RoR: Forum

Rumours of SOLO's demise are greatly exaggerated. Diana can't have read Joe's message & my PS properly. SOLOHQ is demising, yes; SOLO is relocating, while Joe is branching out on his own. How many times does one have to explain something? :-)

Linz

Post 1

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 - 8:41pm

I'm glad I am such a civil person. Would hate to use the c word on such a nice site.

Post 2

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 - 8:43pm

What else would you expect from a white floured yolkless string of a blog called Noodle Food ?

Post 3

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 - 8:46pm

"I'm glad that it's closing its doors."

Bitch.

Post 4

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 - 8:50pm

Didn't Toohey only ever comment about Roark when he was 'having a bad day'? She's fixated on avoiding the great posts.

And as for the essentially nameless 'RT' character's SOLO forum 'parody' (for want of a better word) in the comments on her post, it seems he missed the stuff on homosexuality, to name but one example. I am loathe to prove his point but perhaps he was forbidden to read it. ;-) ;-) "Avert your eyes, children - the SOLOists may take on other forms!"

Post 5

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 - 8:52pm

hell, I totally forgot Linz was expecting quiet dignity in these final hours. sorry, dude. maybe you guys will expunge everything that happened after your announcement - it was all just a frivolous release of nervous energy.

Post 6

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 - 9:03pm

Ash:

"I'm glad I am such a civil person. Would hate to use the c word on such a nice site."

Cunt, Ash?

DH:

"Never in a million years will I chime in with Bob Bidinotto, Barbara Branden, Robert Campbell, Ed Hudgins, Roger Bissell, Michael Kelly, and the like--as if we're all good, honest, and chummy friends of Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism, albeit with some minor differences of opinion."

She appears to be choosy about the company she keeps. Can't necessarily blame a girl for that but her pissy little invective about being glad to see the demise of SOLO is just plain nasty. Christ, a few boors aside, ain't nothing going on but a bit of chat.

Ross

Post 7

Thursday, December 1, 2005 - 12:40am

"but her pissy little invective about being glad to see the demise of SOLO is just plain nasty."

Yes. I don't see how you can be an objectivist without being an INDIVIDUALIST first. Obviously the members and participants valued SOLOHQ. To celebrate its demise shows contempt for all of those individuals. That is simply irrational. That sort of random initiation of contempt goes even beyond the insults solo'ists throw at each other.

Post 8

Thursday, December 1, 2005 - 1:51am

Mike Erickson quoted Diana Hsieh and said:

"I'm glad that it's closing its doors."

Bitch.

Mike, tsk-tsk, are you suggesting that Ms. Hsieh is a female attack dog for ARI?

REB

Post 9

Thursday, December 1, 2005 - 10:33am

Mike & Roger,

Lap dog.

//;-)

Michael

Post 10

Thursday, December 1, 2005 - 10:42am

How nice of her. Perhaps she'll send a fruit basket over as well.

Post 11

Thursday, December 1, 2005 - 11:12am

I will say this once since I know Diana from way back. You should really meet a person before deciding they are not worthy of respect. Diana was one of the dying breed of TOC philosophy students that really knew their stuff. I think it is sad that the TOC training programs didn't turn out a crop of next generation philosophers as hoped. Many, such as Diana and Irfan Khawaja got relatively little in the way of support and encouragement from TOC.

I know much of the comments above are in strong reaction to her comments about Solohq.
If you asked her, I think she would say her primary concern with the SOLO organization is the level of knowledge of the philosophy among its members. In any case, that is a topic to be taken up with her.

One of the reasons I still go to TOC conferences is that despite the failures I've mentioned is that they churn out terrific philosophical research in epistemology, philosophy of science and cognitive science and TOC is a terrific place for advanced students in psychology and other disciplines to do original work related to Objectivism.

In any case, unlike Diana, I celebrate the creation of the two new SOLO sites and wish Joe Rowlands and Lindsay Perigo the best.

Jim

Post 12

Thursday, December 1, 2005 - 11:24am

James,

For the record, my own response is not because she celebrates the failure (in her opinion) of others.

I think she doesn't like me too much and I have been losing sleep over it.

//;-)

Michael

Post 13

Thursday, December 1, 2005 - 11:27am

Some,
Regardless of your stand on Ms Hsieh's comments, and I have quarrels with some, you do yourselves no credit by stooping to responses like 'cunt' and 'bitch'. She makes her points forcefully, whether correctly or not, to be sure. But the best way to respond is by proving her wrong -- not by proving her right by means of those comments.

And, please, in case anyone is inclined, do not give me Atlas points for this comment. (A private note, or public post, would be greeted warmly, though -- provided it doesn't contain a similar response to me.)

I re-iterate that I am all for expressions of contempt. But save them for the bad guys. Ms. Hsieh is not one of them.

Post 14

Thursday, December 1, 2005 - 11:55am

"I re-iterate that I am all for expressions of contempt. But save them for the bad guys. Ms. Hsieh is not one of them."

I have never really thought so either, I think she is boring and self-righteous, but not really a bad guy. I found the particular comments she made worthy of contempt because, as Mike E. said:

"Obviously the members and participants valued SOLOHQ. To celebrate its demise shows contempt for all of those individuals. That is simply irrational. That sort of random initiation of contempt goes even beyond the insults solo'ists throw at each other."

To dance on the ashes of SOLOHQ is essentially treating all of those to whom it meant something as if we are "the bad guys." I didn't make my comments "regardless of my stand," I made them *because* of it.

To consider the context, I was trying to be a bit lighthearted about it in alluding to the point that I have previously gone on about my proclivity toward civil discourse and then was angry enough - ALMOST - to go over to her site and spew epithets. But not quite, for as you say, it would not be a credit to me.

Post 15

Thursday, December 1, 2005 - 11:58am

I have great admiration for the quality of Diana Hsieh's philosophical integration and insight. She was rightly disgusted with TOC's lack of quality control, and with the uninhibited invective and personal attacks that pervaded the old SOLOHQ - including grossly and perversely inapplicable and unjust attacks on Diana herself.

Diana's conduct on her personal blog/discussion site has been a model of civility that I would strive to emulate. In spite of my own disagreements with ARI (I strongly disapprove of editing persons out of historical materials, and I think that some of the changes that Ayn Rand made in her philosophical positions after 1973 or so were mistaken) I have been treated by Diana, and ARI people in general, with utmost civility. Diana is rightly intolerant of bad behavior on her blog, and some SOLO people who brought bad habits from SOLOHQ with them to her blog were shown out. We all have a great deal to learn from her.

(Edited by Adam Reed
on 12/01, 1:39pm)

Post 16

Thursday, December 1, 2005 - 1:01pm

I disagree with Diana on a number of things...and she was never one of the people at TOC I hung out with a lot, but I like her and respect her.

I visit her blog because she has wide-ranging insights and whenever she analyzes something (even when wrong) she does it with a great deal of writing skill, clarity, and precision.

Phil

Post 17

Thursday, December 1, 2005 - 1:02pm

OK, civility is the order of day, for sure.

The only contact I ever had with Diana was when she was running NB's website, and she was quite cordial, civil, and helpful.

Whatever happened between her and NB, I have no business nor interest in knowing about.

She is serious about her academics, that is for sure. It appears she has embraced orthodox Objectivism, or something along that line, which is her choice and right.

Post 18

Thursday, December 1, 2005 - 11:33am

quote "Never in a million years will I chime in with Bob Bidinotto, Barbara Branden, Robert Campbell, Ed Hudgins, Roger Bissell, Michael Kelly, and the like--as if we're all good, honest, and chummy friends of Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism, albeit with some minor differences of opinion."

(Edited by Calopteryx Splendens on 12/01, 2:41pm)

Post 19

Thursday, December 1, 2005 - 3:08pm