palebirch

Well, again, I didn't see it as a criticism when I said it (if anything, a criticism of the surrounding culture?) but I am sorry to have offended. I simply looked at the number of subforums that hadn't had posts in days, weeks or months. I didn't realize there were actual statistics available, but I also didn't think the subject was terribly important -- certainly not important enough to warrant the kind of response I am getting here. It just didn't occur to me that it could be perceived as insulting. Anyway, I don't think there's anything acceptable I can say here, so I'll excuse myself. Hope everyone has a happy Easter weekend.

I'm not really understanding the hostility, Michael. I'm sorry that I missed the "top posters" link (not every forum runs on the same architecture, as I'm sure you know... and I'm on a mobile device so I'm not sure I'm seeing the same thing you are) but I don't really understand what you took as a criticism/negative opinion about my (mistakenly?) thinking that there is not much activity here. I also didn't argue with you or correct you in any way about the activity level or number of posters; I just explained why I usually prefer larger communities and why I am not "trying out for a popularity contest". I'm not sure what you mean by my "faking it" -- if you just mean the subject at hand or in general, because I'm not using my real identity. If I'm not welcome for the latter reason, that's fine; say so directly and I'll leave. If it's the former, well, I have no idea why this innocent comment of mine is so contentious, but I'm sorry to have offended. Peter, I still don't really understand what you were trying to accomplish -- or the relevance of that article -- but I do try to be courteous in general.

It's a black-capped chickadee. There are lots around here and I think they're very sweet. (Pic is from Flickr, though -- source link in my profile.)

How kind of you.

I have long been a fan of a site called CrazyMeds whose admins are big supporters of Dr Amen and his approach. They are pro-medical-intervention for mental illness, without accepting that the categories outlined in the DSM are necessarily scientifically sound. Gratifying to see someone else say this. It is the same analogy I use all the time in philosophy of mind classes.

More replies than I was expecting! One by one: Brant Gaede: From what I could tell, this forum gets <10 posts daily. That's pretty dead ("only mostly dead", still revivable by Miracle Max?) compared to the other places I go (e.g. Reddit, though not /r/Objectivism, which is full of loonies). Michael Stuart Kelly: Usually when it comes to web communities, I read far more than I post, and I try to make friends on an individual basis that I can stay in touch with on my own. And actually, posting in a small community often results in the post getting far more attention than I am comfortable with, rather than being a drop in the bucket. Selene: I have no idea what you mean. Kyle Jacob Biodrowski: Thanks for the welcome. I will try not to be a "hit and run" poster. GaltGulch: Thank you for your perspective. I have attended events, conferences and seminars from many of the student freedom organizations, including SFL, FEE, IHS and ISI, and I am subscribed to lots of E-mail newsletters from these organizations. The people I interacted with and the things I read do not give me hope. The vast majority of libertarian young people today have little to no interest in philosophy and are subjectivists and/or collectivists, if you don't mind my painting with a broad brush. The holdouts are die-hard Machiavellian or Nietzschean pragmatists and progress-hating religious conservatives. I don't think you need to be an Objectivist (nor atheist, though I am) to be a "good libertarian" but an attitude of individualism, an uncompromising rationality, a seriousness about ideas and many more things are necessary, and most of the people I have met have perhaps one of those qualities at best. Lest I appear to be building a temple to myself here, I would call myself far from uncompromising and often not serious enough. But I am not heartened by the potential of a youth movement that does not even attempt to take anything seriously.

I suppose this forum is essentially dead, but I might as well say hi. I apologize for not using my real name/face. I am hiding not from the members of this forum but from anyone who, now or in the future, might use the ideas I espouse here to destroy my reputation or worse. I don't mean only association with Objectivism/Rand, but also my views on sexual politics, for instance. While it is possible to survive and openly hold those ideas today, I can't take for granted that it will be so forever. I will say that I am in my twenties, I am a university student and I don't reside in the US. I am fairly close to "orthodox" Objectivism, in that I prefer the ARI to Kelly, Branden etc, but I can't "officially" call myself an Objectivist for various reasons. Thanks to anyone who actually read this.