4 ms·

Consider that this isn't a random person, but someone which $10k didn't move the needle very much(which is why she gave it away). Even the selection process was

Consider that this isn't a random person, but someone which $10k didn't move the needle very much(which is why she gave it away). Even the selection process wasn't random, probably if you're interested in TED talks and on Twitter, you're different enough from an average person in terms of your interests and means.

sarahdrinkwater 4y ago
I think "10k not moving the needle" dramatically depends on your perspective - not sure the food bank that got one working laptop vs using mismatched sheets of paper would agree. Definitely massive donations preferable, but small amounts can be useful - it feels a little privileged to think they cannot.
- googlryas 4y ago
  I meant specifically about moving the author's needle, trying to explain her willingness to give it away, and how it isn't a great exemplar for UBI since she is not an average person. I wasn't talking about those she provided grants to - definitely, to some, $10k can be a life changing amount. There are people who never earn $10k over the course of their lives. From the author's bio and article, it appears she is involved in venture capital, angel investing, and gets surprise tax bills which amount to more than the average English person earns in a year. That's probably the kind of person who can part with $10k without much hand wringing. Having said that, I do think the author is commendable in giving it away, because for a ton of people just like her, I believe they would just take the money and do something much more selfish with it.
  - slyall 4y ago
    Have you looked at who you are replying to?
    - googlryas 4y ago
      Yes, I saw the username, but I've also been on the internet long enough to know that anyone can register a username. Especially since it is a new account, and doesn't really have a post history outside of this thread. Odds are it is the author, but then again you never know. Does the author of the blog post being the GP of this post change anything I said?
robocat 4y ago
> but someone which $10k didn't move the needle very much Assuming she gave it away because she is “well off” is just not nice. The journalist I know was poorly paid for a stressful job - the internet has vastly changed the economics of the industry - in fact they lost their job because their is no money in it any more. I would guess that the writer is a reciprocation type of person: that feels uncomfortable to be just given things. One lady I knew from the UK had it so ingrained that when given a slice of cake, she had to give us something in return. I also see the same thing a lot in New Zealand culture. There is also a pride aspect. I literally cannot give money to my friends that could really do with it, even though $20 is disposable for me and is really not for them. Social obligation and status signalling make cash really difficult. Oddly enough people often accept gifts of my time and indirect costs, without reciprocation. For example I can spend time and petrol chopping firewood and they will accept the firewood for free, even though it would economically cost me far less to just buy some firewood for them however that would not be acceptable! Edit: Also she is living in East London which is stereotyped to be relatively poor. The 2021 figures I could find were Waltham Forest (part of Walthamstow) average salary for female £31.6k/year, compared with £27.5k/year for workers in North East England (a poor part of the UK). London is way more expensive to live, so she is relatively worse off at a guess. My stereotype of female journalists is that they are doing it for their beliefs, not for the money (those that chase money go to the dark side).
- deleted 4y ago
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sarahdrinkwater 4y ago

I think "10k not moving the needle" dramatically depends on your perspective - not sure the food bank that got one working laptop vs using mismatched sheets of paper would agree. Definitely massive donations preferable, but small amounts can be useful - it feels a little privileged to think they cannot.

googlryas 4y ago
I meant specifically about moving the author's needle, trying to explain her willingness to give it away, and how it isn't a great exemplar for UBI since she is not an average person. I wasn't talking about those she provided grants to - definitely, to some, $10k can be a life changing amount. There are people who never earn $10k over the course of their lives. From the author's bio and article, it appears she is involved in venture capital, angel investing, and gets surprise tax bills which amount to more than the average English person earns in a year. That's probably the kind of person who can part with $10k without much hand wringing. Having said that, I do think the author is commendable in giving it away, because for a ton of people just like her, I believe they would just take the money and do something much more selfish with it.
- slyall 4y ago
  Have you looked at who you are replying to?
  - googlryas 4y ago
    Yes, I saw the username, but I've also been on the internet long enough to know that anyone can register a username. Especially since it is a new account, and doesn't really have a post history outside of this thread. Odds are it is the author, but then again you never know. Does the author of the blog post being the GP of this post change anything I said?

robocat 4y ago

> but someone which $10k didn't move the needle very much Assuming she gave it away because she is “well off” is just not nice. The journalist I know was poorly paid for a stressful job - the internet has vastly changed the economics of the industry - in fact they lost their job because their is no money in it any more. I would guess that the writer is a reciprocation type of person: that feels uncomfortable to be just given things. One lady I knew from the UK had it so ingrained that when given a slice of cake, she had to give us something in return. I also see the same thing a lot in New Zealand culture. There is also a pride aspect. I literally cannot give money to my friends that could really do with it, even though $20 is disposable for me and is really not for them. Social obligation and status signalling make cash really difficult. Oddly enough people often accept gifts of my time and indirect costs, without reciprocation. For example I can spend time and petrol chopping firewood and they will accept the firewood for free, even though it would economically cost me far less to just buy some firewood for them however that would not be acceptable! Edit: Also she is living in East London which is stereotyped to be relatively poor. The 2021 figures I could find were Waltham Forest (part of Walthamstow) average salary for female £31.6k/year, compared with £27.5k/year for workers in North East England (a poor part of the UK). London is way more expensive to live, so she is relatively worse off at a guess. My stereotype of female journalists is that they are doing it for their beliefs, not for the money (those that chase money go to the dark side).

deleted 4y ago
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