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Post 40

Friday, May 26, 2006 - 9:58amSanction this postReply
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Get ready folks. It's starting again.

Michael


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Post 41

Friday, May 26, 2006 - 11:39amSanction this postReply
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MSK, what's "starting" again?  Discussion on PARC and what it means for Objectivism?  You put the point as if you sound like you dread that kind of discussion happening.

I must have missed some history, having gotten back into non-HPO online forums only recently.  Did Barbara do something to not be allowed to post on RoR?  I gather she wouldn't be allowed at all on SOLO (even if she wanted to post there) given something she and Linz have going (or not, depending on how you look at it).

(Edited by Chris Cathcart on 5/26, 11:40am)


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Post 42

Friday, May 26, 2006 - 11:48amSanction this postReply
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Jeff,

You said:

I see nothing positive. Instead, it has been a catalyst for driving another wedge between the Objectivist community, polarizing factions and generating nothing but rancor. I have not heard of one report where it has created a more positive view of Ayn Rand in the eyes of the general public nor has it furthered the acceptance of Objectivism in any way. It puzzles me as to what others are deriving from it. Those that praise it seem to simply be using it as a platform to justify and bolster their dislike for other individuals. Well, I don't need that.

I think that The Passion of Ayn Rand's Critics is worth reading, on account of Rand's previously unpublished journal entries, what they reveal about her, and (very occasionally) what they reveal about Nathaniel Branden.

Otherwise, I see little of positive value in it.  Unless, that is, you want to test your patience with circa 200 pages of being told what to think and how to think it, when your own independent judgment of the evidence will almost certainly lead you into sharp disagreement with what you're being told.

I have no sympathy at all with those who condemned the book before it was published.  And I continue to recommend refraining from judgments about the book unless you have read it.  But what Mr. Valliant has done since his book was published does tend to bear out your suspicions.

I've yet to see any evidence that PARC is being read by people who are not already sympathetic to Rand's views, or that it is altering the way that she is seen by the non-Objectivist public.  A little of what PARC reveals--I have in mind the amateur psychotherapy sessions that Rand was in the habit of conducting--could come back to hurt her reputation, not enhance it.

Instead, Mr. Valliant, his allies, and his followers have used PARC as a weapon against other Randians.  Against The Objectivist Center, against Chris Matthew Sciabarra, against the Journal of Ayn Rand Studies, against any other person or organization that the adepts of the Ayn Rand Institute would deem an "enemy of Objectivism."

Mr. Valliant has claimed that he wrote the book to clear the way for wider appreciation of Ayn Rand's ideas, and genuine dialogue concerning them. But since he published the book, he has done absolutely nothing to promote either of those alleged goals.  Instead, he has gotten caught up in factional intrigue.

I've yet to see evidence that Mr. Valliant understands Ayn Rand's ideas in any great depth.  But I've seen plenty of evidence of his scheming to eliminate perceived rivals and assert personal dominance over "organized Objectivism."  He has already ruthlessly discarded a one-time ally, Mr. Firehammer.  I continue to doubt that his present alliances with Mr. Perigo and Ms. Hsieh and Mr. Maurone and others will bring him what he seeks--for one thing, those individuals may harbor ambitions that conflict with his own--but it won't be for lack of trying.

That's why Mr. Valliant keeps charging anyone who opposes him with being a puppet of "the Brandens."  He imagines that everyone is caught up in backstage maneuvering the same way he is.  So if someone speaks out against the claims he makes in PARC, that person must be plotting dirty work with NB or BB--if not merely carrying out their covert orders.

Robert Campbell


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Post 43

Friday, May 26, 2006 - 1:40pmSanction this postReply
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I wonder what happened to Andy Postema?


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Post 44

Friday, May 26, 2006 - 3:12pmSanction this postReply
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Why rush? The Brandens waited until after Rand's death and milked it ever since.
Oh, now Joe. You're only saying that because you've purchased the current line against the B's. 

We both know the focus of those two books was by and large a positive portrayal of Rand.  I barely even remember anything of the Brandens in Barbara's, which I personally think was a much better read.  The other book, well, if it's intent was to do damage to Rand's good name, it failed miserably and then died there. But I don't think that was the intent.

It's curious that the Great Poobah hasn't published his own memoir yet.  That's a book I'd stand in line to buy.


Post 45

Friday, May 26, 2006 - 3:15pmSanction this postReply
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In 100 years, I'm hoping, there will still be a lot about Rand's biography that will be of interest.
Indeed!  I'm hoping the interest won't include many demons and devils.


Post 46

Friday, May 26, 2006 - 3:22pmSanction this postReply
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Ciro,
I really miss Andy too.


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Post 47

Friday, May 26, 2006 - 4:52pmSanction this postReply
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Mr. Valliant,

You made a statement at http://rebirthofreason.com/Forum/PollDiscussions/0112_1.shtml#39 about the sales of your book.

it's in excess of other recent nonfiction books about Rand or her philosophy, but nothing like the sales numbers for PAR.

Does this mean that your book has outsold Ayn Rand: The Russian Radical?

Robert Campbell


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Post 48

Friday, May 26, 2006 - 5:09pmSanction this postReply
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Robert and Jim V,

Fer Chrissake guys, is this a state secret? Ggive us a goddamn number...even if it's 'approximate', obviously two more copies will sell next week.

PAR sales:

RR sales:

PARC sales:

And oh, yes, another embarrassing secret - how many paid subscribers does The Free Radical have? Answer:

A hundred and eighty.

Post 49

Friday, May 26, 2006 - 4:58pmSanction this postReply
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Chris,

You wrote:

MSK, what's "starting" again?
This.

Michael


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Post 50

Friday, May 26, 2006 - 11:10pmSanction this postReply
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James Valliant writes, in Post 31, "I know that the Brandens have issued a request (demand?) not to post there [on SOLOP]." In post 39, this has become, "How would the Brandens' ban on SOLOPassion 'make' your [Jeff Small's] point?". The verbal maneuver, I can confidently say as one who has read PARC, is of a type he employs again and again in the book (he's also frequently employed it in list responses).

Notice also another technique he's frequently used, though this one probably more often on lists than in the book, his speaking of "the Brandens" as if they're one entity. And, Teresa, re your post 33, you're far from alone in having never received such a "request (demand?)" from either Branden.

Ellen


___
(Edited by Ellen Stuttle
on 5/26, 11:12pm)

(Edited by Ellen Stuttle
on 5/26, 11:14pm)


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Post 51

Friday, May 26, 2006 - 11:51pmSanction this postReply
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Thanks for the interest, guys, but I really don't know.

And, in my on-going quest for "Objectivist-domination," about which I've just learned here, I must now concede that have been "scheming" up all of this controversy and division out of "hate" -- and by means of nothing but "rancor" -- being the money-grubbing "parasite" that I am -- since defending Ayn Rand from injustice could never have been my motive -- since it is "Randians" like those who call me a "cult mentality" or "true believer" who were my real targets, anyway! I simply "live for" schisms, defamation and "gossip"!

I should have guessed from the start that I would so easily be unmasked.

Civility, tolerance, and open-minds are surely the strong suit among the Brandens' supporters -- nothing like moralistic judgmentalism, hyperbole, defamation, or "rage" -- that's for sure.


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Post 52

Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 2:08amSanction this postReply
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I was reading Frank Stewart's bridge column for May 28th, and started it with:

The economist J. Kenneth Galbraith set forth this Law of Human Nature: Given a choice between changing their mind and proving they don't need to, most people get busy on the proof.

I thought it was apropos to this discussion.
--
Jeff

Post 53

Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 7:00amSanction this postReply
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Phil,

Russian Radical sales:

Between 12,000 and 13,000 (hardcover and paperback combined)

Robert C


Post 54

Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 7:36amSanction this postReply
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Amazon.com Sales Rank of PARC was 171,323rd today; Russian Radical was 480,243rd, for what it's worth.  It'd be nice if Amazon would list total copies they sold, they must have that information...

(edit) I was just trying to figure out what exactly they mean by "Sales Rank" and couldn't find any info.  I presume it is number of copies sold over some recent period of time, but they don't say.  So, it's just a data point, albeit a somewhat useless one! ;-)

(Edited by Laure Chipman on 5/27, 7:57am)


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Post 55

Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 12:07pmSanction this postReply
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And, Teresa, re your post 33, you're far from alone in having never received such a "request (demand?)" from either Branden.
LOL, I kinda figured that, Ellen.  :)  

Unfortunately, this mandate was probably posted in some obscure web journal, perhaps as hearsay.  I don't follow the Brandens so it's factual elements remain a mystery.  Innuendo is more fun, I assume.

Robert Campbell,

Okay, because of your reasoned insistence, I'm willing to read this book over the summer sometime, but I'm not interested in purchasing it, other than a used copy.  It's doubtful my local library has it.

If anyone would consider selling me their used copy or letting me borrow one, please let me know.

Thanks.

Teresa



Post 56

Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 12:16pmSanction this postReply
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> Civility, tolerance, and open-minds are surely the strong suit among the Brandens' supporters -- nothing like moralistic judgmentalism, hyperbole, defamation, or "rage" -- that's for sure.

James, I think there's blame to go around on both sides. (I often seem to be fairly alone when I extend the presumption of innocence or honest error to both sides of bitter Oist fights.)

People only seem to be capable of seeing hyperbole or incivility on the -other- side.

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Post 57

Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 12:18pmSanction this postReply
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Mr. Valliant,

As usual, you've run together a bunch of criticisms that were put forward by different people.  Some of them have read your book and some of them have not; some of them think others should read your book and some of them think no one should.  Some have been willing to engage you on message boards and others have not.  But, of course, all "Brandroids" must think alike.

I'm sure you believe that by writing and publishing your book, you were avenging an injustice done to Ayn Rand.

The problem is that identifying flaws in Ayn Rand's character that were actually there constitutes justice rather than injustice. Consequently, trying to prove (in your book, and in subsequent public discussions) that there were none may be mistaken rather than deliberate--but in either event it is not a just pattern of behavior.

I suspect that you've also wanted to be seen as a white knight, defending Miss Rand's honor against the serpentine duo.  But BB has shown little interest in entering the lists, and NB has shown none at all.  That has to be frustrating.

The real question is, do white knights hang out with people who are known for playing dirty?

Mr. Perigo and Ms. Hsieh have acquired justifiable reputations for doing so.  Both have become inordinately invested in smoking out and denouncing the latest batch of "enemies of Objectivism" here in Rand-land. But perhaps their modus operandi is OK with you, because anyone who disagrees with the conclusions that you draw in your book has to be an "enemy of Objectivism" anyway.

If dropping the anvil on Regi Firehammer on April 6th wasn't a coordinated operation, surely you can relieve me and others of our misapprehensions by explaining how you and Mr. Fahy and Mr. Mazza and Mr. Simovici and Mr. Maurone all happened to arrive at a not terribly busy comments thread on NoodleFood and pile on your denunciations within a few hours after Ms. Hsieh instantly banned Mr. Firehammer from her blog.  Surely, too, you can explain how pleasing Mr. Perigo played no role in evoking any of these denunciations.

And remember that should you have a falling-out with such current allies as Mr. Perigo, Ms. Hsieh, or Mr. Maurone, each will feel duty-bound (er, required by a contextually applied moral principle) to present out-of-context quotations from your private emails on public message boards, in order to prove that you, too, are an enemy of Objectivism--not to mention, lower than a toad.

None of this is the right sort of company for a white knight.

Robert Campbell


Post 58

Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 12:24pmSanction this postReply
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> Russian Radical sales: Between 12,000 and 13,000

Robert, subtracting a few thousand that would gather dust in research libraries, it seems those would be very good numbers if the audience were "outside the walls" academics with no sympathy toward Rand & not very good numbers if the audience were the millions who are fans of Rand. The real difficulty would be figuring out whether the readership is largely outside of the already converted and among those whose intellectual leanings can be moved or altered.

Post 59

Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 12:33pmSanction this postReply
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> Amazon.com Sales Rank... [Laure]

The publisher of course has the numbers (and always will inform the author since his royalties depend on it). But one can't just call up a publisher and demand he supply his numbers on every book. I would bet there's a website or a publishing industry bible that has numbers for every book...and anyone sufficiently interested who was willing to talk to his local librarian could surely report back to us.

(It's less difficult than finding the heavily guarded numbers of paid subscribers to The Free Radical-->179 as of today since someone cancelled. Linz has been having inquirers after this information assassinated, sending hit squads of roving objectivists radiating out from New Zealand all over the world...)

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