tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post1510982983975916022..comments2023-12-20T04:18:41.617-06:00Comments on The Hunting of the Snark: How Terrible Is Megan McArdle?Susan of Texashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00076915322771385454noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-70106191972652449192013-01-06T00:57:54.463-06:002013-01-06T00:57:54.463-06:00Like others, I'm reminded of the non-ironic li...Like others, I'm reminded of the non-ironic libertarian paeans to pre-conversion Scrooge. <br /><br />The thing is, she really could use to read more anthropology. Ya know, the study of humanity and human nature? How in some ways it's universal and other ways not? A great way to challenge one's notions? One of the landmarks of the field is Marcel Mauss' book, <i>The Gift</i>. And anthropology has a great term called generalized reciprocity for the way friends and family do things for each other without a specific quid pro quo, and how this benefits everybody (assuming someone's not a tool). It dovetails nicely with the concept of a social contract and liberal policies of investing in the Commons. It's the antithesis of Ayn Rand and glibertarianism. And because McArdle does not understand human nature apart from her own greed and vanity – after all, she just advocated training small children to rush armed gunman rather than enacting sensible, proven gun laws – she just doesn't get it. (I'm sure aimai can add much more.) <br />Batocchiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-2824150013727897082013-01-05T09:38:44.237-06:002013-01-05T09:38:44.237-06:00I'm thinking Megan needs a visit from a dead b...I'm thinking Megan needs a visit from a dead business acquaintance.Lurking Canadiannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-58577486639428095342013-01-02T14:29:20.715-06:002013-01-02T14:29:20.715-06:00Someone, somewhere noted McArdle's opinions of...Someone, somewhere noted McArdle's opinions of relationships and suggested that Suderman had better lawyer-up.Adam Eli Clemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08779416210584562444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-11004849854645036572013-01-01T20:17:55.031-06:002013-01-01T20:17:55.031-06:00No, it's not the wish list, it's McArdle&#...No, it's not the wish list, it's McArdle's belief that shopping for loved ones is a pain in the neck so people shop from wish lists. <br /><br />After all, what is a letter to Santa but a wish list?Susan of Texashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00076915322771385454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-51676353242448378402013-01-01T17:15:03.297-06:002013-01-01T17:15:03.297-06:00Now I feel bad for present-shopping off of wish li...Now I feel bad for present-shopping off of wish lists. :(casino implosionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-84837878023189286232012-12-31T16:23:42.526-06:002012-12-31T16:23:42.526-06:00"Wall O'Pans" HaHa! I like it. I ha..."Wall O'Pans" HaHa! I like it. I have Calaphon pans with red enamel to match my blood-red sink, but I keep them in a drawer when not in use. Not that I'm boasting, I got 'em at TJ Maxx.Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03176801494652946278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-78805535606793035212012-12-31T13:44:18.205-06:002012-12-31T13:44:18.205-06:00Dear Diary,
I am *so* disappointed. I asked Sant...Dear Diary, <br /><br />I am *so* disappointed. I asked Santa for a Banker Barbie or a Mini Cooper for Ken but I got a Madge instead. Nobody wants Madge. She doesn't have a cool townhouse or a car or neat accessories or lots of careers. She's just Barbie's friend. Barbie doesn't want a friend cause they're too much trouble and you have to spend your allowance buying them birthday presents because your mom and dad want you to learn fiscal responsibility. Barbie *really* wants a six-figure job in the financial industry and an Armani suit. Sheesh!<br /><br />Santa sure is dumb.<br /><br />Love, (Princes) MeganSusan of Texashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00076915322771385454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-84452620682030971482012-12-31T13:16:57.736-06:002012-12-31T13:16:57.736-06:00KWillow, she wanted a SPECIFIC cast-iron skillet. ...KWillow, she wanted a SPECIFIC cast-iron skillet. It was probably color-and-size coordinated for a certain location on the Wall O'Pans behind her in most of her photos.<br /><br />I imagine if her family had given her an incorrect one, the Christmas Essay would have been markedly different.zombie rotten mcdonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10601960953323752278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-328121679195666122012-12-31T11:35:16.912-06:002012-12-31T11:35:16.912-06:00...gifts are a deadweight loss when viewed from th...<i>...gifts are a deadweight loss when viewed from the perspective of market pricing..."</i><br /><br />Say what? WTH is "market pricing?" Isn't christmas the make-or-break time of year for many businesses? Isn't a huge part of our economy (a bit recklessly) affected by christmas sales?<br /><br />Arglebargle is married and she just hangs out with her dad (alone or with her Freedumb Works hubby? Does he go to his folks alone?) for christmas week? <br /><br />She <i>wanted</i> a cast iron skillet? Aren't they pretty easy to acquire? I ask for (and give) unusual "special" gifts at Christmas. Maybe in Arglebargle's life every day is christmas, so she might as well ask for mundane every-day items on that special day. <br /><br />Weird and pointless, as usual for her.Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03176801494652946278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-54311307063344431302012-12-31T11:24:13.550-06:002012-12-31T11:24:13.550-06:00It's not the peak of editorial laziness, but i...It's not the peak of editorial laziness, but in quoting Gabriel Rossman's guestpost for her at <em>The Atlantic</em> (from way back in May), she left in his asterisk:<br /><br />"I like Waldfogel a lot* and think this article makes a real contribution in showing how gifts are a deadweight loss when viewed from the perspective of market pricing."<br /><br />The note in the original reads: "* I [i.e., Rossman] am familiar with and admire Waldfogel's work because we both study mass media. My favorite of his articles is a QJE on chain ownership in radio to which I devote an entire lecture in my undergraduate course"<br /><br />The note in her current post is, of course, missing. But no one bothered to edit the asterisk out.Ken Houghtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01440837287933536370noreply@blogger.com