Professor X
@professorx.bsky.social
Burgeoning leftist stuck in the engineering world.
He is useful right now. We don't have to follow him all the way.
August 15, 2025 at 2:36 PM
He is useful right now. We don't have to follow him all the way.
Is there an in-between?
Like... Social disorder that isn't captured by crime statistics but still hurts communities IS a real thing.
But also people claim things are disorderly that aren't and will use disorder as a racist dogwhistle.
Both are true, no?
Like... Social disorder that isn't captured by crime statistics but still hurts communities IS a real thing.
But also people claim things are disorderly that aren't and will use disorder as a racist dogwhistle.
Both are true, no?
August 12, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Is there an in-between?
Like... Social disorder that isn't captured by crime statistics but still hurts communities IS a real thing.
But also people claim things are disorderly that aren't and will use disorder as a racist dogwhistle.
Both are true, no?
Like... Social disorder that isn't captured by crime statistics but still hurts communities IS a real thing.
But also people claim things are disorderly that aren't and will use disorder as a racist dogwhistle.
Both are true, no?
Let @profwolff.bsky.social convince you about worker cooperatives!
July 17, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Let @profwolff.bsky.social convince you about worker cooperatives!
It's not tho. you're making a ton of assumptions about my "strategy."
What about "convince them the restrictions are good" gives you "let them do whatever they want?"
You CAN have discussions with kids. I swears some people think children are like dogs. I don't mean 3 year olds. I mean teenagers.
What about "convince them the restrictions are good" gives you "let them do whatever they want?"
You CAN have discussions with kids. I swears some people think children are like dogs. I don't mean 3 year olds. I mean teenagers.
March 18, 2025 at 2:49 AM
It's not tho. you're making a ton of assumptions about my "strategy."
What about "convince them the restrictions are good" gives you "let them do whatever they want?"
You CAN have discussions with kids. I swears some people think children are like dogs. I don't mean 3 year olds. I mean teenagers.
What about "convince them the restrictions are good" gives you "let them do whatever they want?"
You CAN have discussions with kids. I swears some people think children are like dogs. I don't mean 3 year olds. I mean teenagers.
That's exactly my point tho? They are gonna make their own decisions when you aren't around, so your job as a parent is not to simply forbid behavior, but to TEACH them to do the right thing even when you aren't there.
March 18, 2025 at 2:46 AM
That's exactly my point tho? They are gonna make their own decisions when you aren't around, so your job as a parent is not to simply forbid behavior, but to TEACH them to do the right thing even when you aren't there.
Did I say to let kids "do whatever they want?"
Why do you think that that is what I mean? Because it isn't.
Why do you think that that is what I mean? Because it isn't.
March 18, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Did I say to let kids "do whatever they want?"
Why do you think that that is what I mean? Because it isn't.
Why do you think that that is what I mean? Because it isn't.
I... I think I remember being a teenager...
I understand the difficulty of what I'm saying. I don't make the claim lightly. It's parenting with the explicit intention of preparing your children to be adults. They need to know how to make good decisions, not just how to obey. I know that's not easy.
I understand the difficulty of what I'm saying. I don't make the claim lightly. It's parenting with the explicit intention of preparing your children to be adults. They need to know how to make good decisions, not just how to obey. I know that's not easy.
March 18, 2025 at 2:23 AM
I... I think I remember being a teenager...
I understand the difficulty of what I'm saying. I don't make the claim lightly. It's parenting with the explicit intention of preparing your children to be adults. They need to know how to make good decisions, not just how to obey. I know that's not easy.
I understand the difficulty of what I'm saying. I don't make the claim lightly. It's parenting with the explicit intention of preparing your children to be adults. They need to know how to make good decisions, not just how to obey. I know that's not easy.
?? This is not true. They are difficult to enforce, not impossible. Ultimately you have to convince the child the restrictions you're placing on them are a good idea. Otherwise, they simply seek to undermine you.
Force and fear are short-term solutions that create underdeveloped adults.
Force and fear are short-term solutions that create underdeveloped adults.
March 18, 2025 at 2:16 AM
?? This is not true. They are difficult to enforce, not impossible. Ultimately you have to convince the child the restrictions you're placing on them are a good idea. Otherwise, they simply seek to undermine you.
Force and fear are short-term solutions that create underdeveloped adults.
Force and fear are short-term solutions that create underdeveloped adults.
Literally my first thought was "this is why LiDAR matters"
March 16, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Literally my first thought was "this is why LiDAR matters"
Thank you Dr. Wolff. I don't know if you reply to these, but I mean them in good faith and hope to learn from you. You've been one of my favorite economists ever since you debated @pkrugman.bsky.social way back when. (Love you both).
March 10, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Thank you Dr. Wolff. I don't know if you reply to these, but I mean them in good faith and hope to learn from you. You've been one of my favorite economists ever since you debated @pkrugman.bsky.social way back when. (Love you both).
Lastly, can you walk through the Marxist's/socialist's solution to this? I know we say class solidarity, gathering, advocacy, civil rights etc... But as concretely as you can, what does that actually look like? Like step by step, what happens if we do everything right, best-case scenario, and why?
March 10, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Lastly, can you walk through the Marxist's/socialist's solution to this? I know we say class solidarity, gathering, advocacy, civil rights etc... But as concretely as you can, what does that actually look like? Like step by step, what happens if we do everything right, best-case scenario, and why?
7. Japan and China own collectively 5% of U.S. debt... While that is a meaningful amount, the majority of U.S. debt is owned locally. Are we ACTUALLY broke? Or just very aggressively invested in our own economy? The money seems to be present. Here... We just refuse to tax it where it is? (Rich)
March 10, 2025 at 5:16 PM
7. Japan and China own collectively 5% of U.S. debt... While that is a meaningful amount, the majority of U.S. debt is owned locally. Are we ACTUALLY broke? Or just very aggressively invested in our own economy? The money seems to be present. Here... We just refuse to tax it where it is? (Rich)
6. To what extent is BRICS prepared to actually unite on the world stage? I know you can numerically aggregate their economies and say they are impressive, but do they have the infrastructure to make use of that alliance yet? I believe they are still in the negotiating phases of many things, no?
March 10, 2025 at 5:16 PM
6. To what extent is BRICS prepared to actually unite on the world stage? I know you can numerically aggregate their economies and say they are impressive, but do they have the infrastructure to make use of that alliance yet? I believe they are still in the negotiating phases of many things, no?
5. Does this mean you agree with the pressure to end the war with Ukrainian capitulation (perhaps imprecise)? Not that you agree with the manner in which it is being done now, no, but that Ukraine simply has no choice but to accept SOME set of terms given that it has "lost", as you put it?
March 10, 2025 at 5:16 PM
5. Does this mean you agree with the pressure to end the war with Ukrainian capitulation (perhaps imprecise)? Not that you agree with the manner in which it is being done now, no, but that Ukraine simply has no choice but to accept SOME set of terms given that it has "lost", as you put it?
4. Is it good or bad that Europe is spinning up its War machines? Do you believe they can do so fast enough to be impactful? Or are they too late and this is more denialism?
March 10, 2025 at 5:16 PM
4. Is it good or bad that Europe is spinning up its War machines? Do you believe they can do so fast enough to be impactful? Or are they too late and this is more denialism?
3. Chasing Russia into Russia is a bad idea... I agree. I remember learning that same darkly amusing lesson in highschool. But that was a totally different age of warfare. Ground invasions into Russia are almost useless due to its size. But why can't we win in the air? Are we unable to?
March 10, 2025 at 5:16 PM
3. Chasing Russia into Russia is a bad idea... I agree. I remember learning that same darkly amusing lesson in highschool. But that was a totally different age of warfare. Ground invasions into Russia are almost useless due to its size. But why can't we win in the air? Are we unable to?
2. You said Russia's economy is growing faster now than it was before. Hasn't Russia had to do several desperate actions in order to keel itself alive? Is it true that it's in good shape? I can believe American propaganda would have me confused about this, but where should I be looking instead?
March 10, 2025 at 5:16 PM
2. You said Russia's economy is growing faster now than it was before. Hasn't Russia had to do several desperate actions in order to keel itself alive? Is it true that it's in good shape? I can believe American propaganda would have me confused about this, but where should I be looking instead?
1. It seemed like a lot of this analysis hinges on the assumption that we would not be able to actually win the war with Russia if the U.S. and Europe committed fully to ending it ASAP with victory. Is the idea that we CAN'T win? Or is it that we would escalate things to WW3 and so we shouldn't?
March 10, 2025 at 5:16 PM
1. It seemed like a lot of this analysis hinges on the assumption that we would not be able to actually win the war with Russia if the U.S. and Europe committed fully to ending it ASAP with victory. Is the idea that we CAN'T win? Or is it that we would escalate things to WW3 and so we shouldn't?
All this to say its not that small and big are bad or good. They both have tradeoffs, so it's just about finding the appropriate sizes for whatever application you're talking about.
March 6, 2025 at 6:08 PM
All this to say its not that small and big are bad or good. They both have tradeoffs, so it's just about finding the appropriate sizes for whatever application you're talking about.
Small structures also have difficulties too. They have smaller reach and generally are more resource constrained. They can have trouble distributing information and resources at large enough scales to be effective.
March 6, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Small structures also have difficulties too. They have smaller reach and generally are more resource constrained. They can have trouble distributing information and resources at large enough scales to be effective.
You're right. But I think that's more a function of large structures being difficult to manage and protect from corruption. Its not that they are inherently bad... There's just a tradeoff.
March 6, 2025 at 6:08 PM
You're right. But I think that's more a function of large structures being difficult to manage and protect from corruption. Its not that they are inherently bad... There's just a tradeoff.