Skipper: "and yes I do go to the range and blow off a lot of steam from time to time. No, I do not imagine blowing some creep away."

Respectfully, I think that using a firearm "to blow off a lot of steam" is what many folks fear. People can read "rage" into that. I think I know what you mean, however. To shoot well, I must relax and focus. In my experience, shooting is a mental skill. As with many mental skills, a calm and centered mind improves performance dramatically. Stress can lead to unpredictable results. If I need to focus and get something off my mind, the concentration required for a decent score often helps. At some point, perhaps I won't need the external activity to engage the focus, but for now...it often works.

I'm fairly sure that Wal-Mart didn't expect The Invisible Hand of the Market to have this effect, especially since they seemed to have it well handcuffed to the bedpost.

This mess is yet another example of why laissez-faire economics can't work, at least not now. It's another utopian dream that depends on people not being schmucks to each other. Where was the oversight?

But...but...9/11 changed EVERYTHING!!!

My goodness, Moonbat, you're a treat! I must have really bruised your ego! I really expected an individual who holds objectivism in such high regard to have a much better handle on these urges.

#31 Moonbat "It was the collectivists who allowed their egos to lead them around like puppets on strings."
#45 Moonbat "It all comes down to a mistaken priority placed on the ego." and "Mystic and collectivist systems do nothing more than allow the ego to run wild"

Tee Hee! I've not giggled like this at a post on BB for a few days. A guy disavows himself of his ego, (says it's "Mystic" or "collectivist"), yet allows himself to be led around by it into a series of defensive, angry, yet cleverly-worded, meta-discussions and expects to be taken seriously! Yesterday, I could give the guy the benefit of the doubt, but today, as I re-read the whole thread, it's just funny in an ironic sort of way.

"It's the online equivalent of picking scabs."

OK..Gotcha. Now I understand. You'd have a better chance (with me anyway) if your attitide were slightly less off-putting. You're obviously a smart guy with some valid points. It's a shame that people can't/won't see those through the attitude.

Moonbat knows nothing of my ego much less whether or not it was "bruised". His ego is quite evident, however.

"Do you know what happens when you address groupthink in politely vague terms? Nothing. Absolutely nothing happens."

Then why does Moonbat continue to tilt at windmills?

I think the veracity of Moonbat's comment, along with his assumptions of his own intellectual superiority, just made my point as to why no one other than himself is making the comments he makes. While I unterstand many of his comments, I certainly don't wish to be associated with his attitude. I made a statement that perhaps the pragmatic, non-idealisitc approach is somewhere in the middle and I get this response. Perhaps it isn't entirely the topic of discussion, but rather the manner in which Moonbat delivers his arguement that is cause for the resistance to it. Moonbat's button-pushing attitide, much like Ayn Rand herself, overwhelms the subject at times. He'd do well to remember that.

"Why is Moonbat the only one...?"

I can only answer for myself. Moonbat (and some others) seems to think very highly of his own intellectual superiority. I don't really know whether or not he actually believes these things to any extreme extent or he is simply holding an alternate view to add color to the discussion, but attitudes of singular enlightenment are enough to give me concern as to whether that particular individual actually posseses such enlightenment. Entering into a serious discussion with those (anyone) who cannot bear the possibility that they may be wrong is not going to lead anywhere productive. Extreme views are dangerous no matter who holds them. Perhaps a sprinkle of objectivism and collectivism is in order. We rely on greed and self-preservation as a motivating factor, however we also rely on each other. But...I could be wrong about that.