I guess we were naïve to think that others thought like us. It actually started a war within the business with creators lining up on either their side or ours, until we got smart and did the "But I don't think of you Mr. Toohey." and made sure everyone knew it. It didn't end the criticisms, but it did end the war.

Kudos for the Objectivist offspring. Got started with mine kind of late but they get it.

That is a great thing to say! I do not know what that person did, but I congratulate you and your daughter on emerging victorious.

Grind the nithing under your metaphorical heel.

Jan

That was my impression. You ARE in an enviable position, aren't you?

Herb, you have my applause and admiration for your success.

"We that produce are their targets". Very true words. Next time I am attacked I will think of it as a badge of honor. One thing for sure is that the looters and moochers and lowlifes can spot us every time, even if we are trying to blend in, so I am just myself now.

Kevin, I am in awe of my daughters strength and the fact that she has not let it make her bitter. Our children teach us so much! She is a Rand fan as well.

I couldn't agree more, wiggys, and 99% of the time I have been able to ignore these people, although, as you say, I wonder why they are so full of hate. But I will admit this guy attacking my child and trying to end the career she has fought so hard for got my attention.

Without a doubt envy. People who not only resent the fact that I have something they don't have, but who want to take it away from me and hate me for it.

I have decided if the nithing who went after my daughter tries to speak tomorrow at the graduation, I will say "I'm sorry, I can't remember your name" and then walk away. That's my version of "but I don't think of you".

nice quotes. Good outcomes never come from guilt

Objectivists tend to be-as they usually are more literal and not cynical. They see the best in people. I am always shocked when confronted with the worst in people. The brain dead-well that's a whole other story :)

Eddies, that's wonderful to hear. It's great that we get a second chance at family with our children.

Thank you K. I did learn a lot about how to recognize the tactics people use by studying Objectivism. I have always had an aversion to being manipulated but was never able to see it happening until it was done. Then I would get angry, at myself and therefore the world in general. I'm still a sucker sometimes, but at least I'm not the mark I once was.

I view the Big Bang as the miracle of something coming from nothing.
Therefore, God.
I recall someone arguing here something coming from nothing as some sort of unexplained physical science mystery..
Gave the argument some thought since,
I've come to the conclusion that my previous conclusion solves the argument.
To wit, God.

Hello, Abaco,

I regret it, but I have to disagree with you on one point. You wrote: "The internet has been a real boon for cowards and angry people. They can insult and say things they'd never say to somebody's face. I grow tired of some of the stuff I've seen as a result. I think the internet, while I love it, has caused our society to become a lot more callous."

I believe that you are inverting the cause and the effect. Internet has just made common emotions (cowardice, anger, pettiness etc.) much more public. If you believe that human nature is fundamentally moral (morality based on rational self-interest) you have to accept that publicizing poor behavior will eventually generate a counter pressure generated from negative reactions that such outbursts. But, we must not give up. We must, always politely, point out the misdeeds. Even most bullies can be shamed. But we, ourselves, have to behave so that the perpetrators of misdeeds cannot avoid respecting us, even if they will do their best to hide it. They must know, always, that before them stands a lady or a gentleman.

Another comment. I love children too. I think that way too many are emotionally traumatized by less than loving or absent parents. Now, in the third generation after the 1960 "liberating revolution" the frequency of traumatization in childhood is still increasing, I think. We have our task cut out, don't we?

Just my opinions.

All the best.

.....more recently. Trying to live objectively in "Subjectiveland" is a trial I no longer wish. I've already found "fortune"....within. Now I look for a place in which it may flourish without. The search begins in earnest.

Hello Mamaemma,
It is human nature and sometimes appropriate when one is unsure of facts to use qualifiers. However, if one is confident fear not and hold your ground until reason and new information dictate otherwise..
I have been moved by your experience and that of others described here. I too have stories. It is an unfortunate part of dealing with some in society. I have no doubt many, if not all here, have had to deal with this occasionally. In this world a producer is a threat to moochers, and looters. We that produce are their targets and the focus of their envy. Wear it as a badge of honor.

"The worst guilt is to accept an unearned guilt." And: "There are two sides to every issue: one side is right and the other is wrong, but the middle is always evil."
Ayn Rand

With great respect and admiration,
O.A.

When my son and I were in publishing, we came up with a new concept which zoomed us into the upper echelons of the genre we were involved in. And unlike negative predictions, we stayed there. For some reason this engendered hatred by several other publishers who wrote really nasty stuff about us in trade magazines and other media. My son, being more hot-headed than me, wrote scathing rebuts and we were at war.. I just didn't get it. When I talked the situation over with my wife and son, the wife said, "Forget it, they're just jealous." She was right, of course. It was just that son and me couldn't conceive of such hatred over the success of a competitor. It was the end of our expecting applause for our success and proceeding by not giving a damn about what others said, as long as the public liked our product.

Hello, my dear K,

Thank you for the compliment,

I like very much to reduce to simple, even when there is a risk in doing it.

Jealousy: desire to keep secure one's private property.

Envy: desire to appropriate someone else's private property.

Being territorial and somewhat rational animals, I think that it is rooted back many tens of thousands of years in our history, i.e. to our origins.

Despite the criticism of qualifiers: just my opinion. Which means that I "modestly" claim no higher authority for the view expressed. Also, a promise that I did not violate anybody's copyright by omitting the reference to what actually is a quote and not my idea.

How is THAT for a defense of qualifiers?

Stay well. I assume that you enjoyed camping.

Good for you Commander - at least, more recently.

wow. I did not know that distinction. I'm always learning something from you, martimus. interesting. now I have to chew on that. huh

I look at it this way...God is the BIG BANG. He/she whatever created the scientific & mathematical laws and does not change them. A = A and B =B.

Repeat after me: "I am >3SD from the human norm. No one will want to sit next to me at the lunch table."

This question has some bearing on the recent discussion of the Geller Cartoon Contest, where people were falling all over each other to be 'more politically correct than thou'. Give it up, Mammaemma: You are not going to be liked/appreciated/respected or - most importantly of all - Understood by the people around you.

The key is to not let it cause you anxiety and pain. Old Norse had a neat word: "nithing". It is the personal form of "nothing", so a nithing is a 'nothing person'. You are surrounded by nithings. They will patronize you, yell at you, strike at your weak spots (your child). You typically cannot stop them without compromising your own philosophy (eg stepping down to their level). You have to know in your own heart that they are irrelevant.

Steven Pinker in his recent book on writing "The Sense of Style:" recommends eliminating qualifiers from general communication. He points out that people who hear/read what you say with good intention are perfectly capable of inserting "In my opinion" or "To the best of my knowledge" on their own...and people who have ill intent will ignore those qualifiers and attack you anyway. I am trying to do this with my writing, though ample knowledge of my own fallibility makes me hesitate.

Jan, saved by arrogance