tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post2830745452402683653..comments2023-10-14T03:58:59.333-06:00Comments on The Tao of D&D: The Ayn Randian MeAlexis Smolenskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-88616921318874619092011-04-27T14:00:02.998-06:002011-04-27T14:00:02.998-06:00I'm battling with the urge to continue this th...I'm battling with the urge to continue this thread of thought against my better judgment due to a communication misstep I think is still occurring, so I will just offer this:<br /><br />I am on board with the battle against those who "dismiss, denegrate or deny knowledge"; my comment wasn't trying to denigrate knowledge. The Solipsist viewpoint is just absurd if taken to great lengths in my eyes.Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02363226867428219723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-14201411263328090162011-04-27T13:38:57.103-06:002011-04-27T13:38:57.103-06:00Don't envy me. I grew to be a violently passio...Don't envy me. I grew to be a violently passionate, intolerant being who responds viciously to the mildest off-handed comments like someone who hasn't taken his medication. It isn't generally understood that my reasons for being unpleasant stem from that steady, relentless pounding that tried so hard to get this wooden peg into that round hole. I therefore view every effort to dismiss, denegrate or deny knowledge as a personal battle to ensure that the thoughts I've read as written by those much smarter than I get their fair shake.<br /><br />Granted, I've scared off most people from commenting on this blog, but I can't help noticing that those who do comment here tend to make more personal statements, and that the things they have to say are more 'risky.' Like your admitting about your misspent youth, Anthony. I'd rather have a blog where people said real things than ordinary dropped phrases ... and this was why I went off on you.<br /><br />I know I shouldn't, and that's why I did say sorry. But I also know I should, if only to keep this blog from becoming the same cheesy love fest as most other D&D blogs on the net, where the first words on everyone's comment is "good post."<br /><br />I'd rather hear from people who said, "You're screwed in the head, and here's the fifteen things you've misrepresented about the facts. Point 1:" and so on.<br /><br />It makes for a more interesting afternoon.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-31151298198576462512011-04-27T13:10:21.984-06:002011-04-27T13:10:21.984-06:00That's ok, I just wanted to be clear I wasn...That's ok, I just wanted to be clear I wasn't trying to shit on your nifty post. <br /><br />Quite frankly, I am jealous you started so young. It took me many years of drug abuse and stereo-typical teenage stubbornness (Italian heritage an all) before I moved forward. The Apology, Montaigne, and even Thoreau helped me take that crucial first step.Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02363226867428219723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-85655552217255589482011-04-27T12:22:42.399-06:002011-04-27T12:22:42.399-06:00I really did say sorry.
That cliche just really, ...I really did say sorry.<br /><br />That cliche just really, really bugs me.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-29145208490410305072011-04-27T12:07:29.604-06:002011-04-27T12:07:29.604-06:00I think we had one of those text communication pro...I think we had one of those text communication problems. I'm not making an argument or trying to dismiss your post...<br /><br />Only offering an anecdote of some formative reading from my teenage years...<br /><br />Friends again? :)Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02363226867428219723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-23055400932357325342011-04-27T11:26:28.267-06:002011-04-27T11:26:28.267-06:00I understand perfectly that all knowledge is based...I understand perfectly that all knowledge is based on an assumption, but once that assumption is made the argument you posit is horseshit. Plato, pretending to be Socrates, wrote that in reference to a very specific philosophical circumstance, which doesn't apply here and it doesn't apply to skepticism. It is the throwaway bullshit line people say when they're too chickenshit to take a real position, and frankly I expected better of you.<br /><br />Sorry, that line gets under my skin. I didn't write 3,000 words about discovery and advancement of my character for you to dismiss it with one out-of-context cliche.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-2944779689104564522011-04-27T10:57:40.316-06:002011-04-27T10:57:40.316-06:00My first tangible encounter with skepticism would ...My first tangible encounter with skepticism would be a simultaneous reading of the Apology and Montaigne. So that puts me somewhere close to "What do I know, except that my only wisdom is in knowing that I know nothing."Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02363226867428219723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-13428192551400775542011-04-27T10:56:05.961-06:002011-04-27T10:56:05.961-06:00I apologize. I only saw the potential sarcasm aft...I apologize. I only saw the potential sarcasm after seeing your answer. Limitations of text only communication.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-52744838040067947352011-04-27T10:50:09.402-06:002011-04-27T10:50:09.402-06:00Ok, I rewrote that comment a few times trying to d...Ok, I rewrote that comment a few times trying to decide if you meant that comment as sarcasm or straight. I ultimately settled on a light/bad joke as a response.Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02363226867428219723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-32545131168054302142011-04-27T10:40:02.105-06:002011-04-27T10:40:02.105-06:00Sorry, Anthony, that might have been taken as sarc...Sorry, Anthony, that might have been taken as sarcastic. I meant that it actually was nice that you quoted a sceptic at me.<br /><br />I wonder, though, if you really have a handle on this skepticism thing.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-20760382696436517322011-04-27T10:33:23.394-06:002011-04-27T10:33:23.394-06:00Skepticism is what drives me to learn, more so tha...Skepticism is what drives me to learn, more so than curiosity at many points in my life. I'm rarely satisfied with the bullshit people try to feed me, so off I go to produce my own bullshit :DAnthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02363226867428219723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-83426700077847961062011-04-26T15:00:50.329-06:002011-04-26T15:00:50.329-06:00Jovial,
I was going to rush out and buy V, but I ...Jovial,<br /><br />I was going to rush out and buy V, but I heard there were technical issues with it, the game was too easy and that the company was planning some kind of patch.<br /><br />The Civilization Posts I write are based on Civ IV.<br /><br />ckutulik,<br /><br />The reason I don't get as many comments is largely, I'd guess, the number of people who have sworn off commenting to punish me for deleting comments, and because I'm not a nice person. I've had several explain this to me. All the more reason to be surprised I'm still being read.<br /><br />Arduin,<br /><br />The compliment is much appreciated.<br /><br />Anthony,<br /><br />Way to quote a skeptic at me. Very nice.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-32335384864449464382011-04-26T14:44:38.899-06:002011-04-26T14:44:38.899-06:00An insightful and deep post Alexis. I'll ruin ...An insightful and deep post Alexis. I'll ruin the tone by asking a banal question, that will hopefully, for that is its intent, bring a smile to your face; what version of Civilization do you play?The Jovial Priesthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00160018433070823408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-47344149214837861062011-04-26T14:04:19.596-06:002011-04-26T14:04:19.596-06:00"And all the more surprising since in the las..."And all the more surprising since in the last three days I've had 3 comments."<br /><br />I had worked on, but threw into the ever-growing slush pile, a follow-up post to "Why Blog?" called "Why Comment?". To this day I am mystified why some posts generate large numbers of comments, and others don't. <br /><br />There are the obvious factors: asking open questions, hitting a theme that resonates with your audience, staying within the ADD word count range of modern readers, yadda yadda. <br /><br />But still I could point to half a dozen or more posts that had those and only a dribble of comments--and another half dozen where I broke all these rules and received a metric crap ton of comments. <br /><br />Your steady traffic, not the comments, should be your indicator that people are paying attention. You might not be a fuzzy little pussycat, but man can you write.<br /><br />Funny about the almanac business, I was obsessed with the same about that age.Chris Kutalikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01414743509426875792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-11037483752762147752011-04-26T12:05:15.516-06:002011-04-26T12:05:15.516-06:00I started reading this post terrified that you'...I started reading this post terrified that you'd be a Rand junkie.<br /><br />I left reassured of my initial impression of you and your blog, Alexis.<br /><br />Best goddamn thing to ever happen to roleplaying.Pandredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03917809464727878157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-92103656606607978672011-04-26T10:38:09.211-06:002011-04-26T10:38:09.211-06:00Right on...
"There is no pleasure to me with...Right on...<br /><br />"There is no pleasure to me without communication: there is not so much as a sprightly thought comes into my mind that it does not grieve me to have produced alone, and that I have no one to tell it to."Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02363226867428219723noreply@blogger.com