Friday Fun Thread for February 14, 2024
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Why are you called The Motte?
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originally identified by
philosopher Nicholas Shackel. It describes the tendency in discourse for people to move from a controversial
but high value claim to a defensible but less exciting one upon any resistance to the former. He likens
this to the medieval fortification, where a desirable land (the bailey) is abandoned when in danger for
the more easily defended motte. In Shackel's words, "The Motte represents the defensible but undesired
propositions to which one retreats when hard pressed."
On The Motte, always attempt to remain inside your defensible territory, even if you are not being pressed.
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Notes -
How are you changing your investment/savings strategy as AI timelines get shorter? I’m still in my boring ol’ index funds but have decreased my savings rate down by 5-10%.
I know very little economics, but the popular sentiment seems to be that interest rates will get very high and raw capital will be incredibly important in a post-AGI world. Does this matter for the average person like me who just wants to be financially independent in his 40s?
I’m sorry I gotta laugh at “the average person like me who just wants to be financially independent in his 40s” since that’s such a rare slice of the population.
I do share the intuition that either the robots will deliver us from scarcity or eradicate us, and so either way I should spend more in the moment. CoastFIRE is good enough.
The “average” part refers to my current life situation and income level, not the financially independent part :)
Still, shooting for FI in your 40s is not average as a goal!
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