[CamperBob]

It's not so much that other people dislike her ideas, but that otherwise-eloquent people react so violently to them that they fail to counter those ideas effectively. The emo philosophy majors who reflexively disparage objectivism and libertarianism in general don't seem to understand that Rand is the monster that Nietzsche warned them about. They end up making themselves look like overindulged children in any online thread where someone brings up the topic. They literally sound just like the gay-bashing Christian politicians who are later caught conducting their own "services" in a public restroom.

Whenever I find myself reacting so defensively to an idea or concept, I try to force myself to look into the matter more closely. Put another way: if Ayn Rand can hold up a rhetorical crucifix and turn me into a puddle of fuming goo, that's my weakness, and not hers.

[maxharris]

monster that Nietzsche warned them about

My philosophy professor (from undergrad) is a Nietzsche scholar, and I'm pretty sure he disagrees. What makes you think this?

[CamperBob]

I'm just referring to the old cliche about taking care when you fight monsters ("objectivist derp"), lest you become what you despise.

It's obviously not precisely what ol' Fred had in mind.