[denton-scratch]

> I genuinely think this author just made this whole thing up

I don't suspect that. But I do wonder how credible the story is; I've not come across Rushkoff before. His writeup in The Graun says he's a "writer and filmmaker on media, technology and popular culture", and teaches media studies. In the article he says he's also "written" a graphic novel.

So, he doesn't sound like a reporter, to me. I don't know to what extent he's using the story, whose truth isn't important to him, to make a social point.

[adaml_623]

Doesn't sound like you've bothered googling him. Read his wiki page[0]. This is literally stuff he's been writing about for close to 30 years. Of course you'd talk with him if you're a billionaire prepper.

0 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Rushkoff

[andsoitis]

From his bio in Wikipedia, amongst other things:

“Douglas Rushkoff has been declared the 6th most influential thinker in the world by MIT, only behind Steven Pinker, David Graeber, Nobel prize winner Daniel Kahneman, Thilo Sarrazin and Richard Florida.”

[denton-scratch]

I guess that shows up my ignorance. I've only heard of one of those names, and (without googling) I don't know what he's known for.

Perhaps I just have some kind of allergic reaction to "public intellectuals".