A suggestion for Ayn Rand book discussions

Posted by nsnelson 9 years, 4 months ago to Books
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I propose we post discussions for specific books (or chapters) by Ayn Rand, using a simple format that is searchable, and can be added to over time. The format would simply be to include the title and citation in the title and note. Then I think each comment would start with a Rand quotation, and people can comment and reply to those. That means anyone can post their favorite parts, and then anyone can comment as needed. And it should be easy enough to search for the book discussion even years down the road. I think it would be more manageable to have smaller portions of her books, like chapters, rather than for example having one thread for all of Atlas Shrugged.

I’ll start another thread to demonstrate what I mean. Please leave your feedback for this idea here (not the sample thread). I haven’t mastered the search feature on here, so please tell me if this has already been done.


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  • Posted by VetteGuy 9 years, 4 months ago
    Great idea! This is the kind of discussion I was hoping to find here in the Gulch. Kind of like sitting around the fire at Midas's house with John, Hank, Francisco, Hugh Akston, Dagny and Ragnar.
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    • Posted by 9 years, 4 months ago
      Me too! I'm surprised it wasn't here already. For Atlas Shrugged, I suggest having a distinct thread for each chapter (so 30 threads). There are more than enough "quotable quotes" to discuss in each.
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  • Posted by CircuitGuy 9 years, 4 months ago
    I would like such a thread, esp if it were a manageable segment and not an entire book. It would inspire me to read new books or re-visit the two I've read.
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    • Posted by 9 years, 4 months ago
      Right. And such threads do not need to be Ayn Rand books. I think it can work. But right now I'm finding that people are making new comments on their own, which is only going to push Rand's quotations down the list, making them harder to find for people new to the thread. I'm not sure my idea is going to work.

      And as for manageable sections, I totally agree. For example, for Atlas Shrugged, I think we'd have more than enough great quotes and content for discussion by limiting a thread to one chapter. So 30 total threads.
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  • Posted by 9 years, 4 months ago
    Here is the sample thread. What do you think? The post is limited in scope (just one chapter), to give it some focus. Rand's quotes are first-tier comments. I envision all discussion spread from those.

    http://www.galtsgulchonline.com/posts/387a6793/racism-from-the-virtue-of-selfishness-by-ayn-rand
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    • Posted by 9 years, 4 months ago
      It doesn't seem to be working. People are not reading the opening instructions, going right to starting their own original first-tier comment. My idea is to limit those original first-tier comments to quotes about the book featured. Instead those quotes are going to be continually pushed down the thread, making it less useful to people new to the thread. I suggest limiting new comments to replies to actual quotations.
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    • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 9 years, 4 months ago
      Good idea. It brought to mind Moral Philosophy and to use it on another on going thread. It takes more than talking it takes doing. Talking helps but at some point you take action. Example just because one says this and one says that or because it's in the Constitution or not doesn't mean you lose the moral and and objective responsibility to do what you or I as individuals deem to be the right thing. i If not here then pick one of the subject headings for posting. It also caused me to pull my copy of the book out. Thanks for that!
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      • Posted by 9 years, 4 months ago
        What is that? Is "Moral Philosophy" a book, or a chapter in a book? Will you be starting a new thread for that? I'm confused.
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        • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 9 years, 4 months ago
          History and Moral Philosophy was a favorite topic of Robert Heinlein. It's how you learn to make the right choices and then make the right choices - as an individual and is especially suited to and easier to use for those who follow Rands teachings. It may be the right thing to do it may be the wrong thing to do but is it moral? Do i end up saying lesser of two evils which automatically means check your premises one or more of them will be wrong. All the rest of the philosophies are collective in nature. This one is just you, your particular belief system and the mirror. Good Idea I'm bogged down on the last part of the Political Party System development over in the 'History section and a second apology for cleaning up tier one and a half. Don't quit it's my favorite thread.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 4 months ago
    I have so many favorites, but the following seems most appropriate today.

    "The standard of value of the Objectivist ethics -- the standard by which one judges what is good or evil -- is man's life, or; that which is required for man's survival qua man.'
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