Reminded me of a book called Finite and Infinite Games
It’s a book I have tried to read 10 times. It’s to complicated, my context window is to limited.
The Permanent Upper Crow
41–50 of 88 posts
Re: The Permanent Upper Crow
#42Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'd argue it's not about selling everything. Instead, avoid buying things by default and trying to keep up with the Joneses. You don't need to move to the wilderness, you just need to choose to escape consumerism. For example: - Do you really need a new car, when a lightly used one will do just fine and will be more economical? - Do you really need to upgrade to a new phone every year when your current one is still w…
How does that go for Americans who cannot afford to pay for a $400 surprise expense out of pocket? https://www.federalreserve.gov/consumerscommunities/sheddata...
I'm absolutely not saying this alone is sufficient - particularly if you're unemployed or your job truly doesn't pay a living wage. There are absolutely people who don't make enough to survive - and that's a bigger problem of course.
Re: The Permanent Upper Crow
#43I feel stupid but I could not bring myself to click the "sign" button and continue gameplay.
A lot of electronic contracts are done like that and... nope, not clicking it... Mmmmm.... nope.
Re: The Permanent Upper Crow
#44This is a play on words from this (excellent) NYTimes Opinion piece by Jasmine Sun [1] titled "Silicon Valley is bracing for the permanent underclass"
[1]": https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/30/opinion/ai-labor-work-for...
(Gift article)
Re: The Permanent Upper Crow
#45Earlier quoted context omitted.
That's easier to do in a video game, but I guess the real life analogy would be to sell it all and move off-grid to Alaska?
I'd argue it's not about selling everything. Instead, avoid buying things by default and trying to keep up with the Joneses. You don't need to move to the wilderness, you just need to choose to escape consumerism. For example: - Do you really need a new car, when a lightly used one will do just fine and will be more economical? - Do you really need to upgrade to a new phone every year when your current one is still w…
Trying to be gentle here but this is pretty out of touch.
- I have bought a new car exactly once in my life, and likely never will again. This is the same as pretty much every other person I know personally. The last vehicle I bought had over 300k miles on it.
- Does anyone buy a new phone every year? I've never met them.
- Do you really need the fancy clothes from Target when the ones from Walmart or Goodwill are much cheaper?
Re: The Permanent Upper Crow
#46Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'd argue it's not about selling everything. Instead, avoid buying things by default and trying to keep up with the Joneses. You don't need to move to the wilderness, you just need to choose to escape consumerism. For example: - Do you really need a new car, when a lightly used one will do just fine and will be more economical? - Do you really need to upgrade to a new phone every year when your current one is still w…
Trying to be gentle here but this is pretty out of touch. - I have bought a new car exactly once in my life, and likely never will again. This is the same as pretty much every other person I know personally. The last vehicle I bought had over 300k miles on it. - Does anyone buy a new phone every year? I've never met them. - Do you really need the fancy clothes from Target when the ones from Walmart or Goodwill are mu…
I just grabbed random things I've seen from behavior in other people. If you don't fall victim to those consumerist traps, then that's legitimately great.
Yes, I absolutely know folks who buy new phones every year, and who lease new cars and upgrade every 3 years. Most of whom really can't really afford to do these things but do it anyway and end up in increasing debt.
And sure, buy clothes from Walmart if you have a Walmart location near you. I just picked the nearest big-box store to me, for some reason Walmart doesn't have much of a presence out where I am.
(The takeaway I got from the game is "don't try to buy the hat, it's a trap". I'm curious what your takeaway was?)
Re: The Permanent Upper Crow
#47This is a play on words from this (excellent) NYTimes Opinion piece by Jasmine Sun [1] titled "Silicon Valley is bracing for the permanent underclass" [1]": https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/30/opinion/ai-labor-work-for... (Gift article)
I find this exact attribution very unlikely; this article is from April 2026 and the term "permanent underclass" is used in this way since at least 2025.
In fact, the repo says:
This is my social commentary on the "Permanent Upper Class" philosophical virus that has spread through San Francisco tech communities like the plague in the last year or so. You can read the original blog post [here].
While the game tells a grim story, my goal with this is to show how ridiculous this way of thinking is. I'm actually more optimistic that humans will find a way to prevent this future but if we don't then I suppose none of us will don top hats for eternity.
Re: The Permanent Upper Crow
#48This is a play on words from this (excellent) NYTimes Opinion piece by Jasmine Sun [1] titled "Silicon Valley is bracing for the permanent underclass" [1]": https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/30/opinion/ai-labor-work-for... (Gift article)
[deleted]
Re: The Permanent Upper Crow
#49I feel like I'm missing something here. Was this supposed to be a game? I just kept clicking and reading and clicking and reading. I finally gave up. If the goal is to tell a non-interactive story, I'd rather just scroll...
Re: The Permanent Upper Crow
#50Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'd argue it's not about selling everything. Instead, avoid buying things by default and trying to keep up with the Joneses. You don't need to move to the wilderness, you just need to choose to escape consumerism. For example: - Do you really need a new car, when a lightly used one will do just fine and will be more economical? - Do you really need to upgrade to a new phone every year when your current one is still w…
Trying to be gentle here but this is pretty out of touch. - I have bought a new car exactly once in my life, and likely never will again. This is the same as pretty much every other person I know personally. The last vehicle I bought had over 300k miles on it. - Does anyone buy a new phone every year? I've never met them. - Do you really need the fancy clothes from Target when the ones from Walmart or Goodwill are mu…
> Does anyone buy a new phone every year? I've never met them.
Look around where your posting and remember that Apple has an upgrade program as well as most US cell carriers that will push you to upgrade your phone. Let a lone the thousands of Apple product release threads where people brag about buying the latest and greatest device.
> Do you really need the fancy clothes from Target when the ones from Walmart or Goodwill are much cheaper?
Now I’m confused, are Target brands considered fancy?