A Question for Adam Reed

Linz,

I agree - indeed, I'll just keep in mind what I have learned from this incident. I can even empathise with Andy's justified loss of temper. I can't just be silent to his claims about my imagined agenda, so for the moment I will only say, for the record, that his claims are false. I hope that when tempers cool, Andy will reconsider what he wrote in the cool light of the primacy of reality. Therefore, again for the record, I'm imposing a one-week cooling-off period on myself where Andy is concerned. My silence during that period is not to be misconstrued as assent to his claims, merely recognition that I did provoke him to anger - and that as long as all I hear is his fury, I can't hear his mind.

Post 21

Sunday, October 30, 2005 - 5:12am

My fellow SOLOists,

A one-week stay in this matter is fine. While I had no anger over Reed's stunt, I was quite angry in the wake of that episode when I learned about what he has done and advocated. However, opposing the pedophile agenda within Objectivism, and libertarianism generally, is too important to do without a cool head. I've already had to delete and edit my comments here because of my anger over this problem, which has given people the false impression that I am engaged in a vendetta. Because of my bull-in-a-china-shop opposition to Reed's agenda, he has skillfully manipulated the situation to divert attention away from the facts I posted about him to me personally.

So I screwed up, and I'll ask you again to consider the facts I have posted about Reed. This is because the problem of sexual predators on the hunt for children is a real one. I don't think many here doubt that, but what is often overlooked is that the children most at risk are older girls from broken homes. Before my wife and I had our daughters (and now guardianship of another lovely little girl), we opened up our home to foster children for nearly five years. During that time we took care of nine girls aged between 12 and 16. All but three of them had been sexually active, and four of those told us how they had been preyed upon by adult men. It was heart-breaking to hear their stories as these girls tried to put on the facade of adulthood and pretend to a savviness in sex in lieu of the innocence they were denied. Sanctioning the men who prey on these vulnerable girls is not what the defense of liberty is about.

One of the reasons I came to this forum was because I admired Linz's stand against the pedophile agenda. I stood up and said so. I believe that is what earned me the emnity of Reed. Because he couldn't leave me alone, I eventually learned what he was about. I won't be going away, but I will keep my trap shut until next week and let all of you coolly consider the matter in the meantime.

Andy

Post 22

Sunday, October 30, 2005 - 8:08am

Will only say - bad response of some as being bad response to all - is a tribalistic mindset... whatever the subject, bear that in mind...

Post 23

Sunday, October 30, 2005 - 3:23pm

Dad (et al),

Let me share my reaction:

You google an intellectual sparring partner's name and find that bible thumping arrives on your screen. Instead of Matthew, Mark, Paul, and John...or John, Paul, George and Ringo....or those four women from daytime television's, The View, you treat google as the all mighty source of wisdom.

Whoopsie!!!

You did the same about a year ago with me, your own daughter. I wouldn't bring it up, but since all of the posts you wrote regarding the misinformation are still up for the world to see--on this very website--I think it is fair game. I'm not going to bring the specifics up again, but it was about on par with telling people I'm thin...or Christian...or politically indifferent...or unintelligent...or talented at sports. It was that far from the truth. That wasn't the worst part. Calling your straight daughter gay is untrue, but it isn't an accusation per se. However, your claims about my Mom are appalling. She never abused you OR stimulant drugs. She NEVER had postpartum Depression. Do you pull this crap out of the garbage can behind the Covered Bridge adult community sign in Suburban New Jersey? Oh wait, that wasn't you, it was (gasp!) the Mafia. As memory serves, you were the abusive one.

Are you actually saying that you're going to admit fault with the Andy thing but you're going to leave your dishonest statements up for all to see? You could remove the statements, right?

But no, that's too hard. You just love your pity party.
Poor Adam--whose daughter is a lesbian.
Poor Adam--who froze his ass off while his assets were frozen, per order of wife.
Poor Adam--whose ex-wife (insert lengthy slanderous statements here).

It bothers me a great deal that you go to such lengths to get en empathic computer hug from your global set of peers. Please formally ask Lindsay Pergio to remove any and all posts in which you've made the above allegations (exception: anything that doesn't have to do with me or my mother can stay...what do I care?). Please also take the initiative to monitor your own tongue and refrain from mentioning my mother, your ex-wife whatsoever.

It also makes me sick to my stomach that you talk about your sexual desires and exploits on a public website in which you post my name in your profile. Not only is sexuality one of the most private elements of life, your inclinations make me, your peers, and most mental health professionals quite uneasy. That's your call though. It isn't like you've told everyone you've committed a crime (except that story of the high school girl whom you took to Jersey for an illegal D&C...but I have nothing to do with that).

I'm not cowering in the corner--let me make that clear. I mean, if I can get through an article about your child pornography being on the front page of the Asbury Park Press in December of 1999, (and still accessible for $2.99 in the Archive section on www.app.com) I can get through this other garbage. Its just that the above suggested gesture will show me that you have my best interest, as your one and only child, at heart.

That would mean the world to me.

Halina

Post 24

Sunday, October 30, 2005 - 3:33pm

What drama. I should have never worried things would get boring once Barbara Branden and James Kilbourne were gone.

Post 25

Sunday, October 30, 2005 - 3:41pm

How is any of this related to Objectivism? Can we get back on track here?

Post 26

Sunday, October 30, 2005 - 4:07pm

Dearest Halina,

I have not posted anything I knew to be false about anyone, especially you or your mother. You certainly have no memory of your mother's health and behavior before you were old enough to have memories. That said, I love you and I respect your wishes, and I will ask Linz to remove the postings in question. I have not been keeping track of my postings; please send me a list (URLs) of what you want me to remove.

Linz:

See above.

(Edited by Adam Reed
on 10/30, 4:35pm)

Post 27

Sunday, October 30, 2005 - 8:28pm

Beginning with Adam Reed's 'Who is Andy Postema' thread and culminating here, this is hands down the most bizarre series of events I've witnessed at SOLO. Yikes!

Post 28

Monday, October 31, 2005 - 3:48pm

Adam, one other thing:

Is my reading of Halina's post on this thread correct in that you've been lying about having a lesbian daughter?

Post 29

Monday, October 31, 2005 - 4:58pm

No, I have not been lying. Her campus newspaper featured her in their yearly coming-out celebration article, and she just did not wish to tell the reporter that she was not a lesbian, since she figured it was none of the reporter's business. This took place when her mother, with whom my daughter lives, told me not to call their house, so that I could not check this with my daughter first. When Halina straightened me out, I did post a correction to the relevant thread. You might consider reading the whole thread before making accusations of this kind.

(Edited by Adam Reed
on 10/31, 4:59pm)

Post 30

Monday, October 31, 2005 - 5:05pm

Reed,

What the hell business is it of yours either to publicly speculate upon or publicize your own daughter's sexual orientation, without her advance knowledge and authorization?

Post 31

Monday, October 31, 2005 - 5:23pm

Robert,

I believed that it was appropriate in context. As for your expressive style, I do not believe that it can work as intended. You yourself made worse mistakes than that, but I generally don't consider other people's mistakes worthy of this kind of comment. If I were more impressed with you I'd feel flattered by the attention, but I'm not.

Post 32

Monday, October 31, 2005 - 6:10pm

**Tilts head approx. 30 degrees in bewilderment**

National Coming Out Day...in case anyone wanted to know: They were doing something called "Queer Eye For The College Student." Two STRAIGHT students were chosen for the makeover (me, of course, and an absolutely drop-dead hottie named Anthony). Nothing in the article said I was a lesbian. I don't think there was even an allusion to it. In fact, they quoted me saying that people shouldn't be judged for their sexuality--that's it. Hooray for hallucinating between the lines.

PS: I'm currently single so, if anyone knows an intelligent, funny, creatively inclined, attractive, educated, successful man under 25 who is looking for same (well, not the man part), please shoot me an email. **wink wink**

Post 33

Monday, October 31, 2005 - 6:56pm

Adam,

Given the WORDS OF YOUR OWN DAUGHTER, I don't buy your explaination one bit. Who guesses on their child's sexuality before posting about it on a public website - and guesses based off a school newspaper article that they apparently didn't even read, nonetheless? Sorry, this just doesn't add up.

And here is at least one thread where you mention matter-of-factly that you have lesbian daughter, and I don't see any effort to correct your distortion as you claim you did:

http://solohq.com/Forum/ArticleDiscussions/0977.shtml

I'm sorry Adam, but this really calls into your question your credibility on any matter where we have to "take your word for it". This includes sensational stories such as mafia/police conspiracies to frame a school board member (and subsequently torture you). I'm not saying I know what happened there, but I have no reason to accept your explaination at face value at this point.

This is all a let-down to me because I really do value much of what you have to say. I always looked forward to reading your posts. It looks like a grain of salt will be needed from here on out.

Post 34

Monday, October 31, 2005 - 7:07pm

Hooray for hallucinating between the lines.

Halina, you're a lively writer. Got some punch. You should write an article.

Post 35

Monday, October 31, 2005 - 7:08pm

Halina makes her prefrence pretty clear here, too:
http://solohq.com/Forum/ArticleDiscussions/1308_1.shtml#28

Post 36

Monday, October 31, 2005 - 8:21pm

I have an idea:

Why don't we forget about Objectivism, a philosophy that can change the world, entirely...and turn this into the Jerry Springer show?

Post 37

Monday, October 31, 2005 - 9:52pm

I for one would not shed a single tear nor utter a single protest if this thread and the "Who is Andy Postema" thread (in the interests of fairness) were erased utterly from SOLO. I can see no merit in either thread other than the arrival of Ms Halina Brooke Reed and Andy B Postema, two gems in what otherwise has been an avalanche of sewage.

Halina, if you are serious about finding a young lad, give Kathy (Katdaddy) a private E-mail. I hear that she has worked wonders in the past.

I will say no more on the thread for fear of breathing yet more life into this abomination.

(Edited by Robert Winefield on 10/31, 9:53pm)

Post 38

Monday, October 31, 2005 - 11:14pm

Halina,

Continue to post at solo, with your most insightful ideas, and your bound to take one of the many bachelors' interest. Submitting your photo would probably help too.

Post 39

Monday, October 31, 2005 - 11:31pm