I was fortunate to meet Zizek during my junior year in college. He was really easy going and not at all pretentious. It was interesting too because he was so much more interested to talk to the students than the stuffy old tenured philosophy professors that invited him. All in all it was a good experience, and I'll never forget his unique voice. He was really self-deprecating too, which was really funny for me at the time.

Five for his critique of capitalist and communist fundamentalism alone.

A well spoken individual, but capitalism is our way of life, flaws and everything. Unless we all go back to live in caves we will have to deal with the ups and downs of this system. If you prefer a socio-communist system by all means go to one of the current countries having such systems. Just don't expect to enjoy your stay there.

Five because I love this man. Ten because of "It's easy to say exit strategy."

This is my introduction to Zizek and I'm impressed.

I absolutely agree that mainstream leftism has focused too narrowly on social issues, which has created a division among leftists and given fuel to the right wing populism we see sweeping America. This, along with the fear of being called Socialists, is what has prevented the mainstream left from addressing real class concerns and why the 'more radical dissent' has either come from the right or been funneled back to the right via the Tea Party.

His conclusion is that 20th century state socialism isn't the answer and that 'popular mobilization outside the state and the market' is required. This seems like a nice way of saying we're fucked because there's no evidence that a 'revitalized, more radical left' exists in sufficient numbers to start a genuine revolution that will actually take hold in a country like America.

Jesus Christ, he sounds like Eek the cat's slavic alcoholic cousin.

Slavoj Zizek is kind of a dick.

Does anyone associate chocolate with constipation?

Otherwise, I like this guy.

What is is he talking about when he refers to the 'gigantic' ecological catastrophe that was responsible for oil reserves?

Most biomass today is microbial and plant, what is scary about a buildup over many years and through many catastrophes?

Zizeck is not a ruthless critic of anything. Neither is Marx, for that matter.

No, I won't explain myself.