Download WIRED's 'How to Win a Fight' Zine: Essential Skills for Navigating Tumultuous Times

In an era marked by rapid change, escalating tensions, and complex societal challenges, the concept of 'winning a fight' extends far beyond physical confrontation. It encompasses the ability to advocate for oneself and others, to navigate digital landscapes fraught with peril, to protect personal information, and to participate safely in public discourse and action. Recognizing the growing need for practical knowledge in these areas, WIRED has compiled key insights from its comprehensive 'How to Win a Fight' series into a unique, tangible format: a printable, foldable zine.

This zine serves as a condensed, portable guide, distilling crucial advice from multiple in-depth articles into a single sheet of paper. It's designed not only for personal use but also for easy sharing within communities, harkening back to the roots of zine culture as a powerful tool for disseminating information outside of mainstream channels. Whether you're new to activism, seeking to enhance your digital security, or simply looking for ways to stay informed and protected, this zine offers a starting point.

The Enduring Power of Zines

Before the age of instant digital communication, zines (short for magazines or fanzines) were a vital part of counter-culture movements, punk scenes, and various subcultures. Created through DIY methods – often photocopied and stapled – zines provided a platform for voices and ideas that were ignored or suppressed by traditional media. They were cheap to produce, easy to distribute, and fostered a sense of community among readers and creators.

In today's hyper-connected world, where information overload is common and digital spaces can be ephemeral or monitored, the physical zine offers a refreshing alternative. It's a tactile object that can be passed hand-to-hand, requires no internet connection to read, and exists outside the algorithms and surveillance of online platforms. A zine is a deliberate act of creation and sharing, embodying resilience and independence.

The 'How to Win a Fight' zine embraces this spirit. By condensing valuable information into a format that can be printed and folded at home, it empowers individuals to take control of their access to knowledge and share it freely. It's a small, personal act of resistance against the ephemerality and control of digital information streams.

What Does 'Winning a Fight' Mean Today?

WIRED's 'How to Win a Fight' series, from which this zine is drawn, explores the multifaceted nature of conflict and advocacy in the modern world. It's not about promoting violence, but about equipping individuals with the knowledge and strategies needed to navigate challenging situations, stand up for their beliefs, and protect themselves and their communities.

The articles contributing to the zine cover a range of topics that reflect the contemporary landscape of conflict:

• Understanding and participating in movements, like the tactics employed in the Tesla Takedown movement. This highlights how collective action and strategic pressure can be used to achieve goals, often leveraging public opinion and digital tools.
• Navigating online interactions, including how to out-troll a troll. This speaks to the challenges of online harassment, disinformation, and the need for effective communication strategies in digital spaces.
• Ensuring physical safety during public demonstrations, with tips on how to protest safely. This is crucial knowledge for anyone wishing to exercise their right to protest in an increasingly unpredictable environment.
• Protecting personal data and privacy in an age of ubiquitous monitoring, offering advice for shielding yourself from government surveillance. Understanding how data is collected and used is a fundamental aspect of modern self-preservation.
• Knowing your rights and how to protect your devices when interacting with authorities, such as during phone searches at borders or checkpoints. Digital devices contain vast amounts of personal information, making their security paramount.

These topics, while seemingly disparate, are interconnected aspects of navigating a world where information is power, privacy is under threat, and collective action is often necessary to drive change. The zine brings these threads together, offering a holistic view of the skills needed to be informed, safe, and effective.

Key Takeaways from the Zine

The zine distills actionable advice from the full WIRED guide. While the full articles offer extensive detail, the zine provides a quick reference for critical situations. Here are some examples of the types of tips you'll find:

Protest Safety Essentials

Participating in protests is a fundamental form of expression and advocacy, but it comes with inherent risks. The zine includes reminders on preparing for demonstrations:

• **Know Your Rights:** Understand what law enforcement can and cannot legally do.
• **Dress Appropriately:** Wear sturdy shoes, avoid synthetic fabrics that can melt, and cover identifying marks like tattoos.
• **Protect Your Eyes and Face:** Bring goggles or safety glasses and a bandana or mask to protect against irritants.
• **Stay Hydrated and Nourished:** Carry water and snacks.
• **Have an Exit Strategy:** Know the area and plan routes for leaving if necessary.
• **Buddy Up:** Attend with friends and stay together.
• **Document Safely:** If filming, be aware of your surroundings and consider using apps that automatically back up footage.

These simple steps can significantly enhance personal safety and preparedness in potentially volatile situations.

Digital Security and Surveillance Awareness

In the digital age, our phones and online activities are extensions of ourselves, vulnerable to surveillance and data collection. The zine touches upon protecting your digital footprint:

• **Encrypt Your Devices:** Use strong passwords or passcodes and enable full-disk encryption on your phone and computer.
• **Use Secure Messaging Apps:** Opt for end-to-end encrypted communication platforms.
• **Be Mindful of Location Data:** Limit location sharing on your apps and device settings.
• **Understand Border Search Rights:** Know that your rights regarding device searches may differ at international borders, and prepare accordingly (e.g., travel with minimal data, use a burner phone).
• **Practice Good Password Hygiene:** Use unique, strong passwords and consider a password manager.

While comprehensive digital security is complex, the zine provides foundational steps that can make a significant difference in protecting your privacy.

Navigating Online Conflict

The internet can be a battleground for ideas, and dealing with online harassment or trolling requires specific strategies. The zine offers insights into maintaining your composure and effectiveness online:

• **Don't Feed the Trolls:** Often, the best response is no response.
• **Know When to Block or Mute:** Protect your mental health and signal space by limiting interaction with hostile accounts.
• **Document Harassment:** Keep records of abusive behavior if you need to report it.
• **Focus on Your Message:** Don't get sidetracked by bad-faith arguments; stay focused on communicating your intended message to your target audience.
• **Build Online Communities:** Connect with allies and build supportive networks.

These tips help individuals engage constructively online while minimizing negative impacts.

Beyond the Zine: The Full Guide

The zine is a fantastic starting point and a convenient reference, but it's important to remember that it's a distillation of much larger bodies of work. The full WIRED Guide to Winning a Fight delves deeper into each of these topics, providing more context, detailed instructions, and expert insights.

For instance, the guide explores the nuances of using technology for organizing and resistance, drawing lessons from various movements. It examines the evolving landscape of surveillance technologies and the legal frameworks surrounding them. It also touches upon broader societal 'fights,' such as the ongoing struggle for equitable healthcare access, exemplified by reporting on the future of transgender health care.

The zine includes a scannable QR code that links directly back to the complete guide online, allowing readers to easily access the full suite of resources if they need more detailed information on a particular topic.

Printing, Folding, and Sharing Your Zine

One of the joys of a zine is its tactile nature and the simple, almost alchemical process of turning a flat sheet of paper into a multi-page booklet. The 'How to Win a Fight' zine is designed to be printed on a standard letter-sized sheet of paper (8.5 x 11 inches) and folded into an eight-page mini-booklet.

If you've never made a zine before, the folding process might seem a little tricky at first glance, but it's surprisingly simple once you get the hang of it. WIRED has provided a helpful video tutorial that walks you through the steps. You can find instructions and a link to the video online, or simply follow the visual guide often included with printable zines. The basic process usually involves folding the paper in half lengthwise, then in half widthwise twice, making a cut along one fold line, and then refolding to create the booklet structure. It's a bit like paper origami with a purpose.

The beauty of this format is its accessibility. All you need is a printer, some paper, and a pair of scissors (or even just careful tearing). This low barrier to entry makes it an ideal format for sharing information in places where digital access might be limited or monitored.

Once folded, the zine is compact and easy to carry, slip into a pocket, or pass along to someone else. Sharing the zine is an act of empowering others with knowledge, contributing to a more informed and prepared community.

Download Your Copy

The 'How to Win a Fight' zine is available for free download in both English and Spanish, ensuring that this vital information can reach a wider audience. The PDF files are ready to be printed and folded.

→ Download the 'How to Win a Fight' Zine: English

→ Download the 'How to Win a Fight' Zine: Español

The Importance of Accessible Information

In times of uncertainty, access to reliable, actionable information is paramount. The decision to create this zine in a simple, printable format reflects a commitment to making essential knowledge as accessible as possible. Not everyone has consistent internet access, or feels comfortable searching for sensitive information online due to privacy concerns. A physical zine bypasses these barriers, putting critical tips directly into people's hands.

Moreover, the act of printing and folding the zine yourself creates a personal connection to the information. It transforms passive reading into an active process, making the content feel more immediate and relevant. Sharing a physical zine also allows for face-to-face conversations about the topics covered, fostering deeper understanding and community building than a simple online share might.

Contributing to a More Informed Future

The creation of this zine, and the broader 'How to Win a Fight' guide, is a response to the felt needs of the present moment. As the article introducing the zine notes, "Right now, everyone seems ready to throw down. More than ever, it’s important to pick your battles—and know how to win." This doesn't imply aggression, but rather strategic engagement and preparedness.

The guide and the zine are resources for empowerment. They provide individuals with the tools to understand the dynamics of various conflicts, protect themselves from harm (both physical and digital), and participate effectively in efforts to shape the world around them. Topics like the tech-fueled resistance to the Trump administration illustrate how technology and organized action intersect in modern political landscapes, offering valuable lessons for contemporary movements.

By making this information available in a widely accessible format, WIRED aims to contribute to a more informed, resilient, and engaged public. The zine is a small but significant piece of this effort, a portable compendium of knowledge designed to help you navigate the challenges of today and tomorrow.

A Note on the Creators and Support

The zine features wonderful illustrations by Shirley Chong and photography by Alex Kent, whose work helps make the information visually engaging and easier to digest. Their contributions, alongside the reporting and writing from the WIRED staff, are essential to the project's success.

Projects like the 'How to Win a Fight' guide and the accompanying zine are made possible by the support of readers. In an era where reliable, independent journalism is more critical than ever, subscriber support directly fuels the kind of in-depth reporting and public-interest resources that inform and empower communities.

Whether you are facing challenges in the digital realm, considering participating in a protest, or simply want to be better prepared for an uncertain future, the 'How to Win a Fight' zine offers valuable, actionable advice in a unique and shareable format. Download your copy today, print it out, fold it up, and share it with those who need it most. Knowledge is a powerful tool, and this zine puts it directly into your hands.

How to Fold Your Zine

Turning the printed sheet into a zine is part of the fun. Here's a basic guide, though watching a video tutorial (like the one linked in the full guide) is highly recommended for first-timers:

1. Print the PDF file on a standard letter-sized paper. Print on both sides if your printer supports it, or print page 1, flip the paper, and print page 2 on the back.
2. Fold the paper in half lengthwise (hot dog fold). Crease firmly.
3. Unfold the paper.
4. Fold the paper in half widthwise (hamburger fold). Crease firmly.
5. Fold the paper in half widthwise again. Crease firmly.
6. Unfold the paper completely. You should have 8 rectangles marked by creases.
7. Fold the paper in half lengthwise again (the first fold you made).
8. Look at the center fold. Along this fold line, you will see creases from your widthwise folds. Cut along the center fold line, starting from the edge and stopping at the intersection of the innermost widthwise creases. Do NOT cut all the way across the paper. You are creating a slit in the middle.
9. Unfold the paper again.
10. Fold the paper in half widthwise (hamburger fold). The slit you cut should now be in the center of the fold.
11. Hold the paper by the ends and push them towards the center. The slit will open up, and the paper will naturally form a cross shape.
12. Continue pushing the ends together, guiding the panels so they stack on top of each other, forming an eight-page booklet.
13. Fold the stack in half to create the finished zine. The cover should be on the front.

It might take a practice run, but the process is simple and rewarding. The resulting zine is a compact, durable source of essential information.

Conclusion

In a world that often feels overwhelming and uncertain, having access to practical knowledge is a form of empowerment. The WIRED 'How to Win a Fight' zine is more than just a collection of tips; it's a tool for resilience, a guide for engagement, and a reminder that even in complex times, individuals can take steps to protect themselves and contribute to positive change. By downloading, printing, and sharing this zine, you're not just accessing information – you're participating in a tradition of accessible, community-driven knowledge sharing that remains vital today.