4 ms·

> Hall’s degrees are in computer science, but much of his career has been in nanotech, So why is he opining on structural and mechanical engineering in the lar

> Hall’s degrees are in computer science, but much of his career has been in nanotech, So why is he opining on structural and mechanical engineering in the large? Serious red flag straight away.

tuatoru 6y ago
On investigation I see he also opines at length on economics and politics, also outside his expertise. My own equally-qualified opinion is that we don't have flying cars primarily because we don't want them very much. As people richer they spend an increasing share of their income on services (e.g. eating takeout instead of making our own food), on intangible positional goods, such as living in sought-after neighbourhoods (sometimes in worse material circumstances) and wearing fashionable clothes (which are often poorer quality than no-name equivalents), and on seeking to control the behaviour of others (e.g. homeowner associations in the USA).
- njarboe 6y ago
  My own equally-qualified opinion is related to a comment above on the great increase of lawyers and lawsuits. Basically anything that can kill a person that was not already invented by 1970 gets sued into oblivion. Medical devices are a bit of an exception and even they are very expensive due mainly to liability costs.
  - tuatoru 6y ago
    Good point! A fourth thing that affluent people spend their income on is protecting what they have. So, insurance of all kinds, security, lawsuits, ...
dredmorbius 6y ago
Keep in mind that any synoptic treatment must exceed any one person's expertise. As such, the criticism "but you're exceeding your specialisation" is simply stating the obvious, and becomes a universal, if rather unsatisfying, objection. Noting that the author's treatment fails to take into account multiple factors would be more compelling. I see several such opportunities.
- tuatoru 6y ago
  Yes, my objection was lazy. Thanks for pulling me up on it.

> Hall’s degrees are in computer science, but much of his career has been in nanotech, So why is he opining on structural and mechanical engineering in the large? Serious red flag straight away.

tuatoru 6y ago

On investigation I see he also opines at length on economics and politics, also outside his expertise. My own equally-qualified opinion is that we don't have flying cars primarily because we don't want them very much. As people richer they spend an increasing share of their income on services (e.g. eating takeout instead of making our own food), on intangible positional goods, such as living in sought-after neighbourhoods (sometimes in worse material circumstances) and wearing fashionable clothes (which are often poorer quality than no-name equivalents), and on seeking to control the behaviour of others (e.g. homeowner associations in the USA).

njarboe 6y ago
My own equally-qualified opinion is related to a comment above on the great increase of lawyers and lawsuits. Basically anything that can kill a person that was not already invented by 1970 gets sued into oblivion. Medical devices are a bit of an exception and even they are very expensive due mainly to liability costs.
- tuatoru 6y ago
  Good point! A fourth thing that affluent people spend their income on is protecting what they have. So, insurance of all kinds, security, lawsuits, ...

dredmorbius 6y ago

Keep in mind that any synoptic treatment must exceed any one person's expertise. As such, the criticism "but you're exceeding your specialisation" is simply stating the obvious, and becomes a universal, if rather unsatisfying, objection. Noting that the author's treatment fails to take into account multiple factors would be more compelling. I see several such opportunities.

tuatoru 6y ago
Yes, my objection was lazy. Thanks for pulling me up on it.