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joined mar 2013
share {Economics} and generate bitcoin with reference codes.
42 topics on {Economics}

interesting to see how Europe rose

I was shocked how the world originally laughed at European products, they really were bumpkins.

5 posts
+17 votes

by
Camber
We’re broke

by
Camber
We’re broke
Seems to marry up with the WEF plan of the "great reset". Seems like everybody is going to default and we will have to start again with a new economic model.

7 posts
+12 votes

by
afc89green
Women

by
afc89green
Women
Found this interesting article about an ancient burial site they found in Spain that contained Queens remains and treasures from over 3000 years ago which they think might show how women had political power and not men. Got me thinking!. Afc

Please don’t think too much!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣wooah!! Come on y’all all thinking it! !!Definitely only messin!! Hope I don’t get no trouble 🙏🙏🥰

7 posts
+16.2 votes

by
refUGh
all the world's gold visualised
Hate to be pedantic..but…😂…is that all the gold that has been mined, an estimate of all the gold that could be mined, or a estimate of all the gold anywhere in the planet, accessible or not?…

I’ve seen something similar to this before, I believe it’s all the gold mined and accounted for in the world I don’t think it accounts for untapped reserves in the ground etc

OK👍….here’s another one…humans contain trace gold and we couldn’t live without it. If you could extract all the gold from 7 billion humans (and all mammals?)…would it make a Sovereign? 🤔

Ok so I got really bored and googled it lol.
Apparently an average human contains 0.2 milligrams of gold, if you multiply that by 7billion it comes out at 1,400,000,000 milligrams or 1400 kgs.
A tidy profit but the downside is there would be no one left to sell it to
Apparently an average human contains 0.2 milligrams of gold, if you multiply that by 7billion it comes out at 1,400,000,000 milligrams or 1400 kgs.
A tidy profit but the downside is there would be no one left to sell it to

13 posts
+32 votes

by
the Kushans
how hard is it to get skills anymore?

by
the Kushans
how hard is it to get skills anymore?
the growing divide between rich and poor, the loss of jobs to immigrants and robots, youth unemployment, nearly every economic problem is caused by a lack of value producing skills.
but why? nearly everything you could do in this world can be learned for free with this little invention called the world wide web. i think you have heard of it even if you don't have an expensive computer.
a p.o.s. android phone and free wifi has you in many of the finest classrooms on earth, you don't need a wing named after your grandfather anymore.
if you don't have the patience for this there is a youtube video for 21st century dummies on nearly every lesson on earth, pause, rewind, learn at your own pace for free.
yeah sorry, the assembly line that paid for 3 weeks off isn't hiring anymore, neither is the lord's farm or those stone hauling gigs down in egypt. things have changed - for the better.
but why? nearly everything you could do in this world can be learned for free with this little invention called the world wide web. i think you have heard of it even if you don't have an expensive computer.
a p.o.s. android phone and free wifi has you in many of the finest classrooms on earth, you don't need a wing named after your grandfather anymore.
if you don't have the patience for this there is a youtube video for 21st century dummies on nearly every lesson on earth, pause, rewind, learn at your own pace for free.
yeah sorry, the assembly line that paid for 3 weeks off isn't hiring anymore, neither is the lord's farm or those stone hauling gigs down in egypt. things have changed - for the better.

Acquiring knowledge is different to acquiring skills.
You're not going to learn how to deal with patients, or good bedside manner, if you're a nurse, from a YouTube video.
Nor dealing with livestock if you're a farmer. These things come with time on the job.
I do agree though that your average degree, certainly in humanities, can be done from your sofa.
The Internet is a wonderful thing. I think sometimes we forget how lucky we are to have this amount of knowledge at our fingertips.
Just my 2p.
Cheers BB
You're not going to learn how to deal with patients, or good bedside manner, if you're a nurse, from a YouTube video.
Nor dealing with livestock if you're a farmer. These things come with time on the job.
I do agree though that your average degree, certainly in humanities, can be done from your sofa.
The Internet is a wonderful thing. I think sometimes we forget how lucky we are to have this amount of knowledge at our fingertips.
Just my 2p.
Cheers BB

Anyone can acquire the skills that they want, it just depends upon how dedicated they are. I mean there's a shit ton of skills that i want to master and learn, but usually i'm busy with other things. The internet is a wonderful thing. But also, it takes a lot of time to learn certain skills and most people like my self are quite lazy and can't be asked to learn new things, unless they really want to.

True but I'm not sure about "anymore". It's always been possible for motivated people to acquire skills, it's easier now but I don't think that is going to change the dynamic. People are afraid and or lazy when it comes to pursuing things that aren't right up in their face.

Actually all of our problems are due to over population. One person can do more work now due to technology. Also humans keep on devaluing themselves by constantly breeding. It’s the law of supply and demand. The fewer of us there are the more valuable we are to employers. When we breed out of control then employers can pick whoever they want. That’s my opinion;)

Norman Tebbit rebooted.
Don’t question increasing stratification of haves and have nots, just pull yourself up by your bootstraps.
200 applicants for one job at Tesco?
Have you thought about trying a different Tesco? Hmm?
Don’t question increasing stratification of haves and have nots, just pull yourself up by your bootstraps.
200 applicants for one job at Tesco?
Have you thought about trying a different Tesco? Hmm?

Try to think from the perspective of a business owner. Sifting through resumes. Bachelor's. honours. Doctorates. Oh no. This mad lad has googled it. Hire him now

I get what your saying but the person carrying out the skilled job more often than not needs proper training and certification if not just for the client but more importantly for insurance purposes!

Insurance would work a lot better if there were public records of outcomes on a blockchain rather than a certification authority that inevitably becomes a racket.

This is true from the perspective of individuals, but what about societies. Societies like governments take most f our resources under the auspices of producing better outcomes.
If society says yeah anyone can do anything if they play the game right that's a fail. It should be a matter of course that an honest and motivated person is going to do well but that's not what we have. The only sure thing in our society is access to power.
If society says yeah anyone can do anything if they play the game right that's a fail. It should be a matter of course that an honest and motivated person is going to do well but that's not what we have. The only sure thing in our society is access to power.

3 posts
+9 votes

by
coldspurs
Anis Varoufakis: We are living in a post-capitalist dystopia

by
coldspurs
Anis Varoufakis: We are living in a post-capitalist dystopia


Greek economist, author, and politician Yanis Varoufakis argues, “This is how capitalism ends: not with a revolutionary bang, but with an evolutionary whimper. Just as it displaced feudalism gradually, surreptitiously, until one day the bulk of human relations were market-based and feudalism was swept away, so capitalism today is being toppled by a new economic mode: techno-feudalism.”

7 posts
+33.2 votes
what's left libertarianism?
if anyone can parse this bs on wikipedia id love to see it

it makes sense: private property for what we create, public property for what's already sitting on the planet.

i guess its socialism without the power structure however most left libertarians these days are just cancel culture fools

13 posts
+68 votes

by
Frosty Frank
What is post-scarcity?
a pipe dream, even with free replication of everything people find a way to have scarcity. look at what people pay for things in game worlds.

the need for scarcity might not ever go away. scarcity triggers a human need that seems to defy rational economic theory, look at early nfts.

I like how there's no seatbelts on the Enterprise, even though they get hit by something and the crew gets knocked on their arses in virtually every episode.

Star Trek Discovery has a more stringent HSE who has brought in new seatbelt regulations for the safety of the crew

7 posts
+39.2 votes

by
gs
In the 1970s Irish Banks went on strike. Pubs replaced them easily.

by
gs
In the 1970s Irish Banks went on strike. Pubs replaced them easily.
Before bitcoin there were publicans, pubs and small businesses kept ledgers and remarkably the lack of banking had no effect on the Irish economy.

I am offering pre-brewed bitpint to a select group of craft patron/investors. To brew a new bitpint requires a confirmation we call a tasting.

No. Sips are 1/100ths of a bitpint and we expect a healthy number of sips will be required to send each bitpint.

5 posts
+31 votes

by
coldspurs
Capitalism is unfolding exactly as Karl Marx predicted

by
coldspurs
Capitalism is unfolding exactly as Karl Marx predicted
"The system depends on human labor while simultaneously eradicating it."

0% interest rates, meme stocks, puts and calls going up simultaneously, sure looks like an end game scenario.

The big flaw of capitalism..
One day all the super rich (super useless) will realize the world seizes to go round without ground level hard workers and skilled people.
One day all the super rich (super useless) will realize the world seizes to go round without ground level hard workers and skilled people.

18 posts
+80 votes

by
fan4
When will AI replace every job?

by
fan4
When will AI replace every job?
Seems there are more articles like this every day and that AI is accelerating faster and faster. If AI is better than us at everything what are we going to do all day and how are we going to earn money?

If any AI and robots do the work without getting paid it doesn't sound like we need a whole lot of money.

This. The whole idea of humans working for money starts changing when all of the work is done by AI and robots. Think how different a shared self driving car is to a couple of clunkers parked in every garage on stand by, it up-ends the premise of cars, transport, housing to say nothing of alcohol use, multi-tasking and God knows what else. Now think of everything else being done by robots and you and your friends spending lots of time in VR, it's not like you're going to take off the glasses and work at some factory in this scenario.

Don't worry about it, AI will figure it out for us.
But the bottom line is, the corporations that are investing in AI still need to make their profits too. If no one works, no one has money, so how would these corporations stay afloat?
There will need to be some sort of equilibrium - much as (most) humans now realise we can't keep burning Earth's resources, AI systems wouldn't be programmed to make humanity defunct. Not unless the world manages to move away from its capitalist consumerist ambitions; which it won't. We're greedy creatures.
But the bottom line is, the corporations that are investing in AI still need to make their profits too. If no one works, no one has money, so how would these corporations stay afloat?
There will need to be some sort of equilibrium - much as (most) humans now realise we can't keep burning Earth's resources, AI systems wouldn't be programmed to make humanity defunct. Not unless the world manages to move away from its capitalist consumerist ambitions; which it won't. We're greedy creatures.

if everything we want is fed by an ai created vr feed we may still be consumers but things gonna be damn cheap.

Read life 3.0 by max tegmark. There is a vast community funded by Elon Musk reseraching AI and its potential as we speak. I wonder if the Simpsons can predict the eventuality that machines could become superior to humans like they did with forecasting Donald Trump as President.

For the moment, we are safe. They haven't even managed to get self checkouts working properly yet, so I'm not getting in a driverless car. All it takes is a sensor to fail, and it's game over. I work with sensors - you wouldn't want to get in a driverless car for a long while.
Automation - whole different ballgame, and this is the real fear
Automation - whole different ballgame, and this is the real fear

To understand that, you first have to understand who have control of the world. eventually you find the source being that of the "Red Shield" family. which then gives you their agenda, they see the rest of us as "goyim" having a belief we are to serve them as upgraded animals. So, they have to destroy the existing system to usher in a new having what we term "image of the beast" possibly representing AI as the brains behind their new agenda. We, therefore will enter a stage where the elite/red shield family give a choice to either obey and conform to them or to be hunted down like sheep for slaughter. The ones who accept will receive a mark to accept credits. China recently started this endeavour which fits perfectly with their zionist regime and called it "Social Credit" http://uk.businessinsider.com/china-social-credit-system-punishments-and-rewards-explained-2018-4?r=US&IR=T, however, those who have understanding will flee from their demise into the wilderness for this has been written already. They call themselves Jews but are not (Revelation 2:9) thus the third temple will not be as they claim, possibly even having AI rule over the population whilst the AC rule over their temple.

1 post
+12 votes

by
phds mvp
Companies Die Like People, Cities Live Like Universes

by
phds mvp
Companies Die Like People, Cities Live Like Universes
Geoffrey West abstracts biological and economic data into common theories that hold amazing predictive value.

18 posts
+68.5 votes

by
jksez
What if Reparations for Slavery were Paid Instead of Bank Bail Outs?

by
jksez
What if Reparations for Slavery were Paid Instead of Bank Bail Outs?
I was just thinking about all the billions paid to banks to keep the economy going after they fucked it up. What if instead of that we let the banks fail and didn’t pay anything beyond deposit insurance. Then to prop up the economy we paid the descendants of slaves the same money that we gave to the banks. Wouldn’t that stimulate the economy in a way that made our society a better one instead of ever worse?

But why is the US Federal Gov the plaintiff? They fought against slavery with everything they had, 100 years later they peacefully fought the South against segregation. I think something is owed but the feds are the good guys on this one.

HONESTLY I USED TO BE ON THE FENCE ABOUT REPARATIONS COS ALTHOUGH THERE WERE GRAVE INJUSTICES DONE HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY WHO TO GIVE THE MONEY TO? AND THERE WERE AFRICANS WHO PROFITED TO WHERE DO THEY LAY? BUT THEN I HEARD GOVERNMENTS WERE PAYING FUCKING DESCEDENTS OF SLAVEOWNERS UP UNTIL 2015! SO CLEARLY REPARATIONS WAS NEVER THE ISSUE JUST WHO WAS TO GET EM!

The MP for my old constituency (dorest) is Richard Drax, he's still sitting on all the wealth and land his family acquired. He sees no problem with owning land thousands of slaves were murdered on. Dispicable person.

I really like this.
All comments more or less are about the idea of reparation, and mostly I agree.
But its not about reparation despite the title, its about where to best direct a stimulus package. My Everyman understanding of the Covid downturn is that the UK exchequer has licensed uk banks to loan to pretty much anyone with a business no questions asked, money that is created in the moment of granting the loan.
Equally you could hand it out in the street or mail cheques to people whether they need it or not. Give it to the living heirs of slaves or give it to banks to hand out in executive bonuses? Who's gonna make the most stimulus with it?
All comments more or less are about the idea of reparation, and mostly I agree.
But its not about reparation despite the title, its about where to best direct a stimulus package. My Everyman understanding of the Covid downturn is that the UK exchequer has licensed uk banks to loan to pretty much anyone with a business no questions asked, money that is created in the moment of granting the loan.
Equally you could hand it out in the street or mail cheques to people whether they need it or not. Give it to the living heirs of slaves or give it to banks to hand out in executive bonuses? Who's gonna make the most stimulus with it?

The entire financial system is a ponsi scheme and always has been...the banks dont have any real money....we are taxed 97p in the pound, removing that would free the economy.
and,...slavery???
what about the 1,000,000 white people taken from the shores of europe by the north african slavers? do we get anything? and will the millions of black africans who created and profited from the slave trade and enslaved and murdered their own people have to pay?
and do we get the danegeld back?
slavery still exists, 6500 dead slaves in Qatar building stadiums for footballers to kneel down in....it is used to promote an anti white and democracy agenda by billioniares who would destroy our culture. stop mining lythium if you care about black slaves..oh no thats anti green.....
looking at 1 minute of a 24 hour clock and casting blame is how our idiot media works now for both slavery and climate propaganda...let's not encourage them ...
and,...slavery???
what about the 1,000,000 white people taken from the shores of europe by the north african slavers? do we get anything? and will the millions of black africans who created and profited from the slave trade and enslaved and murdered their own people have to pay?
and do we get the danegeld back?
slavery still exists, 6500 dead slaves in Qatar building stadiums for footballers to kneel down in....it is used to promote an anti white and democracy agenda by billioniares who would destroy our culture. stop mining lythium if you care about black slaves..oh no thats anti green.....
looking at 1 minute of a 24 hour clock and casting blame is how our idiot media works now for both slavery and climate propaganda...let's not encourage them ...

Bail Outs we should have been handing out jail time.
P.S
The crown raped my people and their land for a thousand years do we get a cheque I don't bear any ill will you cant rule the world by being nice but if there is a cheque knocking about I will take it, be foolish not to
P.S
The crown raped my people and their land for a thousand years do we get a cheque I don't bear any ill will you cant rule the world by being nice but if there is a cheque knocking about I will take it, be foolish not to

Instead of hand outs, maybe being given equal opportunity in the work place truly would be a better start. Just an example here but how come I see a white bloke in charge of black football teams but you’ll never see a black or any shade darker than a beach tan running an English football team.

No, it would absolutely not stimulate the economy. You're sort of just blasting a random talking point without much thought to it.
The US also has no obligation to the present generation just because of the abuse of their black ancestors - such an assertion is just ridiculous.
If you think handing out free-money like that "stimulates the economy" then you are totally wrong. In fact, you are hurting the economy and society by making light of racial issues where they already have no place.
The US also has no obligation to the present generation just because of the abuse of their black ancestors - such an assertion is just ridiculous.
If you think handing out free-money like that "stimulates the economy" then you are totally wrong. In fact, you are hurting the economy and society by making light of racial issues where they already have no place.

Governments hand out money its just a matter of who they give it to. In the USA they have handed money to banks and hedge funds via 0% loans.
I think reparations for stealing human beings is a better idea than this, the money will get spent stimulating the working economy rather just pumping up the stock market.
I think reparations for stealing human beings is a better idea than this, the money will get spent stimulating the working economy rather just pumping up the stock market.

It's paying back a debt that financed the country for generations. If you can't see that I think maybe glasses.

16 posts
+73.5 votes

by
thomasTank
What is Neo Feudalism?

by
thomasTank
What is Neo Feudalism?
As governments take over the economy partnering with corporations and the super rich we are left with something that looks a lot like feudal times.

Thanks for sharing.
I see examples of this not just on the internet but in all industries. Walk down most high streets here in the UK and they now pretty much all look identical the same shops, coffee shops and chain restaurants with very few independent offerings. The cost of rent, business rates and all the red tape make it pretty much impossible nowadays for small independents to even start up.
Watching a show about fisherman on the BBC painted a picture of the EU quota system they must use and how the industry is dominated by money and huge boats and how these owners buy up small fishing boats and take the quotas these boats have to use on the mega trawlers.
The car industry seems totally monopolised now and we actually get very little choice - notice how the different makers share chassis and engines and the only real difference you get is the interior and badge. Everything else is pretty much controlled by rules and regulations.
It is obvious that these big players of industry are in cahoots with the those that set the rules and regulations as we saw with the emissions scandal with VW and EU collaboration.
Covid and lockdowns have exacerbated the situation as many small business owners left without any financial supports have gone to the wall while government loans to the huge corporations sit unused in their bank accounts.
Truly depressing times.
I see examples of this not just on the internet but in all industries. Walk down most high streets here in the UK and they now pretty much all look identical the same shops, coffee shops and chain restaurants with very few independent offerings. The cost of rent, business rates and all the red tape make it pretty much impossible nowadays for small independents to even start up.
Watching a show about fisherman on the BBC painted a picture of the EU quota system they must use and how the industry is dominated by money and huge boats and how these owners buy up small fishing boats and take the quotas these boats have to use on the mega trawlers.
The car industry seems totally monopolised now and we actually get very little choice - notice how the different makers share chassis and engines and the only real difference you get is the interior and badge. Everything else is pretty much controlled by rules and regulations.
It is obvious that these big players of industry are in cahoots with the those that set the rules and regulations as we saw with the emissions scandal with VW and EU collaboration.
Covid and lockdowns have exacerbated the situation as many small business owners left without any financial supports have gone to the wall while government loans to the huge corporations sit unused in their bank accounts.
Truly depressing times.

This is the model dreamed up by Gabrielle D'Nunzio, Mussolini, Franco and later tried by Stroessner, Pinochet and Thatcher. Always fails cos tho i am a committed capitalist even i realise extraction cannot work for ever as either you run out of victims (Franco, Pinochet) or the victims turn on you (Mussolini, Thatcher) At least Il Duce didn't cry when his turn came, Thatcher mewled and puked like a rat.

I think there has always been feudalism in one form or another. There is always a class that ultimately owns everything because they can confiscate it, grant it a "title" or tax it. This premise always leads to same outcome it's just a matter of how greedy or insane the current landlord is.

Everything consolidates one way or another, thats why decentralization is both great and doomed.

probably starting from the neolithic era yes with the only exception of the 20th century, the only period of history where people got a bit of control of the power. Now is going to be lost for decades to come.

We need to look on the bright side, we are actually free serfs. We are free to seek a new master and we can seek redress in the crown courts, unfree serfs couldn't. However if we hadn't spent so much bit coin here we might actually be free with the value of it now.

Fascinating. Bleak. truly people have been brainwashed by the media and now vote with their wallets. Far more regulation required at the top end, we cant stop the progress, and in many ways it serves us well. Democracy can still win the day, and we can unite for the good of all people. Education is the key, and a few good humans can change the world. It cant be allowed that rampant free market capitalism destroys us. Roll on technical singularity, according to Moores law would be around 2042 but i believe the theory is faultering (Moores law) so might take a bit longer. Technological growth becomes uncontrollable and irreversible, resulting in unforeseeable changes to human civilization. We have just leisure time so we study philosophy and all becone enlightened beings living in a tech utopia. Peace

Moore's law is doing fine once you abstract it to include progress besides chip density. Computation overall is on track when you include advances in software and a.i.

it will take more than economics for everyone to spend their leisure time studying philosophy. but im with you at least

Hope so but would we be the same beings, even the same species? I think Nietszche was mostly a clown but "homo, ecce homo" hits home

I call it digital feaudalism. And yes, we have never really exited the feudal system. It just morphs and transforms, keeping the 1% at the top, making almost all the rest their slaves.

Like the last feudal era they will ultimately fail IMO. Biden, bezos, bj and the two conos in NZ & Canada are only one mad bomber away from losing all the kleptocratic gains they have extracted. Putin and Xi poss a battalion or two away. Even if the above are stopped there are always despots trying their luck. The better angels of our nature (thanks Pinker, S) have always stayed in the fight so that the new boss is NOT always the same as the old boss (thanks Townshend, P)

2 posts
+13 votes

by
spiceX1
Frédéric Bastiat
2 posts
+7 votes

by
zeppomarx
what will happen to cities?
27 posts
+107 votes

by
yagz
AI So What. There will always be work.

by
yagz
AI So What. There will always be work.


This humble and intelligent professor explains how machine replacement of jobs works out for people; it's always in ways that are new and unimaginable. It is certain we are in for a great time with A.I. enabling us to to incredible stuff.

AI is well past any notion or idea we can fathom. AI dosent follow ANY rule we stand by.
We as humans will never quite grasp the entire picture, while AI has already found the end of the road. there are things in basic sciences kept from most people, like gravity drives, the TIME axis (think twister/tornado), scalar waves, over unity devices, etc... AI wont follow the bounds because its supressed by money or greed...
we as humans can TRY to think what will happen, but in all reality, were already in the losing seat without any hope for a "comeback kid story"
Stop thinking in a 3rd dimension mindset, and learn quantum physics a little. (want to be totaly mindblown?? look up QUANTUM radar- and how its actualy In use RIGHT NOW!)
--note-- the united states has 3 confirmed quantum computers in use! (i accidently came across one when i traveled for work, but most people wouldnt know to look at the cryogentics involved)
Machine-in-a box- experiment has already proven even the smartest among us, would lose.
me,myself ,personaly, am clueless what outcomes will unfold, but without any doubt , humans are not top priority when AI is really awake. current neuro-nets are mind boggling and google themselves admits they cant explain how its AI created child AI even works. (yes, AI created its own second AI) want to me mind blown again,years ago it was used, look up the AI that was tested in new yorks hospital system. the smartest doctors from the world STILL dont understand what that AI did , and how it was so correct/right 97%.)
i wont lie and say its all terminator 2JD, but that is one possible outcome. we as fellow fleshy companions should enjoy life now and every moment. we wont have many opertunities when AI is out of the box.
Note: its not IF , but WHEN, and WHEN happens?? ---will humans stand a chance or will an outaide force be required? (aliens, god, let your mind wander)
We as humans will never quite grasp the entire picture, while AI has already found the end of the road. there are things in basic sciences kept from most people, like gravity drives, the TIME axis (think twister/tornado), scalar waves, over unity devices, etc... AI wont follow the bounds because its supressed by money or greed...
we as humans can TRY to think what will happen, but in all reality, were already in the losing seat without any hope for a "comeback kid story"
Stop thinking in a 3rd dimension mindset, and learn quantum physics a little. (want to be totaly mindblown?? look up QUANTUM radar- and how its actualy In use RIGHT NOW!)
--note-- the united states has 3 confirmed quantum computers in use! (i accidently came across one when i traveled for work, but most people wouldnt know to look at the cryogentics involved)
Machine-in-a box- experiment has already proven even the smartest among us, would lose.
me,myself ,personaly, am clueless what outcomes will unfold, but without any doubt , humans are not top priority when AI is really awake. current neuro-nets are mind boggling and google themselves admits they cant explain how its AI created child AI even works. (yes, AI created its own second AI) want to me mind blown again,years ago it was used, look up the AI that was tested in new yorks hospital system. the smartest doctors from the world STILL dont understand what that AI did , and how it was so correct/right 97%.)
i wont lie and say its all terminator 2JD, but that is one possible outcome. we as fellow fleshy companions should enjoy life now and every moment. we wont have many opertunities when AI is out of the box.
Note: its not IF , but WHEN, and WHEN happens?? ---will humans stand a chance or will an outaide force be required? (aliens, god, let your mind wander)

If there is work for humans it has to be something A.I. can't do. We are all teaching it to do everything, even (especially) right here.
I think its like retirement age is on the horizon and humans need to decide what they are going to do with all the free time.
I think its like retirement age is on the horizon and humans need to decide what they are going to do with all the free time.

cory doctrow has an interesting perspective on this, saying that all the displacement from global warming and increased healthcare needs will keep humans busy for a very long time.

What if the people who's lives are at risk all get replaced by robots? Also, isn't that what a self driving car is doing constantly?

cars have relatively simple rules and a very fixed environment. interpreting a dangerous human is a much, much harder problem

with all due respect it can take a bullet, sacrifice its life, and draw on millions of previous occurrences. that's a helluva start.

AI are and will be good for work and a suitable replacement for humans, but even when that happens AI will always need us in case something goes wrong. I mean humans created AI, so in the end we’re always gonna have the more important jobs. AI is just there to do jobs in a more efficient way.

AI will come about one day with baby steps at first to "aid humanity" then all of a sudden the rich wont need people to make the food, cars and entertainment.
we will have an outbreak or a massive global reaching catastrophe while they are all hiding in the bunkers lowering the population to around 10% of what it is now and for a while whats left of humanity and the AI that serves them will live in a new golden ages of peace and prosperity ..........
i might of grew up reading a lof of scifi and fantasy
might just be high
we will have an outbreak or a massive global reaching catastrophe while they are all hiding in the bunkers lowering the population to around 10% of what it is now and for a while whats left of humanity and the AI that serves them will live in a new golden ages of peace and prosperity ..........
i might of grew up reading a lof of scifi and fantasy
might just be high

im not so sure, anything a human does to recover the system seems doable with a very separate AI

Yes but conflict between AI's might be the most dangerous thing we are looking at here. We are incidental casualties from that perspective. By we I mean humans :)

Yes all the Scifi is about humans vs AI but AI on AI is such a real possibility especially when you consider the fact that governments are mega funding military robots to fight each other.

I totally disagree. AI is the continuation of the same pyramid model of which history has proven that it's bound to fail. The resources needed are of a scale that requires heavy (and never ending) financial investments. The food eaten by AI is data. The provider: humanity.
The larger the scale of data one can feed, the better the AI (and it's owners) can fingerprint, the more refined it's targeting.
Let's take an example of "AI" that we all know:
Software Antivirus:
Supposed to be the guardian that protects an operating system against 'threats' and 'threat actors using a variety of techniques to identify them. Pattern based detection, behavioural analysis and heuristics (an expensive word for: 'guesstimating' or an 'educated' guess). Your antivirus is part of a swarm that provides the antivirus vendor with data on new threats and their geographic impact.
However:
The data you provide is 'free', there is no reward or any form of renumeration for the infrastructure that you provided. A computer is not free, internet is not free, the power needed is also not free and although there are free AV solutions, most demand a subscription fee.
In return you get a product and service which does not provide any guarantees that it will adequately protect you against 'threats'.
In reality AV is becoming a relic.
Human intelligence has outsmarted AV and found ways to circumvent it using the 'Trojan horse' approach or by simple social engineering.
As there was no incentive to find or report security vulnerabilities, the data needed to feed pattern/behavioural dried up.
Heuristics is gambling with historical data, if that data is worthless so are heuristics.
And so is any form of AI hence all media and marketing efforts to portray it as the next best evolution. The driver: more profit less people.
The touted theories about a minimal wage without having to work for it are a continuation of AI Utopia. It would make people dependent on their nations through a socialist measure.
That spells national socialism and fascism.
Think twice before you give out data for free in exchange for a freemium service.
The larger the scale of data one can feed, the better the AI (and it's owners) can fingerprint, the more refined it's targeting.
Let's take an example of "AI" that we all know:
Software Antivirus:
Supposed to be the guardian that protects an operating system against 'threats' and 'threat actors using a variety of techniques to identify them. Pattern based detection, behavioural analysis and heuristics (an expensive word for: 'guesstimating' or an 'educated' guess). Your antivirus is part of a swarm that provides the antivirus vendor with data on new threats and their geographic impact.
However:
The data you provide is 'free', there is no reward or any form of renumeration for the infrastructure that you provided. A computer is not free, internet is not free, the power needed is also not free and although there are free AV solutions, most demand a subscription fee.
In return you get a product and service which does not provide any guarantees that it will adequately protect you against 'threats'.
In reality AV is becoming a relic.
Human intelligence has outsmarted AV and found ways to circumvent it using the 'Trojan horse' approach or by simple social engineering.
As there was no incentive to find or report security vulnerabilities, the data needed to feed pattern/behavioural dried up.
Heuristics is gambling with historical data, if that data is worthless so are heuristics.
And so is any form of AI hence all media and marketing efforts to portray it as the next best evolution. The driver: more profit less people.
The touted theories about a minimal wage without having to work for it are a continuation of AI Utopia. It would make people dependent on their nations through a socialist measure.
That spells national socialism and fascism.
Think twice before you give out data for free in exchange for a freemium service.

I'm looking forward to the futher development of AI, especially General AI. I just think it would be so cool to have an amazon alexa sytle AI that you could take round with you and chat to and have a proper engaging conversation with because sometimes I really can't stand to talk to anymore humans aha

The inspiration process is largely about open mindedness, computers are inherently better at this. If you look at some of the early entrees into the arts like painting and even screen writing they are off to a helluva start.

There are AI playlists on Spotify that generate new music based on current trends and preferences.

17 posts
+54 votes
Amazon buying the island of Cyprus

Amazon buying the island of Cyprus
I've recently heard many people talking about the possible acquisition of the island of Cyprus by the company Amazon, I think this is very unlikely but I wanted to know would there be any economic benefits for amazon if they did buy Cyprus and what would be the drawbacks other than the huge upfront cost. Sure some fine economists on here can answer this for me, thanks

Cyprus is split in two. Northern Cyprus is controlled by Turkey and Southern Cyprus by Greece. Turkey invaded Cyprus in the early 70s and were only stopped from taking the entire island by the British who use Cyprus for its strategic position, having military bases on the island.
To anyone who knows Cyprus and its history, the idea that the Greeks and the Turks would get together and agree the sale of Cyprus to Amazon is about as far fetched an idea as I've ever heard, but it's a strange old world we live in these days so never say never I guess.
I'm no economist but this is far fetched for many reasons not just the economics.
Just my 2p.
Cheers BB
To anyone who knows Cyprus and its history, the idea that the Greeks and the Turks would get together and agree the sale of Cyprus to Amazon is about as far fetched an idea as I've ever heard, but it's a strange old world we live in these days so never say never I guess.
I'm no economist but this is far fetched for many reasons not just the economics.
Just my 2p.
Cheers BB

I agree due to the turkish occupation of the north it makes the whole thing near impossible, but internationally the northern part of cyprus is seen as being under illegal Temporary occupation by the turkish & the island is neither greek or turkish, its only reconsidered as the republic of Cyrus. Amazon could theoretically purchase the Republic of Cyprus and remove the illegal occupants in the north by force after the acquisition, asthey would need to form some sort of military anyway in order to hold claim over their newly claimed territory.
However overall i think this would be very unlikely & I agree that the north and the south being divided makes this situation near impossible, but a interesting topic to discuss:)
However overall i think this would be very unlikely & I agree that the north and the south being divided makes this situation near impossible, but a interesting topic to discuss:)

Used to make me sad when i went to Cyprus as a kid, and you could look through the UN post in Nicosia and see half the city pretty much abandoned. Southern Cyprus is a independent state but is obviously hugely influenced by Greece.



From either Protaras or further down in Agia Napa you can get a boat up the east coast as far as allowed to see the ghost town/city of Famagusta (a hugely popular beach resort in the 60s and 70s), which is basically right on the north south divide and was therefor abandoned.
Since we went on the boat (around 2002) the Turkish authorities have become much more accepting of tourism, but back then you couldn't cross from south to North and just had to look at the city through binoculars either from a boat or the UN border posts.
Ive heard there are plans to reopen Famagusta to tourism, although having been abandoned for nearly 50 years it'll probably need to be leveled and started again.
Tragic but fascinating part of history. I'm glad I saw the ghost city when I did but I agree, it was a very sad thing to see.
Cheers BB
Since we went on the boat (around 2002) the Turkish authorities have become much more accepting of tourism, but back then you couldn't cross from south to North and just had to look at the city through binoculars either from a boat or the UN border posts.
Ive heard there are plans to reopen Famagusta to tourism, although having been abandoned for nearly 50 years it'll probably need to be leveled and started again.
Tragic but fascinating part of history. I'm glad I saw the ghost city when I did but I agree, it was a very sad thing to see.
Cheers BB

Yeah I’ve been mate! Actually lived in Cyprus for a little while, got a few of friends who were born there due to military service! I’ve actually been through since as a family member owns a villa in the Turkish side, I hope to see the island reunited one day!


From a business perspective it would be an awesome hub to deliver to all the surrounding islands and lands in the med, have you seen the plans Amazon has put forward in the past for huge floating distribution centres in the sky. Jeff B is a trekky so he dreams sci-fi big. I am not against a corporate owned island that is as small as Cyprus, in fact it could be a good thing. There is corruption in democratic politics all over the world, we go from scandal to scandal like we change our socks, maybe just maybe Cyprus (Prime!) could be better!?!
Ps it sort of worked in Wall-E lol
Ps it sort of worked in Wall-E lol

As long as we don't piss off President Alexa it will be a paradise I tell you

The blimp depos are about as realistic as Musks colonization of mars though lol
Pro-corporatocracy is not something I ever thought I'd see on a weed site but I agree completely that it would just be swapping corruption for corruption!
That said, fuck Amazon! lol :)
Pro-corporatocracy is not something I ever thought I'd see on a weed site but I agree completely that it would just be swapping corruption for corruption!
That said, fuck Amazon! lol :)

Ultimately amazon would need consent from the people and other governments so it would cost a lot more than just paying off the government, at least for the 1st gov they buy.

I agree I think its very unlikely but maybe the people would be more for it if amazon say offered jobs and education facilities for already existing citizens of the island so their would be an incentive for them to allow amazon on the island

Surely nobody would vote to live in a corporate ruled dystopian hellscape... would they? oh right... that 2016 thingy.... who knows these days lmao

The war the greeks and turks had and you think they gonna give it up ( Not likely! )
Its the best strategically placed island for war , whos gonna give that up , with the island being one of the best to train Army's, even British. Dont think so .
Its the best strategically placed island for war , whos gonna give that up , with the island being one of the best to train Army's, even British. Dont think so .

Never ever going to happen geopolitically. Neither UK nor Turkey would ever give up the strategic advantage their bases give them. I can’t imagine the UN allowing it either. Plus what about the Cypriot citizens both north and south and their sovereignty? I don’t think you can even legally purchase an inhabited land. The only way to take it would be by force and deport all the citizens making them refuges... a la Diego Garcia.

1 post
+3 votes

by
ike
Assurance Contracts
7 posts
+36 votes
why is empty housing a popular investment?

why is empty housing a popular investment?
with so many city dwellers experiencing housing shortages why does society reward investments in empty housing?

becuase its a moronic system. empty houses and people sleeping on the street is a catagoric fail.

Governments love taxing them without having to deliver services they are the perfect customers and they can't ever cancel.

yes, and these are the properties that should be taxed most as they bring no economic value to the neighbourhood

Continuity, people love to put their money into something that is a safe store of value over the long term, it's the same reason investors have been attracted to bitcoin.

2 posts
+5 votes
what is the cantillion effect?
3 posts
+9 votes

by
Tenpester
Is Any Money Fungible?

by
Tenpester
Is Any Money Fungible?
A pound isn't a pound if:
It's burdensome coins vs light paper.
It's sitting in a bank vs under a mattress.
It's old and vested with political rights vs newly acquired.
It's burdensome coins vs light paper.
It's sitting in a bank vs under a mattress.
It's old and vested with political rights vs newly acquired.

Bitcoins with a lot of inputs are equivalent to small change that's worth less.

11 posts
+41 votes

by
oasis
How Are Negative Interest Rates Possible?

by
oasis
How Are Negative Interest Rates Possible?
Why would anyone loan money and expect less back?

It's possible that technology is making everything so much cheaper that the market expects money to be able to buy more in the future. So deflation.

Don't think so, manufacturing is cheaper as time passes but products are also more complex. Indeed you can buy a mobile phone now at 1/10 of the price of 20 years ago, but who want it now?

It’s basically a way that central banks control the supply of money. When times are bad and banks are holding onto their money; the central bank sets negative interest rates - this means banks are charged money to keep it with the BOE; this makes them more likely to dish out loans to us plebs;
When times are good and there’s a possible economic bubble, the rates are high to stop banks lending stupidly;
Either way we get screwed at the end of it
When times are good and there’s a possible economic bubble, the rates are high to stop banks lending stupidly;
Either way we get screwed at the end of it

Because knowing you will lose 2% is better than not knowing how much you will lose. It’s a billionaire problem, I wouldn’t worry yourself about it;)

it either means the value of the money is headed up or there is an insane arbitrage in hand.

Well guess who the borrower is, the same folks that take your money at gunpoint every time you earn or spend a cent of it.

You have to choose who will destroy your capital the least, i.e. "give me your capital and i will lose you 2% pa which is better then the next manager who will lose you 5%". As bigbum says if you buy bonds, like German or Swiss bonds you do know how much you are going to lose. This is negative rates. Picking the best loser. In the alternative just hold gold or cash but that brings its own problems. Gold is volatile (advocates say its the safest, you can always trade with gold) as for cash, you need to stash it and parley inflation risk?

7 posts
+23 votes

by
at tes
How can people deal with natural monopolies?

by
at tes
How can people deal with natural monopolies?
I understand here are situations where there is only room for 1 provider of something like when the investment is huge and there isn’t enough biz for more competitors. Fair enough but if this is a fact of life is their any way best to prevent an evil monopolist that will gouge prices and offer lousy service?

Innovation is always the best answer for this shit; a technology that makes it possible to compete without a huge investment will end the monopoly. Then low and behold the old guys won’t be sucking your blood anymore they will be alive and competing!

Waiting for the White Knight like this is great for the long run but it doesn’t change what everyone has to face right now.

There's an old solution for monopoly suppliers, Cooperatives. If a monopoly is owned by its users then the whole conflict between greed and utility just disappears. Cooperatives been around for farming since before my grandfather’s time I don’t know exactly how long but they were used to buy big tools and grain elevators that every farmer could share.

I buy my groceries from a co-op, much, much better products than the chain supermarket and good prices.

Yes if you organise you get some of the power of the cooperative just by virtue of having done it. I would think this is the best solution, to actually start the cooperative and keep an open ear to the monopolist, seeing if things can be settled at the earliest possible stage.


Fraud protection is wha keeps the system going. Would you rather get fucked about a little by a doctor or totally fucked by a con man posing as one?

Neither, I don't need a monopolist to protect me from fraud, reputation systems do this without cost. It's kind of amazing a little biggy user can not see this.

14 posts
+25 votes

by
afc89green
EMF & covid

by
afc89green
EMF & covid
I'm starting to thing the whole covid scenario has actually started to drive me crazy (either that or the amount of weed I consume!) But the longer this goes on and the more I read about EMF's it just seeming like the most reasonable option to me. Weird times people anyway il leave a link to the article I was reading.
P.s nice to be back biggas. Afc
P.s nice to be back biggas. Afc


Yes and our hearts, any thing artificial interfering I believe could potentially be harmful to humans depending of their awareness or sensitivity.
I find breathing from my heart energy and light body meditations helpful for feeling better and also connecting with the earth either physically or through grounding visualisation.
I got rid of broadband when I could a few years back and use an old phone as meant to be less harmful, but I am sensitive so I need it in my opinion and I have a kid who could potentially be more susceptible to it while growing up so that was another motivating factor for me to be sensible about the unknown risks.
I find breathing from my heart energy and light body meditations helpful for feeling better and also connecting with the earth either physically or through grounding visualisation.
I got rid of broadband when I could a few years back and use an old phone as meant to be less harmful, but I am sensitive so I need it in my opinion and I have a kid who could potentially be more susceptible to it while growing up so that was another motivating factor for me to be sensible about the unknown risks.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-europe-48616174
I did watch a program before about emf radiation and how it can produce spiritual experiences in some people.
I did watch a program before about emf radiation and how it can produce spiritual experiences in some people.

I can definitely see that. The world is a weird place to live nowadays. Glad there's other people with a hungry mind like myself. Cheers biggas x

Hey, it’s all parts to a puzzle I guess, nice one for thinking beyond what we are being told. There is also some evidence that the virus doesn’t have the right structure to have been able to jump to humans and shows a formation that could only be created by manipulation of the original virus by scientists

Yeah something isn't right that's for sure, cheers for not slating me haha! Stay safe Afc

Hey no problem, you should see mine and milf hunters posts off my page! I will unrestrict it so you can see, I had to shut it down because of being called a conspiracy theorist lol x
And EMFs are serious too and there is valid information for your post being suppressed by main stream media :)
And EMFs are serious too and there is valid information for your post being suppressed by main stream media :)

Yeah I've had the whole conspiracy thing thrown at me too... I wish people would read up on emfs before saying I'm mad lol. I'm not saying it's the be all and end all of the world but it's bound to have an effect whether it flu like it not ;) stay safe x

Ha, I know, no amount insults are going to stop me thinking beyond what’s being shoved in our faces, I really value your links and information ❤️ x

Like wise I love this place for that reason because I can never meet any like minded people in reality for whatever reason lol. Thanks means alot & likewise. Stay safe x

4 posts
+10 votes

by
afc89green
Gov.id19 ;)

by
afc89green
Gov.id19 ;)
Welcome to the 4th industrial Revolution folks. Worth the read if you've got nothing planned
Enjoy. Afc
Enjoy. Afc

thank you for sharing this, I need to find more time to finish reading it, it’s very interesting
