201–210 of 511 posts
I don't get why that's a problem? They already built their platform, it works, they're the gold standard and they have a massive paying userbase! Why do they need VC money? Why would you want to dilute your stock rather than just build with your already existing, sizeable revenue stream?
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It's important to point out that this is a natural consequence of a market system, and it's exacerbated by allowing capital to rule those markets. Until we recognize that, we're not going to be able to fix it. One can't just declare that "If only the market were truly free, it wouldn't be like this." We've seen this play out on the freest market that has ever existed (the early internet) and we ended up in the exact…
It's late stage capitalism. It's how all 'free markets' end up eventually. The biggest players gobbling up all of the competition and essentially having a monopoly. All you have to do is drive through middle america to see the Ruby Tuesday/Strip Mall-ification effect on most of the United States. I love capitalism when it's functioning it's the greatest system ever invented. When it's just a market full of monopolies…
It's going to get so much worse. Years from now you'll look back at the 2020s and think "I though THAT was the late stage? Boy I had no idea."
There's a libertarian ethos that says anything between two consenting adults is the their business. I'm more and more skeptical not just of that principle but the self awareness of the people who purport to support it. I know that the choices I think are correct may not be - either for myself, for everyone or for any particular person. For that reason I don't think that anyone should run my life or that I should be t…
I think that is friends/family/social pressure is for. We don't forbid it, but people will look at you sideways if you drink beer at 9 am on a weekday.
I also don't think the example you provided is a very good one. Perhaps a better example might be extreme cosmetic surgery (&/or body modification) addicts. Or maybe I should say 'enthusiasts'.
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"As for the pair-bonding thing, it reads like it came out of a bible pamphlet. "This idea feels right, and is consistent with my ideology, so it must be right"." Why do you think that? There are objective reasons for parents sticking together - success of the child and the economics of being in a pair tend to positive things. Although I will say that I don't know of any resources that investigate these on things like…
Sex isn't what makes people partners...
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>On one hand, I think that the free market would create payment processors willing to work with the groups rejected by others. These already exist and are sometimes known as "high risk" processors. They charge a lot more for the privilege of accepting payments for what industry has deem high risk transactions due to larger rates of chargebacks. Typical examples are paid subscription to a porn site, but then the card…
"They charge a lot more for the privilege of accepting payments for what industry has deem high risk transactions due to larger rates of chargebacks." If they're doing lower volume and dealing with higher costs related to chargebacks, then it seems it would make sense they charge more. What is it, like 3% vs 6% or worse?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's late stage capitalism. It's how all 'free markets' end up eventually. The biggest players gobbling up all of the competition and essentially having a monopoly. All you have to do is drive through middle america to see the Ruby Tuesday/Strip Mall-ification effect on most of the United States. I love capitalism when it's functioning it's the greatest system ever invented. When it's just a market full of monopolies…
> It's late stage capitalism. It's going to get so much worse. Years from now you'll look back at the 2020s and think "I though THAT was the late stage? Boy I had no idea."
Earlier quoted context omitted.
"They charge a lot more for the privilege of accepting payments for what industry has deem high risk transactions due to larger rates of chargebacks." If they're doing lower volume and dealing with higher costs related to chargebacks, then it seems it would make sense they charge more. What is it, like 3% vs 6% or worse?
Like 3% vs 12%
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Ironically, the issues you list would be best solved with a professional prostitution industry and regulatory committee running the show. As for the pair-bonding thing, it reads like it came out of a bible pamphlet. "This idea feels right, and is consistent with my ideology, so it must be right" .
"As for the pair-bonding thing, it reads like it came out of a bible pamphlet. "This idea feels right, and is consistent with my ideology, so it must be right"." Why do you think that? There are objective reasons for parents sticking together - success of the child and the economics of being in a pair tend to positive things. Although I will say that I don't know of any resources that investigate these on things like…