Help me help my co-worker

Nylonathetep

2 Days ago My co-worker bought a book into his office. It's Ayn Rand's "Fountainhead". I told him it's an awful book and "Atlas Shrugged" is even worst. He thinks the book is awesome! What must I do to change his mind and sway him from the evil that is Ayn Rand?

Fyndir

You could always just let your co-worker read whatever he likes and accept that your subjective opinion of a book, or author, is not something that should be forced onto others.

TychoCelchuuu

If your coworker isn't able to figure out for himself what is wrong with Ayn Rand, your arguments, no matter how masterfully crafted, are not going to do the trick. Just chill out.

Sentry

I think this...
is the preferred method of dealing with these people

Drez

Well, it's Objectivism that's awful. The Fountainhead itself is a somewhat competent novel. I enjoyed it, even though I disagree with and dislike Objectivism. I know it's hard to distinguish the two but the novel itself is interesting even if the message sucks. I assume your problem is that he has taken the message to heart, and agrees with it. Which is, of course, a legitimate concern of yours.

However, if you're really asking how to stop your coworker from being a Libertarian, I'm not sure what to say except don't bother. Seriously. You might as well try to knock a brick wall down by pissing on it.

Fuzzy Cumulonimbus Cloud

I find it helpful to remind them that Randianism is for 18 year olds who don't know any better, and that they should know better. I am some sort of weird anti-libertarian preacher, though.

MetroidZoid

Fyndir wrote:

You could always just let your co-worker read whatever he likes and accept that your subjective opinion of a book, or author, is not something that should be forced onto others.

This. I'm gonna go with this.

see317

MetroidZoid wrote:

Fyndir wrote:

You could always just let your co-worker read whatever he likes and accept that your subjective opinion of a book, or author, is not something that should be forced onto others.

This. I'm gonna go with this.

Another vote in the "Fyndir is right" column.
If you feel you must interfere, I recommend you loan your co-worker a book that has a viewpoint more in line with your world view. Obviously, he likes to read, so he's probably used to people coming up and saying "hey this book is pretty good too...".

Thro

Have him play the first Bioshock.

Modern Man

I'm going to say that the workplace is not really an appropriate place to discuss politics. Unless your co-worker is actively bugging you about it, his reading choices are none of your business.

MKR

It's dangerous to go alone. Take this. Call it a Christmas present. You'll have a hard time doing better than Sagan at teaching the reasoning that will guide your coworker out of the darkness.

Don't even do it as a response to anything. "I thought you might be interested in this" is enough. Non-confrontational is best for stuff like this.

TychoCelchuuu

MKR wrote:

It's dangerous to go alone. Take this. Call it a Christmas present. You'll have a hard time doing better than Sagan at teaching the reasoning that will guide your coworker out of the darkness.

Don't even do it as a response to anything. "I thought you might be interested in this" is enough. Non-confrontational is best for stuff like this.

Scientific reasoning is never going to get you out of believing in Randian Objectivism/libertarianism. It's a moral theory, not something that can be disproved by saying "show me the scientific evidence" or anything like that. It's perfectly easy to read both The Demon Haunted World and Atlas Shrugged and agree with everything they say 100% (and in fact many people have probably done so).

Deebaser

Modern Man wrote:

I'm going to say that the workplace is not really an appropriate place to discuss politics. Unless your co-worker is actively bugging you about it, his reading choices are none of your business.

:^:
Let him enjoy his horrible reading list in peace.

Gaslight

Modern Man wrote:

I'm going to say that the workplace is not really an appropriate place to discuss politics. Unless your co-worker is actively bugging you about it, his reading choices are none of your business.

A thousand times this.

The office is not the place to be a sanctimonious busybody who tries to bring everyone enlightenment by browbeating them out of any preference or opinion you consider to be wrong. Actually, there is no place to be that.

I am not saying that is necessarily what you are. But when you see a person you barely know reading a book which espouses views you happen to disagree with and your immediate instinct is to solicit advice on how to "help" the poor soul by correcting his benighted tastes, that is the road you are headed down.

Nylonathetep

I want to thank everyone for their insightful feedback.

It's nothing serious and I was more trying to strike up some office banter. I don't think either of us feel too strongly about it.


Say... anyone notice that our avatar and the Post a reply Blue bar is melting? Who Runs this cheap forum anyways?

MKR

Nylonathetep wrote:

I want to thank everyone for their insightful feedback.

It's nothing serious and I was more trying to strike up some office banter. I don't think either of us feel too strongly about it.


Say... anyone notice that our avatar and the Post a reply Blue bar is melting? Who Runs this cheap forum anyways?

Their insurance company said they could have frozen death spires hanging over the forum. Who would pass that opportunity up?