Cory DoctorowMar 9

Even if rich people were no more likely to believe stupid shit than you or me, it'd still be a problem. After all, I believe my share of stupid shit (and if you think that none of the shit you believe in is stupid, then I'm afraid we've just identified at least one kind of stupid shit you believe in).

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If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this thread to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2026/03/09/autocrats-of-trade/#witness-the-firepower-of-this-fully-armed-and-operational-battle-station

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Show threadCory DoctorowMar 9

The problem isn't whether rich people believe stupid shit; it's the fact that when a rich person believes something stupid, that belief can turn into torment for dozens, thousands, or millions of people.

Here's a historical example that I think about a *lot*. In 1928, Henry Ford got worried about the rubber supply chain.

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Show threadMad EngineeringMar 9
@pluralistic I mean, it's arguably what killed the Roman empire. Rich Romans got fancy indoor plumbing, made of lead for easy maintenance. The lead leeches onto the water, giving them a strange line on their gums and a tendency to believe idiotic nonsense.
Show threadColm DonoghueMar 9
@madengineering @pluralistic
The Roman empire ended when the Ottomans conquered it in the 15th century, long after their plumbers did the initial work.....
Show threadMad EngineeringMar 9
@ColmDonoghue The empire conquered in the 1400s did call itself Roman to anyone that asked, yes, but it didn't speak the same language or have the same customs or religion as the original.
Show threadAdvanced Persistent Teapot
@madengineering @ColmDonoghue the Empire of Theseus!
Mar 9 at 10:35pmWeb