First of all, let me address "Rarely if ever did I receive a thoughtful criticism." Frankly while I don't have a formal degree, I do write and post on ideas all the time on many forums and I do so well. So as far as the lack of thoughtful criticism (TC), in my judgment, you write so well, it simply can't be done. It's impossible. To be clear, yes, someone might provide thoughtful counterpoint or disagreement but TC (assuming that such criticism would be valid)? Never. You support the ideas which you prevent too well. As far as the craziness loose in the world, I'm 79 years old and I do try to not let age impair my mood and my assessment of our current culture and society. That said, in my view, it's worse now than at any time in my life and I place the blame squarely on the nihilist left. Again, my view, they are 'forcing the issue' (literally and figuratively) in attempting to destroy freedom and individual rights and establish a socialist/communist police state both here in America and world wide. One of the most disturbing developments is the recent alliance of the left with followers of Islam, the left's new 'blood brothers and sisters', with the consequent surge in anti Semitism and attacks on Israel which although I am not Jewish, I support as the one country in the Middle East in which there is respect for freedom and individual rights. As far as what's wrong with world, all I can say is 'Keep up the good work.'
Yikes! It seems to me there's been a widespread loss of impulse control among so many people in this Country.
While social media allows us to widely disseminate our opinions and ideas, it also allows people to respond maliciously because they can do so anonymously. There's been a dangerous shift over the past few years, however, where commenters have gone from just "venting their spleen" with over the top posts, to actually trying to carry out their threats.
It's an affirmation of your previous essay on Nihilism.
Brad, it would benefit your former friend to remember that the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Keep up the good fight!
Holy crap, I met that nutjob a few years ago at the TOS-Con in Boston!
He had some writing he claimed was a legit rebuttal against Objectivism but couldn't get anyone interested in publishing. I had at that time already written a few articles for TOS, so, in the spirit of maintaining intellectual rigor despite my own skepticism, I told him I would look at it and give him some feedback. I saw him in the hallway outside the conference rooms the next morning with a box of his "papers" trying to pass them out to people. I took one. It must've been 40 pages long. I remember thinking, "There's one reason no one will publish this." (Pro tip: No periodical anywhere is likely to publish a 40-page anything.)
Maybe fifteen minutes later, just before the day's talks were to start, Craig took the stage and announced it had been brought to his attention that there was an actual Neo-Nazi trying to pass out pro-Nazi literature at the event. The Nazi was trespassing and, well, a literal Nazi, so Craig had him ejected from the property under threat of arrest if he continued trespassing.
I was sitting with a couple friends, one of whom was with me when Kraus gave me his "paper." I remember thinking "Is that the guy I was talking to?" I flipped open the cover page and my other friend and I began to skim his... writing. The first page had some convoluted, context-dropping argument. I don't remember exactly what it was, but he was trying to apply some mathematical concept to philosophy. I'm an engineer, so I'm pretty good at math, but I remember saying (paraphrasing for politeness) "What the hell is this?!" I flipped a few pages and read where he was attempting to argue that the Third Reich was actually a form of limited government.
We thought the absurdity of his arguments was hilarious, and my friends teased me for being a closet Nazi. I threw his screed in the trash in the bathroom down the hall--it was too big to flush down the toilet where it belonged--and I've not thought about him since.
Until now. You never really know who's around you for the most part. Stay safe out there.
I knew you probably got such things, but it really hits home actually seeing it all in print. I am so glad you do what you do, that you do it so well and that you have the courage to keep doing it in the face of decades of such abuse. You are a true hero! Please stay safe.
Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ, Mr. Thompson - that is scary. I am glad you are taking these crazy threatening letters seriously now. That was a terrifying tale. Be safe.
So sounds like you made it to the big leagues. The "nice" thing" about the internet is you find out just how many weirdos are really out there and how many of them are also really dangerous.
A picture is worth a thousand words, goes the adage. Kraus' picture screams, to use the British vernacular, a wrong un. The sort of guy that children sense they should avoid being alone with just from looking at him.
(I taught myself to read phonetically at 4. However, my brilliant dyslectic husband would still be illiterate without Whole Language. Different strokes.)
I read about the LK affair a few days ago, and it has stuck with me as a paradigmatic model of the cold, grasping, banal, contemporary soulless, without-natural-affection, "immutable lovers of self" (as a theological insult framed it recently). The details of the astonished parents are beyond pathos.
So good the man made no active move on you or yours.
I watched parts of the interview, and—wow! The interviewee’s evasions, euphemisms, twisted definitions and his obvious mysticism (as when, for instance, he talks about his deceased sister in the afterlife, where he encourages his now murdered father to seek his daughter)….
It seems like we see such characteristics in some of the posts and comments on social media from people who heretofore have seemed to be at least somewhat rational. It’s disturbing, and chilling.
This is chilling. I’ve faced my share of threats over the years for my own advocacy, and I know the dilemma you describe—the temptation to dismiss someone as a crank versus the recognition that some people really do mean what they say. In my experience, you have to take people at their word when they threaten violence. Most threats will prove to be empty, but some are not, and those are the ones that devastate lives when ignored.
The willingness to speak the truth in public will always draw the attention of the unhinged, but that’s no reason to stop. Quite the opposite—it shows why rational voices are essential in a culture where irrationalism and nihilism are ascendant.
Stay strong, my friend. Your work matters, and those of us who live by reason and principle are grateful that you continue to do it despite the risks.
This morning I read a book review in the Wall Street Journal ("The Blood in Winter", link below) that was very interesting in its own right. But the opening sentence of the last paragraph gave me pause: "The constitutional crisis of 1641-42 provides a warning of how swiftly a war of words and ideas can escalate into all-out conflict." I thought about how relevant this to our own situation today, and then read this article of yours.
We live in perilous times. Best of luck keeping yourself and your family safe, and thank you for continuing your valuable work.
I appreciate your integrity. Loyalty to your values in action.
Thanks for having the courage to continue to speak out even in the fact of threats. Civilization owes you thanks.
Brad I was ignoring of all the abuse aimed at you. Horrible. I’m sorry it’s happening but congratulate you on your response.
Ignorant, not ignoring.
First of all, let me address "Rarely if ever did I receive a thoughtful criticism." Frankly while I don't have a formal degree, I do write and post on ideas all the time on many forums and I do so well. So as far as the lack of thoughtful criticism (TC), in my judgment, you write so well, it simply can't be done. It's impossible. To be clear, yes, someone might provide thoughtful counterpoint or disagreement but TC (assuming that such criticism would be valid)? Never. You support the ideas which you prevent too well. As far as the craziness loose in the world, I'm 79 years old and I do try to not let age impair my mood and my assessment of our current culture and society. That said, in my view, it's worse now than at any time in my life and I place the blame squarely on the nihilist left. Again, my view, they are 'forcing the issue' (literally and figuratively) in attempting to destroy freedom and individual rights and establish a socialist/communist police state both here in America and world wide. One of the most disturbing developments is the recent alliance of the left with followers of Islam, the left's new 'blood brothers and sisters', with the consequent surge in anti Semitism and attacks on Israel which although I am not Jewish, I support as the one country in the Middle East in which there is respect for freedom and individual rights. As far as what's wrong with world, all I can say is 'Keep up the good work.'
Yikes! It seems to me there's been a widespread loss of impulse control among so many people in this Country.
While social media allows us to widely disseminate our opinions and ideas, it also allows people to respond maliciously because they can do so anonymously. There's been a dangerous shift over the past few years, however, where commenters have gone from just "venting their spleen" with over the top posts, to actually trying to carry out their threats.
It's an affirmation of your previous essay on Nihilism.
Stay safe out there...
Brad, it would benefit your former friend to remember that the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Keep up the good fight!
And you take extra care, my friend.
Holy crap, I met that nutjob a few years ago at the TOS-Con in Boston!
He had some writing he claimed was a legit rebuttal against Objectivism but couldn't get anyone interested in publishing. I had at that time already written a few articles for TOS, so, in the spirit of maintaining intellectual rigor despite my own skepticism, I told him I would look at it and give him some feedback. I saw him in the hallway outside the conference rooms the next morning with a box of his "papers" trying to pass them out to people. I took one. It must've been 40 pages long. I remember thinking, "There's one reason no one will publish this." (Pro tip: No periodical anywhere is likely to publish a 40-page anything.)
Maybe fifteen minutes later, just before the day's talks were to start, Craig took the stage and announced it had been brought to his attention that there was an actual Neo-Nazi trying to pass out pro-Nazi literature at the event. The Nazi was trespassing and, well, a literal Nazi, so Craig had him ejected from the property under threat of arrest if he continued trespassing.
I was sitting with a couple friends, one of whom was with me when Kraus gave me his "paper." I remember thinking "Is that the guy I was talking to?" I flipped open the cover page and my other friend and I began to skim his... writing. The first page had some convoluted, context-dropping argument. I don't remember exactly what it was, but he was trying to apply some mathematical concept to philosophy. I'm an engineer, so I'm pretty good at math, but I remember saying (paraphrasing for politeness) "What the hell is this?!" I flipped a few pages and read where he was attempting to argue that the Third Reich was actually a form of limited government.
We thought the absurdity of his arguments was hilarious, and my friends teased me for being a closet Nazi. I threw his screed in the trash in the bathroom down the hall--it was too big to flush down the toilet where it belonged--and I've not thought about him since.
Until now. You never really know who's around you for the most part. Stay safe out there.
I knew you probably got such things, but it really hits home actually seeing it all in print. I am so glad you do what you do, that you do it so well and that you have the courage to keep doing it in the face of decades of such abuse. You are a true hero! Please stay safe.
Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ, Mr. Thompson - that is scary. I am glad you are taking these crazy threatening letters seriously now. That was a terrifying tale. Be safe.
So sounds like you made it to the big leagues. The "nice" thing" about the internet is you find out just how many weirdos are really out there and how many of them are also really dangerous.
Be careful.
A picture is worth a thousand words, goes the adage. Kraus' picture screams, to use the British vernacular, a wrong un. The sort of guy that children sense they should avoid being alone with just from looking at him.
(I taught myself to read phonetically at 4. However, my brilliant dyslectic husband would still be illiterate without Whole Language. Different strokes.)
I read about the LK affair a few days ago, and it has stuck with me as a paradigmatic model of the cold, grasping, banal, contemporary soulless, without-natural-affection, "immutable lovers of self" (as a theological insult framed it recently). The details of the astonished parents are beyond pathos.
So good the man made no active move on you or yours.
I watched parts of the interview, and—wow! The interviewee’s evasions, euphemisms, twisted definitions and his obvious mysticism (as when, for instance, he talks about his deceased sister in the afterlife, where he encourages his now murdered father to seek his daughter)….
It seems like we see such characteristics in some of the posts and comments on social media from people who heretofore have seemed to be at least somewhat rational. It’s disturbing, and chilling.
This is chilling. I’ve faced my share of threats over the years for my own advocacy, and I know the dilemma you describe—the temptation to dismiss someone as a crank versus the recognition that some people really do mean what they say. In my experience, you have to take people at their word when they threaten violence. Most threats will prove to be empty, but some are not, and those are the ones that devastate lives when ignored.
The willingness to speak the truth in public will always draw the attention of the unhinged, but that’s no reason to stop. Quite the opposite—it shows why rational voices are essential in a culture where irrationalism and nihilism are ascendant.
Stay strong, my friend. Your work matters, and those of us who live by reason and principle are grateful that you continue to do it despite the risks.
Many thanks, Nick.
This morning I read a book review in the Wall Street Journal ("The Blood in Winter", link below) that was very interesting in its own right. But the opening sentence of the last paragraph gave me pause: "The constitutional crisis of 1641-42 provides a warning of how swiftly a war of words and ideas can escalate into all-out conflict." I thought about how relevant this to our own situation today, and then read this article of yours.
We live in perilous times. Best of luck keeping yourself and your family safe, and thank you for continuing your valuable work.
Link to the review: https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/books/the-blood-in-winter-review-kingdoms-crumble-254a61df?st=eceqwo&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
Brad, once again, BRAVO!!!