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A safe place to live, meaningful work, good health, experiences with family and friends, feelings of contribution and importance.

nradov 2y ago
If you live in the USA or other developed countries then your opportunity to have all of those things is greater than at any other time or place in human history. Of course, not everyone chooses to seize that opportunity. Some people would rather complain or blame others rather than grinding and delaying gratification to improve their circumstances.
- liontwist 2y ago
  Blaming poor character may be true of individuals, but when you’re referring to large groups of people you have to look at the social system. And by those standards our economic system is not working for the vast majority of people and getting worse every year.
  - nradov 2y ago
    That comment is just totally disconnected from reality. Sure, some people have it rough through no fault of their own and we should implement public policies to expand their opportunities. But the vast majority of people are doing pretty well by historical standards. The unemployment rate is 4.1%! The Consumer Confidence Index is 111! If you pay attention to the whining losers on Reddit and other social media then you get a distorted view of the state of the country. The silent majority are doing fairly well.
    - liontwist 2y ago
      Not too many years back I was doing well in tech, but not extraordinary. But I was constantly facing challenges related to finances, crime, healthcare, etc. Then one day I got a better job and moved to a high cost of living area, with extremely educated high achievers. All those problems magically went away. My neighbors were nice upstanding people, I had money, my employer had better healthcare, etc. The point is there is a massive class divide socially, also physically segregation. You can be completely unaware of what it's like to be on the wrong side of it. The cracks in our society are growing, and the level of sophistication required to navigate our system is increasing. My circle of friends and family is middle class and college educated. I don't know anyone under the age of 35 who owns more than a town house in a low cost area. What does your peer group look like?
      - nradov 2y ago
        I have large extended family scattered all over the country, and very few of them live in high cost areas. Only two household are in the top 1%. Out of the rest, almost all are working regular jobs outside the tech industry and living regular middle class lives. Most who have been out of school for a few years own their own homes. They haven't been victims of any major crimes. I've met some of their neighbors, too, and they generally seem like nice upstanding people.
        liontwist 2y ago
        Well whatever demographic differences we have are isolating our experiences so that you see this as a Reddit phenomenon and I see it as real life. Age gap?

nradov 2y ago

If you live in the USA or other developed countries then your opportunity to have all of those things is greater than at any other time or place in human history. Of course, not everyone chooses to seize that opportunity. Some people would rather complain or blame others rather than grinding and delaying gratification to improve their circumstances.

liontwist 2y ago
Blaming poor character may be true of individuals, but when you’re referring to large groups of people you have to look at the social system. And by those standards our economic system is not working for the vast majority of people and getting worse every year.
- nradov 2y ago
  That comment is just totally disconnected from reality. Sure, some people have it rough through no fault of their own and we should implement public policies to expand their opportunities. But the vast majority of people are doing pretty well by historical standards. The unemployment rate is 4.1%! The Consumer Confidence Index is 111! If you pay attention to the whining losers on Reddit and other social media then you get a distorted view of the state of the country. The silent majority are doing fairly well.
  - liontwist 2y ago
    Not too many years back I was doing well in tech, but not extraordinary. But I was constantly facing challenges related to finances, crime, healthcare, etc. Then one day I got a better job and moved to a high cost of living area, with extremely educated high achievers. All those problems magically went away. My neighbors were nice upstanding people, I had money, my employer had better healthcare, etc. The point is there is a massive class divide socially, also physically segregation. You can be completely unaware of what it's like to be on the wrong side of it. The cracks in our society are growing, and the level of sophistication required to navigate our system is increasing. My circle of friends and family is middle class and college educated. I don't know anyone under the age of 35 who owns more than a town house in a low cost area. What does your peer group look like?
    - nradov 2y ago
      I have large extended family scattered all over the country, and very few of them live in high cost areas. Only two household are in the top 1%. Out of the rest, almost all are working regular jobs outside the tech industry and living regular middle class lives. Most who have been out of school for a few years own their own homes. They haven't been victims of any major crimes. I've met some of their neighbors, too, and they generally seem like nice upstanding people.
      - liontwist 2y ago
        Well whatever demographic differences we have are isolating our experiences so that you see this as a Reddit phenomenon and I see it as real life. Age gap?