[johnfjacobi]

But many people don't realize that this kind of idiosyncratic asshole-ishness is how a lot of successful rebels / revolutionaries work, cultural and political.

Lenin is a great example, and the most illustrative for me because I spent so much time studying him. The man was factionalistic to the point of absurdity. Always he was dreaming of a new epithet to throw: economism, leftism, opportunism, etc. But because of this he insulated a radical minority and made them disloyal to anything but the ideology he was using to direct their political action. And in the end it worked.

Steve Jobs did a similar thing, but I'm sure I don't have to explain that one here.

[ArkyBeagle]

"...And in the end it worked."

While I have an idea of what you mean, I'd reexamine that conclusion. It worked for a while. IMO, the Soviet system wasn't sustainable until Khrushchev - Beria and Stalin were constantly trying to figure out when the other was going to murder them.

I think the pathology in play for Lenin and Stalin was akin to eliminationism on a smaller scale - once someone became "othered", they were pretty much destined for one behind the ear.

[johnfjacobi]

I don't mean that communism worked, but that Lenin achieved what he wanted as far as actual revolution is concerned. What you said is true though, and I think it has to do with the problems inherent in trying to "plan a society."