I think it's worth watching the entire interview. [1] They have some good discussion about excessive scientific skepticism vs excessive scientific dogmatism.
In case anyone is wondering, they don't get to the "why" in any concrete way (at least not in this excerpt). There's a dig at "progressive policies", but no discussion of what those policies actually are or why they matter. Thiel implies a couple of times that it has something to do with how relatively entrenched local political machines and interest groups are, but the discussion mostly centers on where they're feeling the most prosperity vibes. Which is fine, but "a couple of wealthy right-wing dudes feel better about Texas and Florida than they do about California" isn't much of a revelation.
This is always the argument from supply-side conservatives, but much like how supply side economics never holds up to real strutiny, this ‘liberal cities are dying’ narrative doesn’t hold up either. Outside of liberal enclaves in conservative states (Austin), the fastest growing economies are all liberal coastal cities. It’s where educated people go to study and want to live. See the Kansas Experiment
I mean when has Peter Thiel ever said anything meaningful and can actually make the world better in a predictable fashion? Never. He complains about not having flying cars and having Twitter while never working on anything meaningful. People like him are a real curse on the American spirit of freedom and entrepreneurship. One lucky investment in a random social network and people keep linking to them.
It's funny: I find Peter really insightful and he has a unique perspective that he seems brave to state. Yet I've encountered this reaction before: people who are really like, "So?! What is this guy saying that is new or insightful? Nothing!" Like they have a quite emphatically repulsed and incredulous reaction to this guy, specifically taking him apart for what he is renowned for. Almost similar maybe to the way people look at a picture by Picasso or Mondrian or Basquiat and say: "So!?! My 3 year old could do that! Rubbish!"
I'll have to think more about what might be there for those people to contribute to them choosing to be like that about him.
One is art, the other, sermons about a better future. One is meant to be actualized. The other is meant to be enjoyed. The problem is his thoughts are vapid nonsense which can never be shaped in any form. I think the real reason a lot of people like his flavor of nonsense is because it makes them feel intellectuals by association. Jordan Peterson is another hack who falls into this category. People get attracted to him because it makes them feel deep.
The fundamental spirit of Americana is individualism and people need to think for themselves.
Finally if you are consuming his content as mere entertainment then by all means go ahead, but may I also offer Mad Max Fury Road as a tremendous alternative.
Hahaha! Well you are a very interesting and unique thinker clearly! :) I mean that. OK, so can I ask some more questions? Do you really like Mad Max? Don't you think Peter supports "Americana is individualism and people need to think for themselves" ? Can you explain a little more art vs sermons. So Peter is someone who makes sermons, not art?
Can you show me how some of his thoughts are vapid nonsense? Or take me through how you react to a particular thing he says, so I understand better your thinking?
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[ 2.9 ms ] story [ 45.2 ms ] thread[1] - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdczWxyftT4 [video][1hr 6mins]
I'll have to think more about what might be there for those people to contribute to them choosing to be like that about him.
The fundamental spirit of Americana is individualism and people need to think for themselves.
Finally if you are consuming his content as mere entertainment then by all means go ahead, but may I also offer Mad Max Fury Road as a tremendous alternative.
Can you show me how some of his thoughts are vapid nonsense? Or take me through how you react to a particular thing he says, so I understand better your thinking?