RoR: Forum

Adam,

Since these points don't mean much to you (especially not playing to the crowd), have a few more. I am sanctioning sense of life here - valuing merit over approval.

Merlin,

OK. Negative Atlas points don't exist. So obviously nobody can receive them - not even Adam under any circumstances (even the one you mentioned). And if he had not made a mistake, his sense of life and honor in starting to correct that mistake would not have received any sanction points.

So?

To use an old Elvis Presley line, if my aunt had balls, she would be my uncle.

Is there any implication you would like to make explicit here, or is talking about non-existing things the point?

Anyway, wanna talk about something that exists? This non-existing stuff is getting boring.

Michael

Post 41

Monday, October 31, 2005 - 7:07pm

MSK:

Anyway, wanna talk about something that exists?

If you read what I wrote even semi-carefully, it should have been clear that it was about the existing Atlas point system and how screwy it is.

To use an old Elvis Presley line, if my aunt had balls, she would be my uncle.

Do you believe that changing the Atlas point system is anything even remotely like putting balls+ on an aunt?

(Edited by Merlin Jetton on 10/31, 7:15pm)

Post 42

Monday, October 31, 2005 - 8:10pm

Sorry, Merlin.

I might be attributing more insinuations to your posts than you intend. If so, I stand back wth due apologies.

If not...

Hell, I give you the benefit of the doubt.

Wana talk about something else?

Michael

Post 43

Monday, October 31, 2005 - 11:34pm

> Personally, not once have I had a good experience with ARIans...Has anyone else ever had a different experience? [Andre]

Yes.

Post 44

Tuesday, November 1, 2005 - 12:47am

Andre,

ARI people make occasional errors in the application of Rand's ideas to complex problems in physics or politics, but I have yet to encounter even one on the ARI side who did not have a sound grasp of the basics.

On the other side there are a handful who have an equally sound grasp of the basics, but need a more vigorous and diverse criticism, to develop their own thought in new and interesting ways, than is available in ARI. The rest are divided between dolts too stupid to understand the basics of Ayn Rand's thought; and brilliant people who love Ayn Rand's sense of life and spirit, but can't be bothered to give up whatever matters to them more, be it supernatural religion, or laws limiting the immigration of brown people into the United States. If I could combine ARI lectures in the morning with SOLO parties in the afternoon, evening and night, life would be perfect.

Post 45

Tuesday, November 1, 2005 - 10:35am

Philip: I'd be interested in hearing about your experience. Do you honestly claim you had a reasonable, tolerable, or normal discussion -- even one time with even one cultist -- about TOC, Kelley, Branden, the LP, or any other serious and important matter in dispute?

My most recent vivid horrid interactions have featured Brook, Hull, objectivismonline.net, and 4aynrandfans.com. But there have been many others, and on every level.

These guys are uniformly vicious and wierd, in my view. I do not say most are thus. In my experience these religiosos are 100% bad and odd.

Post 46

Tuesday, November 1, 2005 - 10:50am

Adam Reed writes:

ARI people make occasional errors in the application of Rand's ideas to complex problems in physics or politics, but I have yet to encounter even one on the ARI side who did not have a sound grasp of the basics.

On the other side there are a handful who have an equally sound grasp of the basics, but need a more vigorous and diverse criticism, to develop their own thought in new and interesting ways, than is available in ARI....If I could combine ARI lectures in the morning with SOLO parties in the afternoon, evening and night, life would be perfect.

Adam, I basically agree; but you've indirectly made my point. The current Objectivist community features a terrible and false divide. No one is normal or healthy. No one is a real philosopher or intellectual who can competently discuss issues -- or even reasonably gossip. You're either considerably unprincipled and unsound -- a la TOC and SOLO -- or you're a Randroid zombie mutant straight out of the movie Night of the Living Dead who is incapable of having a normal conversation on anything that counts.

Post 47

Thursday, November 3, 2005 - 7:18pm