[hypfer]

I mean maybe that is because I live in a still mostly not failed state (Germany), but I can't imagine that these things would be _so bad_ that living in fear of saying the wrong thing would be something worth considering.

Plus, and leaving that aside, I have my doubts that even if you did that, that that company would stay alive for very long. Reality has the habit of eventually ripping this kind of unproductively delusional people (like e.g. a boss that flips if you don't say the right word with regards to the current hype) to shreds eventually.

[lukevp]

The US has no social safety net. Healthcare comes from your employer. Everything is centered around having a job. Opinions on AI diverge significantly and someone’s response to this question would be pivotal to me in a hiring role. The market is not great for job seekers. The hiring manager can wait for someone who aligns with their company’s perspective on this.

[atomicnumber3]

No, if anything, I would say a very unfortunate trait of existence right now is that reality does NOT tend to punish corporations for being completely idiotic, at least not very fast at all.

Look at musk's companies. They will basically never (on any near timescale...) produce GAAP profitability and yet their IPO is in the trillions. To the point that S&P refusing to suspend their GAAP profitability requirements means the index will basically never see this company in it (which I'm quite pleased about).

The power of already-accumulated capital is simply more powerful than things like "don't be completely pants-on-head stupid about a recent fad" "don't seig-heil in front of the world stage" "there's no point in having people come to an office just to spend all day on zoom" etc etc etc.

The market can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent, and companies can remain irrational longer than you can go without contributing to your 401k.

[ben_w]

> Reality has the habit of eventually ripping this kind of unproductively delusional people (like e.g. a boss that flips if you don't say the right word with regards to the current hype) to shreds eventually

"Eventually" yes, but while this phrase may have been about the stock market, it also applies to management: "the market can remain irrational for longer than you can remain solvent".

One concept I only learned a few years ago was the difference between "mistake theory" and "conflict theory". Rational decision-making is the former, political decision-making, including office politics, is the latter. It's important to know which of these kinds of battle you're fighting, or you'll make the wrong type of move.

Also, FWIW, I live in Germany and my unemployment insurance has run out because the job market is just that bad right now; I'm fortunate that I have enough passive income to support myself, but even then if my partner's unemployment insurance ever runs out I can't support both of us.

[emodendroket]

Yes, I'm sure in Germany nobody ever muffs an interview by offending the interviewer.

[retired]

How is Germany relevant in this?

[hypfer]

Acknowledging that my perception might be skewed because there are still a ton of social safety nets in place.

The same might not be true everywhere.

[retired]

Last time I was in Germany I saw elderly people going through garbage bins in the park I sat at. I think you overestimate the safety net in Germany. In my European country the elderly sit at cafes drinking coffee, not going through bins.

Update:

Every street corner has a yellow garbage bin for recycling. That is where your plastic bottles go. Seems like a better system than having elderly going through bins.

[Avalaxy]

Maybe in your country they also don't have a deposit on bottles/cans, making it pointless to go through trash cans?

[retired]

Plastic bottles go in the yellow recycling bin. Deposit systems are dumb.

[inigyou]

They reduce bottle litter by a lot a lot.

[ezst]

Not OP but many people eligible for social benefits don't seek it, for all kinds of reasons (not knowing about it, pride, ideology, peer pressure, ...)

[inigyou]

They make it that way on purpose, to save money.

[malfist]

Who is "they" and what specific actions are they taking?

[spacechild1]

Keep in mind that not every old person who searches garbage bins is actually poor. Some of them just have dementia. I personally know such people in my home town.

[hypfer]

That's why I said "mostly"

[LargoLasskhyfv]

It's the 'gift-economy'.

https://pfandring.de/

"My trash, a flash of joy.

For the poor people.

Enabling me, the blissful sheeple,

to consume on with abandon.

Everybody won."

[thatjoeoverthr]

Last time I was in Germany I saw what appeared to be homeless children

[yakshaving_jgt]

Welfare doesn't entirely eliminate homelessness.

It's… like… not that simple.

[ipaddr]

Did they look Ukrainian or Syrian? Germany let in millions of people over the last few years and never built enough housing.

[cyberax]

This is totally incorrect. Germany is literally giving out housing for almost free.

No, I'm not stupid or lying.

And yes, it's true. It's just that this housing is not in Berlin.

[ben_w]

"Built enough" may sound like the same thing as "giving out housing for almost free", but it isn't. Also, cheap temporary emergency housing for a sudden extra burst of refugees may be inappropriate for permanent occupancy, I believe this is an example, it's certainly containerised/temporary *something*: https://maps.app.goo.gl/HUyQS6Sc1w1Y8GUH6?g_st=ic

That said, an idea has come to mind: UK and Italy have had schemes where a home can be purchased for £1/€1 under the condition the new owner repairs them (the repairs would cost 20-150k). Given some of the really bad stock I've seen in some searches, this may be a good idea for Germany too.