Molly White"It is well known that a vital ingredient of success is not knowing that what you’re attempting can’t be done." – Terry Pratchett, Equal Rites
Tor Iver Wilhelmsen@molly0xfff His description of the finance industry is also great:
« But, in truth, it had not exactly been gold, or even the promise of gold, but more like the fantasy of gold, the fairy dream that the gold is there, at the end of the rainbow, and will continue to be there forever - provided, naturally, that you don't go and look. This is known as finance.»
- Terry Pratchett, "Going Postal"
« But, in truth, it had not exactly been gold, or even the promise of gold, but more like the fantasy of gold, the fairy dream that the gold is there, at the end of the rainbow, and will continue to be there forever - provided, naturally, that you don't go and look. This is known as finance.»
- Terry Pratchett, "Going Postal"
Martin Vermeer (not Jesus)@toriver @molly0xfff True that. Except for native gold and silver, all money is a matter of belief. Even bitcoin.The words 'credit' and 'creed' have a common etymology.
@martinvermeer @molly0xfff But the precious metals also only hold value because we apply it to them, and a perceived rarity. Money should be an instrument of exchange in the real economy of goods and services, no country would like their economy dictated by some mining operations elsewhere in the world. It made some sort of sense back when kings regulated the production, but… not today.
@toriver @molly0xfff That is true in a sense... you cannot eat gold. It has technological uses though, and jewellery, and teeth - not negligible.