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Zuckerberg hunkers down in Hawaii to wait out apocalypse

theregister.com

21–30 of 53 posts

Re: Zuckerberg hunkers down in Hawaii to wait out apocalypse

#21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It was as totally different scenario ? The fiefdoms weren’t living through the apocalypse and had something to offer? Zuck will have nothing to offer when the money is worthless.

Food, shelter, fear, and 'hope' can retain a lot of servants. The life outside the compound may be less attractive than pulling weeds on the inside.

Until someone with a weapon realizes they can probably still have all those things without the rich asshole and his family to feed and take care of.

Re: Zuckerberg hunkers down in Hawaii to wait out apocalypse

#22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is he worried about? Civil war?

It's just a guess, but if there's one thing super rich people have been scared of throughout history, it's an uprising.

Yep. Super rich people have a strong tendency to abuse everyone else (often without even realizing that what they do is abusive), and if you abuse people enough then sooner or later they're going to try to kill you, because there isn't any other way to make the abuse stop.

Re: Zuckerberg hunkers down in Hawaii to wait out apocalypse

#23

This is touched on in the article, but I never understood why billionaires think that they’ll be able to ride this out. They’ll likely be the number one targets of armed mobs or other looters (or even sovereign nations armed with nuclear weapons themselves), since it’s no secret where most of these well-stocked self-sustaining bases are (since they won’t stop talking about how they _have_ them). But more importantly:…

That's the model that worked for kingdoms, dukedoms and fiefdoms for ages, I don't know why you think it wouldn't work now. The hierarchy establishes itself under a figure they feel will protect them and keep them safe. It's a personality cult. They work. Don't ask me why, but they do.

And for ages, those kingdoms, dukedoms and fiefdoms had revolts, revolutions and displacements. I don't know why you think they wouldn't in the future.

Zuck and the rest aren't trying to become a 'figure they feel will protect them and keep them safe', they're building fortresses so when SHTF they won't be bothered with the rabble.

Re: Zuckerberg hunkers down in Hawaii to wait out apocalypse

#24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It was as totally different scenario ? The fiefdoms weren’t living through the apocalypse and had something to offer? Zuck will have nothing to offer when the money is worthless.

Food, shelter, fear, and 'hope' can retain a lot of servants. The life outside the compound may be less attractive than pulling weeds on the inside.

fiefdoms only work under specific material conditions. assuming we're referencing Europe, part of those conditions include cultural and economic isolation. even if the current global order collapsed violently, nobody is starting from scratch. especially for the first couple of generations, people will remember that there is a wide world out there. people now at least have been exposed to the idea of governing through consent and basic democratic principles. these guys are talking about putting shock collars on their body guards. they aren't going to be kings after the end of the world, they can't even imagine having loyal bodyguards

Re: Zuckerberg hunkers down in Hawaii to wait out apocalypse

#25
post #10

This is rational. The odds of disaster are >10%, if history is any indicator. We had two world wars in the last century, for example. Events happen. Past doesn't predict future, but there are dozens things which can go wrong. If I had $100B, it would make sense, from purely an expected value perspective, to invest up to perhaps $10B preparing. An expected value perspective isn't the right way of looking at this, but…

Spending $3 isn't the same as taking $3 worth of meals from someone's mouth. This is true whether it's done ten or a billion times.

It depends on your moral philosophy.

To give an extreme, hedonistic utilitarianism says it is.

I'm not that extreme, but there are limits to what I'll spend money on, in light of the opportunity cost of helping others. Sending my kid to college for the equivalent of providing full cost-of-living to a thousand people for 200 days? Gladly.

Buy a car for the same amount? No matter my income, I wouldn't do it. It's a frivolous expense in comparison.

I'm not trying to push my philosophy on anyone, but at some point, almost everyone will agree that e.g. spending a billion dollars on a party, while your home is surrounded by starving people, without thinking to help them would be crass and immoral.

Re: Zuckerberg hunkers down in Hawaii to wait out apocalypse

#26
And the local people will be tricked into doing basic yardwork in order to live in a shielded zuck bunker. The yardwork giving us purpose.

We will all watch Netflix together and eat black bean hamburgers.

Anyone who speaks out is banished. They will be zapped to death by an automaton for obstructing it’s path on its daily floor buffering routine

Re: Zuckerberg hunkers down in Hawaii to wait out apocalypse

#27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That very mindset is what will put your children in the most danger. You do not live in a vacuum.

That's what I tell everyone who advocates for defunding food stamps. The bread we throw to the poor is the only thing that keeps their knives away from your throat. Americans think gun ownership is some sort of compensating factor...as though sieges in America have ever ended well for the defending team.

The problem with food stamps is program abuse: about 25% is spent on junk food. And then there's outright fraud, which as a percentage is small but still a lot of money. Who knows how much is spent on uber eats/doordash.

I'm fine with tax spending to feed the poor, but I don't agree with spending on luxury foods and luxury food services that I wouldn't even spend on myself.

Re: Zuckerberg hunkers down in Hawaii to wait out apocalypse

#28
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's what I tell everyone who advocates for defunding food stamps. The bread we throw to the poor is the only thing that keeps their knives away from your throat. Americans think gun ownership is some sort of compensating factor...as though sieges in America have ever ended well for the defending team.

The problem with food stamps is program abuse: about 25% is spent on junk food. And then there's outright fraud, which as a percentage is small but still a lot of money. Who knows how much is spent on uber eats/doordash. I'm fine with tax spending to feed the poor, but I don't agree with spending on luxury foods and luxury food services that I wouldn't even spend on myself.

That thinking is the problem.

Every government program will see fraud and I don't even see how junk food is a real problem? The point is calories. Sure, healthier food would be better, but there are other efforts to get people of all income brackets to eat healthier. The government should not limit what people are permitted to eat just because they're poor enough to qualify.

Re: Zuckerberg hunkers down in Hawaii to wait out apocalypse

#29

This is touched on in the article, but I never understood why billionaires think that they’ll be able to ride this out. They’ll likely be the number one targets of armed mobs or other looters (or even sovereign nations armed with nuclear weapons themselves), since it’s no secret where most of these well-stocked self-sustaining bases are (since they won’t stop talking about how they _have_ them). But more importantly:…

That's the model that worked for kingdoms, dukedoms and fiefdoms for ages, I don't know why you think it wouldn't work now. The hierarchy establishes itself under a figure they feel will protect them and keep them safe. It's a personality cult. They work. Don't ask me why, but they do.

kingdoms were created by the aggregation of conquests of smaller regions

the biggest bastard in terms of local warfare got to be a warlord, and kingdoms were created when they fought and beat other nearby warlords

then to stay king you need to win battles against other kings who want your kingdom, and so on

if society collapses I'd be surprised if zuck survives his own security forces beyond the first hour

Re: Zuckerberg hunkers down in Hawaii to wait out apocalypse

#30
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's what I tell everyone who advocates for defunding food stamps. The bread we throw to the poor is the only thing that keeps their knives away from your throat. Americans think gun ownership is some sort of compensating factor...as though sieges in America have ever ended well for the defending team.

The problem with food stamps is program abuse: about 25% is spent on junk food. And then there's outright fraud, which as a percentage is small but still a lot of money. Who knows how much is spent on uber eats/doordash. I'm fine with tax spending to feed the poor, but I don't agree with spending on luxury foods and luxury food services that I wouldn't even spend on myself.

The max benefit for EBT in ND is $250-ish for a single person essentially making nothing.

The whole point of EBT is to keep people fed. If they are eating junk food and not maximizing their nutritional value to your satisfaction that’s fine because they’re still eating.

All prepared food is banned in ND for EBT. Meaning you can’t order Taco Bell through door dash.

If you’re really worried about your tax expenditures look at defense contracting and spending. EBT fraud is a rounding error for some of those program overruns. Also at tax policy when it comes to revenue offshoring, inheritance and millionaires to billionaire tax evasion.

The poors aren’t the ones screwing you.

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