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What the Gulch is... and what it isn't.

Posted by sdesapio 10 years, 3 months ago to The Gulch: General
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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.



All Comments


Previous comments...   You are currently on page 7.
  • Posted by khalling 10 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    GHBs first laugh of the day. well the second day of of the apocalypse. dust off the CDC manuel
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  • Posted by $ rockymountainpirate 10 years, 3 months ago
    Scott. When I was a kid, in the summers we would drive up Hwy 99 in the San Joaquin Valley of California to go water skiing. We used to pass livestock trucks. The message on the trucks read: 'Eat more lamb. 100,000 coyotes can't be wrong' I would add that neither can that many Objectivists.
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  • Posted by khalling 10 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    floutus, these Pms happen -make one yourself- sometimes. It's a way to have a private conversation between members. It's an excellent feature. You can add 1 person or several, separate by comma their username. Sorry the sausage making is public :(
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  • 10
    Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 10 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Hello Mr. DeSapio,
    Good to know. I am sure some would rejoice, but many more would follow her out the door. I would hold it for her to insure it did not hit her.
    Respectfully,
    O.A.
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  • Posted by Mamaemma 10 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Private message. When you click on a member's name, you have an option to send a private message.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • 12
    Posted by Mamaemma 10 years, 3 months ago
    I am very glad that I was not involved in all the ruckus. Scott, I know that you see CG as young and misguided, but I respectfully disagree. I think it would be easier to deal with an open and avowed collectivist who was 100%. CG is somewhere in the middle, which is more evil, saying collectivist statements at times and espousing other things at times. Personally I think he is malignant and harmful, even if he does it unwittingly. He is doing a lot of harm here in the Gulch. I value the Gulch and my way of dealing with CG is to completely ignore him. Once after trying so hard, I commented, "OK. I give up."
    But I also feel strongly that for good and decent Objectivists to leave is allowing that malignancy to win. I certainly cannot judge what any person's limits are, but I hope that a few of the people I admire most here in the Gulch will find their way clear to stay. You are needed.
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  • 16
    Posted by coaldigger 10 years, 3 months ago
    I am astonished! I participate is several forums and this is the most tolerant, urbane and civilized I have encountered on the internet.
    My favorite forums are sports forms related to my undergraduate university and the passion is outrageous but it is why we love each other. This school has an us against the world attitude and it is the university of a hard scrabble state. Although an amazing number of us are pretty successful and have advanced degrees from this and other schools we can devolve quickly to our more barbaric behavior learned on the school yards of rural America in blue collar towns. After a particularly nasty brawl there are some that pick up their marbles and go home but most end up forgiving, forgetting and returning. Some are put on time out by the moderators and the wait patiently to rejoin the fray.
    Sometimes people make emphatic assertions just to stimulate the discussion. Sometimes people touch a nerve in someone inadvertently that they regret. Sometimes without body language or facial expressions, words take on very different meaning. Everyone needs to be less thinned skinned so open discussion can be conducted without everyone feeling that they are walking on eggshells.
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  • Posted by khalling 10 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    look. you keep cg. please enjoy the gulch, cg. I lost 5 people. me. I lost them. it's personal. I have told you this for months. I do not call or PM you at the least little thing. I am in here daily as are many fine folks. I do it of my own free will and I have been clear that I will not leave. I will not. you'll have to remove me. fix this. there is no crying in the gulch
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  • Posted by $ rockymountainpirate 10 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I didn't say you attacked anyone. The whole tone of the second part of the PM was dressing down anyone who engaged with cg. I will post the passage if you like.

    No matter what, cg is obviously a lightening rod. There has to be a reason.
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  • Posted by 10 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    RE: "If cg is such a wonderful guy, then why were we attacked in a PM yesterday?"
    I attacked no one Pirate. I would never do such a thing.

    RE: "He should be open to having his contradictions pointed to so he can learn."
    I agree.

    RE: "Others can also learn in the process."
    I agree.

    RE: "LS was told she should only express her opinions in PM land, not the open gulch."
    Perhaps this was suggested by another member, but I did not suggest this.

    RE: "Would someone's feelings (oh wo wo wo) be hurt by her rational comment?"
    Perhaps. But I agree with you that that's just the price of admission.

    RE: "Indicators to me have shown that collectivists are bringing more value to the gulch than are Objectivists."
    I've not seen such indicators. The Gulch Producers, including you, have consistently been top contributors providing the most value. Without question.

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  • Posted by $ rockymountainpirate 10 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Scott. If cg is such a wonderful guy, then why were we attacked in a PM yesterday? He should be open to having his contradictions pointed to so he can learn. Others can also learn in the process. LS was told she should only express her opinions in PM land, not the open gulch. Why? Would someone's feelings (oh wo wo wo) be hurt by her rational comment? This is not just about cg either. Indicators to me have shown that collectivists are bringing more value to the gulch than are Objectivists. That is sad.

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  • Posted by Non_mooching_artist 10 years, 3 months ago
    For my part, I saw the abuse of a respected member, and even though I pointed out, rationally, the reason for the distress it caused many who participate here, the message was lost. Words were turned around. I cannot compromise with my moral code. The root of all this dissonance is still here, mild mannered and leaving destruction behind.

    I will truly miss the wonderful rapport I have had with so very many here. I can call you friends, and mean it. Thank you for teaching me so much!! It was an honor.

    NonMoochingArtist
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  • 15
    Posted by 10 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Thanks DB. CG is actually not a troll. On your suggestion, and others, CG has been thoroughly investigated. While new to Objectivism and Ayn Rand's philosophy, I assure you he is not trolling the Gulch.

    While Charles (CG) had previously chosen not to divulge his private information publicly in the Gulch, we've had access to his private information for sometime. Last night, I called him to ask if he wouldn't mind me sharing some of his other online activities. With his permission...

    Real name: Charles J Gervassi
    Google: https://www.google.com/search?q=Charles+...
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/cgervasi
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cgervasi

    Here's a comment from Charles at a Progressive web site, "AmericansAgainstTheTeaParty"... defending Galt's Gulch Chile...
    TOPIC: "Ayn Rand’s Libertarian Utopia Implodes Almost Instantly After Launching! "
    RESPONSE: "Why do you belittle these people for trying to go somewhere to live deliberately with like-minded people?"
    https://disqus.com/home/discussion/aattp...

    Another...
    TOPIC: "The Fate of Galt's Gulch Chile"
    RESPONSE: "Even though this project isn't working out, I'm glad someone is trying to build an enclave of liberty."
    https://disqus.com/home/discussion/theda...

    Another comment from Charles on another Progressive site, "Forward Progressives"
    TOPIC: "Republicans are Trying to Mix the Ideologies of Jesus Christ with an Atheist and That Doesn’t Make Any Sense"
    RESPONSE: "Many non-rightwingers (non-partisans, leftwingers, etc) don't realize how good Ayn Rand is. I esp liked Fountainhead. It hardly mentioned politics. It's about living the life you want and avoiding the temptation to life for a reaction from others. Once we have that foundation that you own your life unequivocally, we can go out and help people or shoot for whatever goal we want and do a better job at it. It's not all about making money. The money grubbers in Fountainhead were the villains."
    https://disqus.com/home/discussion/forwa...

    There's more. I hope this helps to clear things up.

    We all very much appreciate your concern DB. Our goal is to provide Gulch members the means of self-policing. We are working on it daily. False-positives are what make it a bit tricky, but we are working on it.

    Thanks again.
    Reply | Permalink  

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