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

theatlantic.com

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

#151

Post by throwaway553321 »

koonsolo wrote: post #103
aaronbrethorst wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

Passing on wealth to your children is part of the game. Or did you think the game ends after 1 generation?

> Unless by "good at the game" you refer to the skill of dropping out of the right vagina, like royalists do.

And some people are born athletically gifted, or extremely attractive, or with very high IQ and a temperament for grit.

There are lottery winners that lose everything in a few years.

Just because you are born into money, doesn’t mean you will succeed.

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

#152

Post by koheripbal »

jjeaff wrote: post #56

I agree with the premise of this article. That armchair quarterbacking is rarely helpful and usually oversimplified. But I dislike the common implication in the headline, which is that intelligence somehow always equates to wealth. First of all, it's not always easy to judge how wealthy another person is, no matter their profession or outward appearance. Secondly, I think we all need to disuade ourselves of the notio…

Would you agree that higher intelligence equates to a greater likelihood of wealth over the long run (lifetime)?

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

#154

Post by eeZah7Ux »

lotsofpulp wrote: post #107
Maxion wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One key thing about the game is the definition of "being ahead", and in a way, the meaning you want your life to have. If the definition of being ahead is to work in upper management, or at trendy FAANG making a large amount of money then you are kind-of forced to play the game in order to "get ahead". However, if your version of getting ahead is to have a loving family, or to spend time on the hobbies you like or tr…

> I'm still working on finding my balance, but I've learned that I enjoy life much more when I'm doing something where I can spend less time playing the game, even if that comes with a large decrease in income and "prestige". Unfortunately in the US, if you don’t play the game, you have greatly reduced access to healthcare, which is a huge incentive to play the game especially if you have kids.

This is not simply "unfortunate", it's done on purpose.

People who are not able or willing to earn money under the existing economic system are denied food, housing, clothing, healthcare, legal representation...

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

#155

Post by thdrdt »

TheOtherHobbes wrote: post #123
thdrdt wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 po…

> different teams thinking for a long time is absolutely no guarantee of a successful outcome

Of course it is no guarantee for success. But an outsider has absolutely no clue about what was discussed and what the politics were. So I think it is naive to make comments like "this is never going to work", or "removing the headphone jack will bring Apple down".

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

#156

Post by lazyjones »

mD5pPxMcS6fVWKE wrote: post #134
lazyjones wrote: post #100

I love the way people who consider themselves smart rationalize their lack of success/wealth, including here. - I don't want to be wealthy anyway - To be wealthy you have to be ruthless and I prefer to be nice - smart people are so busy with issues much more important than money - wealthy people are just lucky idiots - wealthy people are just idiots who are better at exploiting other idiots - people who are wealthy s…

I am wealthy, but I admit I'm an idiot who just got lucky. And I believe that the majority of wealth comes from pure luck. Come one, you get born in USA and you salary for the same job is automatically 10 times higher than if you were born in India.

> I am wealthy, but I admit I'm an idiot who just got lucky.

Did you win the lottery?

> And I believe that the majority of wealth comes from pure luck.

People believe all kinds of weird things.

> born in USA and you salary for the same job is automatically 10 times higher than if you were born in India.

And the threshold for being considered wealthy is also 10 times higher. What is your point?

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

#157

Post by gmtx725 »

kolleykibber wrote: post #148
stjo wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

Generally, happiness is a reward from doing what your genes want you to do. The greatest happiness therefore, should be found in the process of breeding and caring for offspring. Social status (consumption, skills and achievements) helps you secure higher quality mates and offers greater security to your offspring. That's why gaining social status, feels worthwhile, but without kids it feels a bit empty. Before kids,…

overly reductive evolutionary psychology 101 but ok...

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

#158

Post by splintercell »

im3w1l wrote: post #118
koonsolo wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Passing on wealth to your children is part of the game. Or did you think the game ends after 1 generation?

Now you are moving the goalposts from singular they are good at the game, to their family as a collective is good at the game. A statement perfectly compatible with that particular family member being an idiot.

Success is not guaranteed just because someone was sent to an Ivy League school by his rich parents.

This is the blank slate fallacy where people believe (for political correctness reasons) that any kid had same chance of success if he was given the same opportunity as the success of kids.

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

#159

Post by rubidium »

krapp wrote: post #146
jmeister wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Trump is a world-class salesman. And this skill is more about instinct than cerebral/deep thinking, which is why nerds “just don’t get it”. Check Scott Adams’ writing on Trump’s persuasion abilities.

>Trump is a world-class salesman. When did Mexico agree to pay for the wall?

That’s part of the pitch. He’s not selling to Mexico.

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

#160

Post by Haga »

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...

For lots of money you have to rewrite your personality, loose interest in anything not related to money and you loose the ability to do pure good in the world without a return of power, money or status.
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