I'll miss you too.
The summit is a good time all around.
Good info, and good company.

lol Enjoyment per se sounds like there's no she present. :)

That comes under the heading of "enjoying something at someone else's expense." I do note that Rand did not treat children as little adults. I assume you didn't mean to, either.

I'll miss you.

"One's own enjoyment per se is no sin, nor crime." unless she's under age. (Meant to be a joke so please no chastising me.)

They're working on it. If what's his name, Bernie, gets in I'm sure it will be taxed.

groupthink, peer pressure, conformity and all of that
tend to drive people toward "equating self-denial with
virtue." . human nature is revealed in a small child
crying for mom's milk and nurturing -- it's natural ! -- j
.

"Contradicting human nature"--If human nature is to act to satisfy one's needs and values (by whatever means), then insert "serving others" as a factor of self-happiness. Meme engineering. Mind control. Teaching masochism. Equating self-denial with virtue. People are so malleable because molding oneself to the standards of the group is also part of human nature. Unless you've been inoculated with a dose of volitional consciousness and uncompromising rationality.

Unfortunately not.
I will not be able to make it this year.

Well, thank you. We'll be at the Summit. Will we see you there?

Thank you, Puzzlelady

How goes with you?

Right on. Superbly stated, Tech.

It's the double standard that is a distortion of the "golden rule". The golden rule is the formula for trading for mutual benefit. Because of the prevalence of exploitation, in nature and in historical events, people tend to think that if you serve your own happiness, it can only be at the expense of others.

You're supposed to be made happy by making others happy. They overlook in all this that interactions with others are a two-way street, and that your voluntary consent is required unless human civilization is to be based eternally on slavery. Unfortunately, Christians have nailed this meme into place through the redemption myth that Jesus sacrificed himself for all of mankind, and this meme, along with its dependence on a God belief, is the stickiest shackle on human minds. All enjoyment is deemed sinful and an affront to the suffering of our alleged savior.

Manipulating people emotionally and psychologically to put others first is the basis for the kind of altruism that merited Ayn Rand's strongest wrath and fervent, life-long denunciation.

This double standard bootlegs in the defective value that all should live only for the sake of others. The grievous fallacy of that is an infinite regress, because if you accept being made happy by others, you are again at fault by allowing yourself that selfish act.

Just say no to any who would thus scam you, and shame them for their intellectual hypocrisy, just in case they can still be turned around.

Because, it's always better to give than to receive.

Sorry...I HAD to say that.

seeking the virtue of altruism leads to self-denial and
the depression of happiness lost ... contradicting
human nature is never a good idea! -- j
.

One's own enjoyment per se is no sin, nor crime.

Now: it depends on what one enjoys. And I suspect those who scream the loudest about people "immorally" doing something for their own enjoyment, themselves "enjoy" making you miserable. That's not moral by any stretch.

When someone tries to sell you on serving the happiness of others before your own happiness, they want you controlled by others as they have learned to be. However, there is the issue of our pursuit of happiness, is it as Galt would have defined it, or is it really temporary pseudo-happiness which may be self-destructive?.We have to watch to avoid the influence of others and we have also to watch for our own self-deception.

Retired old dino is all into the enjoyment of me, myself and I. Nyah!
I raise my tail over all who do not like it. Double nyah!
There should be a couple of Netflix DVDs in my mailbox today.
And I'm gonna enjoy them all by myself.

If we could only figure out how to get such a simple rational thought across to the masses out there...

In my world I myself determine what I value and I respect others right that do the same. I don't project my morality on others , It is wasted energy for others to try to manipulate mine. I admire the creative greatness in humanity. I try to be courteous, operate with conscience and I value civility .Everybody has a right to Life , love Liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

It's not immoral experienced by you...it's a liberal leftest argument...a denial of self...their self is made up, (ego), and they must sense that somehow so they project on everything, everyone besides and outside themselves. This what I describe as: "Brain only"--no connection to a mind.

It isn't, they just use that position to inflict guilt on you as leverage for what they want from you.

Yes! I still remember reading this very simple to-the-point quote for the first time several years ago.