cygnosis

cygnosis , 2 days ago

Literally? No. We're all subject to the same laws of physics.

Perceptual reality? World view? Yes. I only know one person in real life and not online (my wife) who shares some of my views of reality. For instance, I am a doomer. I am convinced we are well into the sixth, and by all accounts the most devastating, mass extinction. Humans are clever, but we depend on a stable environment for our food. That stable environment is turning into a series of alternating droughts, floods, fires, blizzards, and other extreme weather events. TBH, I'd be surprised if our species lasts to the end of the century. Hanson figures that, after feedbacks, we are on track for 10c of warming. That's apocalyptic. And every time scientists talk about it you hear words like 'faster than expected'. We are doing exactly nothing to prevent it, and are, in fact, accelerating the collapse by increasing our consumption, population, pollution, and environmental destruction. COP has been talking about it for so long (almost 30 years) that we've missed the boat. We are well past the point where we could stop it. We're in the 'find out' stage now.

Yet people keep having kids and planning for the future like everything is going to be just fine. Can you not see what's happening? When's the last time you scraped bugs off your car windshield? They're all dying out. The biosphere is collapsing around us. But sure, keep contributing to your 401K. Keep talking about how the 'fertility crisis' is the big issue. Keep thinking that somehow windmills and recycling are going to save the planet. Tell me more about how voting is going to fix the problem. I feel like Kate Dibiasky saying we're all going to die while everyone around me wants to talk about their PTA, the latest social issue, or which politician they like.

(deep breath)

Yes. I do feel like my perception of reality is different than most people I know. I don't know most of humanity so I can't really say, but it sure seems like it.

cygnosis , 5 months ago (edited 5 months ago)

In support of your argument.

Report: 44% of all Single-Family Home Purchases were from Private Investors in 2023

edit: see corrections below

cygnosis , 5 months ago

Thanks for the correction. I remembered seeing that number but didn't analyze it in any depth. A more detailed analysis of the market, by Freddie Mac, concluded that there were four main drivers for the recent surge in prices, and investors weren't on the list.

1. record low mortgage rates in 2020 and 2021, and the race to beat future rate increases;
2. limited supply from underbuilding and below average distressed sales;
3. an increase in first-time homebuyers due to favorable age demographics; and
4. increased migration from high-cost cities to areas that already had a housing shortage.

Institutional investors apparently even reduced their purchases in 23 - some of them were even net sellers - because of prices and interest rates. That doesn't mean they aren't still villians in this scenario. I don't think big investors should own single family homes at all. But still they aren't as big a force as my previous comment indicated.

cygnosis , 5 months ago

I watched it. It was a good looking show. And the origin story (which took over half the season I think) was well done. But where it really fell down is that none of the characters are likeable. At the end of the season I was kind of relieved it was over because I didn't care whether any of them lived or died.