What the Gulch is... and what it isn't.
We have a few members leaving the Gulch today. Their reasons are theirs, but suffice it to say the Gulch is no longer meeting their needs. They arrived of their own freewill. They stayed of their own freewill. And now, they will leave of their own freewill. With 20,000+ members, the Gulch continues to grow daily and, as with any growing community, we will suffer growing pains from time to time.
We thank them for their significant contributions to the Gulch.
For those of you remaining in the Gulch, we want you to know that we are listening to you, you are a priority, and we will continue to take strides daily to make your Gulch experience the very best it can be.
Who we are... and who we're not:
1. We are advocates of Ayn Rand's ideas.
2. Our mission is to propagate those ideas.
3. Although Politics is a hot topic in the Gulch, we are not a political organization. The Gulch supports no particular political party.
What the Gulch is... and what it isn't:
1. The Gulch is a "net" which looks to catch the curious, the familiar, the like-minded, and even... the occasional enemy (of reason).
2. Once snared in the net, the goal is to start a conversation, to prod, to push, and to educate - all in the hopes of illuminating.
3. The Gulch is not an "Objectivists Only" forum.
As you'll see in the attached Venn diagram, there are different sections of the Gulch:
1. The Public Gulch forum ( http://www.GaltsGulchOnline.com ) - This is where all the intense debate happens. Everything from religion, to politics, to ethics and morality, are discussed and debated vigorously.
2. The Producer's Lounge ( http://www.GaltsGulchOnline.com/g/produc... ) - This is where we (advocates of Ayn Rand's ideas) go to seek refuge. This is a private section of the Gulch intended to be a place with little debate - a place for the like-minded to relax and enjoy each other's company.
Again, it is our sincere hope that your experience in the Gulch is an enjoyable one and we will continue to work every day to make the Gulch great. It's going to be intense. People are going to disagree... vehemently. People are going to argue... passionately. People are going to contradict themselves... with certainty. And, we're going to propagate Ayn Rand's ideas.
Oh... and Zombies. Look out for the Zombies.
Thank you for being part of Galt's Gulch Online,
Scott DeSapio
Associate Producer, Atlas Shrugged Part 3
CIO, Atlas Distribution Company
Chief Admin, Galt's Gulch Online
- - - - -
"Speak on any scale open to you, large or small— to your friends, your associates, your professional organizations, or any legitimate public forum. You can never tell when your words will reach the right mind at the right time. You will see no immediate results—but it is of such activities that public opinion is made."
- Ayn Rand
Philosophy: Who needs it? "What can one do?"
- - - - -
P.S. Those members that will be leaving the Gulch may join in the resulting conversation on this post. Please be patient and give them the latitude they deserve. Their concerns are valid and should be heard - regardless of how they choose to deliver their message. If they choose to return, they will always be welcome in the Gulch.
We thank them for their significant contributions to the Gulch.
For those of you remaining in the Gulch, we want you to know that we are listening to you, you are a priority, and we will continue to take strides daily to make your Gulch experience the very best it can be.
Who we are... and who we're not:
1. We are advocates of Ayn Rand's ideas.
2. Our mission is to propagate those ideas.
3. Although Politics is a hot topic in the Gulch, we are not a political organization. The Gulch supports no particular political party.
What the Gulch is... and what it isn't:
1. The Gulch is a "net" which looks to catch the curious, the familiar, the like-minded, and even... the occasional enemy (of reason).
2. Once snared in the net, the goal is to start a conversation, to prod, to push, and to educate - all in the hopes of illuminating.
3. The Gulch is not an "Objectivists Only" forum.
As you'll see in the attached Venn diagram, there are different sections of the Gulch:
1. The Public Gulch forum ( http://www.GaltsGulchOnline.com ) - This is where all the intense debate happens. Everything from religion, to politics, to ethics and morality, are discussed and debated vigorously.
2. The Producer's Lounge ( http://www.GaltsGulchOnline.com/g/produc... ) - This is where we (advocates of Ayn Rand's ideas) go to seek refuge. This is a private section of the Gulch intended to be a place with little debate - a place for the like-minded to relax and enjoy each other's company.
Again, it is our sincere hope that your experience in the Gulch is an enjoyable one and we will continue to work every day to make the Gulch great. It's going to be intense. People are going to disagree... vehemently. People are going to argue... passionately. People are going to contradict themselves... with certainty. And, we're going to propagate Ayn Rand's ideas.
Oh... and Zombies. Look out for the Zombies.
Thank you for being part of Galt's Gulch Online,
Scott DeSapio
Associate Producer, Atlas Shrugged Part 3
CIO, Atlas Distribution Company
Chief Admin, Galt's Gulch Online
- - - - -
"Speak on any scale open to you, large or small— to your friends, your associates, your professional organizations, or any legitimate public forum. You can never tell when your words will reach the right mind at the right time. You will see no immediate results—but it is of such activities that public opinion is made."
- Ayn Rand
Philosophy: Who needs it? "What can one do?"
- - - - -
P.S. Those members that will be leaving the Gulch may join in the resulting conversation on this post. Please be patient and give them the latitude they deserve. Their concerns are valid and should be heard - regardless of how they choose to deliver their message. If they choose to return, they will always be welcome in the Gulch.
Previous comments... You are currently on page 3.
Yes, they are frustrating to deal with because they do not use their minds. But as far as liberals go, I have to say CG was at least polite. That's far more than I could say about many others.
I am sincerely flattered.
They scared me dino.
I would far rather just pick and choose which threads I participate in. Trolls in general don't bother me as much as they bother some people, but it does become tiresome. We are here for our enjoyment.
As for the intimidation aspects, realize that you and everyone else in this forum will be upbraided for your opinions at some point. As Zenphamy just pointed out, “When I disagree with a rational man, I let reality be our final arbiter; if I am right, he will learn; if I am wrong, I will; one of us will win, but both will profit.” Your ideas will either stand up to the other Gulchers, or they won't. Either way, we all will profit.
I have occasionally edited my posts for clarity because it is not uncommon for the written word to lose some of the inflection or emphasis that you hear in your mind as you are writing it.
As for being rejected by those who share your world view, I don't think that will happen. However, there are some here who do not share your world view that may seem to share your world view. While I earlier wrote that troll patrol is more effort than it is worth, it is necessary to some extent so that new contributors like yourself are NOT intimidated by those who may appear to be of like mind.
I am willing to do some education of people like Tony the Wet Nurse (in Rearden's steel mill) in the hope that they will change (as the Wet Nurse did), but only to a point.
Some of AR's quotes are appropriate for this discussion:
1. “It is eminently reasonable that men should seek to associate with those who share their convictions and values. It is impossible to deal or even to communicate with men whose ideas are fundamentally opposed to one’s own (and one should be free not to deal with them).”
2. “In a free society, one does not have to deal with those who are irrational. One is free to avoid them.”
3. “The truth is not for all men but only for those who seek it.”
4. “When I disagree with a rational man, I let reality be our final arbiter; if I am right, he will learn; if I am wrong, I will; one of us will win, but both will profit.”
5. “I shall choose friends among men, but neither slaves nor masters. And I shall choose only such as please me, and them I shall love and respect, but neither command nor obey. And we shall join our hands when we wish, or walk alone when we so desire.”
I'm not a big quoter of AR. I've lived an Objectivist life since I was a child. I was raised that way, so in discussions about Objectivism, I much prefer to speak from my own reasoning and observations of life. But at times, her statements can so clearly state an issue so much better than I that I will fall back to her brilliance. Such are those above, and in this situation, though all apply, #'s 1 and 2 really speak to me.
As much as this Gulch and its mission, the friends I've made here, and the joy of sharing this Objectivist philosophy means to me, asking me or even suggesting that I set those aside for the good of all, that it would be better for me to 'go along to get along', and that I just ignore insults to those principles, convictions, and values is abhorrent to me and my integrity.
There is a price that we've all had to pay, willingly, in order to live a life of this philosophy. We are few among many, in our world, our nation, our community, and even in our families. We are often misunderstood and almost always misrepresented. We are those that are asked, even expected, to help. Help our families, our communities, our nation, the many-- and we have to say no, unless it's in our personal interest to do so. And we are often despised, hated, and denigrated by those we say no to. But those costs are worth it.
At this point I've had to say no again. It's not having to say that so much, as who I'm having to say it to that is causing me to step away and spend some time resolving this issue in my own mind. I may return, I may not. But either choice will be with my principles, values, and integrity in tact.
I wish each and everyone of you success in your search for truth and thank you for value I've gained before this.
we do have a "hide" function; see if you can find Eudaimonia's original "2 strike" policy.
If you can find it, I would like to know your opinion of it. I will [later this evening] ask him to re-post it so that it's "on the top of the pile".
regards,
ww
I was taught don't ever get in the mud and fight with a pig; all that happens is you get dirty and the pig has a good time!
In the few videos I ever saw of Rand, she was firm, but always polite.
Edit: clarity
If you want to get context, work your way back to when CG joined this group and read everything [yeah, I mean everything] he has written, and what others have responded to what he's written. Then you will begin to have context.
Then, think about what CG has written AS YOU READ IT, not as someone may have reported it, and compare that to your understanding of Objectivism, Ayn Rand, and the writings of other Objectivists.
Remember, there are NO contradictions. If there appears to be one, there MUST be error on one of the sides.
At that point, you will be beginning to understand what is happening with the situation you are observing.
cheers,
ww
As an aside point, this all in turn started a ‘cold war’ between me and the hallowed halls of academia. Even though admittedly I am the principle party of this war since academia basically doesn’t know I exist. Meanwhile back to the main point, the theoretical objectivist and the tangible objectivist need to give each other a little room. And I was wondering if members leaving the Gulch had any correlation to my first experience.
There are few things more valuable that "just the opinion" of someone who observes, thinks, and acts.
regards,
ww
DON'T DO THAT! please.
"that" being to weaken your strong true statement by running yourself down [even light-heartedly].
regards,
ww
EDITED TO MAKE SURE MY COMMENT HAS A CHANCE OF GETTING WHERE IT SHOULD.
thanks
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