Very intriguing take. Another angle: too much money in politics may favor the party with the most money to spend, but quality matters, and no AI can competently judge quality.
Exactly. There is so much to say on this topic because numbers really have become the language of our society, and we've elevated them to almost a religious status in some contexts. It's gotten way out of hand, if you ask me.
Great piece! The fact that data are not transparent, nor owned by those who actually generate them, is the crux of the asymmetry for sure. Blind greed and short-term thinking has poisoned the ecosystem.
Coincidently or not, the movie you picked this week "Never Too Much" also shows how numbers and measurements are important to so many. Luther was such an amazing artist, and in this great documentary, we can see the constant attention by the media to his weight, which is so upsetting and unbearable (They weren't worried with his health). Instead of focusing on his huge talents, they always had to mention and comment on his "silhouette" and the numbers on his scale. The world was different in the 80s, 90s, 2000s and although I am often more nostalgic than I should be, I am so glad (and hopeful) that we have evolved a little as society when it comes to things like that.
Statistically speaking, it was unlikely that I would have read for 10 minutes today, but alas… I love and admire your work as always Alex! Thank you for writing and helping me read more.
Great piece, as always. Reminds me of how, back when I wore an Apple Watch, I started feeling like a workout hadn't counted unless I had remembered to track and record it. Being too beholden to data/tracking can end up hollowing out the experience itself...
Very intriguing take. Another angle: too much money in politics may favor the party with the most money to spend, but quality matters, and no AI can competently judge quality.
Exactly. There is so much to say on this topic because numbers really have become the language of our society, and we've elevated them to almost a religious status in some contexts. It's gotten way out of hand, if you ask me.
I am with you, if you are keeping count. April 2023: https://tedhope.substack.com/p/tyranny-of-competition-and-measurement
Great piece! The fact that data are not transparent, nor owned by those who actually generate them, is the crux of the asymmetry for sure. Blind greed and short-term thinking has poisoned the ecosystem.
Coincidently or not, the movie you picked this week "Never Too Much" also shows how numbers and measurements are important to so many. Luther was such an amazing artist, and in this great documentary, we can see the constant attention by the media to his weight, which is so upsetting and unbearable (They weren't worried with his health). Instead of focusing on his huge talents, they always had to mention and comment on his "silhouette" and the numbers on his scale. The world was different in the 80s, 90s, 2000s and although I am often more nostalgic than I should be, I am so glad (and hopeful) that we have evolved a little as society when it comes to things like that.
Statistically speaking, it was unlikely that I would have read for 10 minutes today, but alas… I love and admire your work as always Alex! Thank you for writing and helping me read more.
So honored to hear it, Nancy! Thank you for reading, and for the kind words. Here's to the outliers!
Great piece, as always. Reminds me of how, back when I wore an Apple Watch, I started feeling like a workout hadn't counted unless I had remembered to track and record it. Being too beholden to data/tracking can end up hollowing out the experience itself...
(PS - thanks for sharing my 1999 post!)
Thank you, Ed! I know exactly what you mean. I still fixate on my daily steps to an ironically unhealthy degree.