The Rebirth of Benevolence
by Joseph Rowlands
Today is the first birthday of the Rebirth of Reason(TM) website. I thought it would be appropriate to mark this day by reviewing the first year, and describing the current state of affairs. We should be able to look back at our goals and see if we're moving in the right direction.
One of my primary goals for this site has always been to promote activism in Objectivism. On that front, I introduced the new website www.Objectivism101.com. This site has a compilation of resources for those people interested in learning about Objectivism, with content ranging from descriptions to those unfamiliar with Objectivism to an online lecture series for those attempting to gain a systematic understanding of it.
One new development on the forum is a new "dissenter" category for those people who disagree with Objectivism, but still want to debate. I consider this new tool a powerful success. Many of the dissenters left after they no longer had the opportunity to attention-seek on every thread. This had the added benefit that much of the incivility was localized to a particular part of the site, leaving the rest a kind of haven for those seeking spiritual refreshment. It also leaves the opportunity for those really interested in debating with outsiders the opportunity without disrupting other people's enjoyment. It allows for the best of all worlds.
Another development over the last year is a more amiable relationship with The Atlas Society (a.k.a. The Objectivist Center. ). I invited Ed Hudgins to attend the first Rebirth of Reason conference where he gave a fine speech on his approach to activism. In turn, I was invited to speak at the TAS/TOC Summer Seminar, where I received some generous feedback. This was done in the spirit of cooperation and common purpose, while recognizing the different goals and methods of each organization. We intend to look for other ways where we can offer value for value.
Another goal of this site was to promote benevolence through a harmony of interests. By having a shared purpose, we have an incentive to look for common goals and values in the other contributors. This may be one of the most significant accomplishments.
When we started this site, it was a rebirth of an earlier incarnation. SoloHQ had become a near constant stream of violent eruptions, public lynchings, personal attacks, grand-standing exits, and schisms. There was plenty of passion and energy, but it was focused on personalities and one-upmanship. The content had moved away from ideas and focused on people or events. The site split into two parts, both very different from the old.
When I announced this website, I said "If we want a healthier culture, we have to create it here". For the first time in years, I can honestly say that we've taken serious steps in this direction. The community of people on this site have shown real benevolence. Arguments over important ideas are often approached patiently and with respect. Even when debates get heated, most people have kept the wider context in mind and recognized the areas of agreement, and not just focused on the disagreements.
We have a real community of people offering value for value, emphasizing ideas and knowledge. To some, this may not seem as glamorous or exciting as the entertainment sites that emphasize personalities and moral condemnations. But it is an important step to making a real organization to effectively promote change in the world.
The culture here has begun to move beyond the all-too-common problem of claiming to value benevolence and life-affirmation, while behaving malevolently and destructively. We've taken big steps in creating the kind of culture we want to live in. When we can point to our own culture as an example of our ideals, we'll be able to make a much more powerful argument about the practicality of Objectivist ideals. No longer will we have to say "do as Objectivists say, not as they do".
Lastly, I want to reiterate what I said in my announcement of this site:
"The rebirth is not done. It is just starting. There's a lot of work to be done. But there are also new opportunities, and new adventures ahead. There is glory to be had, and friendships to be made. I hope you'll join me."
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