caroljane

Interesting question. I've said before, I sometimes feel like I'm, hanging out on the harbour at Galilee and getting the latest news from Peter's grandchildren and hearing weird rumours about this crazy Gentile Saul.

You can't? Have you never checked out the Q&A's from Piekoff and Hsieh, or read some of the questions on Oonline? Mythology arises from archetypes....

And a lot of irrefutable reasons for why he chooses to have it.

Carol Jane, I don't think intelligence is the proper standard. I think correct profiling of the target market is. The Brits cultivate snobbery as a virtue from the cradle, so they express disdain for the more obvious stuff. That's a guess, but it aligns with the Brits I have known (who always come across to me as considering Americans as uncivilized, but in a positive way). The Brit publishers merely opted for a title to fit that demographic, psychographic and all the other graphics they use. Interestingly, I looked at the Amazon site for both titles. I was interested in the customer reviews. The negative ones bash the hell out of the book, not because they disagree per se, but because they claim that Baron-Cohen has vastly oversimplified the field of psychopathy, twisted interpretations to protect his views on autism, and ignored large chunks of data. Obviously, to get a feel for him, I would need to read the work, but these are warning signs I generally look out for when approaching an author I am not familiar with. Michael Me too. I was more interested in the neuroscience and brain-mapping stuff. Obviously whatever conclusions he draws are theories based on data, and if he ignores conflicting data I would be suspicious too. Guess I'll have to read the book. Being a cousin of Borat's, I hope he writes decent English.

In matters chimerical Dogs get hysterical; Cats, anti-clerical.

Pete: Yep. A classic example of submissive behavior. Dagny: "I propose to earn my room and board. By what means? By working. In what capacity? In the capacity of your cook and housemaid." For the first time, she saw him take the shock of the unexpected in a manner and with a violence she had not foreseen. Later, on the next page, page 702, "I shall cook your meals, clean your house, do your laundry and perform such other duties as are required of a servant ..." Adam Wow, I had forgotten that part. Art equals life for Peikoff?

Adam, lol Us pinkos knows funny when we reads it.

Carol Jane, It's kind of as I thought. You were referring to the influence of conservative Americans (per your comment above) as if this applied to all Americans (at least book-buying Americans). I just let the flower bloom a little so you can see what it looks like wide open. Not pretty, is it? Frankly, I would be surprised if the influence of Bush and 9/11 had any major impact on the title change at all. And, judging from what I have seen of the book so far, I would be surprised if the main buying audience came from people influenced by conservative stuff. I want to add something to my guess about the drama factor. "Empathy" is a more abstract word than "evil" in the American popular mind. Here's a way to imagine what it feels like. Try to go out of focus and imagine hearing stuff in the background as if you were a Typical American (like, say, with TV commercials). Then it becomes clear that "empathy" has a poor ring to it. The word sounds sort of like a highfalutin way of saying "kindness." But "evil"? Hell, any comic book hero has an evil counterpart. That's the bad guy! People know instantly in visual terms what evil looks like--even from background noise. With empathy, they have to stop and think before the image comes to mind. That microsecond can be death on a crowded competitive market. I would wager this kind of factor has far, far more bearing on the title change than politics or foreign affairs--or even the memes in the air from politics or foreign affairs. I've only recently started understanding (for real) how target markets are profiled, and I admit I might be wrong, but from what I have seen so far, the underlying elements are rarely as simple as what you said. Michael So... the US book marketers are smarter than the British ones? For myself, the Zero title would capture my microsecond. There is a depressing abundance of evil in life and literature, but the idea of total absence of a basic human quality is truly attention-getting.

Carol Jane, You mean like with this news report on the book? Why a lack of empathy is the root of all evil By Clint Witchalls Tuesday, 5 April 2011 The Independent Oh, wait a minute! Isn't that an English newspaper? Hmmmmmmm... I admit I pulled this article from the Wikipedia entry on Simon Baron-Cohen, so I haven't dug too far into your insinuation about Americans liking Evil more than Empathy. The USA is the most charitable nation on earth, so I kinda doubt the insinuation. Title-wise, if there is a marketing study to back up the title change, which there probably is, I imagine Americans spend more on nonfiction books with drama in the title than lack thereof. Empathy does not bring drama to mind. Evil does. Michael Title-wise is all I was talking about. As the book discusses the psychology of those who have no empathy, bookbuyers in America, with Bush's Axis of Evil and Evildoers and 9/11 still ringing in their ears, plus the greater influence of religious "good and evil", would be deemed more attracted to the drama of that title. I was making no insinuation that Americans (or that any given group of people) "like" evil more than empathy, and I am surprised that you think that I was.

The spectacle of Peikoff, even glimpsed second-hand and sideways, would inspire anyone to quaintness. Wouldn't it be gloriously integrated full-circle if the housekeeper is actually an immigrant intellectual of hitherto unrecognized genius, who springs full-grown from the forehead of Objectivism when revealed to be the standard-bearer?

Who is the hottest candidate as his successor? If a top secret project funded by ARI proves successful, there will be no successor. . . Don't be coy DH. We know who's the dark horse in this race....

There's a new book on the role of empathy in human action by Baron-Cohen (Simon, not Sacha). He has been working on it from the aspect of neuroscience. The book was titled , I think, Zero Empathy in Britain but for American publication it's called something with Evil in the title. US readers are more attracted by Evil in the title than empathy apparently. The book was called "naive" by the Wall Street Journal - which is, of course, owned by one R. Murdoch. I know you are very interested in the concept of empathy Angela, so I wondered if you may have come across it or Baron-Cohen's work.

There's a new book on the role of empathy in human action by Baron-Cohen (Simon, not Sacha). He has been working on it from the aspect of neuroscience. The book was titled , I think, Zero Empathy in Britain but for American publication it's called something with Evil in the title. US readers are more attracted by Evil in the title than empathy apparently. The book was called "naive" by the Wall Street Journal - which is, of course, owned by one R. Murdoch. I know you are very interested in the concept of empathy Angela, so I wondered if you may have come across it or Baron-Cohen's work.

I was going to mention Ruark! Did you read Uhuru? So passionate, so realistic, I've never forgotten it. And Poor No More. He could really write. Carol, And how. I read them all, I believe. Another was "Something of Value" - about the Mau Mau war against the English in Kenya. (From a Kikuyu proverb Ruark quotes - "When you give up the old ways for the new, make sure you are gaining something of value." Roughly. I loved that proverb.) Ruark was born in North Carolina, and died in London age 49, in 1965. Alcoholism was likely. (I just checked.) A huge loss. Tony Yes, I think I have mixed up Something of Value with Uhuru. It was the white hunter who lingered in my memory, his indelible character and ultimately tragic story. A frightening character in many ways but understandable. Creating him was a true literary accomplishment.

I was going to mention Ruark! Did you read Uhuru? So passionate, so realistic, I've never forgotten it. And Poor No More. He could really write.

Absolutely, it's fair game. Don't forget that the Official Closed System of Objectivism's theory of sex and romantic love demands that we judge a man's entire philosophy and view of existence after being informed of the type of woman he chooses as a romantic partner. It's the Objectivist litmus test. Has Rand's heir and the world's leading authority on the world's greatest philosophy chosen a lowly "shop girl" whose chatter would bore much lesser minds in minutes? If so, I think we'd need to consider the possibility that Peikoff has always been a fraud, that he never really accepted True Objectivism into his life, and that he only posed as an Objectivist in order to take financial advantage of Rand and her followers. Then again, there is one possible loophole, which is that the housekeeper makes up for lack of intellect or towering achievement by having one of the world's greatest "senses of life" (as Frank O'Connor is said to have had). If the greatness of her "sense of life" were officially certified by an Objectivist Authority, like, say, Leonard Peikoff, then we would be required to base our estimate of her (and by extension, of Peikoff) on her glorious "sense of life" while completely disregarding her lack of accomplishments (we might even buy into the idea that she has been heroically "on strike" for decades). J This says it all, really. It continually surprises me how much of what Rand said about her philosophy was based on what she felt about sex and love. Maybe that's why we continue to be so interested in her.

That is why we will not make a determination yet. This is not public education where everyone gets a trophy because it is their birthday! !Well, you could give his cute little boy a treat bag at least!

rde's Post#5 is the clear winner so far. And hey, it's the guy's birthday.

II have had three bouts of major depression, with medical treatment for the second two. The second time I was 28, happily married for two years and newly promoted in a job I liked and was good at. It just pounced on me. After I had quit my job, and become unable to carry out the basic functions of normal life without enormous effort, I went to the doctor. He gave me meds (they were tricyclics of some kind) and I recovered within about 6 weeks, although it seemed much longer. The third and last time was in my early forties, now still happily married with two kids, and in the midst of a victorious union battle. This was the most severe as I had a psychotic break and became delusional, having lost the ability to sleep. I got medical help and on meds I saned up within three days, and was back to my normal (though feeling very foolish) within two weeks. I was prescribed antidepressants "as needed" after that. Usually they're not needed. That was nearly twenty years ago. I was never hospitalized and have never had any form of formal therapy. The first time I was 21, and was never diagnosed or treated, and in terms of emotional suffering was by far the worst. It is from that I am reminded of the "broken leg" analogy the doctor told me eight years later.

Nor can I, really. It seems to diminish their own humanity, and I say that as someone whose own reaction to almost everything is usually jokes. But not to the ending of life, any life, or the evil of demons. I liked your graceful and funny mea culpa which I found out about on WSS's blog. Like everyone I audited J Neil Schulman God thread 101, but had not followed it recently. Also enjoyed the cameo by Bart. Being able to admit you are in the wrong is rare everywhere - I won't say it's rarer on OL than anywhere else. You got off pretty easy - I have been knucklewrapped by WSS with reason (for not posting links), but by others when I first joined here I was nearly slain in battle - and I was in the right! As a hockey and Winehouse fan you qualify for the much-coveted associate membership in the Fraternal Order of theSacred Igloo (we need fresh blood). See you at ArctiCon!

Didn't he break with the ARI over one of Peikoff's loony fiats? Getting out of there could only boost creativity. Who knows what good novels might still be imprisoned within the hearts of existing board members?

It's starting with the blondes...in Monaco...soon the rich everywhere will be self-destructing in an apocalypse of Dumb. Better stay poor Michael.

Carol: I completely agree. Four about the last four or five years, when I am "bantering," in other words, flirting with a woman, I will slip in the middle of a discussion the following: "Now me, I am a complete male slut!" It is fascinating the breathless relief that you hear or see in the conversation. I have even have some women say, well that is refreshing that you can be honest. Adam laughing to myself because the pattern interruption always works to my advantage ....and then you seamlessly turn the conversation to the brilliant eroticism in Ayn Rand's novels, is my guess. No wonder you know so much about DH's! I always thought they were Dear Hubbies. Or Donut Huts..or Dennis HardinRumsfeldLizards...oh, no, not that again..... Nobody promotes the Shrine of Ayn as creatively as you.

Promiscuous men never seemed to get called anything worse than dogs or womanizers -- though there wasn't always admiration in those terms.

Perhaps writing short stories is your calling. It worked for O. Henry. Ba'al Chatzaf Yes, exactly. You do have to have a lot of plot ideas available, but if you can't fatten up, lean down. I third this. I've read a lot of novels which obviously should have just been short stories and were stretched agonizingly out - they weren't good.