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> Those at least sound expensive, and at some point, firms which don't need it will rise. Perhaps, but if we look at things like organically produced goods, fa

> Those at least sound expensive, and at some point, firms which don't need it will rise. Perhaps, but if we look at things like organically produced goods, fair-trade etc it shows that in post-scarcity societies emotion and ecology play a large part in purchasing decisions. Even ethical investing aka socially responsible investing is a big thing. With that in mind, does the cheaper, wholly automated firm beat out the warm-fuzzy partially-human-crafted yet more expensive equivalent? I think it will depend on scarcity.

Retric 11y ago
People with massive disposable incomes care for intangibles, but most people are more than happy shopping at Walmart. The important thing to remember is signaling shapes behavior, but culture is always in flux. Young men in the 60's suddenly decided it was ok to have long hair, and suddenly lot's of barber shops went out of business. A short fad in 2070 decides that vat grown meat is better for the environment, and boom so much for the organic cattle farmers.
- icanhackit 11y ago
  People with massive disposable incomes care for intangibles, but most people are more than happy shopping at Walmart. I get what you're saying, but do you define the ecological age as a fad or something that becomes a persistent and growing part of the social consciousness? Going back to scarcity, you could quite reasonably say a poor farmer in Africa would sooner go for what is affordable but if the cheaper product ultimately destroys his own capacity to produce, by way of pollution or key resource availability, then economic factors can change in order of importance. As more people buy eco-friendly products, whether real or bullshit, they're making a similar decision even though their connection to the environment is more abstract. A short fad in 2070 decides that vat grown meat is better for the environment, and boom so much for the organic cattle farmers. But the same effect is in play - first a transition is made from standard farming practices to more ecologically friendly meat production, and then to the obvious conclusion that we eventually stop killing animals for food (or abate the practice dramatically). I see it as an ongoing narrative, not one fad to the next.
  - ArkyBeagle 11y ago
    It could be that it's just more and more narrowcasting - "real" meat becomes a hobby product consumed by enthusiasts ala microbrews and cigars. You can't get my kids to eat corned beef and cabbage; I looked forward to it when made by my family. That's interesting - I hadn't considered the dialogue aspect of it before. That's a good way to look at it. I suspect the guys in the poorer regions will be teaching us sustainability w.r.t farming. There were no small purple potatoes when I was a kid; I am glad they are there now. That's clearly a craft product. Since I don't have to eat potatoes like an 1820s person from Ireland, it's win-win.
ArkyBeagle 11y ago
Nicely put. I wouldn't bet on scarcity.

Retric 11y ago

People with massive disposable incomes care for intangibles, but most people are more than happy shopping at Walmart. The important thing to remember is signaling shapes behavior, but culture is always in flux. Young men in the 60's suddenly decided it was ok to have long hair, and suddenly lot's of barber shops went out of business. A short fad in 2070 decides that vat grown meat is better for the environment, and boom so much for the organic cattle farmers.

icanhackit 11y ago
People with massive disposable incomes care for intangibles, but most people are more than happy shopping at Walmart. I get what you're saying, but do you define the ecological age as a fad or something that becomes a persistent and growing part of the social consciousness? Going back to scarcity, you could quite reasonably say a poor farmer in Africa would sooner go for what is affordable but if the cheaper product ultimately destroys his own capacity to produce, by way of pollution or key resource availability, then economic factors can change in order of importance. As more people buy eco-friendly products, whether real or bullshit, they're making a similar decision even though their connection to the environment is more abstract. A short fad in 2070 decides that vat grown meat is better for the environment, and boom so much for the organic cattle farmers. But the same effect is in play - first a transition is made from standard farming practices to more ecologically friendly meat production, and then to the obvious conclusion that we eventually stop killing animals for food (or abate the practice dramatically). I see it as an ongoing narrative, not one fad to the next.
- ArkyBeagle 11y ago
  It could be that it's just more and more narrowcasting - "real" meat becomes a hobby product consumed by enthusiasts ala microbrews and cigars. You can't get my kids to eat corned beef and cabbage; I looked forward to it when made by my family. That's interesting - I hadn't considered the dialogue aspect of it before. That's a good way to look at it. I suspect the guys in the poorer regions will be teaching us sustainability w.r.t farming. There were no small purple potatoes when I was a kid; I am glad they are there now. That's clearly a craft product. Since I don't have to eat potatoes like an 1820s person from Ireland, it's win-win.

ArkyBeagle 11y ago

Nicely put. I wouldn't bet on scarcity.