4 ms·

I think it comes from people operating on different definitions. The word own, at least as I learned it, means you alone have control of the thing, and it can't

I think it comes from people operating on different definitions. The word own, at least as I learned it, means you alone have control of the thing, and it can't be taken from you unless you agree to give it away. Other people seem to have a different definition, and I can't easily put it to words. Something like "you have some control of this thing and you can keep that control as long as you meet some list of conditions". I find it hard to argue against calling that something closer to renting than owning. I don't know. How would you define ownership?

yamtaddle 3y ago
> The word own, at least as I learned it, means you alone have control of the thing, and it can't be taken from you unless you agree to give it away. This definition sucks because it's not the case practically anywhere, and I don't think making up some new word for what everyone means by "own" just so the "more rational than thou" set can take the word "own" to mean this nearly-useless-because-practically-nonexistent phenomenon, is helpful.
- ifyoubuildit 3y ago
  I'm thinking more from the mindset of a child. As a child, all of my little posessions were mine, and I could share them (or not) as I saw fit. At some point, you become exposed to the real world and realize that it's really difficult to own anything like that, especially in a world where so many things are financed or come with subscriptions and cloud connections. But that first understanding of the concept still sticks.
cool_dude85 3y ago
Can you point to any object, maybe outside of your body or intangible asset within your mind, that you "own" by this definition? That debtors and the courts can under no circumstances seize? If not, I would say your definition is bogus.
- ifyoubuildit 3y ago
  Interesting question. How about things that nobody knows you have? These would probably tend to be smaller things just because its easier for them to go unnoticed, and if nobody knows about them, they wouldn't have any reason or ability to take them from you. I'm curious how you would define ownership?
  - cool_dude85 3y ago
    This can't be a satisfying answer, otherwise you could "own" your land now, by your understanding, as long as it's done through enough overseas shell corps and so on. And still have to pay property taxes as per usual.
    - ifyoubuildit 3y ago
      To clarify, I was talking about something like a photograph that you carry with you, little knick knacks like that. As for land, if you could actually hide the physical body of land from people, then sure, it could sort of apply there. I don't think I meant "hiding" by legal means though. I mean if nobody can physically see it or look it up in a database to know it exists. Realistically, we mostly don't own anything by my definition. Does that mean my definition is wrong? In any case, I'm not claiming that my understanding is correct, just that people have different understandings and mine happens to be what I mentioned above. I'm still curious about yours.

yamtaddle 3y ago

> The word own, at least as I learned it, means you alone have control of the thing, and it can't be taken from you unless you agree to give it away. This definition sucks because it's not the case practically anywhere, and I don't think making up some new word for what everyone means by "own" just so the "more rational than thou" set can take the word "own" to mean this nearly-useless-because-practically-nonexistent phenomenon, is helpful.

ifyoubuildit 3y ago
I'm thinking more from the mindset of a child. As a child, all of my little posessions were mine, and I could share them (or not) as I saw fit. At some point, you become exposed to the real world and realize that it's really difficult to own anything like that, especially in a world where so many things are financed or come with subscriptions and cloud connections. But that first understanding of the concept still sticks.

cool_dude85 3y ago

Can you point to any object, maybe outside of your body or intangible asset within your mind, that you "own" by this definition? That debtors and the courts can under no circumstances seize? If not, I would say your definition is bogus.

ifyoubuildit 3y ago
Interesting question. How about things that nobody knows you have? These would probably tend to be smaller things just because its easier for them to go unnoticed, and if nobody knows about them, they wouldn't have any reason or ability to take them from you. I'm curious how you would define ownership?
- cool_dude85 3y ago
  This can't be a satisfying answer, otherwise you could "own" your land now, by your understanding, as long as it's done through enough overseas shell corps and so on. And still have to pay property taxes as per usual.
  - ifyoubuildit 3y ago
    To clarify, I was talking about something like a photograph that you carry with you, little knick knacks like that. As for land, if you could actually hide the physical body of land from people, then sure, it could sort of apply there. I don't think I meant "hiding" by legal means though. I mean if nobody can physically see it or look it up in a database to know it exists. Realistically, we mostly don't own anything by my definition. Does that mean my definition is wrong? In any case, I'm not claiming that my understanding is correct, just that people have different understandings and mine happens to be what I mentioned above. I'm still curious about yours.