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I wonder how Bill Gates can use a huge yacht for its own enjoyment, while at the same time spending money to fight climate change. I'd be curious to know his po

I wonder how Bill Gates can use a huge yacht for its own enjoyment, while at the same time spending money to fight climate change. I'd be curious to know his point of view.

ianai 9y ago
I’m never going to ask someone to renounce luxuries when they are clearly donating much or a majority of their wealth. That’s a recipe for no giving.
- somesayso 9y ago
  It is not about "asking" then to abandon it. It is about a mismatch between what they say and what they actually do (if you look close enough). But is it too much of an ask to think that some one who seem to be so dedicated to such causes, won't actually do everything that is in their powers (including giving on luxuries), to advance their cause?
pen2l 9y ago
at least the transaction involves the yatchmaker... who, while rich, wasn’t as ridiculously rich, and in the end the transaction came down to the pockets of people who live around the yatchmaker a little bit. Not perfect but it’s something.
yequalsx 9y ago
Free rider problem. People locally optimize for their own benefit and those same people can rightfully decry the effect. We are all hypocrites from time to time. Let’s not let hypocrisy be a reason to discount a thought or idea. The validity of the idea is not based on whether or not proponent is beyond reproach.
whamlastxmas 9y ago
I think his answer would be to admit to selfishness. But to also maybe point out that he has trouble responsibily spending his current endowment and his yacht isn't preventing the foundation from getting the budget it needs and can spend.
jonathanstrange 9y ago
There are people who try to be more radical also with regards to limiting their own lifestyle, e.g. Toby Ord founded Giving what we can [1] and is giving away a large proportion of his monthly salary (more than one third). I personally admire such people, but maybe that is not the right way for everyone. If you consider helping others as all-or-nothing choices in the end less people may be willing to help, so being a bit more lenient likely has overall beneficial effects. [1] https://www.givingwhatwecan.org https://www.givingwhatwecan.org
sokoloff 9y ago
You will then likely enjoy the irony of ~1000 private jet trips to the climate change summit: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jan/24/inside-the-beltway-carbon-footprint-1000-private-j/ https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jan/24/inside-the-...

I wonder how Bill Gates can use a huge yacht for its own enjoyment, while at the same time spending money to fight climate change. I'd be curious to know his point of view.

ianai 9y ago

I’m never going to ask someone to renounce luxuries when they are clearly donating much or a majority of their wealth. That’s a recipe for no giving.

somesayso 9y ago
It is not about "asking" then to abandon it. It is about a mismatch between what they say and what they actually do (if you look close enough). But is it too much of an ask to think that some one who seem to be so dedicated to such causes, won't actually do everything that is in their powers (including giving on luxuries), to advance their cause?

pen2l 9y ago

at least the transaction involves the yatchmaker... who, while rich, wasn’t as ridiculously rich, and in the end the transaction came down to the pockets of people who live around the yatchmaker a little bit. Not perfect but it’s something.

yequalsx 9y ago

Free rider problem. People locally optimize for their own benefit and those same people can rightfully decry the effect. We are all hypocrites from time to time. Let’s not let hypocrisy be a reason to discount a thought or idea. The validity of the idea is not based on whether or not proponent is beyond reproach.

whamlastxmas 9y ago

I think his answer would be to admit to selfishness. But to also maybe point out that he has trouble responsibily spending his current endowment and his yacht isn't preventing the foundation from getting the budget it needs and can spend.

jonathanstrange 9y ago

There are people who try to be more radical also with regards to limiting their own lifestyle, e.g. Toby Ord founded Giving what we can [1] and is giving away a large proportion of his monthly salary (more than one third). I personally admire such people, but maybe that is not the right way for everyone. If you consider helping others as all-or-nothing choices in the end less people may be willing to help, so being a bit more lenient likely has overall beneficial effects. [1] https://www.givingwhatwecan.org https://www.givingwhatwecan.org

sokoloff 9y ago

You will then likely enjoy the irony of ~1000 private jet trips to the climate change summit: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jan/24/inside-the-beltway-carbon-footprint-1000-private-j/ https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jan/24/inside-the-...