Reading all this Ayn Rand drama helped me articulate the idea that
the only way to really be logical is to pursue emotional intelligence.
We have emotions, and we're going to have them no matter what we tell
ourselves. If we ignore them, then we'll make all kinds of decisions
that we think are based on logic, but aren't really. The emotions will
try to break out of us no matter what we do; and in the process, break
us.
Ayn Rand was a little dictator, and her pursuit of pure reason made herself and everyone around her unhappy.
Aside
from my creativity, I can be pretty left brained. I like things to fit,
I like answers, I like congruity, I like figuring shit out. Reading Ayn
Rand's biographies, back in the day, reminded me that it's not possible
to operate on pure logic. And for all our divided-braininess, our
reason and emotions aren't totally divorced from each other. After all
our most basic emotions are part of the ancient lizard part of our
brain, and it evolved for the only purpose of survival. Eg. We follow
the herd because the herd if usually right. We bully people different
from ourselves, because in a close-to-the-bone existence difference can
threaten the survival of the group. We feel mad, passionate feelings of
love because it encourages procreation.
It's good that
we can temper these reactions through a more modern reason-based lens;
cause that reason is also a good survival mechanism. Protecting people
who have original ideas and creative solutions helps you compete for
resources; but you can't lessen bullying unless you acknowledge it
exists, and understand why.
...I think I still have one more point to make. Stay tuned.
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