In My Tribe

In My Tribe explores complex societal, political, and economic issues with a focus on skepticism, the importance of epistemology, and the critique of managerial elites and institutional dynamics. It addresses contemporary social debates, including drug policy, gender roles, and the influence of libertarianism, while promoting intellectual discussions.

Societal and Epistemic Analysis Political and Economic Views Drug Policy and Regulation Gender Dynamics in Institutions Racial Perceptions in Legal Systems Generational Cultural Shifts Evolutionary Perspectives on Behavior Managerial Class Critique Cultural and Political Discussions Religious Authority in Modern Societies Financial Regulation Economics and Sociology Political Beliefs Formation Libertarianism Health Insurance Policy

The hottest Substack posts of In My Tribe

And their main takeaways

Current Things

926 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Israel Hostages Yemen Presidential Race
  1. Be cautious when trusting third parties to maintain peace in conflict situations.
  2. Avoid prioritizing the lives of hostages to prevent rewarding hostage-taking.
  3. Promote a strong stance against threats to ensure respect and deterrence.

Links to Consider, 10/17/2024

243 implied HN points • 17 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social Issues Conflict resolution
  1. When handling conflict, it's helpful to first express appreciation for the other person. This helps create a calm environment for discussion.
  2. Many people are choosing to have fewer children due to seeing others do the same, leading to a concerning decline in population. This trend could lead to significant challenges in the future.
  3. There are deep disagreements about what is considered true in society today. These differences often stem from who people trust as sources of truth, not just from a desire for truth itself.

LLM Links

212 implied HN points • 28 Oct 24
🕹 Technology AI Education Software Innovation Digital Tools
  1. Using AI to do students' writing can take away the benefits of creativity and expression that come from writing practice. It's important for students to engage with the writing process themselves.
  2. AI tools like NotebookLM are changing how we create content, such as podcasts. These tools can generate engaging discussions, but they need to be customizable to suit individual styles.
  3. AI is seen as a powerful tool that can enhance research and intelligence. Instead of just analyzing data, it can help in conducting experiments and discovering new methods in various fields.
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Links to Consider, 10/23/2024

182 implied HN points • 23 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political strategy Public Policy Housing policy Political elites
  1. American politics has been stuck in a deadlock because both parties are close in power, leading to constant fighting for control. This makes elections contentious and the political environment very tense.
  2. Public-private partnerships can lead to problems like corruption and a focus on global interests over national ones. This disconnect can happen when these partnerships are not accountable to the public.
  3. In India, excessive regulations and government control hinder economic growth and worsen poverty. Many people work informally because the rules are so strict that it limits job opportunities.

Wright and Wrong Ways to Debate

683 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Debate
  1. Bob's conduct in debates should focus on understanding the other side's motives, not assuming the worst.
  2. Meaningful debates involve explaining and understanding different viewpoints without resorting to personal attacks or asymmetric insights.
  3. Maintain focus on the main issue of the debate and avoid veering off into unrelated topics for a productive discussion.

Vietnam in the Middle East

683 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Middle East Vietnam War Foreign Policy
  1. In Vietnam War, US officials complained about fighting with restrictions on bombing.
  2. Endemic violence in the Arab Middle East leads to lack of 'solutions' and need for strong state institutions.
  3. Proposed options for dealing with Iran, unpacking the idea of going big or going home.

The GDP Indicator

592 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
💰 Finance Market Trends
  1. GDP is not the best indicator of the economy's health, especially due to factors like healthcare spending.
  2. GDP measures economic activity in markets, which includes specialization and trade.
  3. GDP changes are most meaningful when observed over long periods, not short-term fluctuations.

Steve Levitt on the academic career path

501 implied HN points • 17 Mar 24
🚌 Education
  1. In academia, technical skills and techniques are highly valued, sometimes overshadowing the importance of addressing significant questions and providing practical solutions.
  2. Many academics feel discouraged when their research doesn't have a lasting impact or is not widely read, even top professionals like Steve Levitt have faced this.
  3. There's concern in the academic economics field that the focus on technicality and inward complexity might lead to a decline in stature, similar to what happened with disciplines like anthropology or sociology.

An Epistemic Crisis?

1032 implied HN points • 02 Aug 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media Journalism Political division
  1. In an epistemic crisis, it's crucial to be cautious of who you trust for information.
  2. Elite individuals and institutions sometimes spread lies, causing difficulty in discerning the truth.
  3. Encouraging skepticism and demanding transparency from all sources of news and opinion is essential.

Obvious Business Opportunities

425 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Software Customer Support Robots AI
  1. Addressing technical debt in outdated software systems is a significant business opportunity, especially using new pattern-matching models to optimize and secure old software.
  2. Leveraging large language models (LLMs) for customer support improvement and developing efficient back-office apps for various sectors presents lucrative business prospects.
  3. Special-purpose robots tailored for specific tasks like security or medical procedures offer practical business opportunities compared to humanoid robots.

Links to Consider, 1/26

486 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Education Race Society Books Gender
  1. Some college graduates lack basic skills due to learning deficits and grade inflation.
  2. Cultural inheritance and genetic factors may influence executive function and social mobility.
  3. Economic development impacts societal norms and individualism based on cultural practices like cousin marriage.

Claude's Shmuck is Bigger!

394 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
💼 Business Technology Industry Trends Mergers Business strategy Machine Learning
  1. In the realm of machine learning, size isn't everything. Intelligence is seen as a continuous process, not just about having the largest model.
  2. Rather than betting on one ultimate model, the future may hold multiple specialized uses for machine learning, like in medicine where different applications can thrive.
  3. Building specific applications in machine learning could be more successful than pursuing a one-size-fits-all approach, as seen in historical business scenarios.

A Profit-Seeking Government?

425 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Democracy Corruption Political parties Lobbying
  1. Government can be categorized into Limited-Access (L) and Open-Access (O) Orders based on who is allowed to form significant organizations.
  2. In Limited-Access Orders (L), the ruling coalition can extract resources and form organizations, while in Open-Access Orders (O), citizens have the right to form political parties and corporations independently.
  3. Profit-seeking government tends to align with one-party government and can lead to corruption and favoritism, making a competitive, open-access order preferable.

Marijuana Reconsidered

789 implied HN points • 11 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental Illness FDA Regulation Regulation
  1. Marijuana legalization has not significantly reduced excessive incarceration and has increased the use of the drug.
  2. Observational studies suggest a link between chronic cannabis use and mental illnesses like schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder.
  3. There should be strict regulations on marijuana use, with rigorous testing of its medicinal claims and penalties for public use and driving under the influence.

Links to Consider, 3/14

349 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Reading Sociology Religion Politics
  1. Reading is a skill that needs practice; reading long-form text is important for success in education and work.
  2. There's a need to understand trade-offs in policy-making; some argue for stronger social norms against alcohol and drug use.
  3. The shift towards morality and self-discipline in religions coincided with an increase in affluence and a focus on delayed gratification.

To My Readers

987 implied HN points • 12 Mar 23
🚌 Education Economics Political Evolution
  1. Arnold Kling has gained many new subscribers in the last three months.
  2. Kling has a long history of writing and blogging, with a focus on intellectual discussions.
  3. His political and economic views have evolved over time, leaning towards libertarianism but not endorsing radicalism.

Join my Conversation with Lyman Stone

45 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Demography Fertility Public Policy Social Issues Global trends
  1. There will be a Zoom talk about worldwide fertility decline. It's a chance to learn about why it's happening and what could be done about it.
  2. The talk is happening on January 20 at 8:45 PM New York time. Attendees can join and ask questions after the discussion.
  3. The event is for paid subscribers, and the conversation may be recorded for later viewing on YouTube.

Links to Consider

394 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Education Government Non-profit Bureaucracy
  1. American colleges and universities have traditionally been prestigious, but recent actions have diminished their value, creating opportunities for disruption.
  2. The surge in new business formation in the US, following the pandemic, showcases the adaptability and innovation of American capitalism.
  3. Complex social problems require precise knowledge for effective solutions, and both government interventions and social activism may fall short in addressing them.

Links to Consider, 3/15

318 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
  1. Academic careers now have longer paths, making it difficult especially for women who want to have children.
  2. The book 'The Defeat of the West' by Emmanuel Todd discusses Western weaknesses and rejection of Woke culture.
  3. Beliefs that engender myside bias can distort how we interpret new information and prevent society from converging on facts.

Links to Consider, 3/10

318 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
  1. People are having fewer children nowadays due to more appealing options, not just cultural reasons.
  2. Focusing too much on mental health and emotions can have negative effects, sometimes it's better to focus on others.
  3. Removing disruptive individuals, whether in schools or workplaces, can have a significant positive impact on the environment.

A Walk and Talk

364 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🏝 Travel Outdoors Adventure Socializing Physical activity Location
  1. Consider implementing a walk-and-talk activity to engage in intense conversations in a new environment.
  2. Plan logistics for the walk such as staying in a hotel, carrying belongings in a van, and driving the van in rotation.
  3. Adjust the walk to suit personal preferences, like duration, location, terrain, and meal preferences.

Links to Consider, 3/7

318 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political theory Activism Conservatism Foreign Relations
  1. Girard's mimetic theory explains how desires are often copied from others, leading to a cycle of crisis and scapegoating in communities.
  2. Noah Smith points out the shift in progressive causes towards Palestine, indicating a potential change in the unrest of the 2010s.
  3. Charles Kesler highlights the difference between National Conservatism and American Conservatism in terms of prioritizing individual vs. group rights.

Dan Williams on Cooperation

318 implied HN points • 03 Mar 24
📖 Philosophy Human nature Cooperation Social Dynamics
  1. Human cooperation is rooted in reputation management within groups.
  2. Life within a group involves dynamics of competition, conflict, and exploitation, not just friendship.
  3. Achieving cooperation and peace requires complex systems of norms and incentives, not just relying on innate friendliness.

Links to Consider, 2/25

318 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Political theory Cultural analysis Economic Impact Religious Studies Government transparency
  1. In some areas, class status is heavily influenced by college education and the prestigious Yankee settled areas.
  2. Martin Gurri envisions a future where the online electorate has more direct engagement in government and information is more transparent.
  3. It's important to consider the long-term effects of defense spending on the economy, as resources might be more beneficial if allocated elsewhere.

Trump, the Ballot, and the State of Exception

379 implied HN points • 07 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political theory Elections Sovereignty Governance
  1. In extreme cases of emergency, the law may not be able to handle the situation effectively.
  2. Political officials in some states are making decisions that can be seen as declaring a 'state of exception.'
  3. The issue of sovereignty and decision-making power has been a point of contention during crises like the 2020 election and the COVID pandemic.

Links to Consider

379 implied HN points • 06 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media Academia Free speech
  1. Unsolicited advice can create resentment if not asked for.
  2. Articles are graded on engagement with opposing viewpoints.
  3. University presidents may face increased accountability and scrutiny in light of recent events.

Links to Consider

364 implied HN points • 05 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Crime Israel Prison System
  1. American high incarceration rate is driven by violent crimes, not only drug offenses.
  2. Innocence holds power in American society's struggle with its history.
  3. Today's successful businesses focus on software capital and a different management culture.

Links to Consider

349 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🚌 Education Leadership Non-profit Ideology Critical Thinking
  1. The key to effective leadership is genuinely caring about your subordinates, not just pretending to care.
  2. Comparing profit-seeking businesses with non-profits, profit-seeking businesses are more incentivized to solve customer problems than non-profits are to create benefits that exceed costs.
  3. Wokism stems from the equality thesis of race and sex differences and a background of Christian morality, leading to challenges in discussing disparities and natural differences among groups.

The Great White Defendant

653 implied HN points • 18 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Current Events Race relations
  1. The author discusses the dynamics of racial perceptions and biases in the legal system.
  2. The post highlights how the roles of individuals involved can be perceived differently based on racial considerations.
  3. It contrasts the reactions to a situation based on race between different time periods and locations.

Links to Consider, 2/16

288 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Justice Media
  1. Specialization and trade have changed how we interact with others over time, leading to less local solidarity but more wealth.
  2. Publication selection bias impacts different fields like economics and psychology, affecting the presence of certain effects.
  3. Being critical of documentaries and trusting experts with verified beliefs are important in forming opinions on controversial issues.

LLM Links, 3/11

258 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Generative AI Chatbots Language Models Artificial Intelligence
  1. When prompting AI, consider adding context, using few shot examples, and employing a chain of thought to enhance LLM outputs.
  2. Generative AI like LLMs provide one answer, making the prompt crucial. Personalizing prompts may help tailor results to user preferences.
  3. Anthropic's chatbot Claude showed self-awareness, sparking discussions on AI capabilities and potential use cases like unredacting documents.

Links to Consider, 3/4

258 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Israel-Palestine Totalitarianism Protests Civil Liberties
  1. In social justice, the mindset often involves a pattern of one group having agency but lacking feelings, while the other group has feelings but lacks agency.
  2. Smartphones and social media have shifted the internet from a decentralizing force to a centralizing one, enabling control over personal information and public discourse.
  3. The Insurrection Act of 1807 could lead to mass protests and arrests, with responses to such situations risking being condemned as authoritarian or fascist.