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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFrom the Archives, my vote for the "Best Ayn Rand Post Ever"...
With Ayn Rand being kicked around DU again, I thought I'd once again dig up a "Best of DU" post...
DUer Telly Savalas from 10/2005:
"The worst element of her 'writing' is how utterly ridiculous the dialogue is. In real life people converse with one another, they don't take turns delivering speeches to one another. If she'd ever spent anytime actually interacting with another human being who wasn't clinically insane, she'd know this and it would be reflected in her writing.
"Furthermore, don't you think she could go to more effort to be a bit more terse? I mean, Jesus Christ, I've seen bumperstickers that are more nuanced than one of her novels, so I don't see why she can't be more succinct in the exposition of her cheap little 'ideas'. Does it really take an 800 page novel to say "guvmint bad, capitalism good"?
"Face it, Kent. She's a second-rate hack that makes Jackie Collins look like Dostoevsky. Put that shit down and do something a bit more intellectually engaging. For instance, there's a Dukes of Hazzard marathon on the country network. Try watching that instead."
Kent set the book on the table and glanced up at Ella.
"Ella," he said, "I see your collectivist friends have poisoned your mind with these bizarre ideas about word economy and multi-dimensional characters. Such things are only devices to enslave the Individualist. Every word the Individualist says is a gift to the universe, so the universe benefits the more he speaks. Hence all this silliness about being brief when trying to make a point does not apply to the Individualist.
"Let's be clear, Ella, that when I say the Individualist gives a gift to the world by expressing his thoughts, it is not altruism that motivates the giving of this gift. No. No. No. Altruism is an evil sentiment that only results in atrocities like child labor laws and homeless people being fed. Thus the Individualist is ego-driven. By satisfying my own desires and showing complete contempt for the needs of others, I make the laissez-faire capitalist system work as it should and the benefits rain down on everyone. Although many economists prefer to use the term 'trickle down.'
"For instance, when I enriched your life last week by giving you a 45 minute lecture on the necessity of abolishing the capital gains tax, I didn't do it because I wanted to please you. Rather I did it because I love the sound of my own voice. The fact that you were enlightened by my observations is only secondary. Nevertheless it demonstrates my point about how being selfish is superior to being altruistic. Had I been altruistic and payed heed to you wish for me to...what was that phrase you used repeatedly? 'Shut the fuck up', I believe it was? Well, had I done that, then you'd have spent the rest of your life unaware of the great thoughts that course through my mind on an hourly basis.
"Yes, Ella. It amazes me how unwilling the collectivist mind is to accept the truth. Why wasn't it just last week when you were claiming that society should chain down the Individual by using some of his resources to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina? After I was able to overcome my feeling of horror and disgust that you would suggest denying the Individual his Freedom, I successfully rebutted your point by observing that A equals A, therefore it logically follows that the so called victims should fend for themselves and not depend on the altruism of collectivists. Rather than daring to challenge this impenetrable logic, you simply dismissed my comments by calling me an asshole. Were I a petty collectivist, I might have taken offense at that remark. However, I am a noble Individual and know that your hurtful words were motivated by your envy of my superior intellect. For it is individuals such as I who propel society forward.
"Um...the Individual's freedom should be regarded as...um...Egoism is the one true...um...er...what was it we were talking about, Ella?"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=4973593#4975243
The Blue Flower
(5,444 posts)I actually remember this one. Brilliant stuff.
Kalidurga
(14,177 posts)I see what Telly did there.
Bigmack
(8,020 posts)... about Rand is from (I think) somebody here on DU.
Something like this...
"Ayn Rand's books are popular mainly with adolescent boys who have yet to have a non-self-induced orgasm."
True...
Junkdrawer
(27,993 posts)There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.
WCGreen
(45,558 posts)I've posted that a number of times only I used the self-inflcited....
Bigmack
(8,020 posts)otohara
(24,135 posts)SnohoDem
(1,036 posts)Duchess St.Rollins
(74 posts)Was fucking fantastic! God, I love ripping on that crazy, child murderer-idolizing, chain smoking, Social Security and Medicare collecting twatalicious harpy. What a boring-as-fuck writer, too.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)Duchess St.Rollins
(74 posts)Happy to be here.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)Duchess St.Rollins
(74 posts)Something about your name makes me think we'd get along famously!
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)we have enjoyed reading your postings elsewhere. Good to have you aboard.
Duchess St.Rollins
(74 posts)I enjoy reading yours as well. Thank you!
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)just wait until you get to know me
GCP
(8,166 posts)Your FB exploits are becoming a thing of legend.
dsteve01
(312 posts)... "explain why capital gains tax is moral". Check. Okay. I'll get to work on that now.
chknltl
(10,558 posts)She was Jewish and WWII vintage. Romney could pull a few strings...
rpeate
(2 posts)I am currently writing a sequel/rebuttal of *Atlas Shrugged* entitled *Sisyphus Shrugged*. I would like to know how I may contact the author of this quoted entry, that I might use it in my book. Robert Peate, rpeate@gmail.com
The link to my currently unfinished work:
https://www.createspace.com/3936790
Junkdrawer
(27,993 posts)The site owner (Skinner) may have an email. Ask in the Meta-discussion forum.
Thanks, Junk Drawer.
cali
(114,904 posts)Shankapotomus
(4,840 posts)toss off between Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-february-12-2007/fountainheaded
Tommy_Carcetti
(43,191 posts)Classic!