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A lot of “idiotic” things have reasonable explanations (2011)

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Re: A lot of “idiotic” things have reasonable explanations (2011)

#121

Post by thdrdt »

bergstromm466 wrote: post #115
thdrdt wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Aren't there universal measurements for leaders/counties? For example the Bible has a lot of wisdom like: 'If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.' This was already written some 2000 years ago and has been proven true over time. So I would argue you could measure the amount of unity a leader tries to create.

> So I would argue you could measure the amount of unity a leader tries to create. That’s a nice one. Yet do you think then Hitler might be a good leader? (not a joke). He united the white German population in a time of great economic disarray - in both Germany and Europe. Maybe we should measure unity and cooperation with other countries? Global solidarity

You have got a good point but I doubt it is true because a lot of Germans were against Hitler.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_resistance_to_Nazism

Re: A lot of “idiotic” things have reasonable explanations (2011)

#122

Post by koheripbal »

TheOtherHobbes wrote: post #113
Ma8ee wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And that many smart people have better things to do with their time than making more money. I have everything I need and really want. I much rather play with my three year old son in the garden than being able to afford a new Tesla.

See also: "If you're really so smart, why do you care so much about being rich?"

Because have lots of money gives you the economic power to survive adversity, pursue interests that are more fulfilling, do more good in the world, etc...

Re: A lot of “idiotic” things have reasonable explanations (2011)

#123

Post by TheOtherHobbes »

thdrdt wrote: post #64
AbrahamParangi wrote: post #4

Whenever you see someone who you believe to be an idiot succeeding, it usually means they're really good at the game and you don't even understand what the game is .

Today information is so easy to get that a lot of people think they know everything about every subject. But, like you said, reading the rules of the game does not mean you know how to play. When a company like Netflix launches a new product it is possible they thought about this with different teams for a long time. Then it's very naive to comment on the internet to say they are wrong and made a stupid mistake.

No, it isn't. Anyone who has been involved in corporate decision making knows that different teams thinking for a long time is absolutely no guarantee of a successful outcome - or even of a barely functional one.

Companies make stupid mistakes all the time. When you're in the trenches there's a certain amount of group think, and issues that may be obvious to outsiders may be invisible and/or suppressed by internal politics.

Of course Internet comments may be naive and wrong for other reasons. But that's a different question.

Re: A lot of “idiotic” things have reasonable explanations (2011)

#125

Post by joeberon »

stjo wrote: post #120
Ma8ee wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And that many smart people have better things to do with their time than making more money. I have everything I need and really want. I much rather play with my three year old son in the garden than being able to afford a new Tesla.

TIL: Didn’t know I was stupid for having different goals than starting a family. In non mockery voice: I think there is nothing wrong in being smart and perusing academic titles, wealth or recognition. Can’t I be happy travelling the world because I have so much passive income that I don’t care how much I spend? Can’t I be happy running megacorporation without a child?

If that makes you happy then fine, but it's wrong to assume that it's the ultimate goal for everyone to be mega rich. Honestly it's a very common mistake for people to be totally sure that everyone in the world desires to be rich and famous

Re: A lot of “idiotic” things have reasonable explanations (2011)

#126

Post by tonyedgecombe »

ramraj07 wrote: post #16

What's ironic to me is (IMO) Netflix is probably the shrewdest big company in existence now. Hastings has dominated not one but two markets, the second obviously larger and more insurmountable than the first. Almost Every single decision they make (including and especially ones that make customers unhappy, like their shitty browsing experience) seems so calculated and thoughtful it's just amazing. Even I thought Disn…

Disney plus is different, great if you have young kids but slim pickings for adults. There isn't a huge overlap with Netflix.

Re: A lot of “idiotic” things have reasonable explanations (2011)

#127

Post by coob »

stjo wrote: post #120
Ma8ee wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And that many smart people have better things to do with their time than making more money. I have everything I need and really want. I much rather play with my three year old son in the garden than being able to afford a new Tesla.

TIL: Didn’t know I was stupid for having different goals than starting a family. In non mockery voice: I think there is nothing wrong in being smart and perusing academic titles, wealth or recognition. Can’t I be happy travelling the world because I have so much passive income that I don’t care how much I spend? Can’t I be happy running megacorporation without a child?

An expression of one's own values doesn't have to imply a judgement of others, especially if they're about what makes one happy.

Re: A lot of “idiotic” things have reasonable explanations (2011)

#128

Post by koheripbal »

aaronbrethorst wrote: post #13
AbrahamParangi wrote: post #4

Whenever you see someone who you believe to be an idiot succeeding, it usually means they're really good at the game and you don't even understand what the game is .

Or their family donated enough money to an Ivy to have a building named after them.

I think you just proved his point. Going to an ivy league school does not make you successful.

There are many many unemployed useless Stanford, MIT, Harvard graduates in this world.

Re: A lot of “idiotic” things have reasonable explanations (2011)

#129

Post by Johnjonjoan »

stjo wrote: post #120
Ma8ee wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And that many smart people have better things to do with their time than making more money. I have everything I need and really want. I much rather play with my three year old son in the garden than being able to afford a new Tesla.

TIL: Didn’t know I was stupid for having different goals than starting a family. In non mockery voice: I think there is nothing wrong in being smart and perusing academic titles, wealth or recognition. Can’t I be happy travelling the world because I have so much passive income that I don’t care how much I spend? Can’t I be happy running megacorporation without a child?

Of course you can. True happiness is something that can't be controlled. So anyone who tells you you can't be happy doing a particular thing isn't right.

Granted there are some things we shouldn't be happy doing but I think that we all know what they are and it goes without saying.

Re: A lot of “idiotic” things have reasonable explanations (2011)

#130

Post by theelous3 »

koheripbal wrote: post #122
TheOtherHobbes wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

See also: "If you're really so smart, why do you care so much about being rich?"

Because have lots of money gives you the economic power to survive adversity, pursue interests that are more fulfilling, do more good in the world, etc...

Do more of your version of good ;)

Lots of rich well intentioned people doing harmful good. A tangent, I know.

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