re: #236 marjoriemoon

I would say, however, that Ayn is special for sure. It would be too scary if more people thought like her.

As a serious point, who many thousands of novels are avidly read by millions of women that have the following plot elements:

She is a strong willed free spirited and thoughtful girl, in some sort of a class system society.

He is the dashing rogue that at first she hates (but secretly likes, though she can’t justify it).

He finally breaks her will, in the heat of passion, rips off her bodice, tears her knickers (or what ever period appropriate clothing destruction is called for) and ravishes her.

Of course that is a rape fantasy.

It is a cleaned up and voluntary rape fantasy - cleaned up and voluntary being the key words rape fantasy.

This in of itself is neither good nor bad, right nor wrong, purple or green, or anything that could have a judgement associated with it. It also transcends gender. There are plenty of men - and I absolutely do not get it, but I can see that they exist - who want a “mean mommy” to put them in their place.

The point is that as soon as someone gets starry eyed about the phrase (s)he swept me off my feet, they are talking a language of surrender and power exchange. This is just human nature. Again, nothing good, bad or right or wrong. It is part of how many, if not most, people think when they do the nasty.

What is a problem is the loss of notions of voluntary. Or the notion that the “rapist” has the “right” to do the raping. That is what the problem with Ayn Rand is.