TheMediumJon's recent activity

  1. Comment on Pragmatic socialists should support effective altruism: Or how a Marxist sociologist undermined my socialist beliefs in ~society

    TheMediumJon
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    Good fucking lord. I am straining my entire will not to just expletive that author as such. This... I don't know why I continued going on, but here's my penny, whatever it remains worth: Strong...

    Good fucking lord. I am straining my entire will not to just expletive that author as such.

    This... I don't know why I continued going on, but here's my penny, whatever it remains worth:

    instead of caring all that much about democratic control of the economy or ownership of the means of production.

    Strong "Abolitionists should refocus to caring about the decent treatment of slaves rather than about whether these people are owned by people" energies here.

    EA-style socialism

    I'm think I'm vaguely familiar with EA as a concept, but mostly as an almost third-way-ist alternative thought to socialism rather than as a form thereof.

    "worker ownership of the means of production" does not actually capture what we care about

    Who does he speak for and what do they care about? Is it these "EA-socialists"? What is their goal that they claim to be socialists but apparently reject worker ownership of the means of production?

    because these voluntary associations have the potential to promote social welfare in ways that can mitigate problems resulting from the concentration of political and economic power.

    Only insomuch as the political power allows so or as much as they are willing to actively struggle against it (or the economic power).

    From this framework, we get three different types of political arrangements:

    Okay so the delineation of capitalism there I understand. But where runs the line between the voluntary social organization that controls the state and economy and the political power that controls the economy and society?

    And even if we can avoid these principal-agent problems, state control over the economy will be enormously inefficient for reasons explained by Hayek.

    My dude, I don't think Hayek is considered particularly binding for a socialist. And I certainly feel confident enough to say, if your target audience is socialists the onus is actually on you to say why you are relying on Hayek.

    Wright isn't calling for any radical changes.

    Is he, or is he not, advocating for the (eventual) shift of political and economic power into the hands of some form of social-collective body as I seem to be interpreting? If he is, how is that not radical compared to the status quo. If he is not, what exactly does he argue for?

    we could require donors to contribute to a centralised pool of funds

    I believe that concept was invited somewhere in ancient antiquity (so far ago that it does require that redundancy there) under the name "taxes".

    We could then use deliberative democratic processes to collectively decide where funds should be distributed and democratic elections to decide on community leadership positions.

    Also known as (direct) democracy.

    At the same time I don't have any interest in being part of one.

    Are you a socialist then?

    First I would lose any money I have invested, as that would go to the workers of the respective companies instead.

    Yes, that is how worker ownership of the means of production works.

    Then I would gain part ownership of the company I work for. But I don't really want both my wages and my investment tied to the same company. It's too much risk—what if the company goes broke? Probably the first thing I would do is sell my ownership stake in the company, become a wage labourer instead, and use the money to invest in an index fund.

    I know that I have far more to read in terms of socialist theory, but goddamn that person did not read (Marxist) socialist theory. The basic premise, I would argue, is the exploitation of workers when they do not own their own employment.

    I don't want to brag, but I think I would have been pretty good at it.

    I don't want to brag, but I shall do so anyway.

    I just... Why?
    This sounds like someone who is a devoted capitalist trying to co-opt socialist ideology.
    From starting with Hayek, through principally rejecting worker ownership of the means of production, explicitly saying they don't want radical change, focus on purely voluntary organization...

    I'm not sure how else a co-opting would look like if not thusly.

    7 votes

  2. Comment on US conservative news network Newsmax files antitrust lawsuit against Fox News in ~tv

    TheMediumJon
    Link Parent
    Also, at least one of these organizations is going to be throwing money at their lawyers for this, which means less money for other things?

    Also, at least one of these organizations is going to be throwing money at their lawyers for this, which means less money for other things?

    9 votes

  3. Comment on The day when three NASA astronauts staged a strike in space in ~space

    TheMediumJon
    Link Parent
    Also in the vein of examples of consequences to space labor relations: Mike Duncan's 11th series of Revolutions about the (future and thus fictional) Martian Revolution, which I'd very much recommend.

    Also in the vein of examples of consequences to space labor relations: Mike Duncan's 11th series of Revolutions about the (future and thus fictional) Martian Revolution, which I'd very much recommend.

    3 votes

  4. Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books

    TheMediumJon
    Link Parent
    I might be mistaken, but I vaguely have that in memory as being explicitly stated as such - that yes the Dalefolk say outright some of that gold in there is actually ours taken by the dragon just...

    I might be mistaken, but I vaguely have that in memory as being explicitly stated as such - that yes the Dalefolk say outright some of that gold in there is actually ours taken by the dragon just as yours was.

    1 vote

  5. Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books

    TheMediumJon
    Link Parent
    It's been a while and some books since I read the Hobbit, but as far as my recollection goes that seems like very much adopting Smaugs narrative beyond the actual facts? Wouldn't the actual...

    What you don't know is the people behind your break-in is a gang of the descendants of the previous owners of your house who you evicted many many years ago. They believe their historic grievance gives them more right to your house than you, its long-standing resident. The burglar they hired (with a promise of a fraction of your possessions) stole even his robbery tool from your neighbor down the street! They always hoped to murder you in your sleep so they could steal not only all your possessions but your home itself; they waste no time before claiming possession upon realizing you're dead. And as your body grows cold they cause a fucking "race war" between all your neighbors.

    It's been a while and some books since I read the Hobbit, but as far as my recollection goes that seems like very much adopting Smaugs narrative beyond the actual facts?

    Wouldn't the actual analogy be:
    You went on a murder-pillage spree across an entire town (to keep the "out in the middle of nowhere paradigm you used, despite my initial instinct being an entire block). Killed or sent away everybody living there, some of them resettling nearby and others going to exile far away. And you did keep the stuff from all of them obviously.

    And then the descendant(s) of the dude whose house you took up residence in with your loot hire a "professional" to take a particular item back from you. Upon realizing that they stopped by the close community of descendants of those aggrieved by you you fly into a murderous rage and go burn down their second village as well (giving a real huffing and puffing wolf energy). You get killed through luck/skill by those victim-descended victims.

    At which point there does somewhat erupt a race-war, because everyone you stole from wants their shit back except the (descendant of the) dude whose house you put your stash considers all its contents to be his.

    I mean, yeah, Thorin's a right bastard there and could have avoided that mess by handing over a rightful amount of gold from the start. But also, he didn't steal all that gold.

    E: Even if you argue regarding only what we see in the book, I don't recall Smaug having a different narrative of how he got that gold and mountain, so there's no reason to consider Thorin's background statements to be disputed.

    1 vote

  6. Comment on Finland will remove swastikas from its air force flags to enhance integration with Western allies following NATO membership in ~society

    TheMediumJon
    Link Parent
    That seems like a fair assessment. And as AP seems to mention, Finland might've not used it in a Nazi-ish way, since it adopted it from a major early supporter - the swedish Count von Rosen....

    That seems like a fair assessment.

    And as AP seems to mention, Finland might've not used it in a Nazi-ish way, since it adopted it from a major early supporter - the swedish Count von Rosen. Except that he then was the brother-in-law of a Goering fellow.

    Certainly not blame, but maybe as you say, sympathism...

    4 votes

  7. Comment on Most Ukrainians now favor ending the war with Russia through negotiations, as support for fighting until victory has dropped sharply since the early days of the conflict in ~society

    TheMediumJon
    Link Parent
    Yeah, some might say it is the difference between "we should surrender" vs "we will not be able to make Russia surrender".

    Yeah, some might say it is the difference between "we should surrender" vs "we will not be able to make Russia surrender".

    11 votes

  8. Comment on A ‘third way’ between buying or renting? Swiss co-ops say they’ve found it. in ~finance

    TheMediumJon
    Link Parent
    Germany has the more similar, I think, Wohnungsbaugenossenschaft as well.

    Germany has the more similar, I think, Wohnungsbaugenossenschaft as well.

    2 votes

  9. Comment on Google will require developer verification for Android apps outside the Play Store in ~tech

    TheMediumJon
    Link Parent
    That's not a valid interpretation of that "meme" at all. You don't own any medicine pre-purchase and that is generally where the regulation is. What he argues against is something that doesn't, as...

    It would be like claiming that anyone who believes prescription medicine should be regulated doesn’t care about the harm to patients and must have some other agenda.

    That's not a valid interpretation of that "meme" at all.

    You don't own any medicine pre-purchase and that is generally where the regulation is.

    What he argues against is something that doesn't, as far as I'm aware exist for prescription medicine. Something akin to a bottle that unlocks up to a specific amount of times per day (per the prescription) - except that it is/can be set after you have already purchased the prescription.

    3 votes

  10. Comment on Israel’s plan to take over Gaza City stirs fears for civilians and hostages in ~society

    TheMediumJon
    Link Parent
    As far as my understanding goes, those are essentially lines of permanent Israeli military presence (as opposed to raiding or "temporary" offensives into other areas) that are at least partially...

    As far as my understanding goes, those are essentially lines of permanent Israeli military presence (as opposed to raiding or "temporary" offensives into other areas) that are at least partially built up with static defenses and bases.

  11. Comment on Disney reportedly planning full reboot of the Indiana Jones franchise in ~movies

    TheMediumJon
    Link Parent
    I'm not disputing any of your claims as such (although I'm not familiar with them), but to what end? Is Disney actually in the business of selling that tech? Or is it tech to then be used in other...

    I'm not disputing any of your claims as such (although I'm not familiar with them), but to what end?

    Is Disney actually in the business of selling that tech? Or is it tech to then be used in other film projects, that are actual film projects and not just tech demos? Or some other option?

    7 votes

  12. Comment on What's your favourite Discworld quote? in ~books

    TheMediumJon
    Link Parent
    Oh, man, that's a really neat one.

    Oh, man, that's a really neat one.

    2 votes

  13. Comment on Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland's presidential election in ~society

    TheMediumJon
    Link Parent
    Yeah it's interesting. It could just be a matter of consolidating/confirming his current parliamentary support of he thinks he has it. Or things could start come tumbling back down on the EU's...

    Yeah it's interesting.
    It could just be a matter of consolidating/confirming his current parliamentary support of he thinks he has it.

    Or things could start come tumbling back down on the EU's eastern flank.

    2 votes

  14. Comment on Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland's presidential election in ~society

  15. Comment on Dogma 25: Group of Scandi filmmakers launching refreshed manifesto in ~movies

    TheMediumJon
    Link Parent
    I cannot but absolutely agree with you, as it concerns these rules 6 and 7. As an enjoyer of SFF and history this just feels like a "no fun allowed" ruleset: Certainly no LotR, neither Star Wars...

    I cannot but absolutely agree with you, as it concerns these rules 6 and 7.

    As an enjoyer of SFF and history this just feels like a "no fun allowed" ruleset:

    Certainly no LotR, neither Star Wars nor Dune(whether you prefer Lynch or Villeneuve, neither was physically on Arrakis). Barely anything medieval(-esque) or otherwise (pseudo-)ancient since while you do certainly have some sites that look "contemporary" most of what you have is ruins, so no Ben Hur or Life of Brian. Nothing in space in general, actually, unless you fly up your cast and go where no man has gone before, I guess.

    And even rule 2 would deny us some excellent films which cannot but center around the spoken word, things like 12 Angry Men or The King's Speech.

    All of this is to say that while I can applaud the spirit beyond some of the rules (4, 9, 10, maybe parts of others) this, to me, just comes off as a very pretentious definition of what cinema is/ought to be and does so in a way that very much restricts not only the method of film-making but through it also the content thereof.

    1 vote

  16. Comment on If you could travel back in time and bring one thing back to the modern day, what would it be? in ~talk

    TheMediumJon
    Link Parent
    I mean, I'm not the person who originally suggested this. That said, running with this idea, I'd be bringing back the winning lottery ticket or whatever.

    I mean, I'm not the person who originally suggested this.

    That said, running with this idea, I'd be bringing back the winning lottery ticket or whatever.

    1 vote

  17. Comment on If you could travel back in time and bring one thing back to the modern day, what would it be? in ~talk

    TheMediumJon
    Link Parent
    That's why you just go back a week or two or whatever, a day before some fairly recent drawing. Send in the winning number just in time. Announce yourself once it is drawn, be back home in the...

    but you're probably not getting paid out within the week you have to acquire your thing(s).

    That's why you just go back a week or two or whatever, a day before some fairly recent drawing.
    Send in the winning number just in time. Announce yourself once it is drawn, be back home in the real timeline in time to receive the money.

    1 vote

  18. Comment on Bill Gates accuses Elon Musk of ‘killing’ children with USAID cuts | “The picture of the world’s richest man killing the world’s poorest children is not a pretty one” in ~society

    TheMediumJon
    Link Parent
    In some modicum of defense of that criticism, even in his acts of helping Gates has made himself (or his foundation to be accurate) one of the biggest donors to groups like the WHO (I want to say...

    In some modicum of defense of that criticism, even in his acts of helping Gates has made himself (or his foundation to be accurate) one of the biggest donors to groups like the WHO (I want to say second after the now stopped USAID?).

    And the corresponding influence was at times wielded in ways that aren't necessarily benevolent and definitely did harm to the ability of poorer countries to vaccinate their populations.

    Does that mean Gates didn't contribute immensely to saving uncountable lives? No, he definitely did. But even that comes with a dose of, well if you ask me, evil.

    3 votes

  19. Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of May 5 in ~society

    TheMediumJon
    Link Parent
    Genuine empire supporters? Yah, definitely. People larping as empire supporters on a reddit forum? Not sure that's as complete an overlap

    Genuine empire supporters? Yah, definitely.

    People larping as empire supporters on a reddit forum? Not sure that's as complete an overlap

    5 votes

  20. Comment on US President Joe Biden never pressured Israel for ceasefire, according to Israeli investigation in ~society

    TheMediumJon
    Link Parent
    I do admire optimism. I mean, considering that to my recollection Biden did at one point put some restrictions on weapons deliveries (some of which I think he himself ended, some Congress...

    I think there's very little room left for things to get worse.

    I do admire optimism.

    I mean, considering that to my recollection Biden did at one point put some restrictions on weapons deliveries (some of which I think he himself ended, some Congress overrode, and some Trump lifted?) on one hand while on the other the Israeli government has whole-heartedly embraced Trump's suggestions of explicit ethnic cleansing...

    Look, I outflank Biden from the left as well. I wouldn't consider him good by most stretches. But I don't think, even on this specific subject, that they can be considered as effectively identical.

    7 votes