3 ms·

Post-scarcity is impossible because of positional goods. (ie, things that become more valuable not because they exist but because you have more of them than the

Post-scarcity is impossible because of positional goods. (ie, things that become more valuable not because they exist but because you have more of them than the other guy.) Notice Star Trek writers forget they're supposed to be post scarcity like half the time, especially since Roddenberry isn't around to stop them from turning shows into generic millenial dramas. Like, Picard owns a vineyard or something? That's a rivalrous (limited) good, they don't have replicators for France.

kelnos 2y ago
> things that become more valuable not because they exist but because you have more of them than the other guy. But if you can simply ask the AI to give you more of that thing, and it gives it to you, free of charge, that fixes that issue, no? > Notice Star Trek writers forget they're supposed to be post scarcity like half the time, especially since Roddenberry isn't around to stop them from turning shows into generic millenial dramas. Like, Picard owns a vineyard or something? That's a limited good. God, yes, so annoying. Even DS9 got into the currency game with the Ferengi obsession with gold-pressed latinum. But also you can look at some of it as a lifestyle choice. Picard runs a vineyard because he likes it and thinks it's cool. Sorta like how some people think vinyl sounds better then lossless digital audio. There's certainly a lot of replicated wine that I'm sure tastes exactly like what you could grow, harvest, and ferment yourself. But the writers love nostalgia, so there's constantly "the good stuff" hidden behind the bar that isn't replicated.
- linotype 2y ago
  I thought the Ferengi weren’t a part of the Federation, like the Klingons they were independent.
- astrange 2y ago
  > But if you can simply ask the AI to give you more of that thing, and it gives it to you, free of charge, that fixes that issue, no? It makes it not work anymore, and it might not be a physical good. It's usually something that gives you social status or impresses women, but if everyone knows you pressed a button they can press too it's not impressive anymore.

kelnos 2y ago

> things that become more valuable not because they exist but because you have more of them than the other guy. But if you can simply ask the AI to give you more of that thing, and it gives it to you, free of charge, that fixes that issue, no? > Notice Star Trek writers forget they're supposed to be post scarcity like half the time, especially since Roddenberry isn't around to stop them from turning shows into generic millenial dramas. Like, Picard owns a vineyard or something? That's a limited good. God, yes, so annoying. Even DS9 got into the currency game with the Ferengi obsession with gold-pressed latinum. But also you can look at some of it as a lifestyle choice. Picard runs a vineyard because he likes it and thinks it's cool. Sorta like how some people think vinyl sounds better then lossless digital audio. There's certainly a lot of replicated wine that I'm sure tastes exactly like what you could grow, harvest, and ferment yourself. But the writers love nostalgia, so there's constantly "the good stuff" hidden behind the bar that isn't replicated.

linotype 2y ago
I thought the Ferengi weren’t a part of the Federation, like the Klingons they were independent.
astrange 2y ago
> But if you can simply ask the AI to give you more of that thing, and it gives it to you, free of charge, that fixes that issue, no? It makes it not work anymore, and it might not be a physical good. It's usually something that gives you social status or impresses women, but if everyone knows you pressed a button they can press too it's not impressive anymore.