Superman123

Tenderlysharp, once again you wrote such a thoughtful response. I really appreciate this. I strongly do agree with you that you have to look at the context of Ayn Rand’s life. She did regard the essence of femininity as hero worship i.e. looking up to a man. “… seems like at the time she viewed lesbianism as a rejection of men, and she couldn't see herself doing that” Perfectly put Tenderlysharp. Where I really get frustrated is how straight people compare their relationships with gay relationships. In gay relationships there is no male role and female role. You get a straight person looking at a gay couple and say, “He must be the ‘she’ in the relationship.” Gay relationships are completely different to straight relationships. “it is chosen out of a strong connection with a particular person it doesn't have anything to do with anyone but the two people involved” here again you show a lot of insight. My experience of the gay relationships I have been in is that is a meeting of two equals. King meets King or Queen meets Queen. The rules have to be explored carefully, there is compromise but never, “I wear the pants in this household and so what I say goes.” I do not know enough about Objectivism to know if this would make it immoral according to objectivism but in my experience is that there is not *real* male and female roles in our relationships. What is really funny is when a person thinks that if a man is very masculine he will take on the same sexual role. It is usually the opposite. “Positive gay role models, (hero worship) will do more than anything in shaping public opinion about the issue. Objectivism is very good for inspiring each individual to confidently strive toward his or her potential.” This is what made me fall in love with Objectivism. There has been a need for more positive gay role models in the past. Slowly but surely we are finding them and they are making a huge difference. Another problem has been the strong influence the left has had on gay cinema. There have been a lot of gay films collected and made by movie houses such as TLA releasing, Peccadillo Pictures and Here! Regent films. Most of them are full of tragic heroes making mistakes such as drugs, being promiscuous etc. I was so lucky this weekend to see a good gay film this weekend with a proper hero in it. http://www.tlareleasing.co.uk/details/product_details.cfm?id=215100 I plan to write a review of it on OO. Also great post Tanaka. And Thank you for everyone that has been positive in their reply to my initial post. Regards, Superman

Amaroq, do you be turnin' on ye own pack now? Whynot you have not been harsh on the o' pup. We all be proding him friendly like to see if he might be inclind to respond. but, "If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended, That you have but slumber'd here While these visions did appear. And this weak and idle theme, No more yielding but a dream, Gentles, do not reprehend: if you pardon, we will mend: And, as I am an honest Puck, If we have unearned luck Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue, We will make amends ere long; Else the Puck a liar call; So, good night unto you all. Give me your hands, if we be friends, And Robin shall restore amends. (Act v. Scene i.)" - Puck, William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream

It does sound like you are takin’ yourself and others too seriously. I myself have been doing this a lot lately; I can tell you that it is not worth it. Even if you say you are leaving I am sure you checking this post frequently.

I am in complete 100% agreement with this!!! Hope that I do not give the mistaken impression that I would ever be some mystic hedonist. PS Tenderlysharp I love your posts.

I have been reading some of Ayn Rand’s Romantic Manifesto. I understand this so much better. Like how she refers to your “sense of life” and how your emotions respond to art. I suppose my initial reaction against emotion was ‘cause I thought of how new age philosophy suggest to indulge in it so much. Ayn Rand does seem to say if you can integrate objectivist philosophy your emotions should become more in alignment with you thoughts. I do think practically what really matters are that you think over appropriate material.