Aaron, noticed today that Nate Silver has made an observation similar to a theme you've discussed, about corporations using asymmetric technological advantages to extract more resources from consumers (I recall you giving the example of PE-owned single-family housing rentals).
"I even have a novel theory that algorithmic optimization is sucking more money out of consumers without increasing their utility, basically taking consumer surplus and converting it to corporate profits."
Re: psychedelics - I'm a square so never thought of this stuff, but it came up when Rogan interviewed Stephen C. Meyer. Rogan is out there advocating psychedelics if you want to have an experience of God.
Re: Boomer grandparents - We've also been fortunate to have a great deal of help from our Boomer parents on both sides. We both come from very small families, so that helps. But I've heard about my share of selfish Boomer grandparents from peers as well. There's a further tragedy here in that Boomer TFR is below that of their parents (hence the "boom"), so they have fewer grandchildren to care for than their own grandparents did.
Of course, you could argue partly in the Boomers' defense that they're older when they first become grandparents than their own grandparents were. Also, today's more intensive parenting styles may play a role. My Boomer mother tells me about some friends who were put off of grandparenting because their daughter has 1001 rules and stipulations and always chews them out for some concern they see as trivial. I have ideas about nutrition and screentime that my mother-in-law routinely violates, but I bite my tongue and let it all slide because she's 100% devoted to our kids.
I guess this sort of falls under boomer grandparenting... but more towards our church woes. I use to be a millennial that believed in not disparaging the elders and that there was some wisdom to learn... since having kids and especially COVID, my patience and respect for them is close to nil.
I feel betrayed our elders didn't lead and instead hid/locked everyone down to save themselves, youth be damned. One example I feel particularly peeved about is at my church. Boomers came rolling back into our community after they cowered and hid. They took back all the positions of power with relative ease because of pastors or leaders who favored them first. It's always feels like be considerate of your neighbor and love your neighbor goes one-way with the boomers, especially when prioritizing their needs at church. When they were gone a few core large families of young parents and priest's wives stepped up and grew the church for other larger families and made it a great place for children. Then 2022-2023 we are quickly back to boomer ushers acting like mob muscle the moment a child cried and hearing others constantly complaining about children or having mothers on edge about their kid squeaking an tiny bit since the boomerwafen has returned. There was not even a thank you for keeping the church alive or any awareness. My wife and I feel incredibly betrayed, and I'm sure the families that did way more than us do too.
It's ok though. When boomers who couldn't be bothered with a single child's yell or need, I'll remember. They'll remember when they're alone...in a nursing home, and no one wants to see them. I'll play them the tiniest violin...or I'll build them an adult cry room to live stream their church service from... followed by tone deaf lectures on "seasons of life" or some other dismissive garbage disguised as an answer.
I’m happy to see more awareness in churches about the lack of atheism in today’s society. I know everyone is always stuck yesteryears wars, but I’m shocked at how little the apologetics I grew up with is actually applicable now.
The little exposure I’ve had in apologetics has always been strictly rational arguments, dealing with things like the clockmaker argument, etc. However, I’ve probably met only a couple strident atheists (although probably several more who just simply answered “agnostic”)
What I have seen are the rise of witches. To what degree they are involved in witchcraft is unknown to me, but I’ve seen a handful on certain dating apps, and a couple of fliers when I was on campus. There’s an entire subreddit of close to 750K redditors called “Witches vs Patriarchy”
I feel like I’ve definitely been taught on how to win an atheist to Christ, but I’ve never once been to any Christian gathering where someone told me how to bring a witch, someone involved in the occult, etc., to Christ.
I think churches need a modern revamp on where society is going and how to reach different people for Christ.
Interesting to see the "soft girl" phenomenon. Last night at church small group almost all the young women in my group expressed similar sentiments. Yet they keep working at careers they don't enjoy to pay off the student loans they took to get those careers.
Aaron, noticed today that Nate Silver has made an observation similar to a theme you've discussed, about corporations using asymmetric technological advantages to extract more resources from consumers (I recall you giving the example of PE-owned single-family housing rentals).
"I even have a novel theory that algorithmic optimization is sucking more money out of consumers without increasing their utility, basically taking consumer surplus and converting it to corporate profits."
https://www.natesilver.net/p/the-incumbency-advantage-is-disappearing
He references his previous piece here, but I don't think he spelled this out quite so pithily in that piece:
https://www.natesilver.net/p/the-mcdonalds-theory-of-why-everyone
Yes, provocative take.
Re: psychedelics - I'm a square so never thought of this stuff, but it came up when Rogan interviewed Stephen C. Meyer. Rogan is out there advocating psychedelics if you want to have an experience of God.
Re: Boomer grandparents - We've also been fortunate to have a great deal of help from our Boomer parents on both sides. We both come from very small families, so that helps. But I've heard about my share of selfish Boomer grandparents from peers as well. There's a further tragedy here in that Boomer TFR is below that of their parents (hence the "boom"), so they have fewer grandchildren to care for than their own grandparents did.
Of course, you could argue partly in the Boomers' defense that they're older when they first become grandparents than their own grandparents were. Also, today's more intensive parenting styles may play a role. My Boomer mother tells me about some friends who were put off of grandparenting because their daughter has 1001 rules and stipulations and always chews them out for some concern they see as trivial. I have ideas about nutrition and screentime that my mother-in-law routinely violates, but I bite my tongue and let it all slide because she's 100% devoted to our kids.
I guess this sort of falls under boomer grandparenting... but more towards our church woes. I use to be a millennial that believed in not disparaging the elders and that there was some wisdom to learn... since having kids and especially COVID, my patience and respect for them is close to nil.
I feel betrayed our elders didn't lead and instead hid/locked everyone down to save themselves, youth be damned. One example I feel particularly peeved about is at my church. Boomers came rolling back into our community after they cowered and hid. They took back all the positions of power with relative ease because of pastors or leaders who favored them first. It's always feels like be considerate of your neighbor and love your neighbor goes one-way with the boomers, especially when prioritizing their needs at church. When they were gone a few core large families of young parents and priest's wives stepped up and grew the church for other larger families and made it a great place for children. Then 2022-2023 we are quickly back to boomer ushers acting like mob muscle the moment a child cried and hearing others constantly complaining about children or having mothers on edge about their kid squeaking an tiny bit since the boomerwafen has returned. There was not even a thank you for keeping the church alive or any awareness. My wife and I feel incredibly betrayed, and I'm sure the families that did way more than us do too.
It's ok though. When boomers who couldn't be bothered with a single child's yell or need, I'll remember. They'll remember when they're alone...in a nursing home, and no one wants to see them. I'll play them the tiniest violin...or I'll build them an adult cry room to live stream their church service from... followed by tone deaf lectures on "seasons of life" or some other dismissive garbage disguised as an answer.
I’m happy to see more awareness in churches about the lack of atheism in today’s society. I know everyone is always stuck yesteryears wars, but I’m shocked at how little the apologetics I grew up with is actually applicable now.
The little exposure I’ve had in apologetics has always been strictly rational arguments, dealing with things like the clockmaker argument, etc. However, I’ve probably met only a couple strident atheists (although probably several more who just simply answered “agnostic”)
What I have seen are the rise of witches. To what degree they are involved in witchcraft is unknown to me, but I’ve seen a handful on certain dating apps, and a couple of fliers when I was on campus. There’s an entire subreddit of close to 750K redditors called “Witches vs Patriarchy”
I feel like I’ve definitely been taught on how to win an atheist to Christ, but I’ve never once been to any Christian gathering where someone told me how to bring a witch, someone involved in the occult, etc., to Christ.
I think churches need a modern revamp on where society is going and how to reach different people for Christ.
Not sure if Aaron linked this already:
"The Rise of the Anti-Marriage Right"
https://plus.thebulwark.com/p/the-rise-of-the-anti-marriage-right
Interesting to see the "soft girl" phenomenon. Last night at church small group almost all the young women in my group expressed similar sentiments. Yet they keep working at careers they don't enjoy to pay off the student loans they took to get those careers.