event being cancelled

IN PERSON EVENT - POETRY EVENING WITH BARNABY TOBIAS AND IAIA CHIESA **Join us in the bookshop on the third Thursday of every month for the sharing of poems; either yours or another’s you admire. There will be some discussion around the poem and short tea break halfway through.** **Iaia is a poet and activist, who’s published several volumes of poetry.** **Barnaby is an actor and playwright, who’s worked for Netflix, RSC and written plays to critical acclaim.** **Drop in event with no need to book.** **Cash donations are welcome.** **More Information:** **rsh-bookshop@anth.org.uk** This group is run under the auspices of the Anthroposophical Society in Great Britain.

**BOOK HERE**: https://sportas.co.uk/games/49042 **Game Description:** Join us for a fun and relaxed rounders social on Clapham Common. We will be playing casual rounders for a couple of hours, with a focus on getting everyone involved and keeping things light and social. Alongside rounders, there will also be a volleyball and spikeball net set up so you can mix things up and get involved in different games throughout the session. Rounders will be played in timed rotations, giving everyone the chance to bat and bowl without the pressure of getting out. Meet point out the back of Common Pizza, near the basketball courts. . After the session, we will head to Common Pizza for a couple of drinks, some pizza and a social (they have live music on!). We've secured 20% off drinks at CP and will supply some food as well. All abilities welcome. Come down, get involved and enjoy it. **Rules** 1\. Keep it social and inclusive This is a relaxed session. Encourage others, get involved and keep the atmosphere positive. 2\. Rotation based games Rounders will be played in 20 minute rotations, with teams alternating between batting and bowling so everyone gets equal opportunity. 3\. No outs system No one is out. Instead, points are scored as follows: 1 point for a full rounder 0.5 points for a half rounder -1 point if a player is caught or tapped out 4\. Get involved across activities Feel free to rotate between rounders, volleyball and spikeball throughout the session. 5\. Respect the space and others Be mindful of other park users and leave the area as you found it. 7\. Follow organiser instructions Listen to the organiser for game setup, rotations and scoring. 8\. Play at your own risk By attending, you accept responsibility for your own safety during all activities.

**Join with campaigners like yourself to organise locally to end global poverty!** Each month, Results grassroots advocates – people from all walks of life around the city – meet in person to take action to benefit people around the world who are living with poverty and injustice, persuading politicians of all parties to make specific changes that will result in a fairer and more sustainable world. It may sound incredible, but it’s as simple as speaking up for what you believe in. We have a track record of making a difference, persuading successive UK Governments to fund important initiatives that help provide health and education worldwide, tackle malnutrition, and protect children against killer diseases. These meetings are open to everyone, no matter what your level of experience. At each meeting you will: 🤝 **Meet** like-minded people dedicated to ending global poverty 🗣️ **Discuss** the monthly campaign action, and learn more about how this will help tackle some of the biggest challenges we face today 🔍 **Discover** how else you can use your voice to influence the UK’s stance of poverty eradication 🌱 **Contribute** to group activities and future political actions – everyone is welcome and every opinion is valued ✨ **Leave** feeling energised and enriched at the prospect of helping to create real change! At Results, we believe that poverty and injustice don’t have to be tolerated. The world has the knowledge to change things; all that's needed is the will to do so. If you feel this way, then you’re not alone, but part of a community of like-minded people who believe that they can make a small but real difference to the systems that affect the lives of people around the world.

**Hit, laugh, reset your week.** Join us for a relaxed tennis session followed by a short, low-key park social. * 📍 Location: Park Hill Recreation Ground, Croydon (1-2 courts booked – details shared after approval) * 🕒 Schedule: 11:00am – 1:00pm → Tennis (doubles rotation) 1:00pm – 1:30pm → Park social (wind-down activity) * 🎾 Tennis All levels welcome (yes, beginners too) We rotate regularly so everyone plays Focus is fun > competition ✅ **Approval & No-Show Policy** * RSVPs must be approved before attending * You’ll get confirmation within 24–48 hours * If you can’t make it, please update early 👉 No-shows without notice may lose priority for future events 🎒 **What to bring** * Tennis racket (we may have 1–2 spares) * Water bottle * Comfortable clothes/trainers * Optional: small blanket or towel for the park Come for the tennis, stay for the people. 🎾 *Pictures and Videos may be taken for marketing purposes.* *All attendees consent to the use of their pictures by The* Second Serve Social 🎾

**To book onto this trip please follow the link below which will take you directly to the website page..** [Germany May 2026](https://travelbuddiesholidays.co.uk/trip/germany-may-bank-h2026/) If you are using the app and are unable to open the link please go directly to our website where you will be able to book onto the trip.. travelbuddiesholidays.co.uk

Weekly cycling club open to members of that club only. Membership enquiries to creativewellnesswon@outlook.com

You can be surrounded by eight million people and still feel like no one knows your name. You pass the same faces on the same street every morning. You hear your neighbours through the walls, their arguments, their music, their laughter. But you've never spoken. The city promised connection. It delivered proximity. Is proximity without intimacy crueller than actual solitude? If everyone is lonely, who's keeping us apart? Who is responsible for the stranger next door? Here is a documentary about Joyce Vincent that is related to this topic: [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1819513/](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1819513/) *Please do your own research and share resources related to this topic in the comments below.* —————————————————————————————————————————————— **💛 Support The Examined Life** Enjoying the discussions? Please consider donating, it keeps us running. 👉 Donate here: [https://examinedlife.uk/donation/](https://examinedlife.uk/donation/) —————————————————————————————————————————————— **Join our Telegram group chat** Stay connected between sessions: [https://t.me/+o9T9DL5u6AcwMmRk](https://t.me/+o9T9DL5u6AcwMmRk) —————————————————————————————————————————————— **About the session** The Examined Life "Let's Discuss…" session is an open, welcoming discussion, no prior reading or expertise required. Format: * **13:15** Free-flowing group discussion on the topic * **14:00 (ish)** We split into smaller groups for deeper conversation on what interests you most * **16:00** Official end of the meetup. Most attendees stay on and keep chatting until around 18:00 —————————————————————————————————————————————— **Please RSVP accurately** Please update your RSVP if plans change, it helps us plan and frees up spots for others. —————————————————————————————————————————————— **Artwork:** A Frozen River by a Town at Evening 1665 by Aert van der Neer

**\*FREE FOR MEMBERS, JOIN WHEN YOU ARRIVE!\*** Come and join us at the **Living Room Club Glengal Groove** on Fridays between 1 p.m. and 3 pm to upcycle second-hand clothes. We gather for creative transformation and upcycling of second-hand clothing items and materials to sell in our cafe. The income from this project supports our Homeless Project in Soho. For further information, please contact Neide on 07585560345

**Welcome to Drunken Philosophy** a casual, curious social discussion **Optional topic for this meetup: What's up with all the AI hate?** A recent survey found that 74% of Americans have a negative view of AI, and I want to know why. Come out and debate whether AI is good or bad. My hot take: a labor-saving tool that could potentially help cure cancer gets called dangerous because it might raise unemployment or cause a speculative investment bubble, that tells you a lot more about capitalism and the economic system we live under than it does about the tool itself. As a computer programmer, I think AI is a wonderful tool that has increased my productivity by at least an order of magnitude. I'd go so far as to say Claude Code is the best tool I have ever used. Debate me and name a better one. Is AI potentially dangerous? Yes, but so are a lot of tools. Chainsaws. Steam engines (early ones would occasionally explode and kill everyone in the room). Do you think cavemen sat around debating whether fire could be used as a weapon or for self-harm, and decided not to discover it? I have two friends who hate AI for opposite reasons: one thinks it's a fad and not useful, and the other thinks it's going to take over everything and cause human extinction. Come out tonight, have a friendly debate, and make some friends. No lectures. Friendly crowd. Drop in for one drink and stay if it's fun.

For the last 5 years, Central Ohio Friends and Columbus Social Connection have teamed up for some incredible nights out and some of the biggest social events in Columbus with our biggest combined event bringing out 80+ people. ⚠️ Please only RSVP through ONE group to help keep headcount accurate. Now we’re celebrating where it all started. On Friday, May 22, we’ll be joining Central Ohio Friends 🍻 **Starting at** Brothers Bar & Grill in the Arena District the same place their very first event was held back in 2021. Whether you’ve been to one of our events before or **have been waiting for the right one to come out to,** this is a great one to jump into. Stop scrolling. Start doing stuff. If you find value in these events consider contributing Link can be found in comments!

Some trained COUNT volunteers work together once a month at RMH (http://www.rmhc-centralohio.org/volunteer.php) as Housewarmers (usually on the 1st Sunday from 1 – 5 PM). Some schedule other shifts at their convenience. You may try this out with less fuss by following a "Fast track" or go through the normal process. Fast track • Arrange a time to shadow a COUNT volunteer. Call Dave Nohle at 614-268-9558 (cell). • Show up and try it out. • Complete application, etc. later. Normal process • Complete an online application (http://rmhc-centralohio.org/volunteer/). • Attend orientation in advance. • At orientation you will complete forms agreeing to keep family/patient info private and allowing a background check and tour the facility. • Complete one training shift. Daily shifts are: morning 9 AM - 1 PM, afternoon 1 - 5 PM and evening 5 - 9 PM. • Schedule shifts online using the on the RMH scheduling system (http://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/?FROM=32895). The Ronald McDonald House (RMH) provides housing and meals for families with sick children. The Columbus RMH is the largest in the world with 137 rooms. COUNT has been volunteering there since May 2014. Housewarmers work with RMH guests to provide a home-like environment - greet, assist with family needs, answer phones, give tours, assist with checkin/checkout, prepare guest rooms after checkout, clean facility, laundry, restock supplies and staff the front desk. RMH Housewarmers volunteer at least one four-hour shift a month. All Housewarmers must complete an application and agree to a background check before they can be full fledged volunteers.

If you enjoy knitting, crocheting, working with yarn, this is the group for you. Meet new friends, bring your projects, learn from others.
We normally meet a few times a month during the week from 6-8pm. We will occasionally meet on weekends during daytime hours.

The Unity of Columbus Resource Group for the Homeless is seeking compassionate volunteers who would like to help serve and uplift members of our homeless community. This group is dedicated to sharing kindness, resources, and support with individuals who may be experiencing difficult circumstances. Anyone with a heart for service is welcome to join us as we work together to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Community members are also invited to contribute by bringing helpful items for those in need. Donations of items can be contributed at the meeting and will be distributed to assist members of the homeless community. Please consider joining us and sharing this opportunity with friends, family, or associates who may also wish to help. Learn more about Unity of Columbus at www.unityofcolumbus.org or call (614) 267-4959. Together we can extend compassion, dignity, and support to our community. 💛

Let’s meet and wander the galleries! General admission on Sundays is free.