Makiaveli

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  1. Why exactly did you chose this one to link? It's incredibly biased drivel even if it's based in reality.
  2. So I take it you're not an Objectivist or just not a fan of hers?
  3. PS: I listened to an interview with Nathanial where he was asked about his forthcoming book, and he seemed smarmy to me. At the time, all I knew about him was he had known her, etc and that he had written a biography so I was excited for it. I came away with the impression (partially from him trading in his wife several times) that he was simply trying to cash in on having known her. FTR, I'm all for capitalism, but it seems to me he's being immoral in the sense that it's fraud to misrepresent facts in order to sell your product.
  4. So the vast majority here seems to be that Frank may or may not have been an alcoholic and Ayn may or may not etc, and if it's being covered up. Why TF do you guys care? Unless you consider Ayn Rand to be a god, then why should she, or her husband, have been perfect? She came up with Objectivism, and unless I'm mistaken, never claimed to be a perfect representative or that she had laid it all out and it was sacrosanct canon etc. It really seems to me that many of you are trying to find fault with her to cover up your own inadequacies in following Objectivism (which in and of itself sounds likes it's counter to it) given if you can prove Ayn/Leonard/etc failed, then it's OK for you to do so. Now I'm not a psychiatrist (I just play one on forums), so I may be way off here, but that's my $.25 worth.
  5. Actually bonobos aren't sex crazed. That was the initial impression, but it's been shown that they use sex more as a way to ease tensions among the groups members and even welcome new ones. They are actually related to chimps and the prevailing theory is that their territory has an abundance of food year round, whereas chimps inhabit an area with much less food therefore grew larger and more aggressive. That said, pretty obvious where they fit in, orangutans are the welfare class (all those photos of fat ones sitting around) and baboons are legislators. Welcome to OL Micky, Kinda like a semi-human Animal Farm... How did you wander in here, Ayn? Are you a worker, student, business person? A... Thanks and that is indeed one's first impression. ;) Long story short libertarianism lead to reading AS, which lead to more reading, and a year later I am here trying to make sense of it all. Objectivism seems right and wrong in equal parts, but the massive cognitive dissonance it causes makes me think it's right. Interesting choice of the tension of cognitive dissonance that directed you to seek a positive testing with others rather than rolling up into a cult ball. Objectivism is fundamentally right in a macro sense. However, it has a number of "not right" pieces and like any great explosion of intellect, one can be blinded by the pure perfection of reason. Ayn was like that to me. However, there were parts that did not appear to be paved with rationality. There were a few dark paths in Ayn's garden that lead nowhere and had the faithful stumble and fall. Sometimes to their death, either moral, or, physical. Where did you run into Libertarianism/libertarianism? A... The cog diss lead me to seek something solid since I really had no place else to go. I felt modern liberals were absolutely wrong, cons were lesser of two evils etc, religion had failed me long ago and I just wasn't sure what to think anymore. I flirted with Bhuddhism due to its lack of an actual god, but the more I read the more I realized same thing, different storyline. L. Neil Smith's book The Probability Broach was my first real introduction to libertarianism, though I had no clue that that was what he was writing. I stumbled across a non-fiction book of his at a library which turned out to be waaaay over my head, so I went back to the TPB and decided I was going to be a secret libertarian. Eventually got on FB due to HS reunion, which lead to friends of friends etc so I "came out". That's when I finally read AS and then when I googled her I stumbled across interviews which lead to more googling etc. ARI etc lead to Dr. Peikoff's podcasts (watched about 70 of them so far, working my forward from #1) and now listening to his old radio shows mixed in for change of pace. I could see some people losing their way, but I see that as their fault, not Objectivism. They are the ones who would be trying to cure gays, or bombing buildings in the name of Jesus if they went down a more traditional path.
  6. Granted I only glanced at LaVey's site, but I think there is more than superficial resemblances as pointed out by william. ETC is short et cetera et cet·er·aet ˈsedərə/adverbadverb: etcetera used at the end of a list to indicate that further, similar items are included. "we're trying to resolve problems of obtaining equipment, drugs, et cetera" synonyms: and so on, and so forth, and the rest, and/or the like, and suchlike,among others, et al., etc.; More indicating that a list is too tedious or clichéd to give in full. "we've all got to do our duty, pull our weight, et cetera, et cetera" Cashing in as in wrapping it up, or simply trying to make money?
  7. How so? Individual rights, serve yourself not others or a god. Not saying his philosophy is on par, but that it has valid points. Just like Aristotle had some good ideas mixed in.
  8. Actually bonobos aren't sex crazed. That was the initial impression, but it's been shown that they use sex more as a way to ease tensions among the groups members and even welcome new ones. They are actually related to chimps and the prevailing theory is that their territory has an abundance of food year round, whereas chimps inhabit an area with much less food therefore grew larger and more aggressive. That said, pretty obvious where they fit in, orangutans are the welfare class (all those photos of fat ones sitting around) and baboons are legislators. Welcome to OL Micky, Kinda like a semi-human Animal Farm... How did you wander in here, Ayn? Are you a worker, student, business person? A... Thanks and that is indeed one's first impression. ;) Long story short libertarianism lead to reading AS, which lead to more reading, and a year later I am here trying to make sense of it all. Objectivism seems right and wrong in equal parts, but the massive cognitive dissonance it causes makes me think it's right.
  9. On the topic of taking advantage of the govt etc, I do that daily. I work for my city govt. The pay is horrible, but assuming we don't wind up like Greece, I have a pension and great insurance. So while it does offend my Objectivist principles, I consider it reparations.
  10. Is it just me, or is LaVey's Church of Satan have a lot in common with Objectivism? Atheism, individuality, etc.
  11. No. Just many forms of the same secular leftist political religion. The political spectrum is actually a circle where the extreme right meets the radical left in total accord on their three pillars of faith: 1. dope 2. perversion 3. fetusnuffing Welcome to OL, Mak. I hope you enjoy your visits and I'll do my best to entertain you. Greg Greg Your three pillars seem...odd. Dope is a personal choice. A bad one, but personal. Perversion is highly subjective, and while some forms are bad for you, again personal choice. Assuming you mean "snuffing" as in killing, then I tend to agree with you there. But hey, at least it looks like I can argue here with people who might actually be able to spell "debate".
  12. Actually bonobos aren't sex crazed. That was the initial impression, but it's been shown that they use sex more as a way to ease tensions among the groups members and even welcome new ones. They are actually related to chimps and the prevailing theory is that their territory has an abundance of food year round, whereas chimps inhabit an area with much less food therefore grew larger and more aggressive. That said, pretty obvious where they fit in, orangutans are the welfare class (all those photos of fat ones sitting around) and baboons are legislators.
  13. So all secularists are leftists? Advocating for liberty, pursuing one's own interests, advocating science and Reason etc sure seems a far cry from the typical Collectivist. Yes they mention empathy etc but they also say respect the freedoms of others. Is it a racket? Thinkgeek.com sells silly stuff to nerds, geeks, etc which could be considered "preying" on their weaknesses but I don't think they qualify as immoral. Am I wrong, and is this the wrong section to ask such questions? PS: Normally I try not stir so many pots with my first post on a forum, but it's past my bedtime so what the hey!