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Peter Thiel Says Covid Marks 21st Century’s True Start

forbes.com

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Re: Peter Thiel Says Covid Marks 21st Century’s True Start

#11

Post by crispyambulance »

The 21st century's "true start" was on New Year's Eve, 2000.

Of course, I realize he's talking about defining events that delimit major changes between the previous century and its successor. And more specifically, major changes in what Thiel cares about, like financial markets, start-ups, monopolies, and money in general.

But, really, we're only 20% into the century. Something else could easily eclipse Covid-19 even within the parameters of what matters to Thiel. You know, like climate change, the second coming, asteroid hitting the Earth, quantum computing, "the singularity", etc... Who the F knows? There's no utility in this kind of thinking. Just take it for it is and what it becomes since starting on Jan 1st, 2000.

Re: Peter Thiel Says Covid Marks 21st Century’s True Start

#12

Post by aphextron »

entropicdrifter wrote: post #3
api wrote: post #2

I've called it the end of the post-9/11 era, but that's not quite the same thing.

I'd say your description is spot-on, at least culturally. It's also the end of the post-08 crash era and the start of the post-20 crash era

> It's also the end of the post-08 crash era and the start of the post-20 crash era

What crash? SP500 hit an all time high on Friday.

Re: Peter Thiel Says Covid Marks 21st Century’s True Start

#13

Post by birdsbirdsbirds »

entropicdrifter wrote: post #3
api wrote: post #2

I've called it the end of the post-9/11 era, but that's not quite the same thing.

I'd say your description is spot-on, at least culturally. It's also the end of the post-08 crash era and the start of the post-20 crash era

The world is going remote, thus finally becoming the global village that the early start-ups envisioned. Why should there be a crash if huge optimization improvements are made? The only things that will tank are the airline industries and the real estate market.

Re: Peter Thiel Says Covid Marks 21st Century’s True Start

#14

Post by hpkuarg »

aphextron wrote: post #12
entropicdrifter wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd say your description is spot-on, at least culturally. It's also the end of the post-08 crash era and the start of the post-20 crash era

> It's also the end of the post-08 crash era and the start of the post-20 crash era What crash? SP500 hit an all time high on Friday.

A crash in the real economy, if you will. Equity prices may or may not follow. There's a good chance that one year from now, the S&P 500 will be substantially lower than it is today.

Re: Peter Thiel Says Covid Marks 21st Century’s True Start

#15

Post by 1996 »

aphextron wrote: post #12
entropicdrifter wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd say your description is spot-on, at least culturally. It's also the end of the post-08 crash era and the start of the post-20 crash era

> It's also the end of the post-08 crash era and the start of the post-20 crash era What crash? SP500 hit an all time high on Friday.

The Fed printed 40 cents for every dollar that existed in March:

https://www.dailyhandle.com/the-government-has-printed-40-ce...

Expect all-time-highs in many things as 40% inflation goes trickles down, now that the velocity of money has stopped crashing:

https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/M1V

Re: Peter Thiel Says Covid Marks 21st Century’s True Start

#17

Post by danhak »

birdsbirdsbirds wrote: post #13
entropicdrifter wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd say your description is spot-on, at least culturally. It's also the end of the post-08 crash era and the start of the post-20 crash era

The world is going remote, thus finally becoming the global village that the early start-ups envisioned. Why should there be a crash if huge optimization improvements are made? The only things that will tank are the airline industries and the real estate market.

Optimization improvements for whom? Those who already held significant assets and highly-trained white-collar knowledge workers? Yes. Others? Not so much. Wealth inequality was a serious issue before the pandemic and this so-called "K-Shaped Recovery" has dramatically accelerated the trend. We're in for some turbulent times ahead...

“The future is already here – it's just not evenly distributed."

Re: Peter Thiel Says Covid Marks 21st Century’s True Start

#18

Post by na85 »

evilduck wrote: post #10
koolba wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I bet they’ll let you bring it if you tell them it’s hand sanitizer. Which is hilarious as the latter combined with a lighter could be a potent improvised weapon.

They already let us fly with numerous lithium fire hazards per person. All you need is something like a metal barreled ink pen to pierce the battery pack. Heck, what protection is there from me getting some volume of mercury on board? A pressurized aluminum airframe would not take kindly to spilling any amount of that.

Destroying the aircraft in mid air isn't really the threat any more, though.

The threat is using the airplane and its occupants as unwilling kamikaze weapons as in 9/11, and with the armored doors on the flight deck now it's unlikely the aircrew will allow the aircraft to be hijacked no matter what you bring on board. There's a reason the flight attendants stand in front of the door when the pilots have to use the washroom; it's so that you have to kill or incapacitate them first which buys the pilot(s) time to close and secure the armored door.

Re: Peter Thiel Says Covid Marks 21st Century’s True Start

#19

Post by stcredzero »

crispyambulance wrote: post #11

The 21st century's "true start" was on New Year's Eve, 2000. Of course, I realize he's talking about defining events that delimit major changes between the previous century and its successor. And more specifically, major changes in what Thiel cares about, like financial markets, start-ups, monopolies, and money in general. But, really, we're only 20% into the century. Something else could easily eclipse Covid-19 even…

Something else could easily eclipse Covid-19 even within the parameters of what matters to Thiel.

Did WWI define the 20th century, or was it WWII? I think WWI demarcates the 1st of a series of really big, interrelated events. I suspect Covid-19 could be the 1st of a series of really big, interrelated events.

Re: Peter Thiel Says Covid Marks 21st Century’s True Start

#20

Post by birdsbirdsbirds »

danhak wrote: post #17
birdsbirdsbirds wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The world is going remote, thus finally becoming the global village that the early start-ups envisioned. Why should there be a crash if huge optimization improvements are made? The only things that will tank are the airline industries and the real estate market.

Optimization improvements for whom? Those who already held significant assets and highly-trained white-collar knowledge workers? Yes. Others? Not so much. Wealth inequality was a serious issue before the pandemic and this so-called "K-Shaped Recovery" has dramatically accelerated the trend. We're in for some turbulent times ahead... “The future is already here – it's just not evenly distributed."

Production is limited by energy supply. Once renewable energies have reached the point where carbon hydrates have to be dumped onto the market to make any profit at all, there will be an abundance of energy. At that moment, unless enough AI is built, workers will become the scarce resource.
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