Dodger

Jeff, can you be more specific on your perspective? Do you mean 'bottom up' figuratively or literally?

Kori: Standardized tests annoy me simply because when education is focused around standards, the true value of education seems to go unnoticed. Thankfully, I no longer have to take them, but I still maintain my 'anti-standard' values. To answer your question, the reason I call myself Dodger is because there was a man, in his late 50's, that was a member of another forum that I had been a part of. His name was Artful Dodger, and he is probably the wisest man I've ever come in contact with. The things I learned simply from him are endless, and I decided to name myself 'Dodger' as a tribute to him. If I hadn't have named myself in this way, I would have most likely gone with 'John Galt'

Haven't read the full thread--only skimmed. Ill be sure to read it all later. Anyways.. Few key points: 1) An -Atlas Shrugged- movie can do justice to the novel. However, it should be treated is if it were written as a Shakespearean play and not a fictional book. When directors approach fiction they tend to add their own innovations and cut things out to make it fit in in Hollywood. If this movie were to be filmed the director MUST have a FULL understanding of the book, the philosophy, and the small but significant pieces of the book must NOT be cut out. I say film it as close to the book as possible. 2) The best way to start a movement is to do exactly what the word itself implies: move. If you want something to happen, then you will work for it. But sitting in a forum, wondering why things dont happen and why growth isnt occuring does no justice to the matter at hand. If you want to do something about it, its very simple--Just do it. How? Use your imagination. As an objectivist you should be able to use your mind and innovate. The smallest growth is significant. I'd also like to add that it is difficult to inspire productivity in a society where socialism and looting is encouraged. Education in America has been standardized. Even worse, it seems we are at a pivotal phase in our society's progress. Think Bill Gates. Think Hank Rearden. Connection? Its there. I like to consider myself a man of action. I think the best way to do anything is to first gain power, then use that power wisely. So this is precisely what I will do. I will use my skills and talents to climb the ladder, and once I reach certain points, I will take certain actions. Maybe I should lay all my plans out. Eh, I'll wait until I am more familiar with those here.

Yes, the man who told me to read Atlas Shrugged is reading Fountainhead now. I'm going to do the same soon.

Actually, Im a senior. High school wouldn't be so much of a pain if it wasnt centered on standardized tests and performance on such tests. Eh, I can only do so much. I'll change things when Im older

I felt compelled to point this out: Very, very, very good point. There is a fine line to walk when you follow objectivist thinking, and if you aren't careful, your productivity will lead you to a deluded mindset. I can assure you, however, that such a mindset is far from my perspective. I do not believe I am superior to anyone but I do believe that those who do not work for what they gain have no right to govern me. Perhaps I should expand my views to make sure I do not give the wrong first impression I'll throw in a quick edit: What I wrote (italics) is directed towards those of the 'looter' class. The 'you' I speak of is the general 'you' that applies directly to those who do not work and want problems solved for them. So please be aware that I do not want to imply that I believe anyone to be inferior to me besides those who do nothing. I cannot help but despise those who wish to take without warrant. Thank you for your advice. It is very sound and perfectly applicable. And to answer your question, Atlas Shrugged is the only work of Ayn Rand that I have read. And yes, being 17 sucks.

Chris: I appreciate the welcome and--how much younger is Jeff? Michael: I hadn't laughed quite like that in a while. I can see why you decided to reference that page, but the author of that page in my opinion would lose to me in a battle of wits--he is unarmed. There may be similarities but only when things are taken out of context.

(Pardon me for the length of this topic. I felt compelled to post this. These are my words, credited to John Galt who inspired them.) This is John Galt speaking. My fire has been rekindled, and now my strength that I have kept inside for so long will now be used. I am stronger than you. Much stronger. I can outwit you in most likely anything you want to throw at me. I am no longer a lost, passively-minded 17 year old kid, but a strong, powerful, wise, and unchallenged man. I may sound conceited, but believe me when I say my self assuredness does not come from arrogance, rather it comes from knowing that what I am capable of I will no longer push aside--I will use it. The reason I can outmatch you is because you have not decided to use your capabilities. You sit and wait. You do no work. You believe that someone will give you the chance you deserve without working for it. I will no longer act as I once did. I will destroy you're thanatonic approaches by being completely indifferent. I will remain unattached. I will no longer serve the public good. I will serve my own intentions and my own beliefs. Your beliefs be damned. The public good be damned. I will begin a revolution. I will be the man who gains power by doing work for himself. I will gain every penny or profit by my own work and by my own capabilities. I will destroy the looters by not giving them anything of mine to loot. I will become powerful. My mind is a tool which I have wasted for the past 17 years. I have done nothing productive with it--nothing for me to be proud of. I have been a child, careless and insecure. Now I am secure, powerful, and productive. I care for only one thing and that is my work. You will admire me or you will hate me. Those that know of my values will love me, those that dont will despise me. I will take from you that which you use to fight me. I will take from you that which you believe to be yours. I will destroy your false ideals and bury you 10 feet under the ground. You are not credible. You have nothing that gives you the right to anaylze me. You have no credibility. You forfeited it when you asked for hand outs. You will fall down at my feet and beg me to give you that which I have. I will laugh in your face when you do so and do no work to gain it. I am the man who will stop the motor of the world. I will take from the government that which they hold so dearly. I will revolutionize this society and destroy the socialism that exists today. I will crush those who take without warrant and praise those who work for their own good. I will silence those that tell me I am immoral, and push aside those that say I am unethical. You who have tormented me for years and have pretended to be that which you are not--You who have done nothing but sit and criticize without credibility--You who have asked of me that which you did not deserve--You who have pretended to be kind to destroy me--You who have lied and deceived me and caused my pain--You who have fought to keep me in isolation.... You will all cry for my help when there is no where else to turn. I am John Galt. I will stop the motor of the world. Greetings and salutations. I hope my rant interested you My name is Mitchell, and I am seventeen years old. Please don't refer to me as a kid, a youngster, or any word that has a similar connotation. I am not what you think I am. I am much stronger than a child, and I am not here to leech off or your intelligence. I am here because of Ayn Rand's book Atlas Shrugged. I may be young and inexperienced but I have at least had the time to sit back and observe. I may not have gone through what most older men and women have but I believe that with my objective stance, I am able to anaylze and conclude with confidence. I am somewhat new to the concepts of objectivism, but from what I do know, I love it. Objectivism has caused me to change for the better. I was at once a kid who wanted things given to him. I did not want to work for things--I wanted handouts. I wanted problems to be solved for me, and I wasted my time, my productivity, my talents, and my mind all for the sake of laziness. I was, simply put, a looter. However, John Galt challenged me to change my ways. I realized my habits and my actions had no justification, and I started the habit of justifying my beliefs/values/principles/actions/words/thoughts and more before using them. I reason. I no longer go by what I feel, but I go by what it is that I can deduce. I no longer act on feelings and try my best to rationalize and understand every situation I'm placed in, because I know that if you do not justify that which you are, you are merely a wanderer in a society of fools, and you will not know which way to turn and who you should follow. Due to my numerous realizations I decided that it was time for me to take my place in this world as a producer. I am very skilled with electronics and in a few months time I will be working towards my degree for Electrical Engineering Technology. Afterwards I will start from the ground up. I will innovate and use my talents to produce products and services that will profit me. I will work against socialism and for capitalism. I will challenge the government when it attempts to crush my success and keep me silenced. If my short rant was any sign of my personality at all, you should know my values and my standards already. You should know I stand for what is right and for individual growth. I stand against that which calls itself the public good, and I stand against those who believe my work should be shared with those who do not have my talents. I stand for objectivism, and I stand for Ayn Rand. I may only be seventeen, but in a few years time I will be much more powerful and much more influential. I will use my productivity to do Ayn Rand justice and destroy that which is the looter. I look forward to getting to know you all and sharing our knowledge with each other. Oh how I have longed for a place where intelligent people gathered. Until next time! Mitchell/Dodger/John Galt