You realize I’m sure that this same kind of justification has been used to excuse atrocities since man first climbed out of a cave, right?? 
-XT
I was merely offering an opinion - the OP mentioned AS, and I was stating what I thought of the book. It wasn’t meant as either encouragement or discouragement. I like to hear various opinions on books before I pick them up. Apologies to the OP if that wasn’t what they were looking for.
It’s probably altruism, I suppose 
It’s too bad there are so many Pit threads in Cafe these days. It’s supposed to be against forum rules to violate common courtesy and good manners which, in my opinion, thread shitting does.
I’ve read “Atlas Shrugged”. It was okay, but I agree it did not make me want to rush out and read Rand’s other writings. Personally, I enjoy reading books that comes from different points of view and don’t simply serve to bolster my own often-preconceived notions. Rather than become angry, I generally learn something from them, or at least try to.
I’m literally rolling on the floor laughing here.
Um…so, er where do you think the OP should start with Rand?
-XT
I regret the three hours I spent watching 2001: A Space Odyssey. Had any kind soul warned me that, but for a few short moments, I would be better served doing anything else, I would be grateful to this day. In sympathy for anyone who might find a similar prospect facing them, in this case slogging through something by Rand thinking as it goes along ‘well, it must get better at some point’, I offer an opinion.
My problem with Rand is my problem with a lot of modern fiction; authors so taken with their grasp of what they believe to be profound that they proclaim it to the world as though it is the most enlightened point of view a human has had since Adam was a pup. And it’s not. IMHO, Rand was the Rhonda Byrne of her day.
Well, see? Isn’t that better than angry? But if you are literally rolling around on the floor, how can you be typing?
As for the OP, it’s just a suggestion, but I usually start on Page 1, silly old traditionalist that I am.
I’m very flexable…
See? Was that so hard? Excellent!
-XT
So one is self-righteous simply because one thinks her writing is crap? Then I’m self-righteous, because I think her writing is crap. Sophomoric, bombastic, pretentious, and poorly-crafted crap. But I won’t call her “philosophy” crap, because it’s not even philosophy. Naive realism with a lot of fist-pounding is not real epistemology. My freshman students know that. OK, maybe the sophomores do.
No…one is ignorant if one can’t read an OP. Whether that applies to you or not I’ll leave to your own judgement. I’m having too much fun at this point with all this.
Good for you! Of course, your arguement would go over so much better if you showed the ability to read and comprehend the OP. I mean, if you want folks to respect your opinion on literature and all, a good place to start might be being able to actually answer the question asked. Or maybe not…who knows? You seem to be with the majority here after all!
Lets hope they do better on your tests in actually answering the questions asked, ehe? I wonder how you would grade someone who answered not the question asked but the one they WANTED to answer…
-XT
Ok…I’m done here. I really am having too much fun for this. You guys carry on…if you think answering the OP means explaining why Rand sucks, then knock yourselves out.
For anyone who doesn’t know me, most of this was tongue in cheek…though I really do like Rand. No hard feelings here…and I wasn’t angry. Just really REALLY broken up by this display!
-XT
Glad to oblige. And don’t forget to take your medication.
I agree. Sharing opinions of a work of art is what CS is for; when someone reacts angrily and defensively, as if they gave birth to the work under discussion, that certainly does violate common courtesy and good manners.
When I was 12 I loved KISS - had KISS Alive, got Destroyer - loved 'em.
Then I turned 13.
While I appreciate **xtisme’s **passion in concept - the OP did ask where to start, and they have every right to get an answer to that - I fundamentally agree with all the other posters.
When I was 17, I thought The Fountainhead resonated with the vibrance of a new Declaration of Independence.
Then I turned 18.
My conclusion: If you are past 17, your window of Ayn Rand opportunity has past. Move on.
:rolleyes: It’s amazing that in the 4 years and 7,600 posts you’ve been participating here, you hadn’t realized that the SDMB is more than a searchable database of posters from whom you can extract information. We tend to discuss topics in addition to answering questions. We tend to go off on tangents. We tend to offer opinions and personal anecdotes spontaneously and not only (gasp!!!) when specifically asked to. The question in the OP may be “where should I start” but the topic at hand is the writing of Ayn Rand, and so the discussion will be about various aspects of that topic, both answering the question and not. Do you go into EVERY thread and inspect the posts, and chastise those posters who make comments that are not simply answering the question asked by the OP?
Plus, “You shouldn’t start at all; here’s why” is a perfectly valid answer to the question asked.
If the thread had been titled, “Ayn Rand lovers, let’s gush!” I would have felt like a jerk for expressing my negative opinion, so I would have stayed away; I hate thread shitters too. But that was not the title of the thread. The title asked a question, and there will be as many different answers as there are Dopers who have read Ayn Rand.
Don’t like it? Ignore those posts, dismiss those opinions, or start a thread with a different title. Or loosen your girdle a bit; I think it’s pinching.
I just bought a copy of Anthem. I was browsing on Amazon (incidentally, for Fahrenheit 451, which isn’t clicking well with me).
I’m enjoying it so far. It’s been a relatively light read, so it’s not difficult to get into at the end of the day.
Not read any of her other work, but did see The Fountainhead. Visually, it’s pretty oppressive. But yeah, it’s on the silly side 
For me, I think there’s a distinction to be identified. There seem to be two basic types of responses from the Rand-dislikers:
-
I think Rand’s books/philosophy/personal hygiene habits/taste in music suck, I hated her books, and I think it’s a waste of time to read them.
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I think anybody who likes Rand/her books/her philosophy etc. is an idiot, and I’m feeling very superior because I’m obviously intellectually on a plane above these poor ignorant souls.
#1 is arguably appropriate. IMHO, #2 is not. Maybe in the Pit, but not on CS. If I’m wrong, someone please set me straight.
Strawman much? I’m sure you really do dislike her work. That doesn’t make her a bad author. But rather than needing to “saved”, I think the OP would prefer to make up his own mind. Like I said, if the book doesn’t grab him in the first few chapters, he can put it down and move on to something else.
Oh, you mean like your review of her writing:
I guess not…
So, you think it was a good film? If not, what’s your point?