Pessimism Porn

[Baron Silas Greenback]

Anyone else see this article on the tv last night?

I thought it was very funny. Basically saying people are getting addicted to pessimism as it makes them feel like they know something more than the rest of the population and are part of some special club that are 'in the know'.

Reminded me of some folks on this board.

[kingkong82]

NO i didn't TV1 or TV3 you have any links..

[Baron Silas Greenback]

Ahh this is it

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=7376363

And also
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaRj8akdHdA&feature=player_embedded

[drelly]

I missed it but you're right. However, the reverse is also true. Take Amway or (dare I say) Richmastery "graduates".

Sometimes they're right, sometimes wrong. So really, it's a need for potentially superior information. Not all bad if you're open-minded to other possibilities.

[tanmedia1]

Anyone else see this article on the tv last night?

I thought it was very funny. Basically saying people are getting addicted to pessimism as it makes them feel like they know something more than the rest of the population and are part of some special club that are 'in the know'.

Reminded me of some folks on this board.

I instantly put myself in that group, and even now, when pessimism is as common as owning an iPod, I still feel I know something more the rest of the population (which is not great achievement when the general population is largely ignorant of even the most basic financial understanding). But the reality is that many of those "addicted to pessimism" are not really pessimists at all. They will listen to people such as Marc Faber whose own motto is a metaphor for the business cycle.

The only problem with laughing at pessimists is that it focuses on the absurd, not the real or the concrete. So it's all very well mocking Peter Schiff for buying a guard dog, but it's a completely different matter when you digest his objective explanations on private/public debt and monetary policy (and the implications in the real world). But once again, the masses will focus on the dog and bathe themselves in their own myths built up in their own self-contained bubble.

[eri]

half full vs. half empty

healthy dose of scepticism

call it what you will

we are all pretty much doing what we've always done and little will change that

interesting mp3 from JJJ's hack the other day talking about how the $7000 1st home buyers grant in australia had pushed up house prices by over $7000

fool some of the people some of the time

or

all of the people some of the time

but

never all of the people all of the time

borrow your way to wealth, what crap

[Baron Silas Greenback]

I instantly put myself in that group, and even now, when pessimism is as common as owning an iPod, I still feel I know something more the rest of the population (which is not great achievement when the general population is largely ignorant of even the most basic financial understanding). But the reality is that many of those "addicted to pessimism" are not really pessimists at all. They will listen to people such as Marc Faber whose own motto is a metaphor for the business cycle.

The only problem with laughing at pessimists is that it focuses on the absurd, not the real or the concrete. So it's all very well mocking Peter Schiff for buying a guard dog, but it's a completely different matter when you digest his objective explanations on private/public debt and monetary policy (and the implications in the real world). But once again, the masses will focus on the dog and bathe themselves in their own myths built up in their own self-contained bubble.

Way to miss the point!

[tanmedia1]

Way to miss the point!

Sure the point is basically about humor and light-heartedness (I guess), but I do the find the pretext worth commenting on.

[Baron Silas Greenback]

Sure the point is basically about humor and light-heartedness (I guess), but I do the find the pretext worth commenting on.

You guess wrong.

[67910241]

I thought it was very funny. Basically saying people are getting addicted to pessimism as it makes them feel like they know something more than the rest of the population and are part of some special club that are 'in the know'.

Interesting.

Judging by the parable, the article was no doubt written by someone who knows only too well how addictive some of the better quality porn can be.

[Davo36]

You guess wrong.

And back on to my ban list you go Baron. The only one still.

[Davo36]

Want some pessimism porn? Read this blog: http://sootandashes.blogspot.com/

A small quote:

"Neither party is anything to write home about. But the Republican Party just went right-wing whack nut job on America and screwed up the country."

I laughed out loud when I read that. Got my hit obviously.

David

[Baron Silas Greenback]

And back on to my ban list you go Baron. The only one still.

It is as if in some wierd way he is under the delusion I care about the contents of his ignore list.

People who make a big deal about who they are ignoring are peddlers of petty forum politics. They need a dose of maturity.

[tanmedia1]

You guess wrong.

I'm intrigued. Is there a point or is it shrouded in opacity?

[Baron Silas Greenback]

Is there a point or is it shrouded in opacity?

Yes...... No.