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The Permanent Upper Crow

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Re: The Permanent Upper Crow

#61

Post by californical »

mossTechnician wrote: post #38
tjohns wrote: post #35

Earlier 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...

Generally, lots of debt, but they still do it. I know people who go into debt for “fun” purchases, then complain that their credit card bills are so high they can’t afford anything

Re: The Permanent Upper Crow

#62

Post by madrox »

If crypto was a bunch of autodidacts speed running the history of finance, then AI is speed running the history of religion. This whole "permanent underclass" thing seems like it's just the Rapture in secular clothing.

It's interesting watching each new generation relate to the rat race, but this current framing seems toxic. The economy is not a zero sum game. I worry about the amount people coming into the work force now thinking that unless they acquire generational wealth by 30 then they've wasted their life. That's a recipe for unhappiness.

Save money. Skip the top hat.

Re: The Permanent Upper Crow

#63

Post by UncleOxidant »

kennywinker wrote: post #58
arjie wrote: post #6

Fascinating. I was able to escape the suffering by simply not purchasing a top hat. An interesting lesson that the pursuit of conspicuous consumption is the root of one’s own suffering. A strange game. The only winning move is not to play.

But rent is due

Fun fact: Crows never pay rent.

Re: The Permanent Upper Crow

#64

Post by nvader »

tjohns wrote: post #35
ricardobayes wrote: post #13

Earlier 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…

Let's continue:

- Do you really need to keep your children in school or contribute to their higher education, when you can just let them roam free on the streets or better yet, work down at the factory and earn their keep?

- Do you really need children at all, when an AI digital pet might satisfy that need much more economically?

- Do you really need expensive dental crown implants or dentures, when you can whittle yourself some chompers out of beechwood and call it a shuccshesh?

- Do you really need to own a home in a neighbourhood that is safe and close enough to your place of employment, when you can rent in a rough area of town and spend hours commuting on public transport?

Re: The Permanent Upper Crow

#65

Post by tjohns »

nvader wrote: post #64
tjohns wrote: post #35

Earlier 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…

Let's continue: - Do you really need to keep your children in school or contribute to their higher education, when you can just let them roam free on the streets or better yet, work down at the factory and earn their keep? - Do you really need children at all, when an AI digital pet might satisfy that need much more economically? - Do you really need expensive dental crown implants or dentures, when you can whittle y…

I don't think any of those fall under the umbrella of consumerism. So no, that's not a continuation of my list at all.

Looking after your health or taking proper care of your kids is really not in the same category as spending less on veblen goods.

(I'm noticing that people are getting very different messages from this game.)

Re: The Permanent Upper Crow

#66

Post by drivebyhooting »

tjohns wrote: post #65
nvader wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let's continue: - Do you really need to keep your children in school or contribute to their higher education, when you can just let them roam free on the streets or better yet, work down at the factory and earn their keep? - Do you really need children at all, when an AI digital pet might satisfy that need much more economically? - Do you really need expensive dental crown implants or dentures, when you can whittle y…

I don't think any of those fall under the umbrella of consumerism. So no, that's not a continuation of my list at all. Looking after your health or taking proper care of your kids is really not in the same category as spending less on veblen goods. (I'm noticing that people are getting very different messages from this game.)

The items he listed are far more expensive and recurring the car and electronic purchases.

Re: The Permanent Upper Crow

#67

Post by the_af »

madrox wrote: post #62

If crypto was a bunch of autodidacts speed running the history of finance, then AI is speed running the history of religion. This whole "permanent underclass" thing seems like it's just the Rapture in secular clothing. It's interesting watching each new generation relate to the rat race, but this current framing seems toxic. The economy is not a zero sum game. I worry about the amount people coming into the work forc…

> Save money. Skip the top hat.

That's kinda the lesson of the game, how pointless it is, right?

Re: The Permanent Upper Crow

#68

Post by madrox »

the_af wrote: post #67
madrox wrote: post #62

If crypto was a bunch of autodidacts speed running the history of finance, then AI is speed running the history of religion. This whole "permanent underclass" thing seems like it's just the Rapture in secular clothing. It's interesting watching each new generation relate to the rat race, but this current framing seems toxic. The economy is not a zero sum game. I worry about the amount people coming into the work forc…

> Save money. Skip the top hat. That's kinda the lesson of the game, how pointless it is, right?

yeah

Re: The Permanent Upper Crow

#69

Post by bbor »

keybored wrote: post #21
thegrim33 wrote: post #14

What's interesting is the creator of the site has listed on their linkedin that they're ... wait for it ... a co-founder at some generic AI startup with the goal of using AI agents to automate away manual jobs.

Are we the Baddies? Yes, and how interesting. I could vibe a game about that.

There’s a lot more ways automation can turn out than “permanent underclasses”. It’s kinda like how some people build planes without supporting crashing them into things

Re: The Permanent Upper Crow

#70

Post by UltraSane »

thegrim33 wrote: post #14

What's interesting is the creator of the site has listed on their linkedin that they're ... wait for it ... a co-founder at some generic AI startup with the goal of using AI agents to automate away manual jobs.

Maybe he strongly supports UBI or a national dividend and understands how automation makes these much easier.
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