Sometimes I have a crazy intuition like “if people just categorically refused to work with anybody who seemed untrustworthy or “fake” or trying to take advantage, the world would be better.”
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This is crazy because people need to work to survive and what if their only options are people who are trying to take advantage? I get that. It’s not a practical proposal.
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But all the actual productive capacity of the economy is in people who are making positive-sum contributions. The “nation” of positive-sum builders and helpers is, by necessity, richer than the “nation” of zero-sum takers. In actual resources if not dollars.
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Imagine if everyone went on a sort of “strike” all at once: don’t work with or for anyone you think is sleazy or unfair. Don’t do any job you think is pointless or immoral. Just actually listen to your personal judgment. Would everyone starve?
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Replying to @s_r_constantin
And just because someone is unpleasant doesn't mean they net destroy value. The beauty of markets is they function as a universal API for value & trade. Abstract out the sleaze. Destroy this and you destroy the economy and return us to scrabbling in dirt in little kin groups.
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Replying to @patrissimo
I don’t think you should use “unpleasantness” as your gauge! Some people are hard to work with at first but you grow to respect and appreciate them. Considered judgment includes but is not limited to your first impression.
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Replying to @s_r_constantin @patrissimo
Markets aggregate human local judgments. They work to the extent that those judgments have a tendency to correlate with what people value. That means somebody has to make the judgments!
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Replying to @s_r_constantin @patrissimo
If a critical mass of people overrides their own opinions then markets will lack liquidity, just as a stock market comprising entirely index funds would not have any information in its price signals.
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Replying to @s_r_constantin @patrissimo
I’d be shocked if you didn’t consider character when choosing business associates.
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Replying to @s_r_constantin
If I'm working closely with someone, of course I consider character. At the same time, the economy works at global scale with complex production chains only because I never need to give a shit about the character of anyone I don't work with closely. Feature, not bug.
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Yep, all I’m saying is “consider the character of people you work with closely.” If you aren’t working closely with them, you’re in no position to judge their character!
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