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MARKETPLACE vs BATTLEFIELD
The “marketplace of ideas” is a perfect metaphor for how public beliefs work.
The problem is, we actually treat it more like a battlefield.
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The “marketplace of ideas” is a perfect metaphor for how public beliefs work.
The problem is, we actually treat it more like a battlefield.
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In a marketplace, the winning move is to bet on the underdog. Find value and double down on it before others catch up.
On a battlefield, the winning move is to double down on the guy who *seems to be winning.* This way, he won’t saunter over and kill you when he does win.
In a marketplace, the winning move is to bet on the underdog. Find value and double down on it before others catch up.
On a battlefield, the winning move is to double down on the guy who *seems to be winning.* This way, he won’t saunter over and kill you when he does win.
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But ideas won’t kill you if you fly the wrong flag, and the market won’t kill you if you’re only a little right.
But ideas won’t kill you if you fly the wrong flag, and the market won’t kill you if you’re only a little right.
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On a battlefield, winning is being #1. There are “no points for second place.”
In the market, winning isn’t being #1. It’s being early. There are points for every place, except *late*.
On a battlefield, winning is being #1. There are “no points for second place.”
In the market, winning isn’t being #1. It’s being early. There are points for every place, except *late*.
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Ideas generally have some value. People deserve fractional points for being fractionally right. Everyone’s trying their best.
Battle-losers generally don’t have value. They don’t get to write the rules, they don’t get to make demands, and they don& #39;t get to take the spoils.
Ideas generally have some value. People deserve fractional points for being fractionally right. Everyone’s trying their best.
Battle-losers generally don’t have value. They don’t get to write the rules, they don’t get to make demands, and they don& #39;t get to take the spoils.
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If you’re outnumbered 50 to 1 on the battlefield, the outcome looks hopeless.
If you’re outnumbered 50 to 1 in the marketplace, the outcome looks *potentially amazing.*
If you’re outnumbered 50 to 1 on the battlefield, the outcome looks hopeless.
If you’re outnumbered 50 to 1 in the marketplace, the outcome looks *potentially amazing.*
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If we were really participating in a marketplace of ideas, it would be exciting and tantalizing to seek out under-appreciated ideas.
If we were really participating in a marketplace of ideas, it would be exciting and tantalizing to seek out under-appreciated ideas.
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Seeking under-appreciated ideas isn’t fun for most people, because ideas are secretly a battlefield.
We all feel as though someday, the people who were right will kill the people who were wrong.
Seeking under-appreciated ideas isn’t fun for most people, because ideas are secretly a battlefield.
We all feel as though someday, the people who were right will kill the people who were wrong.
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There’s no discovery on a battlefield of ideas. There’s only a fight.
There is discovery in a marketplace of ideas — discovery via price discovery.
There’s no discovery on a battlefield of ideas. There’s only a fight.
There is discovery in a marketplace of ideas — discovery via price discovery.
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To create a public pursuit of discovery, we must replace the implicit “battlefield of ideas” with an explicit “marketplace of ideas.”
u2028It will be the first ever to exist, literally or metaphorically. http://ideamarkets.org"> http://ideamarkets.org
To create a public pursuit of discovery, we must replace the implicit “battlefield of ideas” with an explicit “marketplace of ideas.”
u2028It will be the first ever to exist, literally or metaphorically. http://ideamarkets.org"> http://ideamarkets.org
