4 ms·

But I don't think there's many of them. That's kinda my point. Sure it's the standard retort... "Oh it's the politics of envy... yadda yadda". But that's not w

But I don't think there's many of them. That's kinda my point. Sure it's the standard retort... "Oh it's the politics of envy... yadda yadda". But that's not what's happening if you think about it deeply and honestly. I'd say far more people simply fear them (or rather what insane things they have the unelected power to do).

hollerith 2y ago
The fact that you wrote "everyone hates billionaires" rather than "everyone fears billionaires" moves the needle towards the envy hypothesis.
- nonrandomstring 2y ago
  Explain yourself more please. It sounds like you may have something interesting to say but need to elaborate. What do you think is the relation between fear and hate in this instance?
  - hollerith 2y ago
    I'm just saying that someone who writes "everybody hates billionaires" is unlikely to be motivated by fear of billions because if that was the motivation, they'd be more likely to write, "everybody is afraid of billionaires" or "everyone know billionaires are a threat to the freedom on non-billionaires" or such.
    - nonrandomstring 2y ago
      Oh how disappointing. You're making it about me. I don't matter. Nor does my writing style. We had the chance to discuss an important philosophical idea. I guess a good way to be "less wrong" is never to venture much :) FWIW I think people are less comfortable expressing fear (which in our culture we think sounds weak) than "hate", which seems more active on face value. There are a few things we can fear and love, like roller-coaster rides, tigers or beautiful poisonous flowers. But usually fear and hate cluster together more strongly as emotions. I think the core reason people hate billionaires is they bypass democracy and accountability. You have to be a bit crazy to make or keep excessive money, so that makes them unpredictable and dangerous.

4 ms·

But I don't think there's many of them. That's kinda my point. Sure it's the standard retort... "Oh it's the politics of envy... yadda yadda". But that's not w

by nonrandomstring 2y ago

hollerith 2y ago
The fact that you wrote "everyone hates billionaires" rather than "everyone fears billionaires" moves the needle towards the envy hypothesis.
- nonrandomstring 2y ago
  Explain yourself more please. It sounds like you may have something interesting to say but need to elaborate. What do you think is the relation between fear and hate in this instance?
  - hollerith 2y ago
    I'm just saying that someone who writes "everybody hates billionaires" is unlikely to be motivated by fear of billions because if that was the motivation, they'd be more likely to write, "everybody is afraid of billionaires" or "everyone know billionaires are a threat to the freedom on non-billionaires" or such.
    - nonrandomstring 2y ago
      Oh how disappointing. You're making it about me. I don't matter. Nor does my writing style. We had the chance to discuss an important philosophical idea. I guess a good way to be "less wrong" is never to venture much :) FWIW I think people are less comfortable expressing fear (which in our culture we think sounds weak) than "hate", which seems more active on face value. There are a few things we can fear and love, like roller-coaster rides, tigers or beautiful poisonous flowers. But usually fear and hate cluster together more strongly as emotions. I think the core reason people hate billionaires is they bypass democracy and accountability. You have to be a bit crazy to make or keep excessive money, so that makes them unpredictable and dangerous.