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“People simply empty out”

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Re: “People simply empty out”

#311

Post by mrow84 »

tomp wrote: post #283
king_jester wrote: post #271

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> People exchange things that are worth less for things that are worth more. In such an exchange, both parties profit, always. In the case above, you exchange hours of your life for food so that you can live another day. There are some goods that have so high a value it will be worth trading almost anything for it. Eating is one, medical care is another. This fact is routinely exploited so that those not in danger of…

1) Yes, by definition. If the workers wouldn't think that they are getting more (food) than they give (time), they wouldn't work. 2) However, the question whether this is socially or even globally fair is not a question of capitalism, but of politics/government. If things continue this way, sooner or later there will be too many unemployed people and there will be a revolt/class revolution. I believe the elite will w…

Your 1) assumes that workers could sustain themselves if they chose not to work. Most useful land in the world is privately owned these days - in Britain a lot of it was taken by force from the people during enclosure - and so workers can't make the choice you claim they are free to make.

Re: “People simply empty out”

#312

Post by ececconi »

blackhole wrote: post #5

I feel like too many people get sucked into the idea of furthering their career, to the point that they forget to further their own life. What is the point of existence if we never get around to experiencing it? "It's not the things we do in life that we regret on our death bed, it is the things we do not." - Randy Pausch

You know, I don't see the career ascent about forgetting my own life. I see it as a way I can do good for this world. If I have people under my span of control, I can impart what I believe to be good in this world as a part of my leadership and management style.

I also want to be a motivational speaker when I 'grow up'. I came from humble beginnings. Some people's talks have really changed my life. In order to give those talks and be invited to speak, yes you have to ascend the established social order.

Am I wasting my life by working a lot? No. The things I work so hard for have real effects in this world. My mom has been working for over 40 years of her life. If I do things right, she'll be able to retire eventually. Do I work harder than other people do for the same, or less, compensation? I'm sure I do. But you know what, you have to make the best of the situation you're in.

I was recently invited to give my first talk. Here is the abridged executive summary: http://www.evernote.com/shard/s34/sh/9a92bf45-27e1-4470-be7e...

Re: “People simply empty out”

#313

Post by GFischer »

dnautics wrote: post #89
scott_karana wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's more a metaphorical "leave", as in "leave the rat race". Most people know they can leave their job, but leaving a chosen career path is a lot harder, especially for a less educated person, and particularly for blue collar workers. What are they supposed to do? Quit without savings and try to change careers? (That's the feeling, anyways. Not sure what the answer is.)

Well I've quit without savings (ok, with one month's savings) twice. Both times I had friends who were kind enough to help take care of me until I could find a job. I'm about to quit (with two month's savings), and there is a strong possibility I'll change careers. It's certainly possible. I do think people generally lack the courage to try, but even that is besides my point. I think if even if people did have the co…

Ok, you had a safety net, and it's MUCH easier if you don't have financial obligations(children, mortgages, etc..).

Most blue collar people I know can't impose on friends too much - young ones might get a couch to crash, but their friends are too poor to pay for one month of free food and transport, so some sort of savings is mandatory if you want to quit. For older ones, it's unthinkable without significant savings.

Re: “People simply empty out”

#315

Post by resu »

pyoung wrote: post #199
decadentcactus wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How much savings did you have? I'm considering doing the same at some point, though my quick glance at index funds makes it seem like I'd get basically nothing. What sort of budget does this afford you?

Vangaurd low cost index funds. Supposedly, you can count on 8-10% annual return. I also did/do some occasional stock picking which has gotten good results (but I wouldn't count on that being sustainable). I probably spend about 20k a year, and have savings in the low 6 digits. I waited until I had 5-10x my annual expenses, but obviously you can do it with less. My main recommendation would to be have at least an extr…

You can also count on index funds to lose 50% of their value in two years in an upcoming crisis. The roaring 90s and mid 2000s isn't a pattern that will continue to repeat itself. The fed can't keep printing the S&P500 up forever.

I think made a great decision, but you ought to diversify your nest egg.

Re: “People simply empty out”

#316

Post by enoch_r »

rphlx wrote: post #177
enoch_r wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

First, the CPI absolutely does include housing, energy, and medicine[1]. Second, it's incredibly hard to accurately measure such a nebulous concept as inflation (because there's no such thing as a "general price level"), but it's pretty bold to definitively state that the CPI understates inflation. Measuring inflation is hard . We can buy an iPhone 5 for half what we paid for the first one in 2007--how do we quantify…

OK, I'll bite. Name 5 products or services that have significantly improved in quality at constant cost, or declined in USD price at constant quality, over the past 10 years (excl. high-volume offshored consumer electronics, which of course I'll grant you). [I tried pretty hard myself and all I came up with was, possibly, clothing].

The BLS says that prices have increased about 3% every year since 1993. Many people claim that this estimate is obviously too low. I'm claiming that it's reasonable. To test my claim, you suggest naming products or services that have increased in price by 0% or less, cumulatively, over the last 10 years. That's not a good test of my claim.

Re: “People simply empty out”

#317

Post by overgryphon »

madaxe wrote: post #308
king_jester wrote: post #303

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> a) Bukowski's fiance probably hurt Bukowski (by stating that she cheats on him) more than he did by kicking her. Why would that be relevant whatsoever to why someone kicks their partner? You said you don't agree with abuse as a preface and then immediately put physical abuse on the level with having your feelings hurt by something someone said. I don't know if you yourself has been in an abuse relationship or know…

You don't think that screwing around and then rubbing it in your partner's face is abuse?

No, it's not. A partner's monogamy is a gift, not an entitlement.

Re: “People simply empty out”

#318

Post by overgryphon »

mkrecny wrote: post #276
king_jester wrote: post #273

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> While I don't agree with physical or verbal abuse, I think in this case Fiance probably hurt Bukowski more with her words than he did with his kick. So you do agree with physical abuse. According to you, if your partner says something that upsets you, its totally OK to hit them. That is domestic abuse 101.

> So you do agree with physical abuse. According to you, if your partner says something that upsets you, its totally OK to hit them. That is domestic abuse 101. That's absurd. Where did I say "if your partner says something that upsets you, it's totally OK to hit them"? I stated that: a) Bukowski's fiance probably hurt Bukowski (by stating that she cheats on him) more than he did by kicking her. b) It didn't seem lik…

But he thought it was acceptable to kick her. That's abusive.

Re: “People simply empty out”

#319

Post by sergiosgc »

homosaur wrote: post #147
greenyoda wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Working until 80 might sound reasonable to a software developer, but if you have a job like a construction worker or a firefighter, you may not be physically capable of doing your job at 80, even part time. So you'd have to switch careers to work into your 80s, which not everyone would be successful at pulling off.

Assuming robots haven't taken over software development

By the time robots take over software development, they will also be causing such a disruption in all other work positions that society as a whole will have to find a different paradigm from the current "everybody works for a living".

Re: “People simply empty out”

#320

Post by fudged71 »

ececconi wrote: post #305

You know, I don't see the career ascent about forgetting my own life. I see it as a way I can do good for this world. If I have people under my span of control, I can impart what I believe to be good in this world as a part of my leadership and management style. I also want to be a motivational speaker when I 'grow up'. I came from humble beginnings. Some people's talks have really changed my life. In order to give t…

>>I don't see the career ascent about forgetting my own life. I see it as a way I can do good for this world. If I have people under my span of control, I can impart what I believe to be good in this world as a part of my leadership and management style.

I'm saving this for later, because I love it. Thank you.

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