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You're pointing out a possible avenue for using wealth to fix problems on earth, which would fall within the realm of possible answers to the journalist's quest

You're pointing out a possible avenue for using wealth to fix problems on earth, which would fall within the realm of possible answers to the journalist's question. That being the case, your comment looks far more like an alternative answer than an alternative question.

cassianoleal 5y ago
No, I'm discussing the dialogue between the journalist and Bezos. The journalist asked a question with 2 possible scenarios: - Bezos spends his money on space race; or - Bezos spends his money fixing problems on Earth. He also sugests the second option is what the critics are asking for. I'm saying most criticisms I've seen are much broader than that, and if that world view was true, neither option would exist in the first place. This is a problem because it lets Bezos off the hook about the bigger issue, and passes the responsibility of solvin humanity's problems to billionaires who shouldn't exist in the first place. This is the dystopic part - relying on a small amount of people with overwhelming power amassed largely through no merit of their own (inheritance, tax avoidance, neo-feudal-like employment/exploitation of others) to fix the very problems that allowed them to be in that position. This is the question that should have been asked. I suspect either ignorance of the journalist or pre-screened questions only allowing the ones who wouldn't put Bezos in an awkward position but of course I can't be sure.
- BobbyJo 5y ago
  > No, I'm discussing the dialogue between the journalist and Bezos Well, yeah, did I suggest you weren't? I'm aware of the topic we're discussing. >This is a problem because it lets Bezos off the hook about the bigger issue, and passes the responsibility of solvin humanity's problems to billionaires who shouldn't exist in the first place. Whether or not they should exist is an opinion. The question was about a different opinion that some people have. What makes your opinion (that billionaires shouldn't exist) more important than the opinion that the journalist was referencing (that since they do exist they should use their wealth to different ends)? > This is the question that should have been asked. What answer would you expect Bezos to give that would make it a better question?
  - cassianoleal 5y ago
    At this point I'm just wondering if you're actually serious and didn't read or misinterpreted what I wrote, or just trolling. I will give you the benefit of the doubt and still answer this time. > did I suggest you weren't? Yes, you did, here: > You're pointing out a possible avenue for using wealth to fix problems on earth I was not. I was questioning the scenario posed by the journalist and how it doesn't fit the debate I see happening. > Whether or not they should exist is an opinion. Yes, but in this context we're not talking about my opinion, so I don't really understand what you're arguing about. A more complete quote of that part of the question is: "There have been a chorus of critics saying that these flights to space are, you know, just joyrides for the wealthy, and that you should be spending your time and your money and energy trying to solve problems here on Earth." So the journalist is acting as a proxy of, yes, the opinion, of "a chorus of critics". What I'm saying is that this seems misguided/ignorant/malicious (I don't know which) given that most of the criticism I have seen is NOT about how billionaires should spend their wealth but rather criticising the very conditions that make this question or choice exist in the first place - the very existance of a tiny number of extremelly wealthy persons, mostly amassed by > What answer would you expect Bezos to give that would make it a better question? I have no expectations, and I am not Bezos to know what he thinks. I imagine he'd just deflect but I can't know unless the question is actually asked and he's given a chance to respond. Essentially what I'm discussing is how the whole thing seems nonsensical and just a farce to let Bezos mostly off the hook, whereas you seem to be questioning my opinions about the subject matter of the interview. My actual opinion is that the interview is based on bad premises and should be discarded altogether.
    - BobbyJo 5y ago
      I'm just confused. You're giving an opinion that falls within the realm of answers to the question (it's yours but also not what you were trying to say?), zooming out to a different topic, saying it's the more important debate, then saying that the journalist not being of the same opinion is either malicious malicious or ignorant. Right? If so, ok. I disagree, but ok.
      - 5y ago
- codyswann 5y ago
  I think you're making a lot of assumptions. > I'm saying most criticisms I've seen are much broader than that, and if that world view was true, neither option would exist in the first place. Not the case for me > billionaires who shouldn't exist in the first place 100% your opinion and is completely separate from the criticism that billionaires should spend their wealth solving earth's problems So you had a completely different question than the "journalist." Get upset that this journalist didn't answer the question you wanted asked, but don't speak for the rest of the viewership.
  - cassianoleal 5y ago
    > Not the case for me Fair enough. I did say "most criticisms I've seen". > 100% your opinion That may or may not be the case. It's not what I'm arguing about though. I'm saying it doesn't match the meat of the debate I have seen. When you said "not the case for me", that's definitely a relevant data point. The rest of this thread is not.

cassianoleal 5y ago

No, I'm discussing the dialogue between the journalist and Bezos. The journalist asked a question with 2 possible scenarios: - Bezos spends his money on space race; or - Bezos spends his money fixing problems on Earth. He also sugests the second option is what the critics are asking for. I'm saying most criticisms I've seen are much broader than that, and if that world view was true, neither option would exist in the first place. This is a problem because it lets Bezos off the hook about the bigger issue, and passes the responsibility of solvin humanity's problems to billionaires who shouldn't exist in the first place. This is the dystopic part - relying on a small amount of people with overwhelming power amassed largely through no merit of their own (inheritance, tax avoidance, neo-feudal-like employment/exploitation of others) to fix the very problems that allowed them to be in that position. This is the question that should have been asked. I suspect either ignorance of the journalist or pre-screened questions only allowing the ones who wouldn't put Bezos in an awkward position but of course I can't be sure.

BobbyJo 5y ago
> No, I'm discussing the dialogue between the journalist and Bezos Well, yeah, did I suggest you weren't? I'm aware of the topic we're discussing. >This is a problem because it lets Bezos off the hook about the bigger issue, and passes the responsibility of solvin humanity's problems to billionaires who shouldn't exist in the first place. Whether or not they should exist is an opinion. The question was about a different opinion that some people have. What makes your opinion (that billionaires shouldn't exist) more important than the opinion that the journalist was referencing (that since they do exist they should use their wealth to different ends)? > This is the question that should have been asked. What answer would you expect Bezos to give that would make it a better question?
- cassianoleal 5y ago
  At this point I'm just wondering if you're actually serious and didn't read or misinterpreted what I wrote, or just trolling. I will give you the benefit of the doubt and still answer this time. > did I suggest you weren't? Yes, you did, here: > You're pointing out a possible avenue for using wealth to fix problems on earth I was not. I was questioning the scenario posed by the journalist and how it doesn't fit the debate I see happening. > Whether or not they should exist is an opinion. Yes, but in this context we're not talking about my opinion, so I don't really understand what you're arguing about. A more complete quote of that part of the question is: "There have been a chorus of critics saying that these flights to space are, you know, just joyrides for the wealthy, and that you should be spending your time and your money and energy trying to solve problems here on Earth." So the journalist is acting as a proxy of, yes, the opinion, of "a chorus of critics". What I'm saying is that this seems misguided/ignorant/malicious (I don't know which) given that most of the criticism I have seen is NOT about how billionaires should spend their wealth but rather criticising the very conditions that make this question or choice exist in the first place - the very existance of a tiny number of extremelly wealthy persons, mostly amassed by > What answer would you expect Bezos to give that would make it a better question? I have no expectations, and I am not Bezos to know what he thinks. I imagine he'd just deflect but I can't know unless the question is actually asked and he's given a chance to respond. Essentially what I'm discussing is how the whole thing seems nonsensical and just a farce to let Bezos mostly off the hook, whereas you seem to be questioning my opinions about the subject matter of the interview. My actual opinion is that the interview is based on bad premises and should be discarded altogether.
  - BobbyJo 5y ago
    I'm just confused. You're giving an opinion that falls within the realm of answers to the question (it's yours but also not what you were trying to say?), zooming out to a different topic, saying it's the more important debate, then saying that the journalist not being of the same opinion is either malicious malicious or ignorant. Right? If so, ok. I disagree, but ok.
    - 5y ago
codyswann 5y ago
I think you're making a lot of assumptions. > I'm saying most criticisms I've seen are much broader than that, and if that world view was true, neither option would exist in the first place. Not the case for me > billionaires who shouldn't exist in the first place 100% your opinion and is completely separate from the criticism that billionaires should spend their wealth solving earth's problems So you had a completely different question than the "journalist." Get upset that this journalist didn't answer the question you wanted asked, but don't speak for the rest of the viewership.
- cassianoleal 5y ago
  > Not the case for me Fair enough. I did say "most criticisms I've seen". > 100% your opinion That may or may not be the case. It's not what I'm arguing about though. I'm saying it doesn't match the meat of the debate I have seen. When you said "not the case for me", that's definitely a relevant data point. The rest of this thread is not.