91–100 of 200 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Do you maybe just hate most of humanity?
It's kind of hard not to. I'm deeply suspicious of people who don't.
Some of them are actually pretty terrible, but I don't think that's a universal quality of humanity.
Competition. It's not that we really have to work that hard to produce a product or service. It's that we have to work really hard to beat the other people trying to do the same thing. Increased productivity doesn't help, because everybody is still running flat out to compete, at a higher level.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's kind of hard not to. I'm deeply suspicious of people who don't.
Have you tried empathy? Most people are just, y'know, doing their things. They have likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses. Some of them are actually pretty terrible, but I don't think that's a universal quality of humanity.
Excellent article; at 3,860 words, it's a bit long, but recommended. Here's a much shorter response, with more pathos: "Oh. And if your reading this while sitting in some darkened studio or edit suite agonizing over whether housewife A should pick up the soap powder with her left hand or her right, do yourself a favour. Power down. Lock up and go home and kiss your wife and kids." -- Linds Redding, "A Short Lesson in…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm also weirded out. Who wants to work? How can you not have as a life goal to not work? It sucks for the most part! As for Marx and Keynes and others, thinking about what people will do if they're freed of labour, have you SEEN youtube? People are not lacking ideas on things to do, quite the opposite!
My work is my life's dream. I did it for years as a hobby making no $ (losing money really) and worked terrible tech jobs I hated until I could switch the two. Now I work 80 hours per week but it feels like 5. So it's not work to me.
And what is it that you're are doing now? Must be really awesome if it's still enjoyable after 80 hours.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Nah, it's that folks who get their values from other folks are the only ones who bother to tell other folks how well they're doing at achieving their externally-gifted values. If your goal is to make a lot of money but you decided that was just your goal, why bother to tell anyone you've achieved it? (Indeed, it can be very counterproductive to tell other people.) If your goal is to be a good husband & father, then w…
Because there's a bit of a feedback loop with success. If others see you as being successful or impressive (on whatever axis they care about), this attracts them to you, and having a more admirers increases your social power and influence, which gives you more opportunities and better chances of success in your future efforts. This also explains patio11's formula for career success, which is basically: 10 Make someth…
> "this attracts them to you, and having a more admirers increases your social power and influence, which gives you more opportunities and better chances of success in your future efforts."
Reminds me of those "social climber" jokes about kids in high school. I guess if you've taken measure of yourself and found it matches up with the company you keep, there's nothing for anyone else to say.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Nah, it's that folks who get their values from other folks are the only ones who bother to tell other folks how well they're doing at achieving their externally-gifted values. If your goal is to make a lot of money but you decided that was just your goal, why bother to tell anyone you've achieved it? (Indeed, it can be very counterproductive to tell other people.) If your goal is to be a good husband & father, then w…
Interesting thoughts. To me, it has always seemed like, if I had something figured out, that had made me happy, i would WANT to share it, if it could help others. When people find a diet or an exercise regimen that works for them, they love to talk about it. I don't think it purely comes down to boasting. I agree that people with deeper wisdom will often be less eager to boast or force their values on others. But I a…
I'm curious: why did The Economist choose the name 1843 for its magazine? The About page doesn't say. Anybody know the significance of that year? Thanks.