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• A problem that can be solved with money is not really a problem. I am broke and need X, which no one gives for free. Let's call X education, because that and

by a3w 5y ago

• A problem that can be solved with money is not really a problem. I am broke and need X, which no one gives for free. Let's call X education, because that and time might solve everything. Is that not a problem worth calling so?

v64 5y ago
My takeaway from it is if the problem requires money to solve, at least you are aware of the solution: money. It may be difficult or impossible to achieve that end, but at least you know it's the direction to go and can possibly make progress toward solving. The worst kind of problem is one you can't see your way out of and no option seems to exist to escape it.
- FalconSensei 5y ago
  If you need a life-saving medicine and you don't have the money, it's a problem. Or at least the people that are dying think that way.
intergalplan 5y ago
If we're being charitable, we could take "can" to include "you can (reasonably) afford it", as in "YOU can solve the problem with money", not "ONE could solve the problem with money, if one had money". Given the tone of the rest of the piece, I'm not sure being that charitable is warranted, though. I'm legitimately having a hard time telling whether this list is presented seriously, or as some kind of parody.
- a1369209993 5y ago
  > If we're being charitable Or, in the spirit of taking it as parody, that it's at least a 'solved' problem[0] in the sense of the mathematician who sees a fire, sees a fire extinguisher, says "Ah, a solution exists!", and moves on. 0: where a solved (note lack of scare quotes) problem isn't really a problem.
scottlilly 5y ago
The version of this I've always heard is, "Any problem that can be solved by writing a check you can afford to write, is not really a problem." So, if your car suddenly needs a $500 repair, and you have $2500 in emergency savings, that's not a "problem". It's a contingency you were prepared to handle.
- msla 5y ago
  > It's a contingency you were prepared to handle. Which is a better way to phrase it: A contingency you were prepared to handle is not a problem. After all, a billionaire can still get lost at sea and die.
  - generalizations 5y ago
    The version I heard was, "be prepared".
    - woleium 5y ago
      that's only if the car horn was broken /s (beep repaired)
bena 5y ago
It's more about recognizing second order effects. If a problem can be solved with money, your real problem is not having the money.
cabaalis 5y ago
If you can pay someone to do something, that thing you are paying for is a problem which has already been solved by someone, therefore not a problem.
coldtea 5y ago
>A problem that can be solved with money is not really a problem. He means money that you have and can spare.

by a3w 5y ago

v64 5y ago

My takeaway from it is if the problem requires money to solve, at least you are aware of the solution: money. It may be difficult or impossible to achieve that end, but at least you know it's the direction to go and can possibly make progress toward solving. The worst kind of problem is one you can't see your way out of and no option seems to exist to escape it.

FalconSensei 5y ago
If you need a life-saving medicine and you don't have the money, it's a problem. Or at least the people that are dying think that way.

intergalplan 5y ago

If we're being charitable, we could take "can" to include "you can (reasonably) afford it", as in "YOU can solve the problem with money", not "ONE could solve the problem with money, if one had money". Given the tone of the rest of the piece, I'm not sure being that charitable is warranted, though. I'm legitimately having a hard time telling whether this list is presented seriously, or as some kind of parody.

a1369209993 5y ago
> If we're being charitable Or, in the spirit of taking it as parody, that it's at least a 'solved' problem[0] in the sense of the mathematician who sees a fire, sees a fire extinguisher, says "Ah, a solution exists!", and moves on. 0: where a solved (note lack of scare quotes) problem isn't really a problem.

scottlilly 5y ago

The version of this I've always heard is, "Any problem that can be solved by writing a check you can afford to write, is not really a problem." So, if your car suddenly needs a $500 repair, and you have $2500 in emergency savings, that's not a "problem". It's a contingency you were prepared to handle.

msla 5y ago
> It's a contingency you were prepared to handle. Which is a better way to phrase it: A contingency you were prepared to handle is not a problem. After all, a billionaire can still get lost at sea and die.
- generalizations 5y ago
  The version I heard was, "be prepared".
  - woleium 5y ago
    that's only if the car horn was broken /s (beep repaired)

bena 5y ago

It's more about recognizing second order effects. If a problem can be solved with money, your real problem is not having the money.

cabaalis 5y ago

If you can pay someone to do something, that thing you are paying for is a problem which has already been solved by someone, therefore not a problem.

coldtea 5y ago

>A problem that can be solved with money is not really a problem. He means money that you have and can spare.