“You may accumulate a vast amount of knowledge but it will be of far less value to you than a much smaller amount if you have not thought it over for yourself; because only through ordering what you know by comparing every truth with every other truth can you take complete possession of your knowledge and get it into your power.” — Arthur Schopenhauer
When I started InnovationNetwork, I still believed in corporations as organizations which could support human creativity and innovation. That naive belief has been tanked ... not only by the tidbits you share but by my own experience. Beyond a few B-corps and the radical example provided by Patagonia, I have few examples to hold on to. It's a hard time for a Pollyanna Optimist.
Among the truths you listed, I find the hyper-promotion of gambling to be among the most insidious. Celebrities and other people I once admired are lining up to get their cut while fans and the addicted get fleeced. And for those who like actually watching the games and 'rooting for the home team', the experience has become hollow. The only solution I can think to propose to this: Bet on yourself!
"The truths hurt" was a very pithy post — so where will I begin? How about gambling? It is one of my biggest concerns about where our society is going. There was a time when gambling meant Las Vegas or a couple of state-run horse racing parlors in big cities. It was the hobby of "losers." No more, now we have icons like Peyton Manning and other cool people telling us that we too can be cool if we would just get into gambling. Children are being groomed for gambling by heros such as Manning. Saturday morning sports shows now discuss betting strategies, i.e., which teams are most likely to beat the spread (it doesn't matter if you win or lose, only if you beat the spread.) And as I'm writing, CNBC is recommending that I buy Fan Duel before the market closes — revenues for the quarter were around $750,000,000. I'll have to think about it — I'm cool, but I could be even cooler.
The interest on credit cads is usurious, and impacts poorer people that quite often don't understand the true costs associated with making "minimum" payments with interest rates at, or above, 20%. Credit card companies should have to provide creditor warnings similar to cigarette , and gambling companies.
You didn't mention one of the other societal scourges, i.e., pot. There are pot stores in most states and I expect NH will soon join the crowd. It's cool — at many sports and concert events you can get high by just breathing secondary smoke. The ease of acquisition and society's acceptance of people being high, will in the long run, prove to be a negative for society.
Fast food vendors are being sued for false advertising — they just weren't smart enough. Restaurants and grocery stores have perfected the art of "shrinkflation," i.e. reduce portions and increase costs
(slightly reducing the quality of your product is also acceptable). Where would we be without bean-counting MBAs?
Of course AI will replace workers — they will be free to stay at home, smoke a little weed, gamble on sports teams and play video games (many of which are allowing gambling.) Their money will have to be paid by the government as restitution for having lost their job to AI.
High earners will have to be taxed at much higher rates in order to pay restitution to those that have been replaced by AI and/or robots.
I know, my comments appear to be whining — but they aren't. They simply reflect the direction in which society is moving. I admit to thinking we are moving in the wrong direction, but like all other humans . . . I will adapt. As a matter-of-fact, I'm going out to the lanai, light up a high quality, chubby joint, kick back with a fine wine ,and study the racing charts while attempting to devine the over-under spread for the Patriots vs. Commanders game on Sunday. Ahhh, life is good.
When Tom writes, I listen. ... I guess that's not right ... I think? absorb? ponder? ... anyway this post is a head-full ... here's the start: From 1978–2022, top CEO compensation shot up 1,209.2% compared with a 15.3% increase in a typical worker’s compensation. The richest 1% now own almost half of the world’s wealth, while the poorest half own just 0.75%. (Yeah, that will do wonders to help create a more compassionate and peaceful world.) 🙄
Thank you, Joyce. :)
Hey, Tom ... how fun to get your post ... I'm saving it so I can savor each bit of it through the day. Hope all is well with you.
Thank you, Joyce. And please let me know your thoughts once the savoring has completely saturated your being. :)
When I started InnovationNetwork, I still believed in corporations as organizations which could support human creativity and innovation. That naive belief has been tanked ... not only by the tidbits you share but by my own experience. Beyond a few B-corps and the radical example provided by Patagonia, I have few examples to hold on to. It's a hard time for a Pollyanna Optimist.
I hear you, Joyce. Me, too. You probably witnessed it in me during my talk at one of your wonderful events. I miss those more Pollyannaish days. :)
Among the truths you listed, I find the hyper-promotion of gambling to be among the most insidious. Celebrities and other people I once admired are lining up to get their cut while fans and the addicted get fleeced. And for those who like actually watching the games and 'rooting for the home team', the experience has become hollow. The only solution I can think to propose to this: Bet on yourself!
"The truths hurt" was a very pithy post — so where will I begin? How about gambling? It is one of my biggest concerns about where our society is going. There was a time when gambling meant Las Vegas or a couple of state-run horse racing parlors in big cities. It was the hobby of "losers." No more, now we have icons like Peyton Manning and other cool people telling us that we too can be cool if we would just get into gambling. Children are being groomed for gambling by heros such as Manning. Saturday morning sports shows now discuss betting strategies, i.e., which teams are most likely to beat the spread (it doesn't matter if you win or lose, only if you beat the spread.) And as I'm writing, CNBC is recommending that I buy Fan Duel before the market closes — revenues for the quarter were around $750,000,000. I'll have to think about it — I'm cool, but I could be even cooler.
The interest on credit cads is usurious, and impacts poorer people that quite often don't understand the true costs associated with making "minimum" payments with interest rates at, or above, 20%. Credit card companies should have to provide creditor warnings similar to cigarette , and gambling companies.
You didn't mention one of the other societal scourges, i.e., pot. There are pot stores in most states and I expect NH will soon join the crowd. It's cool — at many sports and concert events you can get high by just breathing secondary smoke. The ease of acquisition and society's acceptance of people being high, will in the long run, prove to be a negative for society.
Fast food vendors are being sued for false advertising — they just weren't smart enough. Restaurants and grocery stores have perfected the art of "shrinkflation," i.e. reduce portions and increase costs
(slightly reducing the quality of your product is also acceptable). Where would we be without bean-counting MBAs?
Of course AI will replace workers — they will be free to stay at home, smoke a little weed, gamble on sports teams and play video games (many of which are allowing gambling.) Their money will have to be paid by the government as restitution for having lost their job to AI.
High earners will have to be taxed at much higher rates in order to pay restitution to those that have been replaced by AI and/or robots.
I know, my comments appear to be whining — but they aren't. They simply reflect the direction in which society is moving. I admit to thinking we are moving in the wrong direction, but like all other humans . . . I will adapt. As a matter-of-fact, I'm going out to the lanai, light up a high quality, chubby joint, kick back with a fine wine ,and study the racing charts while attempting to devine the over-under spread for the Patriots vs. Commanders game on Sunday. Ahhh, life is good.
When Tom writes, I listen. ... I guess that's not right ... I think? absorb? ponder? ... anyway this post is a head-full ... here's the start: From 1978–2022, top CEO compensation shot up 1,209.2% compared with a 15.3% increase in a typical worker’s compensation. The richest 1% now own almost half of the world’s wealth, while the poorest half own just 0.75%. (Yeah, that will do wonders to help create a more compassionate and peaceful world.) 🙄