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We invented technology and methods to make things that are meant to be difficult, easy (like food, transportation, mating, surviving). So now we have to invent

We invented technology and methods to make things that are meant to be difficult, easy (like food, transportation, mating, surviving). So now we have to invent more technology and methods to find an equilibrium for the system that we broke and barely understand, so we continue to break it and abstract away the instability, understanding it less and less. I mean, what is the purpose of the stock market? housing/mortgage market? An upvote? The cookie banner and ad tracking industry?

NilMostChill 2y ago
- Maintaining and increasing high level wealth, also Control - Control, also profit - Control, albeit in a less direct form than housing also data and profit - The pretense of caring about privacy issues, so politics and control - Profit/control If you ask, "why?" for almost anything in today's society it'll come down to money/power, which are functionally mostly the same thing. Exceptions exist sure, but they are called exceptions for a reason. My perspective at least, i'm sure others think differently.
- astrange 2y ago
  The purpose of the stock market isn't "control". If you wanted control of something you owned you wouldn't be interested in selling it. This is why some fascists were opposed to capitalism, they thought corporate owners should be running them like kings and not selling it for money. It's to reduce risk by letting other people share in funding a venture.
  - NilMostChill 2y ago
    Admittedly the original intended purpose of the stock market might not have been control but that's certainly a big feature of it now. Unless you are already ultra wealthy there is little to gain from individuals entering the stock market directly. It's a vehicle for those with power and/or money to gain more power/money by siphoning it from everyone who isn't them. Sure, some people make money, in the same way people in a casino make money. The house, however, always wins.
    - astrange 2y ago
      > there is little to gain from individuals entering the stock market directly. There is approximately 8% a year to gain from entering it. Just buy VTSAX.
      - NilMostChill 2y ago
        Fair enough, that is on me. What i actually meant was there is little to gain for individuals who aren't already relatively wealthy. For those living at or below the poverty line, 8% of nothing is nothing. It isn't until you get to those who can afford to lock up reasonable sums of money for multiple years to benefit practically from that 8%.
astrange 2y ago
The point of the housing market is so you can buy a house without anyone except the seller having to like you enough to interact with you. The alternative is a popularity contest, which doesn't work out for unpopular people or minorities, and doesn't encourage production of new houses.

NilMostChill 2y ago

- Maintaining and increasing high level wealth, also Control - Control, also profit - Control, albeit in a less direct form than housing also data and profit - The pretense of caring about privacy issues, so politics and control - Profit/control If you ask, "why?" for almost anything in today's society it'll come down to money/power, which are functionally mostly the same thing. Exceptions exist sure, but they are called exceptions for a reason. My perspective at least, i'm sure others think differently.

astrange 2y ago
The purpose of the stock market isn't "control". If you wanted control of something you owned you wouldn't be interested in selling it. This is why some fascists were opposed to capitalism, they thought corporate owners should be running them like kings and not selling it for money. It's to reduce risk by letting other people share in funding a venture.
- NilMostChill 2y ago
  Admittedly the original intended purpose of the stock market might not have been control but that's certainly a big feature of it now. Unless you are already ultra wealthy there is little to gain from individuals entering the stock market directly. It's a vehicle for those with power and/or money to gain more power/money by siphoning it from everyone who isn't them. Sure, some people make money, in the same way people in a casino make money. The house, however, always wins.
  - astrange 2y ago
    > there is little to gain from individuals entering the stock market directly. There is approximately 8% a year to gain from entering it. Just buy VTSAX.
    - NilMostChill 2y ago
      Fair enough, that is on me. What i actually meant was there is little to gain for individuals who aren't already relatively wealthy. For those living at or below the poverty line, 8% of nothing is nothing. It isn't until you get to those who can afford to lock up reasonable sums of money for multiple years to benefit practically from that 8%.

astrange 2y ago

The point of the housing market is so you can buy a house without anyone except the seller having to like you enough to interact with you. The alternative is a popularity contest, which doesn't work out for unpopular people or minorities, and doesn't encourage production of new houses.