5 ms·

If some of the billionaires of today created libraries instead of rocket companies to cement their legacy, that would be great.

kerpotgh 4y ago
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vorpalhex 4y ago
[flagged]
- superkuh 4y ago
  Ah, sure. Let me just go back in time and make sure my parents are rich to get the small millions dollars loans I'll need to start the capital accumulation ball rolling and provide me the positive liberty needed to risk and fail a handful of times till it sticks. That said, I am providing a vast online digital library to the public already. Digital libraries don't need massive amounts of capital or real estate. I just host a tor onion website with a directory listing and now anyone can read the books I have. And that is the kind of thing the book publishers are trying to stop here.
  - vorpalhex 4y ago
    People have built libraries for thousands of years. My neighbor runs a small library using donated books. Your local library could do with donations. It does not take a billionaire to build a library. That you are giving me this excuse that you can't do anything because you are not rich is just an excuse. And had you researched this, you would see that most of the top billionaires DO contributes millions to building libraries. Gates alone has built a significant amount around the world.
    - superkuh 4y ago
      I guess we're ignoring the part where I explained I've been running my own digital library for the public (for almost 20 years now) and how the original article is about digital lending and how publishers are trying to kill it. But re: building a physical library, most of us (myself included) don't even have the capital to own the places where we live. Buying (or renting) another space is totally out of the question. Tiny libraries (essentially large mailbox size) in people's yards are cool and I've put some books into them before. Saying "Just build a library." is out of touch. And even if it was a community project (time is money) that succeeded we'd have the publishers come in with legal attacks to try to shut down digital lending.
- mejutoco 4y ago
  To save me? I buy a lot of books myself, thank you. It is just a wish, that is all. Don't you think education is important for entrepreneurship? I think it would be in their self-interest too, if they want to cement a legacy. I sure hope you will be there to tell some billionaires to pony up their own money when the government bails them out too. I am all up for discussion but let's not be rude.
  - vorpalhex 4y ago
    Of course education is important to entrepreneurship, that is why I donate my money to those causes. Instead of yelling at HN on how Gates or Musk should spend their money, you should, first, actually look at their donation records and see that they do in fact give significant amounts to libraries. Gates has built more libraries than you can visit in your lifetime. Second, you should walk the walk and not just talk the talk. Talk is cheap. You would benefit from reading up on those "bailouts" by the way. Whether you mean TARP or the recent FDIC actions, as you seem to not understand them. The recent FDIC action was paid by a banking insurance pool, not tax payers. Complaining of tone is a defense to the indefensible.
    - mejutoco 4y ago
      > Instead of yelling at HN Who is yelling? > Complaining of tone is a defense to the indefensible. Tone cannot be a problem but volume is? You could ask and I will gladly tell you who I was thinking of. I was thinking of Bezos. Gates is actually a good example I had in mind. This is why I said "If _some_ of the billionaires of today". > was paid by a banking insurance pool, not tax payers. Who do you think will pay the increased fees the banks will have to replenish their insurance pool? As another example, in 2008 it was not a bank insurance pool. I am open to being wrong, and do not pretend otherwise, but as I said, since I do not enjoy being talked in the tone you are using I will walk the walk, and stop being part of this conversation.

kerpotgh 4y ago

[dead]

vorpalhex 4y ago

[flagged]

superkuh 4y ago
Ah, sure. Let me just go back in time and make sure my parents are rich to get the small millions dollars loans I'll need to start the capital accumulation ball rolling and provide me the positive liberty needed to risk and fail a handful of times till it sticks. That said, I am providing a vast online digital library to the public already. Digital libraries don't need massive amounts of capital or real estate. I just host a tor onion website with a directory listing and now anyone can read the books I have. And that is the kind of thing the book publishers are trying to stop here.
- vorpalhex 4y ago
  People have built libraries for thousands of years. My neighbor runs a small library using donated books. Your local library could do with donations. It does not take a billionaire to build a library. That you are giving me this excuse that you can't do anything because you are not rich is just an excuse. And had you researched this, you would see that most of the top billionaires DO contributes millions to building libraries. Gates alone has built a significant amount around the world.
  - superkuh 4y ago
    I guess we're ignoring the part where I explained I've been running my own digital library for the public (for almost 20 years now) and how the original article is about digital lending and how publishers are trying to kill it. But re: building a physical library, most of us (myself included) don't even have the capital to own the places where we live. Buying (or renting) another space is totally out of the question. Tiny libraries (essentially large mailbox size) in people's yards are cool and I've put some books into them before. Saying "Just build a library." is out of touch. And even if it was a community project (time is money) that succeeded we'd have the publishers come in with legal attacks to try to shut down digital lending.
mejutoco 4y ago
To save me? I buy a lot of books myself, thank you. It is just a wish, that is all. Don't you think education is important for entrepreneurship? I think it would be in their self-interest too, if they want to cement a legacy. I sure hope you will be there to tell some billionaires to pony up their own money when the government bails them out too. I am all up for discussion but let's not be rude.
- vorpalhex 4y ago
  Of course education is important to entrepreneurship, that is why I donate my money to those causes. Instead of yelling at HN on how Gates or Musk should spend their money, you should, first, actually look at their donation records and see that they do in fact give significant amounts to libraries. Gates has built more libraries than you can visit in your lifetime. Second, you should walk the walk and not just talk the talk. Talk is cheap. You would benefit from reading up on those "bailouts" by the way. Whether you mean TARP or the recent FDIC actions, as you seem to not understand them. The recent FDIC action was paid by a banking insurance pool, not tax payers. Complaining of tone is a defense to the indefensible.
  - mejutoco 4y ago
    > Instead of yelling at HN Who is yelling? > Complaining of tone is a defense to the indefensible. Tone cannot be a problem but volume is? You could ask and I will gladly tell you who I was thinking of. I was thinking of Bezos. Gates is actually a good example I had in mind. This is why I said "If _some_ of the billionaires of today". > was paid by a banking insurance pool, not tax payers. Who do you think will pay the increased fees the banks will have to replenish their insurance pool? As another example, in 2008 it was not a bank insurance pool. I am open to being wrong, and do not pretend otherwise, but as I said, since I do not enjoy being talked in the tone you are using I will walk the walk, and stop being part of this conversation.