re: #113 Absalom, Absalom, Obdicut

I think it’s driven by utter selfishness. If these people got out of their own heads for awhile and did things to actually help people, you know, be kind and stuff, that depression might lift significantly. Might take awhile, and they’d need support, but I’d bet, for most of them anyway, it would help. They need a community to replace the one they lost. That part is understandable. The selfishness of that ideology is damaging IMO, going the other direction couldn’t hurt. It appeals to assholes, if something doesn’t fill that void the person won’t ever change. Or they’ll feel stuck between the two worlds and be angry and act accordingly.

I was raised by right wing, evangelical, end of times believing, Amway selling parents. After I was an adult, I had one hell of a time accepting that not only was damn near everything they taught me about “how life works” bullshit, but there was never going to be the acceptance from them I craved. I don’t think I ever bought into the whole thing hook, line and sinker, I WANTED to, but I couldn’t. But it was hard to not be sad and I did a lot of dumb shit trying to make piece with everything. One key to that peace making was doing nice things when I could do them.

I can imagine how hard it is to recalculate, even if you know what you’re doing is wrongheaded. I think community is key, which is something a randian type might have trouble with at first.