[krimpenrik]

Making (probably) millions you find unproductive?

[ausbah]

economically unproductive I think is what they meant, you could say society is a lot when their talents are used for gambling vs something like scientific research

[MaxBarraclough]

What about high-frequency traders?

Profitable, technically challenging, but in a very real sense entirely pointless and contrived.

[ausbah]

I meant to add finance as a good example of what I meant, including HFT. basically just saying that while individually people benefit from working in these schemes, the broader economy arguably benefits little to even negatively

[toast0]

HFT isn't my cup of tea, but the rise of HFT has certainly narrowed spreads and contributed to zero comissions; and I apprechiate those effects.