[FreakLegion]

The hate is probably more directed at people who identify with Rand's writing than at Rand herself, for two reasons. First, in many people's experience, being a fan of Rand correlates strongly with being a bit player on the intellectual stage. That's been my experience, at any rate. And second, not only do the people who clothe themselves in Rand's way of thinking tend to be dull, but they tend to think -- and to insist as much to anyone who'll listen -- that they're terribly clever. It only takes a few encounters with such people to poison the well.