Hello! Noob Here

[Vox]

Hi!

I was googling for some Objectivist texts and stumbled onto this forum and I hope that I'll be happy to have done so. Although I've met a few people online who are admirers of Ayn Rand, I've never participated in a forum specifically dedicated to Objectivism. I hope I can contribute profitably to the discussions here.

As for me personally: I'm Michael, a 41 (42 next month) year old from VERY rural northern Louisiana. I retired as a Sergeant First Class/E-7 from the military back in September after returning from a year in Afghanistan and after almost 24 years of service (I joined at 17). Currently, I'm not doing anything yet, having promised myself a year off after I retired, which I'm thoroughly enjoying.

I am a history nut and was a history major in college. I'm an avid reader, mostly history, although I occasionally read the classics just because you are "supposed" to, and the occasional work of philosophy, Ayn Rand especially. I'm reasonably well-read and bright enough for a poor dumb redneck from Louisiana

I was introduced to Ayn Rand by pure chance, about 20 years ago. I was attending college and majoring in history, minoring in philosophy, and my sister and I, as usual, gave each other books for Christmas, both of us being heavy readers. She went to a book store and just grabbed several at random from the philosophy section, one of which was "The Virtue of Selfishness". I loved it and read it cover to cover several times. Hooked, I bought "Philosophy: Who Needs it?", then "Capitalism, the Unknown Ideal", then "Atlas Shrugged". Before it was over, I'd bought everything she'd published (except the Night of January 16th) in book form, as well as the big, bound collection from "The Objectivist Newsletter".

They say (and I saw the comment on this forum too while browsing earlier) that you "outgrow Ayn Rand". I think not. I'm pushing 42 and have been an admirer for 20 years and don't see that changing in the future. Perhaps it's easier to concentrate on ideas when you are young and single, and some people allow themselves to be worn down by the chores of career, marriage, kids, etc, as they grow older. But, if you enjoy great ideas, are committed to principles, and believe your mind is both your best tool and best source of amusement, you never will.

Anyway, enough babbling. Glad to be here and hope for the chance to get to know you all and have some enjoyable, informative, and mentally-challenging conversation.

[RationalBiker]

Welcome to the forum!

It appears you are well-read in the philosophy, so I think that will be of benefit to you in finding value here.

There are quite a few folks interested in history here so you should find some stimulating conversations there I hope. I personally spend much of my time here in the Ethics sub-forum, but I do venture to other areas as well.

Enjoy!

[softwareNerd]

Welcome to the forum. Glad you found it.

[Bold Standard]

I am a history nut and was a history major in college.

Is there a particular period of history about which you're especially knowledgable?

They say (and I saw the comment on this forum too while browsing earlier) that you "outgrow Ayn Rand". I think not.

I once heard someone from ARI say, about the people who say that, "They didn't grow up. They gave up."

[Sherry]

Welcome!

Regarding "outgrowing it". I don't think those that make a true serious study of Objectivism would ever outgrow it. I believe those that do, must have never truly understood it. I am in my mid thirties, myself, however, didn't start studying the philosophy, or even reading Rand's fiction and essays until last year. I wasn't mature enough to handle her work in my teens and twenties I don't think. I just have a hard time understanding how anyone could possibly outgrow it. You have to be at a certain maturity level to even begin I think.

This is a great discussion board, I think you will enjoy it here.

Edited May 27, 2006 by Sherry

[JMeganSnow]

Welcome, Michael. Be wary: a great many of the posters on this forum are younger than 25, and boy are they smart.

Well . . . usually anyway.

[Marc K.]

Welcome Michael,

Thank you for your service in defense of our country.

[aequalsa]

I have always wondered about that comment myself. How does one "outgrow" the belief that reality exists objectively? I concur that the speakers must never have understood objectivism in the first place. Short of direct repeated first hand experience with the supernatural, I can't concieve of anything that would cause me to 'mature' and realize that reality is fundamentally unknowable....and even then...?

Edited May 27, 2006 by aequalsa

[Vox]

Thanks for all your kind words of welcome!

To the question from BoldStandard on history: I love history in general and I have a decent general knowledge, but I'm a bit fickle insofar as that goes: what interests me changes as the winds blow, and today I might be fascinated by the Civil War, next month by the Revolution, and tomorrow by the War of the Roses.

I used to find Nazi Germany fascinating and am still interested and reasonably well-read on the era, though I don't claim to be an expert. About 10 years ago I was a huge Civil War buff and spent a fortune buying the entire 127 volume "Official Records of the War of the Rebellion" as well as the entire bound reprint of "Confederate Veteran Magazine" from 1893 until its termination in 1933, as well as the other standard texts such as "Battles & Leaders", Douglas Freeman's "R.E. Lee", and dozens of other works. Then, I kind of lost interest and hardly read anything Civil War related anymore, although those long, uniform rows of bound volumes look impressive in my bookcase in the living room and impresses visitors with my scholarly refinement.

Lately, my interests are European Imperialism in Africa in the 19th Century (Stanley, Gordon, and Kitchener are my favorite characters from that era) and World War I (though I'd like it a lot more if I could pronounce French properly and be able to say all the names of the battles). I also enjoy the history of the 20th Century from 1945 onwards. I'm generally ignorant on the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Reformation, though I have a fair general knowledge of the high points and important personalities & events. In short: I know a good bit about a few things, a little bit about everything, and am an expert in nothing.

To Mark and his thanks for my service: my thanks to you as well. I made a decent living for almost 24 years as a result of the taxes you and others paid and I currently enjoy a nice pension and benefits and will for the rest of my life. America is a great nation for many reasons, of which her superb military machine and awesome record of courage and skill on countless battlefields is merely one. Behind every soldier are 1000 civilians, making America a great and powerful nation in the factories, fields, assembly lines, boardrooms, and offices. Our military power is a combination of the courage and skill of our soldiers, and the incredible productivity of our civilian economy. Our troops hold the front lines so civilians in the rear can continue America's great work. The civilians in the rear produce the material wealth that give our soldiers the edge in their battles against our enemies. The relationship is symbiotic and the thanks should go both ways.

To JMegan: The fact that "twentysomethings" abound doesn't bother me: I don't think 41 is old...I like to think that I'm merely in an advanced stage of youth and will remain so as long as I can pluck out my gray hairs faster than they can grow in. I still have most of my teeth and all of the ones in front. I knew everything too when I was 25 (hell, when I was 16, though my parents and teachers stubbornly failed to acknowledge it), and still do at the age of 41. I still think I know it all, but now I not only have infinite knowledge, but several years experience at it's application.

Again, thanks for your warm welcome and I hope I can make a useful contribution to the discussions on the site.

Edited May 28, 2006 by Vox