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dadmonson

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Posts posted by dadmonson

  2. To be a competent debater what must I know without needing to look the information up?

    in Miscellaneous Topics

    Posted

    If I want to be a competent debater what information  must I know without needing to look it up?  Without the need for research?


    Here is what comes from off the top so far (in no order):  Esthetics provides a standard in which to judge art.  Selfishness is rational self interest.  Capitalism is the only moral system because it’s the only system that protects a man’s rights.  Metaphysics is the study of reality as a whole.  The universe contains all that which exists.  Happiness is the purpose of ethics.  A concept is a mental integration of 2 or more units.  A percept is a group of sensations automatically retained and integrated by an organism’s mind.  Only human beings can form concepts.  Epistemology studies the way a man gains knowledge and what qualifies as knowledge.  Reason integrates the data provided by man’s senses.  People should deal with one another as traders.  Reason purpose and self esteem are the main values of a rational man’s life.  Being rational means acting in accordance to the facts.  Reason is man’s basic tool of survival.  Purpose is the happiness man chooses that his reason must help him to achieve.  Self esteem is the result of using his reason to achieve happiness.  Happiness is the state of noncontradictory joy a joy without penalty or guilt.  Happiness is only possible to rational men.  All that which promotes a rational man’s life is the good all that which destroys a rational man’s life is the bad.  You can’t get rights by violating rights.  The initiation of force is wrong because it stops a man from using his tool of survival, his reason.  The virtues are productiveness, pride, independence, honesty, justice, rationality and integrity.  Rationality is the main virtue all the others are applications in different areas.  Value is that which one gains and/or keeps virtue is the action by which one gains or keeps it.  Metaphysical means that which pertains to reality.  Collectivism is wrong.  Individualism is good because it allows men to act as they see fit.  Rights grant a man freedom of action in a social context.
     

    I just typed this on my phone without looking at any source, what else do I need to know?  Also, on a scale of 1-5 how would you rate yourself as a speaker/debater?

     

     

  3. Do You Think It Would Be More Helpful If BLM Worked to Intellectually Combat White Supremacist Ideas?

    in Miscellaneous Topics

    Posted

    I’m talking about ideas such as whites being more intelligent than blacks, blacks being more prone to violence, whites shouldn’t intermingle with blacks etc. 

    Do you think that would be more helpful for some individuals if BLM came up with intellectual arguments against Richard Spencer and those like him?

    Most of the time BLM are targeting people who have no evidence of being racist.  However, people like Richard Spencer are openly racist — if they can get him to do an about face like all the other people they’ve targeted, that would be a great victory. If they can get that material into colleges it’ll end racism and feeling of inferiority for sure.  


    The saying, Black is beautiful doesn’t do sh** they need arguments about self responsibility and how it doesn’t matter what the next man does, it doesn’t even matter that much about what you look like, who cares what other people think , and  you do have a chance to succeed in America if you find a way to work hard.

  4. What have George Floyd, Micheal Brown and Malice Green in common?

    in Current Events

    Posted · Edited by dadmonson

    1 hour ago, dream_weaver said:

    In the Malice Green incident, the news reports reminded the residents of Detroit  and surrounding communities of the riots of the 60's, and suggested if Nevers and Budzyn weren't held criminally culpable, blood in the streets would be inevitable.

    In the Michael Brown incident, Darren Wilson was being charged at when he shot. By the time the coroner's report was released, the rioting had already commenced.

    Riots and threat of riots is a heck of a game plan for constructively building a rational, individual rights-respecting society.

    Mr. Kaepernik bravely decided to risk it all with a peaceful protest but he was ridiculed and loss his job.  

     

    2 hours ago, whYNOT said:

    What -- worked? Did you have the slightest doubt that the US justice system would prevail?

    I didn't, not for a moment.

    Therefore you're saying that any time anyone wants justice they need to go on a rampage, burn and pillage?

    And I thought Objectivists opposed Initiation of force.

    What "change"? The change you might get to see there you will not like, believe me. Civil unrest. General fear and anarchy. 

    Not rule of law - rule of mob. Then along will comes a socialist state to save the day.

    The "march", as you euphemistically put, it had a false causation. One individual's vile actions do not necessitate further acts, often vile too.

    And the cop's act is not representative of daily life and all policemen in the USA (unless CNN has got hold of you), a false induction.

    Yes there was loss of property but what about the loss of George Floyd's life? What about the life that was loss before George Floyd? What about Trayvon Martin? what about Emmett Till? What about Sandra Bland? What about Michael Brown? What about Sandra bland? What about Martin Luther King? I can go on and on. Doesn't their life matter? 

    Also, if policemen can have a "few bad apples" why can't protesters?  

     I had doubts about justice because an arrest wasn't made until the protests.  Police officers need to think twice before they use excessive force and a conviction will be a step in the right direction on that front.  

    If this is what it takes for people to hear their cry then so be it.  

    #MICDROP

  8. Should Children Be Able to Eat Free? (Parents don't have to pay)

    in Domestic United States Politics

    Posted · Edited by dadmonson

    41 minutes ago, StrictlyLogical said:

    What he says is Communist.

    If the parents of a child cannot provide the necessities of life to the child: shelter, clothing, food etc. then they should not have custody of the child.  It’s really a no brainer.

    People are acting like if you are against Bernie you are a proponent of child hunger. https://twitter.com/mamastekait/status/1233208622232018944?s=20 

  9. Should Children Be Able to Eat Free? (Parents don't have to pay)

    in Domestic United States Politics

    Posted · Edited by dadmonson

    Discuss:

    From Bernie Sanders Twitter: 

    "I don't think it's radical to say schoolchildren should not have "lunch debt." If we can give tax breaks to billionaires we can guarantee free, universal school meals to all our kids."

    Under what conditions should children eat free (their parents don't have to pay) -- in school and in other places?  Would this be different in a completely free market?

     

  10. Is It better To Read One Page Over and Over Until You Understand And Know Everything On the Page Or Is It better To Read The Whole Book and Then Go Back?

    in Psychology and Self Improvement

    Posted · Edited by dadmonson

    Question is in the title.  You are reading a textbook about accounting/singing technique, how is it best to learn and know what is in the book?  The latter or the former?  Your goal is to be able to talk without the information in front of you.  I've heard of the spiral of knowledge but I'm not sure if that comes into play here.

  14. Feel like being Creative? How would Capitalism, Mixed Economy, Socialism, and Communism act?

    in Ethics

    Posted

    How would Capitalism, Mixed Economy, Socialism, and/or Communism act if they were people?  And why do you say that?

    You can even throw in a mixed economy moving towards Capitalism/Socialism/Communism

     

    For example since a mixed economy is such a hodgepodge of controls and freedoms I think he would act like a schizo...  I think history has shown that as well.

     

    What do you think... Would Capitalism act like Mark Zuckerberg?

  15. How Would A Rational Personal Interpret this short Tupac Line?

    in Miscellaneous Topics

    Posted · Edited by dadmonson

    I can't make full sense of this quote but I like it for some reason...  I'm looking for an interpretation that would sound rational even if it wasn't intended to be that way

    Tupac says,

    "Though things change, the future's still inside of me"

    What could he mean by, "The future's still inside of me"?

    Here is the context of the quote:

    In this game, the lesson's in your eyes to see
    Though things change, the future's still inside of me
    We must remember that tomorrow comes after the dark
    So you will always be in my heart, with unconditional love
    In this game, the lesson's in your eyes to see
    Though things change, the future's still inside of me
    We must remember that tomorrow comes after the dark

     

    Again, I'm looking for an interpretation that would sound rational even if it wasn't intended to be that way

     

    Radiohead also said something similar:  "The future is inside us
    It's not somewhere else"

  18. How Can Objectivists Bring Down The Suicide Rate?

    in Psychology and Self Improvement

    Posted · Edited by dadmonson

    Regarding the Famous and Rich Chef who recently ended his own life:

    An Altruist would say something like: Money can't buy happiness, as you can see.  His job was to enjoy himself and look what happened to him.  Help other people and make them happy to prevent tragedies like these.   You would want someone to care about you."

    A Christian would say something like:  "It's important to have faith, above all else it's important to follow God and as a result, you will discover a purpose that fulfills you."

    What would an Objectivist message be to people?

  20. Are Pick Up Artists Legitimate Artists?

    in Aesthetics

    Posted · Edited by dadmonson

    15 minutes ago, Craig24 said:

    Not sure if I would trust a pua if I was a woman.  Some of the advice on how to become attractive is ok but most of the "art" is manipulative and deceptive.   

    I know right?  If you see a woman you find interesting, just walk straight up to her and tell her so! I guess there is a way of doing this that will maximize your chances with the woman but you can't be compatible with everybody so it is up to her to see if she is interested in you.

  22. Are Pick Up Artists Legitimate Artists?

    in Aesthetics

    Posted

    13 minutes ago, softwareNerd said:

    The word "art" is used in different senses. For me, the top Google prompts, for instance...  "the art of...war", "the art of...shaving", "the art of manliness", "the art of the deal"

    I guess the term "art" is used to make pickup and everything else you mentioned seem "sophisticated"?  By the way, here is the definition of art, according to google and not Ayn Rand:

    "the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power."

  24. Quick Question: What time period was America at it's Best?

    in History

    Posted · Edited by dadmonson

    This is off topic but I think some of you guys think that the democrats are for diversity when that is not true.  The only reason democrat politicians appear to like blacks and immigrants is because masses of blacks and immigrants vote that way.  If there were more immigrants who didn't believe in handouts then best believe the democrat politicians wouldn't cater to them as much.    Democrats aren't for diversity they are for spreading their socialist policies... if you come out as a black, Asian, gay capitalist/individualist they feel that you are pro-white and they want to ruin you and your reputation.  The latest example being Kanye West.  Somebody need to give him Atlas Shrugged.

     

  25. Quick Question: What time period was America at it's Best?

    in History

    Posted

    I just created this thread because I wanted to see if I could get an inkling of what Donald Trump means by "Make America Great Again".  It is bizarre to me because it seems like he is asking someone to talk about slavery and how evil the U.S. is.  He was probably talking about the period right before Obama but before Obama there was a recession.

    So what made America great was it's ideals but the people didn't abide by them?   How pointless those ideals seem to the average person.  Might as well not have them at all?  Other countries ridded themselves of slavery without the U.S. constitution.

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