[extropy-chat] Brett asked for it

[Brett Paatsch]

Rick wrote:

> Good point, I'll think up an additional adjective to modify 
> "unique" so as not to give some confrontational types the idea
> that I am speaking of a perfectly unique sort. No -- Yes, I can
> see now that that WAS in fact  stupid of me. I shall simply
> replace unique with rare. I suppose I should also state firstly that
> I am not perfect. I'll add that too. That I can fuck up. Have done 
> it a lot. My bad for assuming that readers would just know that.
> And I thought that the form of my last sentence, and the :) at the
> end would convey that I was joking and intending to keep things
> light. Did I err there too? Must you hate me before I have truly 
> earned it?

Oh gee. Sorry I was too harsh. I *did* actually go on and read what
you wrote. I though it was pretty good - as adult fiction mind - NOT
as an intellectual case for atheism ;-). I enjoyed it. Ironically nothing 
else really poked me in the eye the same way because I adjusted to
the notion it wasn't what I'd expected and I didn't need to take it as
seriously. There are some flaws in my opinion - one in particular
struck me as internally inconsistent. The lack of regard for children
(generally) given John's own 'emergence' from pretty pedestrian
parents.
 
I'm not perfect either (obviously), we're all works in progress. It's
good to have errors pointed out I think and the Exi list is a great
place for getting and giving that sort of service. It need not always
be that fierce though you are right about that. 

Your main character seems reminiscent of John Galt by another
writer named Rand and the story contains some of what I saw as 
flaws in Atlas Shrugged and the Fountainhead, particularly the 
handling and status of children. (The eugenics case is not that
strong in my view). But this line about love "The highest love is
love of self. The next highest is love of someone who is nearly
identical to one's self -- an offspring, if in the past one has been
silly or reckless...." - This didn't work for me.

Regards,
Brett