Scott Alexander

Neighbourhood kids play in the street.

Civic society is strong.

You are members of a church, the Elks Club, you volunteer at local events, etc.

You live near extended family.

With no internet, you only compare your situation to your immediate neighbours.

The economy appears to be growing and prospects for the future look good.

End quote.

Scott writes, I also like this one for how it turns Calvin's argument on its head and makes me more sympathetic to the cultural proxy argument.

But, Calvin answers, quote, You're definitely taking an extreme paint-a-rosy-picture view here.

My grandfather rarely saw his kids.

End quote.

Scott writes, I really like this one because it helps show how dubious and contingent the cultural proxy argument is."

Ayla talks a lot about how she used to have a manufacturing job, hated, hated, hated it, and decided to switch to sex work so she never had to do anything like that ever again.

This seems like a pretty common opinion among people who have legit worked in factories.

CF, how many of them are motivated by the dream of giving their child a better life where they won't have to work a factory job?

And we've already talked about how the average parent now spends far more time with their children these days than they used to.

Jay Nicholas adds, quote, quote,

There is a butcher in a village near me who asks me every time I see him whether I have any interest in taking over his business when he retires.

He hasn't shown me his books, although I'm sure he would if I asked, but he clearly makes well over $100,000 a year.

I have no relevant experience, so I'm sure if he asks me, he's asking lots of other people.