I know what you mean, but I am puzzled as to why the fact that no one has ever really helped you makes you so bitter and angry.

Each of us is an individual. To say that "men are assholes, women are bitches" is the complete opposite of what Rand teaches.

Umm... I wish ... but I've learned over time not to trust many people. Just close family, close friends, and myself, of course. I hate thieves, I hate moochers, I hate slackers, no one has ever really helped me significantly, I've always had to help myself, know what I mean?

Are you trying to be funny here? I'm trying to understand

I didn't know she cheated on her husband. I read the dedication to him in atlas shrugged and believed it without verification. Silly me. Men are assholes, women are bitches, and it's never gonna change. Like Gollum, my favorite character in the Lord of the rings said: they will hurt you, cheat you, trick you, lie. Wicked, tricksy, false.

Well said, Winterwind

I can vouch that I am not your savior ;-)

You know, I am amazed to find, in this place, so many people with so limited abilities to distinguish the principles and sort out the logical consequences of those principles.

Makes me sad, somehow.

Stay well, dear K.

Thoughtful analysis. Hope to hear more from you.

I'm just picking at you. To me it's obviously both.

You just need to re-read my first comment carefully.

Interesting read, but you didn't answer my question. Nature or nurture?

Have a good read: http://therationalmale.com/2015/06/30/adaptations-part-iii/

Do you think that the desire to "marry up" is inherent in the female, or is it a learned preference?

yes, thanks for the save martimus

Ditto!

I very much like both of you here!!!

Hello, M,

You have expressed contradictions, too many to count. You do not belong here.

I wish you fair travels away.

Again you are out of context. I said "closed' only referring to her study group (i.e. not open to others).

-2 ? Ah ah, truth hurts, apparently.
Well, I can't say I wasn't expecting the usual feminist brigade there to downvote anything they don't like.
I'm a bit disappointed, though, that political correctness has such an influence on this particular forum...

Hello, E,

Thank you for a very thoughtful and consistent analysis.

I would like to ask you for help. I could not thoroughly understand the part saying: "Some of us at the wrong age lost the innocence of believing in romantic notions divorced from the trials of the world. Sad. The best argument against such incestuous affairs. They pile too much on fragile relationships."

Would you kindly elaborate on it a bit?

Thanks.

I once had a brief conversation with Branden. I started by telling him that I admired his work and thanked him for its influence on me. I then stated that had I found myself in his position at a young age I would likely not have survived it. (My self-esteem early in life was shallow, illusory, and was more representative of one of Rand's villains than her heroes). He nodded but did not smile.

I then stated that it was truly sad Rand had not seemed to find anyone in life who could influence her to, as she so often admonished others, "check her premises." He asked, "what do you mean?" I then asked him in view of his current knowledge and what subsequently transpired from their initial relationship, would he now choose to respond to her desires differently than he had at the time? He then pointedly asked, "have you read my book!?" I indicated I had. His tone and manner then indicated that the conversation was over........

It is my judgment that Rand allowed her imagination to create "personal realities" that conflicted with existential reality. She at times acted on, as we all at times do, desires that are in conflict with facts. Her marriage to Frank O'connor is one example. Further, the manner in which her ideas and work were received must have been as crushing a blow as anyone might ever experience. It certainly had its "enduring" effect on her. She was, just as are all of us, subject to error.

Hello, T,

Speculation by definition is not an evidence based process. Speculation is prompted by some knowledge of fact, but the rest is just that: speculation.

I replied to this comment: "There is nothing that warrants criticism of Obj.ism."
I can stay on topic, but it seemed to change. I'm ok with that, but others- not so much. you used charged words, such as "closed." Closure in a philosophical system is contraversial and I am curious whether Rand herself referred to Objectivism in such a way.

I thought we were talking about Objectivist's criticism of the items being discussed....