Alexander

Do remember, that dishonesty isn't bad because its bad, like it would be under common morality, but bad because its not in your self interest. Roark wanted to see his building constructed, but couldn't if his identity was known, so its in his interest to lie.

A positive right, a right that states that another person HAS to do something, is effectually taking away their rights. Example: Stating that a child has the right to have a surgery means that a doctors work is no longer his own, that his freedom is no longer applicable, that his lift is not his own. Taxation to support something like this is simply thinning out the injustice over more people. But a right TO something is a right to TAKE IT from somebody else.

Negative rights, such as the right to life, to freedom, and to your earned property, demand nothing of others, except that they NOT strip you of your rights. Your rights do not conflict with others.

Duty implies that a person is not an end in themselves, having the right to exist for their own sake, but that they must do something for others to justify their own existence.

Private charity? No moral problems there, and probably less fraud.

Ex-Cops and Ex-Military asking people in a position of authority to not abuse their power? Sounds great to me. Given, the constitution isn't exactly a perfect document, but its one of the best safe-guards we as a nation have.

Hmmmm. Thanks for the advice, although I rather dislike motivational speakers. I have had little experience with them, so perhaps I should look more into it.

As for assholes? Don't care that much. Now, if I get them as a boss or a teacher, its an issue, but I can deal with it. Although what I'm finding to be particularly annoying at the moment is that I have a teacher who it very skilled 2/3rds of the time and a cool dude, but is a bit of an ass in occasional chunks. Its odd. Still easily dealt with. As for a boss? I haven't got a job yet, but as far as I see it, I either ignore it and earn my paycheck in the most enjoyable production way still possible, or get another job if the situation allows. Walking out on the world seems more relevant when the world demands that your slavery in a more direct fashion. Given, Galt called it well, but I have no such foresight, no such convenient valley, and no amass of capital, no such survival skill, and no such ability. And, quite frankly, the US isn't despotic yet, so its not yet required.

If it ever does turn into the USSR or worse? Then the forest will look better. But I'm not going to plan my life around that.

Alex,

Yo.

I say keep that searching for meaning coming. You sound like you have a fine mind.

As to mood swings, you will find some stuff in Nathaniel Branden's works to help, but he takes you deep inside yourself. For a more practical potential-->action-->results-->attitude cycle, I am a fan of Tony Robbins. I get the big moral issues from Rand, but one of the main actions in her fiction is that her heroes demand compliance from the world on pain of them walking away. This has not served me well. I have done it on several occasions and all that really happened in the long term was that I got hurt. Worse. I did not continue on my journey to excellence on the paths I abandoned. Instead I chose other paths and started new journeys.

This is where Tony Robbins (and some other motivational people) come in. He and others give you practical systems you can use to discipline striving for excellence. This has helped with my own mood swings like nothing else I have tried. It's a good feeling to know that when the world is getting me down and people are acting like assholes all the time, I can actually change some of them toward excellence by the changes I make in myself and by understanding human motivation in general. Win-win for all. And the way these motivational guys have you do it is fun.

Some of these dudes trigger my BS meter. Pure garbage or rehashed leftovers. But not all. There's some really good stuff out there if you look.

There are times I still walk away. You have to. But now, only on certified assholes. When something or someone is hopeless, or the benefit to my life is seriously out of balance, it is not worth my precious unrepeatable hours and minutes to insist on making things better. (I also take down bad guys who threaten and attack things and people I love, but that's another issue.)

I wish I had cultivated this attitude when I was your age. You wouldn't believe the crap I used to say to other kids, many of whom were good kids but thought I was a dork and a loser. I still get the urge once in a while to go back and rub some of my successes in their noses.

Nowadays this is funny. But back then it wasn't.

Anyway, just a thought.

Michael

Hehe. I should call her that some time, especially if it makes her smile as much as it does me.

But anyhoo. My desired future? I wish to teach economics, preferablly at a college level, but I am quite aware that I, realistically, must do teach at a HS level first. If, upon getting my masters in economics with plenty of classes in teaching, I can not get said job, I will either teach history, or take the economic degree and go into accounting/banking until my preferred position is available.

What gives me joy? Economics, if you haven't already guessed. History as well. I enjoy discussing philosophy a great deal, although speaking with some folk can tire me quickly. I enjoy reading a great deal, although I have not read much fiction lately. At the moment, I'm reading "The Forgotten Man", which concerns FDR's new deal, and "Economics in One Lesson", a book reccomended by the Ludwig von Mises institute, which outlines basic economic matters and goes into special detail into the common fallacies of economics. Its quite well written. I've already read AS, the fountainhead, some of anthem (never finished back in the day), we the living, and the new intellectual. I'm working on The Virtue of Selfishness at the moment, and plan on acquiring more of the objectivist books, while also looking into more economic matters.

Lets see... I'm quite the fan of video games when I find a good one, especially things such as Call of Duty (military game). Hanging out with friends of course. Don't really watch TV. I love going to local coffee houses and chatting. I surf the internet a good deal.

As for standing for ideas? I do it bluntly and directly. Quite simply, with a few exceptions, if a person cannot bear my straightforwardness, I have no interest in talking to them.

Is there anything else you would like to know?

Alex:

Forget all the advice we are giving you as we are not in your skin. Where would you feel comfortable? Standing for ideas with integrity can be accomplished in many

ways.

I would love to hear your musings or thoughts on how you, knowing your strengths and weaknesses, might approach the path you wish to travel.

Have you decided "what you want to do"? What gives you joy in addition to your lovely lady?

Adam

Welcome Alex. Enjoy your stay on OL. What year are you in school?

Senior year of highschool.

What changes have I seen since becoming an Objectivist? I'm happier, in short. I am aware of what to value, and exactly what that means. The mood swings I used to get have gone down in frequency and severity, although I still get them when I'm under stimulated/bored.

My interactions with others? My friends are still my friends, and I talk of philosophy with them. Some of my friends have a lot in common with Objectivism. My talking to them has brought them more towards it, through either direct interest in it or just the separate ideas of it. I do technically have friends who stray very far away from my beliefs, but they're loose friends and more of amusements truthfully. I can't be a real friend to somebody I have no respect for. Simple as that.

Issues with teachers? I've always had them. The subjects have changed.

Having a healthy ego and knowing what one values makes relationships much easier. I'm quite happy with my girlfriend at the moment, although in truth, many of things I respect in her are implicit, and partly the things I love her for are her potential. But she can learn new information so quickly, and the youthful spirit and glee I see in her, and how we live together so very harmoniously and happily... I am quite in love, and with the knowledge I have now, instead of vague disconnected ideas I had before, I can say that with a consistent meaning behind it. And enjoying it as a purely selfish manner, with a healthy ego, makes the relationship work that much better.

Issues with people condemning me? Why should I care? If they have a valid point, I will change. If they don't, then they are irrelevant.

The biggest issues I've had were people that seem to have a broken record in their throat: "Thats just your opinion", "There is no right and wrong when it comes to this", "Morality is separate from logic",ect. Religious arguments, social arguments, and nihilist arguments. But these are minor issues.

However, I still have some flaws I need to correct. My lax attitude with schoolwork is probably going to kick me a bit later in life, and thats simply unacceptable. However, with the dubious value of the actual schoolwork, and the mood swings that result in me from the idiotic work, I have trouble putting any time into it. I manage around B grades, but I'm going to need to get those up in college.

That, and I need to keep myself motivated, and find some constructive work to do. When I stagnate, my mood turns sour quickly.

But, I digress. Objectivism is a philosophy that allows the individual to flourish. Age is not a prerequisite to gain from it.

G'day. The name's Alexander. 17, Gilbert, Arizona. Became an Objectivist about half a year ago from a combination of The Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged, online lectures, The Virtue of Selfishness, a friend of mine, and a few economic sites and articles.