| | I think many good people are leery of attending a summer conference [something like one percent of Objectivists have ever been to one] in part because of past disappointments. Because of more than one bad experience they have had with people who call themselves Objectivists over the years (not just schisms but one on one). Or because they somehow think it feels cultish. Perhaps they have many interests in life and think it might be strange or uncomfortable to be surrounded 24x7 by people with such a high degree of interest in this.
Let me say a few things about conferences and the Objectivist movement:
I don't live and breathe Objectivism 24x7. I have a very wide range of interests and like and enjoy the company of many people who have not the slightest interest in Objectivism. And I like multi-dimensional people. People who can only talk about philosophy or Objectivism (or any other one exclusive subject) bore the living piss out of me.
Yet despite this, I've been to many, many summer Objectivist conferences - starting with George Reisman and Edith Packer's Jefferson School. And time after time, I immensely enjoy them whether given by TOC or by TJS before it. Once or twice they've been among the best sunlit weeks or two weeks I've ever had.
And I certainly don't always enjoy other Objectivist events or venues, such as Objectivist clubs or Objectivist online discussion groups..which are very much a mixed bag.
The difference is the quality of the people who are attracted. The difference is that "conference people" are different from anyone who just calls himself an Objectivist and attends a campus club or participates on a website: Objectivism has been marred and too often hijacked, damaged, and undercut by people who lack maturity, social skills, and emotional self-control. [Read any thread on Solo or Atlantis or OWL and you will quickly see examples of this.]
Any loser or misanthrope or flame-thrower or critic can and will attend a campus club or join a discussion. The bar is low, as is the effort required.
But these "hijackers" or marginal people often tend to be less successful in life (due in large part to their lack of maturity and personal polish and how that plays in the marketplace). Too often armchair talkers, not doers, they often can't afford to attend summer conferences or procrastinate on planning six months ahead. And if they have only a shaky knowledge of or allegiance to Objectivism, they are not likely to be motivated to commit money, time, and effort to a conference. Plus quite often they tend not to like people or socializing that much, and would rather just sit at home surrounded by nachos and listen to a tape.
The result is that the overwhelming majority of people at summer conferences tend to be a significant cut above the "Objectivist-on-the-street". And they are in a supportive, positive, educationally stimulating atmosphere - which minimizes negatives and brings out benevolence and positive emotions.
You are not going to find Atlantis among any random group of fruitloops who profess allegiance to Objectivism. You have to make the effort and have the vision to get beyond the heat shield and climb the mountain.
To put it mildly, I tend not to have a high opinion of the "average" student of Objectivism I've met over the years: he is often attracted to Ayn Rand for the wrong reasons. He knows just enough Objectivism to be loud-mouthed, clumsy, and dangerous, but is too often malevolent, immature, and undeveloped in life.
But I think a great deal of the average -conference- Objectivist i've met over the years. Time after time they are great people who function well and healthily on this earth. If you are benevolent, why would you not expect that there are people out there who apply a good philosophy properly? And actually *live it*. And that you could find them?
It's a self-selection process and Andrew has it right: "Imagine that, for a week, you are surrounded by fascinating, inspired, driven, hilarious, intelligent, sunny people, beautiful art, amazing conversation, and basically, the best that Objectivism inspires people to do and to be. It is indescribably sad to me that so few people know and understand that life can be like this."
Phil
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