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Pleased to meet you I'm Son_of_the_Right_Herder

Posted by deleted 4 years, 1 month ago to The Gulch: Introductions
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Feel free to call me Ben, I'm weary of most websites which claim to be bastions of Objective thought and reasoning. Please pardon me for feeling reserved in giving important identifying information about myself. For now I'm comfortable in sharing with you that I'm a student, I'm interested in all the sciences (specifically human genetics and aging). I currently work within an established lab, but I'd like to one day start a business in the field of Biotechnology. In the current climate of global politics I've longed for real life Galt's Gulch. However, fiction is often grander than reality and I will make do with this as an outlet for my thoughts and questions. I hope to learn from many of you and teach in return. I am by no means an expert. Thank you for having me.


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  • Posted by $ Commander 4 years, 1 month ago
    Welcome Ben,
    I'm curious as to which sites of objectivity you've visited or involved yourself. The three most prominent are ARI, Atlas Society and TOS. You will find leads to others here.
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  • Posted by $ jbrenner 4 years, 1 month ago
    Dear Ben,
    I would be honored to have you participate in my nanotechnology minor program. I teach chemical and biomedical engineering. One of the areas that I have worked in is Alzheimer's disease protein misfolding, but I do many things. If you have read Atlas Shrugged, compare me to Quentin Daniels, the Utah Institute of Technology professor, except that I keep the doors open at Florida Institute of Technology. We are a private university that emphasizes High Tech with a Human Touch. I have paid the site for this bit of advertising in an effort to attract future John Galts like yourself.

    https://www.galtsgulchonline.com/post...

    We added a "maker" course to the curriculum last fall so that our students could make the devices that they use in the minor program, too.
    One of our best students is interested in exactly the same areas as you are.
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    • Posted by 4 years, 1 month ago
      From looking at the institute and the curriculum it's definitely appealing. Unfortunately, I'm limited on three fronts: Funding, Location, and time. I'm already in an undergraduate program, I've been offered an opportunity at my current employment to work in exchange for my Master's degree, and I'm in Ohio. I saw your comment on the other post I made as well. I will say that once I'm finished up with my Bachelor's (I expect to be done next spring) I will definitely keep my eyes and ears open and let you know if I'm interested in the programs/courses you offered. First things first I need to acquire some capital. I appreciate the invite.
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  • Posted by $ allosaur 4 years, 1 month ago
    Welcome to The Gulch, Ben. Since you're a student, I assume you're luckier than me for learning about Ayn Rand as a young man.
    I'm 73 and never heard of Ayn Rand until the AS DVDs came out.
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    • Posted by 4 years, 1 month ago
      Yeah I listened to Atlas shrugged on audio book, I had frequently heard scathing reviews of Ayn Rand. I chose to figure it out for myself. I listened to the book in under a month on my commutes to school and work. I'm happy for introducing her philosophy into my life. I was always made to feel guilty for focusing on myself, my goals, and not making sacrifices for others. I'll need to watch the movie soon I'm sure it's good. Thank you for welcoming me, I'm happy to be here.
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      • Posted by Ben_C 4 years, 1 month ago
        Welcome - from one Ben to another. I agree that one must read the books to truly get a grasp of her philosophy. For me, I could only read a few pages at a time otherwise my brain would melt, The woman was brilliant and her writings off the charts. My experience is that her critics couldn't understand the depth of her writing therefore found it easier to deny her prose.
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      • Posted by $ TomB666 4 years, 1 month ago
        If you've never read the book the movies are at least an introduction to Objectivism. However the movies have limitations - such as the cast changed every time and things like Galt's speech had to be edited so much it leaves a lot out. In my opinion Rand never wasted words so if the idea could have been expressed adequately in fewer words she would have done so, but you can't make a movie with a speech that long.
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        • Posted by $ Snezzy 4 years, 1 month ago
          Indeed. She wasted few words when answering questions that she had already covered at length in Atlas Shrugged. This annoyed lazy listeners at her annual Ford Hall Forum lectures. Paraphrasing her terse reply to an insistent questioner, "I already answered that question in Atlas Shrugged. I suggest you read it."

          Many people who attended the lectures were enthusiastic but misguided fans who felt they could improve themselves by hanging the name Objectivism on their non-Objectivist beliefs. Of these, Rand found the Libertarian Party people to be the worst, because they were always asking questions intended to enlist her support for their positions. She called them (borrowing her Russian accent) "Leebertarian Heepies." Unlike the Marxists who were there to be outspoken enemies, the LP people were there as second-handers seeking a blessing. They never got it.
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  • Posted by bz1mcr 4 years, 1 month ago
    WELCOME Ben,
    You are off to a great start. Biotechnology has grown from literally nothing in my 74 years. I think it is a great opportunity to advance science for the benefit of all mankind. Unfortunately, it seems, it will be too late for me to benefit from your work. Best wishes for your sucess.
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