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Greebo

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  1. Like
    Greebo got a reaction from RhondaW in Charity   
    First off, you are mistaking "money" with "self interest". O'ists consider money to be EXTREMELY important - but contrary to popular misconception, neither we nor Ms. Rand considered Money as the ONLY thing of importance. Money is simply a means of trade - and the reason it's so important is what it represents and what we can do WITH it, not the money itself.

    Giving $100 to a tribe in Africa could be a perfectly moral act on your part, even if you never see $1.00 back, *if* it contributes to making the world into the way you want the world to be.

    If your $100 goes to the tribe in the form of food and/or clothing, and enables them to stay alive for a short while longer, but doesn't encourage them or help them to become more productive and more able to stand on their own feet, well - you might as well buy a few bottles of liquor for the local wino for all the good it will do - you'll just be enabling bad behavior, and that, in the long term, is against your own self interest - you've helped create a world of mooches who will look to you more and more for their own sustenance.

    On the other hand, if that $100 goes to the tribe in the form of a pair of sheep and the education needed on how to raise them and produce wool, and the tribe becomes a productive shepherding tribe producing some of the finest wool in the world, you've helped to create a world of producers - of equals - of peers - of people with whom you can live together and be free of dependency except those which you choose.

    In other words, your $100 charitable gift can be moral or immoral - and it is up to you to determine which it will be and the moral course of action is to ensure that the gift is given with moral intent.
  2. Like
    Greebo reacted to Leonid in Applications of Philosophy -- Objectivism in Daily Life   
    This Canadian beauty was born as a man and still possesses XY set of chromosomes. However i doubt that anybody can claim that she represents a metaphysical assault.


  3. Like
    Greebo got a reaction from brian0918 in Whose is this life anyway   
    I did not say that you forced me to read it, did I?

    With regards to the question - I find myself doubting that you actually were interested in what other people think, primarily because you have not responded to anything that anyone else said. That lends the appearance, at least, that your intent was actually just to set the stage to answer yourself, once you had confirmation that you had some readers.

    If that was the desire, you would be better served by simply writing an essay, rather than apparnetly wasting everyone elses time by leading them to believe that you genuinely were seeking answers. If that was not the desire, well that's the impression you've given me, so you might want to consider some changes in your approach to these topics.
  4. Like
    Greebo got a reaction from DonAthos in Responsibility in a collectivist society.   
    Does "being forced to pay for it" count as participating in those programs?
  5. Like
    Greebo got a reaction from Craig24 in Should it be illegal for the news media to lie?   
    Ok, how about this: Property are those values that man earns, rightfully, through work and/or trade.

    "Bear in mind that the right to property is a right to action, like all the others: it is not the right to an object, but to the action and the consequences of producing or earning that object. It is not a guarantee that a man will earn any property, but only a guarantee that he will own it if he earns it. It is the right to gain, to keep, to use and to dispose of material values." - Rand

    Now this raises the question : Is reputation a material value? Intellectual property is a material value, and yet the actual property isn't a book or a cd or a blueprint or other material thing, but the arrangement of concepts that the book, cd or blueprint represents. A reputation, likewise, has no material existence, but as Rand herself acknowledged (mentioned elsewhere above), is a necessary tool for making reasonable evaluations of others without requiring us to become subject experts in every subject on the planet.

    If a reputation is used to determine whether one will work with some other (say, a contractor), then that reputation is OF material value to that contractor. What that contractor has earned is the right to have people form opinions about him based upon his actions, and while he has no right to direct the nature of their opinion, I contend that he HAS earned the facts about his actions that are used as the basis of those opinions. Those facts about what he did and what he is are HIS FACTS, and his alone - he caused them to exist just as surely as Hank Reardon caused Reardon Metal to exist - and when someone puts forth falsehoods as if they were facts, they corupt the basis that should be used in the forming of those opinions. They destroy his property - the facts about him - without any right to do so.
  6. Like
    Greebo got a reaction from Erik Christensen in SOPA - Is it right?   
    Being able to effectively shut down a website on the mere accusation of piracy is inflicting punishment before judgement - a most basic violation of due process.

    The bill doesn't add any more real protections to IP (which SHOULD be protected, of course), it only adds measures to punish the innocent and ignorant.
  7. Like
    Greebo got a reaction from Erik Christensen in Objectivism and homosexuality?   
    Objectivists are not required to like homosexuality or homosexuals. As individuals, we have every right to our personal preferences. Attacking someone for not liking homosexuality (calling them homophobic) is anti-Objectivist - you're basically attempting to bully/guilt someone into endorsing a gender preference.

    Personally, I am heterosexual but have no personal objection to homosexuality, its just not my thing.

    What Objectivists are required to do with regard to homosexuality is determine whether the sexual preferences of others infringe in any way upon Man's rights.

    That argument was settled by Rand herself. Despite her personal possibly homophobic loathing of homosexuality, she stated catagorically that it isn't really anyone's business but the person involved. (I'm not sure her exact words but that's the gist)
  8. Like
    Greebo got a reaction from therights in Would and objectivist be ok with this?   
    Yes, he's technically right - it's his company, and he can run it like he wants.

    But he doesn't own you, as you seem to know - and if he's so foolish as to consider simple ownership as being akin to having all the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed as an owner, then well - I think it was Andrew Carnegie who said something about not being smart so much as being able to hire smart people.

    His loss.
  9. Like
    Greebo got a reaction from ropoctl2 in Dating an objectivist   
    I'm an Objectivist and my wife is not. We don't agree on every minor detail - but on the major principles that matter in our relationship, we agree.

    I don't think your issue is that he's an Objectivist - per se. There's plenty of people of other philosophies that feel this need to push those closest to them to be like minded with them - and at one time in my life, I was one of those, well, frankly, jerks. Fortunately for me, my wife is able to let me know when I'm crossing the line - she's a strong woman who can stand up to me when I get a little overly intense.

    BTW I'm not saying HE'S a jerk - just that he's got the potential to be enough of one if he's not careful that it will ultimately push you away.

    He has to learn to respect your boundaries - and to allow you to reach your own conclusions in your own time. O'ism demands that we all check our own premises, not that we force others to do so.

    Have you read Atlas Shrugged? If you have, then refer him to how both Dagny dealt with Hank when Hank expressed his own self-loathing after their first night together, and equally how John Galt never tried to push his way of thinking on Dagny. With Dagny and Hank, she never told him why he was wrong, she just told him where SHE stood in the affair, and with John and Dagny, he stated his positions on matters but left her the freedom to choose for herself, and in neither case did Hank's failure to recognize his errors of reasoning or Dagny's failure to recognize hers change the regard that the other held for them each in turn.

    Hope that makes sense.
  10. Like
    Greebo got a reaction from utabintarbo in Any decent jobs that don't require a degree?   
    Yep, you're making excuses.


    Cultivate it.



    Listen, I'm an older you, with one exception. See, I don't have a degree either, but I have a successful career which includes a 15 year history as a Consultant where my advice was given to major company IT departments like T. Rowe Price, Legg Mason, (then) Blue Cross/Blue Shield (now Carefirst), Aon, and quite a few more. I've sat on a hell of a lot of interviews in my consulting career as a candidate, and on even more interviews on the Interviewer side as a reviewer of potential candidates.

    I've also been posting on computer message boards since before the internet was known to more than the military and a few cutting edge Computer Science departments.

    I assure you - if you assume a "piss on Grammar" mindset, you will do more to hamper your own potential future than the lack of degree ever would.
  11. Like
    Greebo got a reaction from RationalBiker in A question about violence and the initiation of force.   
    The guy with the gun to your head is giving you the choice of do what he says or stop being able to choose, ever again.

    Do you consider those to be valid choices?
  12. Like
    Greebo got a reaction from RationalBiker in Why should there be patents and copyrights?   
    Yeah?

    Got any video game consoles? I'll take those, thanks. They're not property, after all - they don't relate to your survival.
  13. Like
    Greebo got a reaction from RationalBiker in Why should there be patents and copyrights?   
    No, actually, you can't, because that would pollute the air which would harm others and you don't have the right to do that.

    And no, I'm not really taking you seriously anymore because of the reasons stated previously. You WANT the conclusion to be X, and you'll say whatever it takes to get X to come out the end.
  14. Like
    Greebo got a reaction from RationalBiker in Refutation of existence of an all powerful being.   
    Ok so what is the spontaneous appearance of a volitional force which can act upon massless, eternal energy a reaction to?
  15. Like
    Greebo got a reaction from RationalBiker in Why should there be patents and copyrights?   
    Okay, we're done, troll.
  16. Like
    Greebo got a reaction from dream_weaver in Refutation of existence of an all powerful being.   
    Yes but you haven't established any facts, you've assumed them, and you have ignored every point showing that your assumed facts weren't necessarily the only option.
  17. Like
    Greebo got a reaction from flatlander in Can Objectivists be religious?   
    Atheism is not a premise of Objectivism.

    The fundamental premises of Objectivism are the three axioms:
    1) Existence exists
    2) A is A
    3) Consciousness exists

    Once one understands the full meaning of A is A, one CANNOT accept as evidence that which has no actual basis in reality - either via direct evidence or derived from the same.

    In other words, for that which exists no conclusive proof, no proof may be considered to have been given.

    One need never consider Atheism at all as an Objectivist - except that we keep getting asked about it by all the Theists out there who believe in that for which no evidence exists...

    Consider, though - what is the first requirement of Religion? Believe. What if you doubt? HAVE FAITH. Ignore the evidence - BELIEVE. Don't question - TRUST.

    But what is the first requirement of Objectivism? Simple - it's "Prove it".

    Religion begins with the denial of reality. Objectivism begins with the denial of everything but.
  18. Like
    Greebo got a reaction from Rudmer in Can Objectivists be religious?   
    Atheism is not a premise of Objectivism.

    The fundamental premises of Objectivism are the three axioms:
    1) Existence exists
    2) A is A
    3) Consciousness exists

    Once one understands the full meaning of A is A, one CANNOT accept as evidence that which has no actual basis in reality - either via direct evidence or derived from the same.

    In other words, for that which exists no conclusive proof, no proof may be considered to have been given.

    One need never consider Atheism at all as an Objectivist - except that we keep getting asked about it by all the Theists out there who believe in that for which no evidence exists...

    Consider, though - what is the first requirement of Religion? Believe. What if you doubt? HAVE FAITH. Ignore the evidence - BELIEVE. Don't question - TRUST.

    But what is the first requirement of Objectivism? Simple - it's "Prove it".

    Religion begins with the denial of reality. Objectivism begins with the denial of everything but.
  19. Downvote
    Greebo got a reaction from 0096 2251 2110 8105 in Rand's Statements About Addiction   
    Drug use is usually an attempt to escape from reality. Addiction, however, can be a consequence of the use of substances even when those substances are not mind altering.

    For instance - the addiction to nicotine is, and I speak from personal experience here, no pleasant thing to overcome. The cravings one feels are overwhelming if one lacks practice in maintaining self control.
  20. Like
    Greebo got a reaction from Dante in Morality of killing a politician who's violating rights   
    So throw away the politician's right to be tried against an objective standard?

    So you do not respect the individual rights of the politician?

    So you too are a mobster.

    I'll get my gun.
  21. Like
    Greebo got a reaction from Dante in Morality of killing a politician who's violating rights   
    If you cannot understand the reasoning and have not yet read the non fictional works, and need a fictional reference...

    I have little doubt that if O'ism allowed for ANY room for such activity, Rand would have made a point of saying so.

    Keep in mind that her only "Criminals" in her works either destroyed/stole their own property, or took property - ONLY property - from Governments. NO MORAL CHARACTER in her works ever used force to harm others persons when those persons were posing no immediate threat to themselves or to some other innocent.

    Ragnar Daneschold never hurt anyone AFAIK. Francisco Danconina shot at thugs who were shooting at Readeron workers. Dagny killed a guard who was allowing Galt to be tortured - and only after much warning.

    If you engage in violence against politicians when NON violent recourse is still available you are not a policeman, you are not a defender, you are not a ranger.

    You are a thug.
  22. Like
    Greebo got a reaction from dream_weaver in Argument for the existence of God   
    If you wish to discuss the fundamentals of Objectivism, you should read up on it first so you have a clue what you're talking about. I will not continue derailing from this thread to respond to your unrelated nonsense.
  23. Downvote
    Greebo got a reaction from bobgo in Argument for the existence of God   
    If you wish to discuss the fundamentals of Objectivism, you should read up on it first so you have a clue what you're talking about. I will not continue derailing from this thread to respond to your unrelated nonsense.
  24. Like
    Greebo got a reaction from Bamcei in The Rule of Law   
    Returning to the OP question: The subtopic is "Greater than that of justice?"

    So the basic question is, "Is the rule of law of greater value than justice?"

    No.

    Man's life is his standard of value.
    To [probably mis]quote OPAR: Justice is the granting to man exactly what he deserves for his actions.
    When a man is given that which he does not deserve, that acts contra Man Qua Man, thus harming his life and corrupting his standard of value.
    Therefore, the rule of law is only of value respectively with how well the rule of law respects man's life. The Rule of Law is only of value if it is Just.
  25. Downvote
    Greebo got a reaction from Jake_Ellison in Country voting itself in for social services   
    I suppose in a kind of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or FDIC manner, but without any mandatory participation / regulatory powers.

    Or for instance, if the voters ok Gov't to operate a casino in order to help fund Gov't, and contribute start up funds voluntarily, then Gov't sets up the Casino on the Vegas Strip along side all the others. Competing like any other business but the revenue goes to Gov't instead of investors.
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