Peikoff rant against libertarians


9thdoctor

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Alrightee, this is my first ever video. I've been an admirer of Bill Sherk's videos, but now much more so since I've just been through doing it myself and know how much time and patience it takes. I've talked in the past about uploading this clip of Peikoff blowing his stack over a beautifully pointed question, and I finally got up the yen to unhook the VCR and get it connected to the computer on Sunday. Since then I've spent, I don't know I didn't count, but hours putting this together. And I'm concerned that it's really not very good, so I've still got it set as an "unlisted" video on YouTube. I've gotten to the point where I'm sick of it, so, if it really sucks let me know and I'll pull it and try again when my patience returns to a normal level. I definitely wasted a lot of time and frustration just learning the ins and outs of the program, so next time won't be so maddening, I hope.

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Dennis,

If you get sick of playing around with TTS (robot voices) and have a little extra cash, you can get really good voice-overs for 5 bucks a pop on Fiverr. (You have to pick and choose, but if you keep to the ones who have a good reputation, you should be all right.)

Go to Music & Audio --> Voice --> Voiceover.

Which TTS program do you use? I use Balabolka since it is free and comes with a lot of ways to alter the voice. (I like to speed them up a bit and slightly increase pauses at the end of sentences.) Also, you can load almost any text-based document into it. The PDF conversion--which is the sticky part--is quite good. And it has excellent find and replace resources, and an automatic format function that will eliminate line breaks. I only use this program for plowing through really boring texts I need to read, though. Having the text read out loud does not allow me to skip over anything, which I tend to do when I get bored. I don't use it for audio tracks.

btw - Very good video for a first attempt. The video people I have been studying say your first 50 videos will suck and there is nothing you can do about that, so it is better to go ahead and get them out of the way.

Your video does not suck.

Michael

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Should I switch it to "public"? So long as it's not totally embarrassing I guess why not? I just tried clicking on it and had to stop it, I still can't stand to hear it again.

I'm going to download Balabolka and give it a shot. I used a free web based thing, where you just paste in the text and hit play. You have to switch Ayn to Ine, Peikoff to Peekoff, and bizarrely, 1992 to "1990 too". That part was fun, actually. What they need though, is a way to highlight a word and let you specify "sarcastic", or even to simply stress that word. Sometimes inserting a comma, where grammar would otherwise not call for it, got something closer to the desired result.

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I've provoked some hostility over at OO, the only important thing coming from Atlas51184: "Allison has promised to remove anarchists and persons disrespectful of Rand from the Cato payroll." Hopefully this is just scuttlebutt of his own invention.

http://forum.objecti...55

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Atlas51184: "Allison has promised to remove anarchists and persons disrespectful of Rand from the Cato payroll."

It's looking like this is for real:

http://forum.objectivismonline.com/index.php?showtopic=23555&st=25#entry295635

My source for Allison's plans isn't linkable; it's what he said during a presentation about it, and AFAIK it's not been put online. During that presentation, Yaron Brook said that Rand's (and ARI's) antipathy to "libertarians" has always been antipathy towards Rothbardian anarchists.

Lest I be accused of inventing scuttlebutt, my notes on the Allison discussion show that he said those disrespectful of Rand will change their attitudes or find other employment. Not that they will be fired outright. "Respectful" didn't have any implication of them becoming Objectivist. Also, Allison said that he will be there for a number of years and in that time he will be grooming an Objectivist replacement. And, he wasn't going to take the job until Yaron Brook convinced him to.

This must be coming from OCON, which was held in early July in San Diego.

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Here's a deleted post of mine from the OO thread:

So you're saying you do those things I named, but you'll only tell me if you're certain you won't get banned from this forum?

Say what?

If that's the case, you're a cowardly bastard. Otherwise, I don't see how we have a problem.

You’re the one trying to pick a fight. And by the way, I recognize your writing style. Weren’t you banned? Have you just signed on with another name to start up the same crap? Now that would be beyond cowardly.

Either way, I don't think you should take this discussion in the direction you're taking it. "Tough guy"? "Knucklehead"? "We'll have it out"? What in the hell?.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe3gfaNJlRk

So a rational person is supposed to be overly tender and kind and respond only to the obseqious nature of a hostile question? Peikoff didn't come to the forum to hear that guy talk, it was vice versa.

Who said anything about how Peikoff was supposed to reply? No, I wouldn’t expect him to be “tender and kind” or “obsequious”. So what?

Which is it? You're back-pedaling about your judgment or you're trying to justify it?

Neither. I’m stating facts. You’ll find that I referred to this as him “blowing his stack” more recently, elsewhere. Whether that’s better or worse than “hitting the roof” I’m not quite sure. However both metaphors, at least in my usage, denote something less involved than “having a meltdown”. Here’s what that looks like:

Words have meaning; talk != debate.

And what’s the difference? Is it what, ok to “talk” to someone so long as they don’t get to talk back?

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And I'm concerned that it's really not very good, so I've still got it set as an "unlisted" video on YouTube. I've gotten to the point where I'm sick of it, so, if it really sucks let me know and I'll pull it and try again when my patience returns to a normal level. I definitely wasted a lot of time and frustration just learning the ins and outs of the program, so next time won't be so maddening, I hope.

I'm impressed. The video does its job well, I thought -- starkly identifying the characters, the issues, the present day "institutional rapprochement" and the exasperated kingpin who extorts obedience by damning rhetoric. The Don of Objectivish things comes across as a thug-crossed-with-a-politician. The exchange with the 'unfriendly' made me think of a celebrated Baath party meeting wherein Saddam Hussein got to finger (and kill) those who were opposed to his rule. Of course Peikoff does not have a security force to escort dissidents to the wall, but the impression remains of a peeved dictator ...

Keep at it, Ninth. The frustration will subside while the desire for perfection will not.

Edited by william.scherk
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Should I switch it to "public"? So long as it's not totally embarrassing I guess why not? I just tried clicking on it and had to stop it, I still can't stand to hear it again.

I'm going to download Balabolka and give it a shot. I used a free web based thing, where you just paste in the text and hit play. You have to switch Ayn to Ine, Peikoff to Peekoff, and bizarrely, 1992 to "1990 too". That part was fun, actually. What they need though, is a way to highlight a word and let you specify "sarcastic", or even to simply stress that word. Sometimes inserting a comma, where grammar would otherwise not call for it, got something closer to the desired result.

Interesting technical notes from Michael and Ninth, thanks. I'll let you know what I have used:

-- Robot voice: TextAloud by Nextup.

-- Sound editing: Audacity

-- Video editing/compositing: VideoPad

Textaloud is the only one that costs. It comes with two shitty voices, but has many accents/types available for purchase, among which the best from ATT Natural Voices.

VideoPad has some unique plug-ins (filters) and also allows image-processing in an embedded bit of software. I otherwise use the open-source Gimp programme for images.

Ninth, you already have more Youtube hits on yours than I do on my 12 most recent ones, sob sob.

[Edit: in a crass attempt to cash in on interest drawn to Ninth's initial tight and effective video, here is mine, the only one of my last twenty to approach his number of views, snort, sniffle, sob sob.]

Edited by william.scherk
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Um, while you guys are here, is there any way I can increase the type size on my new old computer? Surely you have noticed I regained my consonants. But there is no helpful Zoom on the bottomthere and Chrome says I am already at maximum.

Yours faithfulloy,

Carol J Magoo

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Carol, if a Windows box, look for a help file that tells you how to change 'Display' options. You will be looking for something between screen resolution (1200 X 800, whatever) and Old Eyes 'Accessibily. Me, I use the handy Dollar Store cheaters for those moments when I cannot read the freaking screen..

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Keep at it, Ninth. The frustration will subside while the desire for perfection will not.

Thanks. Next I'll be uploading Peikoff's voting advice from 1992, it's nothing like the 2006 directive. I don't think I'll have many comments to make on it, so it won't take so long. It'll probably be this weekend.

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As I said on the Objectivism Online forums:

I don't want a flame war. I want to know if you think Peikoff is a dogmatist and if you spend time bashing him.

Hey hi, Overt!

Welcome to OL, where bashing has gradations undreamt of in your philosophy.

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As I said on the Objectivism Online forums:

I don't want a flame war. I want to know if you think Peikoff is a dogmatist and if you spend time bashing him.

Hey hi, Overt!

Welcome to OL, where bashing has gradations undreamt of in your philosophy.

No need for a welcome. I'm only here because I couldn't get an answer to my question while on OO.

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As I said on the Objectivism Online forums:

I don't want a flame war. I want to know if you think Peikoff is a dogmatist and if you spend time bashing him.

Hey hi, Overt!

Welcome to OL, where bashing has gradations undreamt of in your philosophy.

No need for a welcome. I'm only here because I couldn't get an answer to my question while on OO.

As I said on the Objectivism Online forums:

I don't want a flame war. I want to know if you think Peikoff is a dogmatist and if you spend time bashing him.

Hey hi, Overt!

Welcome to OL, where bashing has gradations undreamt of in your philosophy.

No need for a welcome. I'm only here because I couldn't get an answer to my question while on OO.

Oh, OK, I'll retract it then. I understand. There are a lot of things you can't get on OO.

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Oh, OK, I'll retract it then. I understand. There are a lot of things you can't get on OO.

So would it be fair to say you think of Peikoff and ARI as dogmatists and spend time bashing them?

Yes, I do think so and no, I don't spend any time bashing them.

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As I said on the Objectivism Online forums:

I don't want a flame war. I want to know if you think Peikoff is a dogmatist and if you spend time bashing him.

Wow, maybe I did misjudge you. You’ve tried to distance yourself from what certainly appears to be the plain intent of your first post on the OO Allison thread, but on internet forums sometimes one has to assume good faith and not shoot every stranger who rides into town wearing a black cowboy hat. You’re awfully new to OO to be writing the way you do, would you mind filling us in on your background? How long ago did you first read Rand, that kind of thing?

Is Peikoff a dogmatist? There are certainly episodes in Objectivist history where he’s come across that way, and ultimately earned that epithet, yeah. Do I spend time “bashing” him? Oh brother. I wrote about that here:

http://forum.objecti...150#entry288820

I strongly recommend you read that whole thread from the beginning, but I've linked to what I think is the most relevant post.

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New page on the thread, here's the video you came to see, again. Watch it, get my view count up high to the sky, and pound on that "like" button. Do it if you hate Daleks, and do it 'cos it'll make Bill Sherk pea green with envy!

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No need for a welcome. I'm only here because...

Overt,

On my dime?

Heh.

That's a hell of a trade. For you, that is. You take. I give. And you make statements about setting the conditions.

Heh, again.

Let me give it a try from scratch. To start with, I suggest reading the posting guidelines. When you post on a new board, that's the least you should do.

I am a strong believer in cordiality to people I don't know. As an old friend of mine from Brazil used to say, good manners are welcome the world over. You can take them anywhere.

So welcome to OL.

Michael

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Wow, maybe I did misjudge you. [...]

You misjudge on principle, brother.

I'm not interested in detailing my limited and mostly unpleasant experience on OO, my educational background, my life-story, or anything else for that matter.

However, thanks for admitting your guilt and pointing me in the direction of further examples of your guilt. My statements on OO were not directed at you in particular, but I see now that they fit.

I hope you find a way out of your confusion, but I'm not going to sit here and try to convince you of anything. I don't practice blind hatred, despite what you may think; but I don't practice appeasement either.

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No need for a welcome. I'm only here because...

Overt,

On my dime?

Heh.

That's a hell of a trade. For you, that is.

Let me give it a try from scratch. To start with, I suggest reading the posting guidelines. When you post on a new board, that's the least you should do.

I am a strong believer in cordiality to people I don't know. As an old friend of mine from Brazil used to say, good manners are welcome the world over. You can take them anywhere.

So welcome to OL.

Michael

Maybe I should have been more clear. I don't need a welcome since I won't be here after I get an answer from Ninth Doctor. Which I've received and said what I had to say about, and now I'm gone.

Thanks for the attempt at friendliness, but from what I've read of yours, you couldn't maintain that friendliness with me. Good bye.

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