tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post8420952744172535162..comments2024-03-19T07:48:54.021-06:00Comments on Gus Van Horn: That Sucking Sound ...Gus Van Hornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126749051688217781noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-82917219487025261992008-12-11T14:42:00.000-06:002008-12-11T14:42:00.000-06:00Thanks for the analogy. That is indeed a good way ...Thanks for the analogy. That is indeed a good way to think about this issue.Gus Van Hornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126749051688217781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-88876917667291919422008-12-11T14:05:00.000-06:002008-12-11T14:05:00.000-06:00The best way of understanding exactly how half-def...The best way of understanding exactly how half-defenders can do more damage than enemies, is to consider them as counterfeiters and diluters of our "brand".<BR/><BR/>On the one hand, since they are pushing something that closely resembles our ideas, there can be the temptation to look at them as allies.<BR/><BR/>But when their counterfeit ideas fail, it is *our* "product" that gets tagged with the failure. That can hurt a lot more than the criticisms of our enemies, especially if it happens near a possible tipping point, when we are poised to make some big headway somewhere or our profile has been raised by a big news story or somesuch -- it can cause damage that lasts for years.<BR/><BR/>That is why we have to exploit counterfeiters by exposing *them* at key moments. That is why we would and should target libertarians and conservatives when their profile is raised; we can distinguish our brand from their fakes, and tell people to "accept no imitations!"<BR/><BR/>Sure, we'll annoy those who might be sympathetic, but differ with us on some key principle. That's fine; those were never our customers in the first place.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-47376568662228021272008-12-10T16:47:00.000-06:002008-12-10T16:47:00.000-06:00You're missing my point in two different ways."The...You're missing my point in two different ways.<BR/><BR/>"<I>The worst enemies of freedom are those who actively make it impossible to stand up for the principles freedom requires, or those who actively stand against those principles (including by trying to water them down....</I>"<BR/><BR/>That category includes "activists" like Megan McArdle. It usually does not include average conformists, who just "go with the flow". Those latter are the only ones not in the way. And simply not being in the way is not really worthy of credit, as you seem to imply. And <B>refusing</B> to stand up for principles is always evil, for it implies that the issue has been made unavoidable.<BR/><BR/>Second, you seem to think I am saying that we should waste our time trying to convince the Megan McArdles of the world that we're right. That would be incorrect. I agree that we should move on past a certain point. Nevertheless, refuting such people can be useful in helping others (who are open to reason) understand errors in thinking that may be similar to their own.Gus Van Hornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126749051688217781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-34675177174415646292008-12-10T15:56:00.000-06:002008-12-10T15:56:00.000-06:00I’m not sure of that. Those who refuse to stand up...I’m not sure of that. Those who refuse to stand up for principles are at least leaving the way clear for those who will stand up for them. The worst enemies of freedom are those who actively make it impossible to stand up for the principles freedom requires, or those who actively stand against those principles (including by trying to water them down to make them more “palatable”).<BR/><BR/>I sometimes get a sense of futility regarding Objectivism. I know Objectivism is correct, but I cannot do other people’s thinking for them, so I am helpless when they decide to reject Objectivism for stupid reasons. I can try to point out why their reasons are not so good, but it is useless to do so when they are not listening. It is amazing how quickly people shut their ears, too.<BR/><BR/>Sometimes I think the best thing to do is go on strike and leave these people to the fates they have chosen for themselves.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-89646392522234159412008-12-09T12:16:00.000-06:002008-12-09T12:16:00.000-06:00Thanks. Yes, freedom's biggest enemies are those w...Thanks. Yes, freedom's biggest enemies are those who refuse to stand up for principles because "'the world' just doesn't work that way".Gus Van Hornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126749051688217781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-88835949578918443132008-12-09T10:53:00.000-06:002008-12-09T10:53:00.000-06:00Good post. I find Megan's posts to be often of th...Good post. I find Megan's posts to be often of the half-good/hlaf-bad variety, and I think I understand why. While she is a good writer and often makes good points, she is also a complete pragmatist. One does not often encountered someone so principled at being unpricipled.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com