Superman123

My friend and I have been discussing this topic last night. I found it interesting to note that christians are justified by their god through their faith in him. If there is a rational argument or evidence for god’s existence no faith is needed in effect invalidates the entire bible.

I do not smoke. As far as I am concerned if people want to smoke let them as much as they want! I tend to try and keep away from too much exposure to secondhand smoke.

Here is something I been thinking of. A lot of Ayn Rand’s characters seem to smoke. She even defends smoking in Atlas Shrugged. What I cannot understand if Ayn Rand wanted to portray the ideal man how come she would want them to smoke which is an addiction. Even if she did not know how harmful it is for your health when she lived. I cannot think that Ayn Rand would not realize that it is an addiction. Would a rational man choose to be depended on something physically and emotionally, wouldn’t that be a weakness or character flaw.

What an awesome thread, I think it deserves a ‘bump’. I have not yet seen this film but now I really want to. I am interested in the difference between adaptive perfectionism vs. maladaptive and neurotic perfectionism. The issue seems to turn around self-esteem as I understand it. Funny it seems like in order to adaptively strive for perfection you need to overcome your ‘fear of failure’ and accept your own flaws. Perhaps this sounds a bit like pop-psychology but this is how I understand it. If I am wrong perhaps someone could enlighten me.

Don’t worry EC even Leonard Peikoff thinks in the same line as you when he says gays are not immoral but are damaged but if the damage is deep-seated enough then it is OK. Philosophers used to believe the sun rotated around the earth until Science proved them wrong.

Thank you for your kind words Jackethan, you are totally right about what you said. I have been far to concerned about what other Objectivists think about this subject. And I am someone that at one time prided myself on being thick skinned. I guess you learn more about yourself as you go on.

OK, Jaskn I will do so, I did not think that masculinity and sexuality would be considered the same topic.

Hello All Objectivists, Please can you all *fast track* me on this topic. I would like to know what you guys as Objectivists define and consider as masculinity. Perhaps I could look things like this up on the internet but I would like to have your insights here on Objectivism Online. I find the concept of masculinity very interesting. Although in my early years I think that I have operated mostly from a balanced masculinity and femininity in myself. Lately, I find I am happier when I operated mostly from my masculinity. Perhaps that is not very PC or perhaps I have a faulty premises in my thought process here. What do you think? I always appreciate your input. Superman

I had the same kind of discussion on a skeptic’s board. I finally quoted a post by RationalBiker that I found on this site i.e. 'No "leap of faith" is necessary to accept reality. Rather, a "leap into the arbitrary' IS necessary to entertain any other possibility for which absolutely no evidence exists.'

I agree with you JASKN that fighting ‘lazy thinking’ is to do things that interest you. Before I started to correct my own mind-body dichotomy and incorrect morality I used to look at life as dull and boring and did not set out to learn much. Once I realized that I should and have the right to use my mind to pursue what I rationally consider is my values and points me to more life things changed. Now I confidently peruse the goals I have without feeling guilty. Life has become interesting and I want to learn and know more about life. Boris Rarden, Coffee and TV are two of my main vices. Your article is interesting, enjoyed it very much. I grew up with a family that drinks a lot of coffee. There is nothing so enjoyable than being with your mates at a coffee house. Oh, how I love the smell of freshly ground coffee. Coffee in moderation can be good for you but I agree that I myself need to cut down more. I have been using the following strategies that I share here. Firstly, I cut sugar out of my coffee. It took me so very long to get used to but eventually I loved it. I cannot imagine drinking coffee with sugar now, it tastes awful. Secondly, I have now cut out milk. This I have only done recently. I am starting to get used to it now. Somehow coffee without milk is more refreshing. I like it but sometimes I still miss my skim milk in it. Another thing that I tried that helped at one stage is having a cut off time. I would drink coffee until 9:00 in the morning but not later. This helped a lot since I felt that I slept better. I did not keep it up but it worked and I will try it again. When I have as you stated Boris, ‘reach a conviction to escape a comforting but unnatural pattern.’ As you said Boris drinking too much coffee produces a lot of adrenaline that is bad for you. I do not think cutting out coffee completely is worth it. Coffee makes life a bit brighter. With TV I try and look at more documentaries than just normal TV. Now that I have rediscovered my love for learning I am starting to read again and it feels like my mind has gone ‘on line’ for the first time. But I do agree if you go watch a good movie in a cinema cut off from ‘reality’, a bad premises can bypass your rational mind but not totally ‘brainwashing’. As you said having an active mind should protect you from this. And this applies to music as well. Very interesting article, something I wanted to post but you beat me to it. Now, I let me get my coffee.

Anger is a good emotion. Anger is telling you to take some action i.e. *rational action*. It is good that you have posted here since this will stop you from doing anything irrational which shows you are already doing something about your situation. Anger is a powerful emotion if you use it correctly, suppressing your anger will only make you depressed.