Ayn Rand and trading...

Zachpence · Jan 7, 2009

I'd be interested to know how many traders have been influenced by Ayn and how her philosophy has impacted your trading or "metaphysical" outlook on the markets/capitalism/trading? I was just reading "Capitalism: the Unknown Ideal" and wondered.

Ahhh... Rational self-interest.

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum... I didn't think it was very religious or political. Feel free to move it.

Szeven · Jan 7, 2009

I read atlas shrugged last summer, but i dont think it affected what i did in my trading. All it did was make me angry watching the fags in charge give out the producers money to the incompetent.

jnbadger · Jan 7, 2009

Quote from Szeven:

I read atlas shrugged last summer, but i dont think it affected what i did in my trading. All it did was make me angry watching the fags in charge give out the producers money to the incompetent.

Damn. I just started reading it. It reads like very good poetry so far. (about 50 pages in)

But this makes me want to put it down and reread something from George Will or Limbaugh.

Regardless, it will not change my trading.

Thunderdog · Jan 7, 2009

Quote from jnbadger:

Damn. I just started reading it. It reads like very good poetry so far...

Please tell me you're joking. It is a poorly written, repetitive and two-dimensional diatribe. Perhaps you may (somehow) agree with the substance, but surely you cannot agree with the form...

nonlinear5 · Jan 7, 2009

Quote from Thunderdog:

It is a poorly written, repetitive and two-dimensional diatribe.

That could be. However, "Atlas Shrugged" was found as the "second most influential book for Americans today" (after The Bible), according to a survey conducted by the Library of Congress.

Szeven · Jan 7, 2009

Quote from Thunderdog:

Please tell me you're joking. It is a poorly written, repetitive and two-dimensional diatribe. Perhaps you may (somehow) agree with the substance, but surely you cannot agree with the form...

I would agree with most of that. It was painfully repetitive, and by two-dimensional, i would assume you mean the good-evil 'struggle' that is hardly fair. The good characters are smart, dynamic, forward thinking, good looking, whereas the evil characters are dumb, static, unable to think, and generally sloppy.

I thought overall it was very entertaining and had a lot of good 'theory' if you could call it that, but i think at 500 pages it could have been a lot better.

Thunderdog · Jan 7, 2009

Quote from nonlinear5:

That could be. However, "Atlas Shrugged" was found as the "second most influential book for Americans today" (after The Bible), according to a survey conducted by the Library of Congress.

As measured by weight?

And, please, don't get me started on the bible...

Thunderdog · Jan 7, 2009

Quote from Szeven:

I would agree with most of that. It was painfully repetitive, and by two-dimensional, i would assume you mean the good-evil 'struggle' that is hardly fair. The good characters are smart, dynamic, forward thinking, good looking, whereas the evil characters are dumb, static, unable to think, and generally sloppy.

I thought overall it was very entertaining and had a lot of good 'theory' if you could call it that, but i think at 500 pages it could have been a lot better.

500 pages? I thought it would have made a good short story at bedtime for insomniacs. But that's just me.

I think her book was over the top and a knee-jerk reaction to her aversion to communism. I dislike communism as much as the next guy. However, I don't think that the solution to one extreme is the opposite extreme.

jnbadger · Jan 7, 2009

Quote from Thunderdog:

Please tell me you're joking. It is a poorly written, repetitive and two-dimensional diatribe. Perhaps you may (somehow) agree with the substance, but surely you cannot agree with the form...

Like I said, I'm only 50 pages in. I'm impressed with her writing style so far.

As far as the library of congress survey goes, I don't consider that to be a good thing.

ak15 · Jan 7, 2009

Quote from Thunderdog:

Please tell me you're joking. It is a poorly written, repetitive and two-dimensional diatribe. Perhaps you may (somehow) agree with the substance, but surely you cannot agree with the form...

I can't say I agree with either form or substance of the tome in question or any of her other lengthy books for that matter. A woman who rigidly and steadfastly lived in a world of her own and believed erroneously in the infallibility of her philosophy.