Indignant

Indignant,

Surely you must understand the difference between learning an idea and making it your own, and simply parroting someone else's words.

If you must use someone else's words, and there are plenty of reasons why you should, there is a process called attribution. You mention where the words came from and that you are quoting someone else. Even then, you keep citations to a reasonable length.

This is pretty elementary the world over, so I am confused about your doubt.

ok, let's see......for example - my English is not all that great therefore I can not express as freely as most people here. Therefore the misunderstandings. I have read many beautiful ideas and phrases here. Now there's no way that I would possible be able to come up with anything similar in my own words since the language barrier, but I would strongly stand behind the idea. Does that mean that everytime I say it I'd have to mention the person's name who wrote it? I most likely won't even know who said it the first place but the idea will stick in my head.

What in hell are we discussing Pross for, anyway? He is banned here. I want nothing to do with him. He purposely strives to damage the productive efforts of others, then cries in public like a baby when he's caught. If you want contact with him, he's easy enough to find on Google. Ask him anything you want. But you won't find him here unless he is using an alias and I haven't yet detected it.

Michael

We are discussing Pross because I was reading the garbage pile as you call it and this question just came to me. No offense to anyone was ever intended. I sense this is a sensitive issue for you but there's no need to take it out on me or suspect me of being an impostor. In the future I'll be sure to filter what I am allowed to ask here.

I have beed reading through the garbage pile trying to understand why Victor was considered a plagiarist. Would the same apply to me if I learn from everyone here and then relay it to others? I look at it as creating a new Bible, set of rules and beliefs for oneself. Is it wrong to preach what you believe in?

You simply need to look up the word in a good dictionary. Almost everything he wrote of any significance was word for word written by someone else. We are talking about many hundreds of posts.

--Brant

Is that not considered learning from someone else?

I have beed reading through the garbage pile trying to understand why Victor was considered a plagiarist. Would the same apply to me if I learn from everyone here and then relay it to others? I look at it as creating a new Bible, set of rules and beliefs for oneself. Is it wrong to preach what you believe in?

Yes I did see both Ironman and Dark Knight. My son and I would go to flea markets with my wife when my son was a little boy and there he discovered comic books. Initially he collected Conan the Barbarian which he read with delight. He reasoned with his mother that Conan was intelligent and spoke rationally with a decent code of values. Later on his interests spread to a variety of other heroes including Ironman and the whole of the Classics Illustrated series (which I collected).

What did you think about those movies? There's some controversy as to Dark Knight being a better movie, better acting and plot. I'd like to hear your take on it.

I saw this movie this evening with my wife. Its review on Rotten Tomatoes was just a 27 but we tend to ignore the negative reviews after seeing The Life of David Gale which registered in single digits but we enjoyed it anyway.

i have enjoyed this movie as well, saw it Sunday night and found it breathtaking. the plot had many holes however it was the most entertaining movie i've seen in a while.

BTW galt, did you see both Ironman and Dark Knight?

Those bloody mystics keep calling me and inviting me to talk... to look for the comfort with them... but I have to hide my pain from them pretending that I am all right and don't need comfort... But the truth is - I DO!!! And I prefer to find it with a strangers like yourselfs than with christians.

My heart goes out to you Anka.

I have read your posts and feel that you have a lot of resentment towards the "bloody mystics". On the other hand....maybe it would be best to go and talk to them, find closure, have a good cry, to open up to people who used to be a part of his life at some point.

One thing that I can suggest though is getting a pet, any kind, whatever would be more convenient for you to deal with, dog/cat/hamster/fish. Name it after your lost love and it might fill some of the emptiness that you feel inside.

9 crimes by Damien Rice

I have an e-card from Victor Pross that I haven't opened. Has anyone else from OL received one?

Hmmm, interesting.... what has he done to not be welcome here?

I am originally from Russia, currently residing in Los Angeles. I had no idea that someone like Ayn ever existed and found it to be a great pleasure to find someone who thinks / thought like me.

Hi and welcome from an off-and-on poster to this list. I actually enjoy this list quite a bit, but get busy sometimes.

Darrell

Thank you Darrell! It's completely understandable that many people don't make it to this forum as often as we'd like, since most of us are adults and are busy with our regular lives.

Julie,

Kat is my beloved significant other and promised in marriage. She owns this forum along with me.

Michael

Well congratulations are in order! May you live a long and happy life together!

Today is my dearest Kitten's birthday.

If there were a God, I would thank him for her coming into my life.

I love you, Kitten.

Happy birthday. You rock.

More coming later.

Michael

May I ask who Kat is? Spouse? Child?

I have to add my agreement with Barbara about Helen Mirren.

Let me add you are a great addition to OL.

Mirren was perfect for the part. Her parents were Russian and she speaks Russian as a native since it was her crib language. k

Ba'al Chatzaf

Ayn, Helen and I are all Russian immigrants. I wonder if that is my main attraction to them. Would I have liked them less if they were of different country?

He turns his golden, godlike head away,

In vain attempt to hide his pain, and, more,

To cast his own eyes far, and, hence, ignore

The agony he must endure this day.

The woman who is watching does not pray.

And yet, she worships, with a glance austere.

Her soul is steady. Neither dread nor fear

Can shake the awe which holds her in his sway.

Stretched out upon his cross, he hangs so high,

He seems to rise above his pain's existence -

No, not by height alone, but the insistence

Of his mind's might, which does not choose to die.

Overhead the darkness fills the sky,

But, tremblingly, a light shines in the distance.

A great russian poet by the name of Anna Akhmatova wrote a poem called Crucifix on the same subject:

This greatest hour was hallowed and thundered

By angel's choirs; fire melted sky.

He asked his Father:"Why am I abandoned...?"

And told his Mother: "Mother, do not cry..."

Maria struggled, cried and moaned.

St. Peter sank into the stone trance...

Only there, where Mother stood alone,

None has dared cast a single glance.

BB: I don't accept the idea that to be mistaken is the equivalent of being evil. Do you?

I think to be mistaken is not the equivalent of being evil, but only when we honestly believe the our actions will not cause people to suffer or die.

Ciro

Do you mean to say that when our actions cause other people to suffer that is considered to be evil? We make other people suffer on a daily basis, mostly when others have a weak mind. What is making someone suffer in our daily lives? Do our constand arguements and dissatifactions with our partners and loved ones make us evil as well?

none of the above actually, I watched the movie with Helen Mirren (since I love her acting skills i'd watch anything with her), and fell in love with Ayn. Haven't read any books yet, they are on my Christmas gift list that my sister is arranging for me.

Julie,

You mean you fell in love with Ayn Rand, not from her works, but from watching the movie version of The Passion of Ayn Rand by Barbara Branden?!!

Heh.

I love it!

You have no idea how much this will grate on the nerves of some prudish uptight control freaks and Rand worshipers/Branden haters in the subculture.

You just made my day.

Michael

Ha, I knew someone was gonna get irritated by my statement. By no means I would care about anyone else's opinion though. This movie has introduced me to a woman that I grew to respect because of her idealism, to this forum and to many wonderful and intelligent people here.

Welcome Julia! This is a fun site.

It certainly is different.

Da, konyeshnah. You will find that Americans have a lighter sense of life than Russians. We are not burdened down with tragedy and pain. Russia suffers. She always has suffered and most likely, she always will. Maybe it is the climate. Six time zones and most of it in a range of latitude higher than the U.S.- Canadian border. Having four fair months a year can press down on the spirit.

Russians are survivors and children of grief. Americans give a good imitation of fat, dumb, happy folk, but if attacked they can (and have) gotten very tough very fast. We are generous, light hearted, short sighted and silly, but we are very bad to have as an enemy. Maybe one in twenty Americakanskis have deep thoughts. Americans produce comedy. Russians produce dark and grim works of literature. And the music matches, too.

Ba'al Chatzaf

As much as I like tragedy and pain, I like to experience it personally without inflicting it on anyone else though. My partners/friends have always found me a light hearted fun person, even though I love dark and grim art/music/literature.

Welcome Julia! This is a fun site.

It certainly is different.

I am originally from Russia, currently residing in Los Angeles. I had no idea that someone like Ayn ever existed and found it to be a great pleasure to find someone who thinks / thought like me.

Julia,

I wonder what your life in Russia was like and what led you to come to America. How long have you been here and are you planning to become a citizen? You are under no obligation to answer these questions. All four of my grandparents came to America in the 1890s from Riga but I don't know if they had lived in Latvia for generations or whether they were just passing through, because they all were dead when I was born so I will never know. I often have been grateful to them for their courage in coming here. My mother was one of eleven children. One of my grandfathers worked as a laborer building the N.Y city subway in lower Manhattan.

Welcome and enjoy reading Ayn Rand's works.

Wm aka galtgulch

hee hee, i feel like i am being interrogated. I only have great memories of Russia, it has been really good to me. It has engraved a different way of thinking and values into me that I don't find many people have nowadays. I have huge appreciation of Russian literature and still read on a daily basis. I left the USSR when i was 12 and for that reason i didn't get to see it fall apart. I am a citizen. Been to Riga many times, great city, beautiful people. Keep em coming

Hi, Julia.

--Brant

My pleasure Brent :clover:

Julia,

A very warm welcome to you.

I hope you find value here. I look forward to reading your thoughts.

Ayn Rand is a very fascinating woman to study—on many levels. This has been one of the pleasures of my life.

Michael

Hi Michael,

I am not sure if'd be of any value, I am not very educated, but before I registered on this website I have read many of your threads and found them to be very educational.

I am originally from Russia, currently residing in Los Angeles. I had no idea that someone like Ayn ever existed and found it to be a great pleasure to find someone who thinks / thought like me.

Ochien Xorosho!

How did you find out about Rand? Her fiction or Non-fiction? What especially do you like? And how do you like the weather in LA compared to your hometown?

none of the above actually, I watched the movie with Helen Mirren (since I love her acting skills i'd watch anything with her), and fell in love with Ayn. Haven't read any books yet, they are on my Christmas gift list that my sister is arranging for me.

I am originally from Russia, currently residing in Los Angeles. I had no idea that someone like Ayn ever existed and found it to be a great pleasure to find someone who thinks / thought like me.