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It’s always kinda bugged me that some tech companies and their CEOs talk such a huge game about changing the world for the better and then turn around and build

It’s always kinda bugged me that some tech companies and their CEOs talk such a huge game about changing the world for the better and then turn around and build these huge bunkers. Optimistic words without optimistic action rings tremendously hollow.

malandrew 7y ago
Every time I go hiking/camping away from civilization I take an emergency satellite beacon with me even though I am optimistic about coming home without issue.
- save_ferris 7y ago
  You're taking a piece of technology that allows you to communicate with civilization while in a remote area. These bunkers are designed to protect and isolate their inhabitants from the outside world altogether. Your example doesn't seem analogous at all to the point I'm trying to make. The idea that wealthy and powerful can just jettison themselves from the society they led in the event that things go downhill says a lot about what they actually think about our society.
jobigoud 7y ago
Hope for the best and prepare for the worst?
Accujack 7y ago
that's sloppy thinking. I'd much rather they built bunkers, them not doing so is just a sign that they're pursuing pipe dreams instead of reality. It's not a lack of commitment to the ideal they're pursuing, it's a recognition that the ideal is rarely achieved fully. Such a person who can strive for the ideal but plan for the reality of the situation is exactly who I'd want pursuing the ideal on behalf of all of us because they're likely to be both wise and persistent.
- save_ferris 7y ago
  Successful people who have means and aren't building bunkers are pursuing pipe dreams merely because they aren't building bunkers? So any CEO who chooses not to build a bunker is pursuing nothing but pipe dreams? Talk about sloppy thinking. > It's not a lack of commitment to the ideal they're pursuing, it's a recognition that the ideal is rarely achieved fully. But what is actually the ideal here? My initial point was that tech companies talk about making the world a better place, but the jury is still out on whether that's reality for many of them. Bear in mind that civilizations like the Roman Empire fell largely because the wealthy became too corrupt and inept to govern. In our current environment, what are the largest factors that could precipitate a collapse of our society? Famine due to climate change and massive financial collapse are two of the more likely scenarios, for example. These bunker builders could do a lot more to prevent these scenarios from happening with the amount of social and financial capital they have. (i.e. hammering home the persistent dangers of climate change, stabilizing income inequality so we don't completely fall into serfdom again, etc.) But no, they're content making their millions, doing nothing to move society in a positive direction, and building their bunkers because "the poor people chose to be poor", or whatever it is they tell themselves these days.

malandrew 7y ago

Every time I go hiking/camping away from civilization I take an emergency satellite beacon with me even though I am optimistic about coming home without issue.

save_ferris 7y ago
You're taking a piece of technology that allows you to communicate with civilization while in a remote area. These bunkers are designed to protect and isolate their inhabitants from the outside world altogether. Your example doesn't seem analogous at all to the point I'm trying to make. The idea that wealthy and powerful can just jettison themselves from the society they led in the event that things go downhill says a lot about what they actually think about our society.

jobigoud 7y ago

Hope for the best and prepare for the worst?

Accujack 7y ago

that's sloppy thinking. I'd much rather they built bunkers, them not doing so is just a sign that they're pursuing pipe dreams instead of reality. It's not a lack of commitment to the ideal they're pursuing, it's a recognition that the ideal is rarely achieved fully. Such a person who can strive for the ideal but plan for the reality of the situation is exactly who I'd want pursuing the ideal on behalf of all of us because they're likely to be both wise and persistent.

save_ferris 7y ago
Successful people who have means and aren't building bunkers are pursuing pipe dreams merely because they aren't building bunkers? So any CEO who chooses not to build a bunker is pursuing nothing but pipe dreams? Talk about sloppy thinking. > It's not a lack of commitment to the ideal they're pursuing, it's a recognition that the ideal is rarely achieved fully. But what is actually the ideal here? My initial point was that tech companies talk about making the world a better place, but the jury is still out on whether that's reality for many of them. Bear in mind that civilizations like the Roman Empire fell largely because the wealthy became too corrupt and inept to govern. In our current environment, what are the largest factors that could precipitate a collapse of our society? Famine due to climate change and massive financial collapse are two of the more likely scenarios, for example. These bunker builders could do a lot more to prevent these scenarios from happening with the amount of social and financial capital they have. (i.e. hammering home the persistent dangers of climate change, stabilizing income inequality so we don't completely fall into serfdom again, etc.) But no, they're content making their millions, doing nothing to move society in a positive direction, and building their bunkers because "the poor people chose to be poor", or whatever it is they tell themselves these days.