Sherry
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Posts posted by Sherry
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The phrase "Often a bridesmaid, but never a bride," actually originates from an advertisement for Listerine mouthwash from 1924.
The French have a doughnut called "Nun's Fart."
How appropriate!
I found those on the following website:
It's full of wonderful "useless facts".
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But I think I have figured out what's to blame for it: George Bush and Karl Rove. You see, what's causing it is this diabolical, super-secret classified program that George Bush and his greedy oil buddies have put together. The alleged purpose of this program is to catch "terrorists" - but the real reason is so George Bush can read the contents of the American people's hard drives every time they go online. It is nothing more than just another domestic spying program.
And GreedyCapitalist is in on it too - what would you expect from someone who proudly admits to being greedy and a capitalist and lives in Texas? Greedy people, capitalists and people from Texas thrive on walking over corpses in order to get what they want. How arrogant. Don't they realize that is the government's job? No truly sophisticated and compassionate society can just let a bunch of stupid, unwashed bumpkins from flyover country red states assume the task of important decisions like who becomes corpses and gets walked on. We need people like Hillary Clinton and John McCain to oversee the process on our behalf in the name of noblesse oblige.
And 1&1 Internet? People don't realize that 1&1 is, in reality, a global company based in Germany, a country once ruled by Adolf Hitler of the Nazi party. See: http://www.1und1.com/ Do you really think this is a coincidence?
George Bush wants to read people's hard drives when there are thousands of inner city children who cannot read because of cuts in the school lunch program and because parents who can afford to do so have moved to the suburbs or send their kids to private schools. George Bush wants to snoop on the surfing habits of Americans when there are Arab and Palestinian freedom fighters who cannot even go online because they are too busy dodging American and Israeli bullets. And Karl Rove has deliberately convinced GreedyCapitalist to botch up the way the classified super secret government spy machine interacts with the Objectivism Online website because he knows that people here will ask questions as to why their memory usage climbs out of the roof and that eventually the media will get wind of it and the New York Times will publish a story about it - which Karl Rove will claim is classified and vilify so that he can steal another election.
It all makes sense, now.
I think we need to send Cindy Sheehan to GreedyCapitalist's house so she can remove her bra and burn it in the name of Mother Earth and Workers and oppressed minorities around the world!
Comrades Unite!!
viva la revolucion!!
The most absurd thing about this is that Dismuke claims George Bush can read.
Shame on you Dismuke...shame...SHAME!!!!!
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I have discovered a fundamental contradiction in the Objectivist view of ethics, and thus a flaw in the basis of the philosophy. Ayn Rands states that: "An organism's life is its standard of value. That which furthers its life is the good, that which threatens it is the evil (The Virtue of Selfishness, pg. 17)". What this implies is that anything which is truly beneficial to an individual, sustaining and advancing their life, is morally good by nature.
If this principal applies to the entire Universe, let us examine it in the context of animals as an example. One creature kills another for sustenance, being a necessary process among organisms. While one creature surely benefits, the other's life ends. If there is only one objective set of ethics which applies to all organisms, than something which benefits one organism must have the same effect on all others. This of course is not the reality.
This occurrence is more interesting and complex with humans. Let's presume that an employer fires his employees so as to increase profits, which sustains the empployer's life by allowing the company to exist and be successful in the market. The effect this may have on the fired employee can be very negative, resulting in poverty, depression and insecurities, and is thus by the objectivist perspective ethically 'evil'. Here, a large contradiction appears, and Ayn Rand states that no rational philosophies can contain contradictions.
So how much of Rand's works have you actually read? I find that those that feel they have discovered a contradiction are usually those that have read maybe a couple of essays and perhaps skimmed a few critiques of the philosophy. That's why I ask.
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I have a bunch of white rubber bands from the One campaign that I got last year.
I made a WWCND bracelet for my son out of it several months ago. (What Would Chuck Norris Do?).
I have often thought of pulling out the Sharpies again and putting WWJGD or WWARD on them hahah.
Also WWFSMD just for fun.
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The black footed ferrets main source of food is praire dogs.
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Exactly. I was just going to comment on this. What is there that proves the children's acts were altruistic? Altruism doesn't mean simply doing things that benefit others (at least from everything I have learned about the matter) but rather giving up something yourself to benefit someone else, without any benefit to yourself. The children in the study were helping; were they helping because they were sacraficing of themselves to help another human being, or were they helping because they gained some sense of satisfaction/pleasure from doing so? If the latter is the case, you could hardly call their actions altruistic.
Mike.
I agree. Kids like to hear "good job!" and to get attention.
Some kids do like to help out, depending on what you are doing, and if they actually value the activity or the person they are helping, or the reason. My kids don't especially like doing chores, but man, they will hop to it when they know the sooner they get them done the sooner we can all leave the house on a Saturday to go to the pool or maybe some other activity we had planned that day.
My 8 year old enjoys doing things for her little sisters, like reading to them. She GETS a lot out of it: joy. She really enjoys reading to them..I think it is partly because she does value them, and partly because she likes to hear the sound of her own voice. That may sound cold, but its true. This kid can talk from the sun up until the sun down non stop. Yak, yak, yak. I love her dearly...and thank goodness she has figured out a way, all on her own to satisfy a few of her own needs: spending time with her sisters, and hearing the sound of her own voice.
That isn't altruism. That is a kid being smart.
She is probably the most generous of my children, and shares her toys and will even give her sisters things. However, she doesn't part with her very special toys, and she does get upset if they use her stuff without asking. She won't let them walk over her. Hell hath no fury when this daughter of mine has had her property rights violated.
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World of Warcraft IS evil though....well, maybe not really, but isn't it so much easy to call the game irrational than the players?
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Actually, it's an idea from Tom Peters's "Re-Imagine". Already, people (in the US) change employers more frequently than their parent's generation, aren't interested in pensions that they "can't take with them", work increasingly as "contractors", increasingly start their own small businesses. Peters actually goes further and advises individuals to think of themselves not just as a business, but also as a clear brand -- with all that entails in terms of building reputation etc.
I spent the first 5 years of my recruiting career placing only contractors. It is amazing how many people have been able to make a career of it and built up good reputations.
I will have to check out his book thanks for the link.
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I don't see how any of these examples could be "unhealthy", thus I find no reason to reject their uses or people's personal decision to indulge in them.
I should have clarified what I meant by "unhealthy": having sex with a lion, a tiger a wolf, can have ill health effects. Even a dog. I wouldn't think it would be in a person's self interest physically (being mauled by an animal, scratched, bitten...or catching an interesting illness that isn't normally transmitted sexually from an animal to a person.) So that is why I said I hope they can get help because I think it is unhealthy. But if they do chose to go ahead and actually practice their "fetish" they may have to deal with some nasty consequences.
So okay I think it is sick, and I do think it is immoral, actually, but I wouldn't bother to go so far as to make it illegal either as Lathar pointed out. Unless of course they are violating others property rights to fulfill their wierdo needs.
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The state of NH can fit into TX 27 times.
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For the individual, a good perspective to take is to view oneself as a one-person company, not a worker for a particular firm. View employment as a long-term contract where your one-person company is helping a big company acheive its ends. As such, the individual must think about "investing" in his own training and skill-improvement; he must consider how he is going to advertise and market himself, and so on.
That is a great attitude to have to have about job hunting and employment in general. That's basically how I feel, although I have not been able to put it so well. I may have to quote you in the future.
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Alright, lets make another distinction here:
Ethics: A standard of right and wrong.
Morality: An ethical code applied in personal life. This applies personal ideals, beliefs, principles, and biases.
I do not believe that moral systems should be modified, because they were created rationally by the people that proccured them (not always with the best available or reliable information).
What has to be modified is the ethical code. We have to establish which things are right, and which things are wrong, then let individuals decide for themselves how they wish to structure their morality from thereon.
If a person starts out their life being told that homosexuality is wrong and that they will burn in hell forever if they consider it, that doesn't leave much room open for interpretation.
Thus, my conclusion is that zoosexuality is ethically wrong, but zoophilia is logically acceptable. (It makes sense; maybe not to everyone, but fatishes never make sense to everyone.)
That's what I ultimately arrived at.
"It's wrong but acceptable." That sounds like a contradiction. Not to be closeminded here...because I really am not trying to give you a hard time, but why should it be logically acceptable if it is ethically wrong?Zoosexuality seems a little clearer cut about going against nature than homosexuality ever would. I am not sure the comparison is adequate. Homosexuality doesn't have to be hendonistic (and neither does hetrosexuality) but certainly beastiality is always on the part of a human. I am speaking under an Objectivist viewpoint here, not libertarian, or free thought or leftist.
It's good people that have those issues have a place to discuss it. Hopefully those that have these fetishes will get some help. Because it just ain't healthy.
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Sorry to hear about your job loss as well. That is never easy, no matter what country you are in.
Get in contact with the people you were translating for and start working your networks.
Let us know how you make out when you can.
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hmmm...it could be said reading this discussion board is irrational and bad for us as well....
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It isn't even ALL animals, but the ones he is attracted to; lions, tigers, wolves, and dogs mostly.
Am I the only one thinking that if this person acts on these urges that perhaps it may have a very unhealthy outcome...well, maybe not so much with a domestic dog, but a lion a tiger, a bear (oh my!) a wolf probably isn't going to be a very willing participant.
It sounds extremely hedonistic to me, and rather gross. Homosexuality is one thing, you are talking about people, who are far superior to animals. Animals don't have volition, and they may not have rights like humans, but still, to even have the desire to have sex with an animal is just bizare. To act on it, even worse.
But sex outside a species, that is kind of bizarre.
If sex is suppose to be something mutually shared between two beings based on value, how can that be something that is done with animals morally?
I think even comparing beastiality to homosexuality is sick. The two are not the same...I am not gay, but as a human I find it really disturbing that anyone would compare the two. Sure, sure....I know fundies do it all the time...but still.
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This is a very funny topic.
Wow...you know...sometimes people just over think things way too much.
Rand never meant you couldn't have fun.
Just keep video games in their proper place if you enjoy them.
You don't need to be anal to live by the philosophy of Objectivism.
Now, I am off to read some irrational books by Orson Scott Card for entertainment.....
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Thinking and actions to some degree.
Understanding the difference between earned and unearned guilt. When you earn it to take it, but when it isn't yours, to refuse it. And not to try to put unearned guilt on others.
(I think those that have kids, or who have grown up really religious may understand what I mean. It is something one sometime doesn't even realize one does until pointed out.)
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Sherry, you are absolutely correct in your comment about the FSP being a Libertarian effort, I need to read my own posts before hitting the submit button! Call me embarassed.
I think the FSP is an interesting tactic and experiment into how to employ libertarian ideas. However, I agree with you that moving into an existing community and recreating the "society" in your own image is wrong. As a comparison, a bunch of hard core environmental extremest liberals moving to my neck of the woods and attempting to change things wouldn't sit well either. I believe though that the FS Project settled upon NH due to the belief that NH already has the most "pro libertarian" culture in the country.
Bri
[removed quote of entirety of immeditely-preceding post. Conserving electrons
- sN]It is funny, because when I first heard about the Free State Project and people moving to NH for it, I turned to my husband (who was not originally from NH) and said "Don't these guys realize we are Yankees? I don't think it is going to go over too well." hahaah. I can understand why they decided on NH though.
I don't know if a Galt's Gulch totally free like the one in Atlas Shrugged is totally feasible in the world as it is now, but I think something can be set up that works towards that direction, at least starting for a place for people to live. Maybe not for everyone to work, but it would be a start. I guess the purpose of that would to just not have to deal with irrational neighbors all the time.
So I guess it wouldn't be Galt's Gulch...maybe more like Galt's Homesteads or something. But I have to tell you, even just living in a neighborhood where I didn't have to worry about the city inspection guy giving me a ticket because my van's tags are a month out of date would be nice. Or get a ticket because my lawn is 1/8 th of an inch too high for 2 days. Stupid stuff like that. Or to be able to live in a neighborhood where your neighbors acturally RESPECT your property rights.....my goodness...that...that would be heaven.
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I wouldn't know about Objectivists moving to NH for the "free state" project...only Libertarians. Not the same thing at all. That whole project doesn't sit too well with me. I was living in NH when that whole thing started up. I wasn't aware of what objectivisim was then, but I felt it was wrong for a group of people to move into a state to just vote up a bunch of stuff they wanted no matter what the natives of NH felt about it. I think that was the first time I realize democracy wasn't really as wonderful as I thought it was.
Anyway, now that I have studied objectivism for a while, I would be a little perplexed by a flock of Objectivists moving to a state just to "free" it. I don't think that is the same as a Galt's Gulch at all.
However, I think on a smaller scale it would be possible maybe for a bunch of local Objectivist to do like a planned community thing together if they wanted too. Sometimes those actually become little towns.
An island would be more fun though.
(Sorry couldn't help but comment on the free state thing.)
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I have had a fear of heights my whole life.
However, it isn't nearly as bad as it used to be. When I was in my early twenties, and after I had become a mom, I realized I needed to do something about it.
I decided to combined that with my love of hiking (which can be wierd if you don't like heights.)
I use to take my son hiking up a small mountain in NH. There was a fire tower at top, and you were allowed to climb up top, so we we did. It wasn't that tall, but it still spooked me a bit. After a few times I felt more comfortable.
Then we started hiking up a bigger (yet still small) mountain. Each time I would make a point of going a little closer to the edge each time. It got to a point that I was a lot less nervous.
I still am not a fan of heights, but it isn't the same, and it doesn't stop me from enjoying things like it did as a kid. I used to be afraid of going on some of the jungle gym equipment that was more than 4 or 5 feet off the ground, or the tall slide or big diving board at the local pool.
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Actually, there are many problems in China when we transform the planning system to market economy system. our reform has brought about some disputes now but the mainstream of the economists and the government insist on the way to be a market economy system. a few economists object it but they are powerless. in China, i think the workers and the peasants are suffering from the reformation. many people (incl. some from UNIVERSITY) can't find job. and most of the people work in the very bad working conditions. but the investing environment in china is good. many people from Japan, Taiwan,Hong Kong,Singapore, South Korea,USA and EU are investting here, the economy and political environment is better and better for Chinese businessmen in china now. my major is foreign trade and i want to do business with foreign people by myself but i have no money for the time being.now i have a job with a chinese private company as a translator. it export products to Japan and USA. a Month ago, some business man from USA visited our company.one of them can speak chinese.
actually, the Mao type will not come into power any more because we think it is wrong, although we still think the Marx theory is right on.as to "the Chinese government might even start invading other countries, and possibly even America! " it is impossible. china will not go to war unless the Taiwan legally declare to be independent country.the war will bring nothing to us now. we are become more and more a capitalism society now but i don't know what would happen to us in the future.
Of course it isn't going to be an easy road...but you say here that things are chaning. things are getting better for Chinese businessman. That is wonderful news.
So what are YOU going to do for YOURSELF? You don't like being a translator? Okay, maybe you are not able to get the exact position you want in a foreign trade field, or start a business in a foreign trade field, but you need to continue to cultivate your career.
That is no different in the US either. Do you understand that working as a translator can be a huge benefit to you in the future? Are you making good contacts. networking, doing what you can to meet with influential business people in the type of business you want to be in?
I see all this posting about the how China's move to a more capitalistic economy is effecting your efforts to get a job. But I don't see you taking any responsibility for your own career outside of you showing up for your education. Am I missing something? I am not trying to be harsh, but my profession is that of a recruiter. I spend 40 plus hours a week talking on the phone with candidates in business. It doesn't matter how good of an education you have if you are not going to figure out what to do.
Make yourself a career plan. If you truly cannot figure out how to work in your chosen profession in your geographic area, then move to another area in China. If you really don't think you can do it in China, then try Hong Kong or somewhere else. Come to the US!
The bottomline is this: if you value a certain profession/career and that is truly your passion, you will do what you can to work in it. Complaining that "oh if we were socialist I would have a job because the government would give me one' is disturbing. No job should exist if there is no need for it. Even my own job. (I am a consultant recruiter, so when my employer doesn't have projects, I am on the bench...aka no work. I have to find other work during that time. That's fine. It's bad business to pay people when there is no need to.)
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I have recently deconverted from christianity, nd have adapted a strange world view, all the humanists I have met have called me a Amoral SOB. One of them told me I was a objectivist/Randroid......so I thought I would look into it because i had never heard of it...so here I am.
So in three paragraphs, and in you own words..what is objectivism?
I think Rand described it well when she said Objectivism is a philosophy for living on earth. It makes sense and it works. Maybe not the description you were looking for...hmm,...it is a philosophy based on the premise that a person is responsible to and for themself first.
I suggest picking up Virtue of Selfishness it has some great essays in there about self interest vs altruism, etc. Peikoff's OPAR book is great too when you are ready for that, but I would read Atlas Shrugged first if you haven't already.
I jumped on the Humanist bandwagon when I left christianity as well. When I started to really looked deeply at humanism I became just as disgusted as I did with christianity, only more so.
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That sounds awesome, I didn't even know there was a Houston Objectivism Society!!!
Me neither...nice site by the way!!
Woohooo for Texas!
And I thought Houston had nothing to offer.
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Wasn't this why the robots/computers rebelled in the Animatrix (the animation that came out that goes along with the Matrix Trilogy)
Wild Capitalism
in Questions about Objectivism
Posted
I just had a vision of a very loud commerical with businessman and woman running around in bikis, thongs, and speedos on a beach parting and big red letters splattered across the screen "Capitalism Gone Wild!"
And the announcer telling us to order our copy of the dvd or video today.
thats all I had to add...carry on......