Unfashionable

Unfashionable explores a wide range of topics including the significance of intellectual curiosity, critique of educational and scientific institutions, skepticism towards emerging technologies, and deep dives into economics, finance, and Bitcoin. It emphasizes critical thinking, self-improvement, and challenges mainstream narratives and historical interpretations.

Education and Learning Writing and Communication Future Predictions Technology and Computing Investment and Economics Banking and Finance Science and Skepticism History and Narratives Creativity and Productivity Research and Science Philosophy and Critical Thinking News and Media Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Quantum Mechanics Climate Change

The hottest Substack posts of Unfashionable

And their main takeaways

Journalism is Broken, but so is Alternative Media

68 implied HN points • 02 Mar 24
📰 News Media Journalism Plagiarism Truth
  1. Mainstream media and alternative media both have flaws; it's important to seek the truth beyond just opposing mainstream narratives.
  2. Alternative media can fall into the trap of misrepresenting facts or overlooking important details for the sake of supporting a particular narrative.
  3. Maintaining credibility and integrity is crucial for alternative media platforms to succeed; building a reputation for honesty and commitment to uncovering truth is key.

We Used To Eat A Lot More Without Becoming Obese

15 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Metabolism Obesity Diet Research
  1. Historically, people used to eat more without becoming obese, challenging the 'calories in, calories out' theory.
  2. Studies show that children in the past consumed significantly more calories than recommended today, even without modern concept of workouts.
  3. The Ray Peat community suggests that historically, people had faster metabolisms, which could explain the paradox of declining calorie intake and rising obesity rates.

Predicting Future Knowledge

114 implied HN points • 10 Mar 23
🔬 Science Research Knowledge Vaccinations Incentives
  1. We can't predict all future knowledge because if we could, we'd already have it.
  2. By looking at incentives and motives, we can make educated guesses about future scientific findings.
  3. It's important to be skeptical of information that comes from sources with vested interests or under external pressures.

Fake History And The Real Gandhi

53 implied HN points • 03 Aug 23
💾 History Analysis Truth Propaganda
  1. One should question everything they learned from institutions and history, not assuming it's all accurate.
  2. Winners in history tend to shape the narrative, so it's important to seek different perspectives.
  3. History is complex and may reveal surprising facts about well-known figures like Gandhi.
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The Religion of Science And Its Consequences.

22 implied HN points • 12 Nov 23
📖 Philosophy Science Ethics Religion Policy Truth
  1. In our era, science is often treated like a religion, with scientists seen as clergy.
  2. The use of the term 'Science' in discussions can imply an ethical obligation and blur the lines between descriptive and normative claims.
  3. Trying to eliminate human judgment in decision-making processes with a focus on 'following the science' can lead to accountability issues and politicization of science.

A Skeptical Perspective on Quantum Computing

84 implied HN points • 11 Feb 23
  1. Quantum computing is a complex technology with massive potential but also significant challenges in terms of error correction and scalability.
  2. There is skepticism regarding the practical applications of quantum computing in real-world scenarios, with concerns raised about overselling the technology and misallocation of resources.
  3. Efforts to build a quantum computer should be viewed as a scientific experiment with limited immediate practical value, akin to the Large Hadron Collider.

The Truth Will Cost You Dearly

68 implied HN points • 02 Oct 22
  1. To find the truth, you must value it above all else even if it's elusive.
  2. Influencing the status of ideas can sway the marketplace of ideas in one direction.
  3. Fear of consequences can hinder individuals from pursuing the truth, especially in institutional environments.

The Purpose of Writing

160 implied HN points • 22 Nov 20
  1. Writing helps clarify and sharpen your thoughts, leading to self-discovery and enhancing honesty.
  2. Invite criticism of your ideas to strive towards truth, rather than seeking consensus or agreement.
  3. Comparing yourself to contemporary intellectuals can provide motivation for growth and improvement.

The Death of Intellectual Curiosity

229 implied HN points • 11 Jan 20
  1. Intellectual curiosity is essential for societal progress and economic growth.
  2. Learning should focus on fostering natural curiosity and critical thinking instead of memorization.
  3. Schools and universities should encourage individuality and self-directed learning to cultivate intellectual curiosity.

On Wasting Time

53 implied HN points • 27 Apr 21
  1. The value of creative work is not tied to time
  2. In creative work, wasting time is not a meaningful concept
  3. To come up with great ideas, one has to waste a great amount of time

An Introduction to Ergodicity

76 implied HN points • 20 Apr 20
  1. Ergodicity is important in understanding human behavior and systems like gambling and finance
  2. Ergodic systems have the same behavior averaged over time as over the space of all states
  3. In non-ergodic systems, like Russian roulette and financial games, averages can be misleading leading to bankruptcy

Modesty Kills Excellence

30 implied HN points • 08 Jul 20
  1. Modesty can hinder progress by holding back high achievers in fields like science and engineering.
  2. Encourage extremely smart people to share their best ideas without worrying about false modesty.
  3. Strive for excellence and push boundaries, like Kanye West and Elon Musk, without being deterred by criticism or insults.

Consuming News is Harmful

22 implied HN points • 22 Mar 20
  1. Consuming news can be harmful as it may not help in understanding the world but rather lead to biased interpretations.
  2. News is often irrelevant to personal decision-making and may not have a significant impact on individual lives.
  3. Consuming news excessively can diminish independent thinking and hinder deep work by overwhelming with unnecessary information.

Bitcoin - A Short Primer

15 implied HN points • 01 Sep 20
  1. Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency giving users full control over their funds.
  2. Bitcoin has a limited supply of 21 million coins, protecting it from devaluation through printing more money.
  3. Bitcoin's decentralization ensures network security and stability, making it a reliable store of value for the future.

School-Think

7 implied HN points • 17 May 20
  1. Real-world problems are not as neatly defined as school problems.
  2. Always look for alternative options beyond the presented choices.
  3. Focus on what is missing and think critically about the information presented.

The Weirdness of Quantum Random Walks

7 implied HN points • 10 Apr 20
  1. Quantum mechanics is weird and counter-intuitive but has important applications like quantum computing and quantum biology.
  2. In classical random walks, probabilities follow a normal distribution while in quantum random walks, probabilities behave differently and are influenced by quantum phenomena like interference and superposition.
  3. Understanding quantum random walks and algorithms like Grover's can lead to faster and more efficient technologies in areas like data search and photosynthesis.

Mass Adoption of Bitcoin's Values

7 implied HN points • 20 Feb 20
  1. Bitcoin promotes monetary sovereignty and liberty
  2. Holding private keys is crucial for financial independence with Bitcoin
  3. Decentralization in Bitcoin ensures trust and security

No Rules For Reading Books

7 implied HN points • 16 Jan 20
  1. There is no 'right' way to read books.
  2. Ignore every rule you know about reading and find your own style.
  3. Avoid boredom when reading, focus on learning and enjoying the process.

Bitcoin’s Social Antifragility

0 implied HN points • 01 Mar 20
  1. Antifragility benefits from volatility and randomness.
  2. In a community, antifragility strengthens the collective by shedding weak links.
  3. Bitcoin's community strengthened through past attacks, making changes to its core values increasingly unlikely.

The End of Gold

0 implied HN points • 17 Jun 20
  1. The primary function of money is as a means of exchange, impacting its value as a store of value and unit of account.
  2. Gold faces challenges like divisibility and portability compared to Bitcoin, which is infinitely divisible and easily transportable.
  3. Bitcoin's properties of durability, fungibility, and verifiability make it a stronger contender for money than gold in the digital age.

Climate Change and the Risk of Stagnation

0 implied HN points • 26 Jan 20
  1. When addressing climate change, prioritize minimizing the risk of global ruin over local risks.
  2. Slowing down progress may increase the risk of future extinction by unknown causes.
  3. Consider adopting technologies like nuclear power to reduce CO² emissions without hindering progress.

Cloud Countries, without the warm glow

0 implied HN points • 22 Apr 21
  1. Starting a new country is challenging without political support or military strength.
  2. Creating a Mars colony is the most promising option for a new country but faces technological challenges.
  3. Cloud countries face issues of sovereignty, inability to defend territory, and dependency on other nations.

Stop Calling for a Free Market in Money

0 implied HN points • 29 Mar 20
  1. Having a free market in money might not guarantee successful money in all circumstances.
  2. Money should be able to thrive even under oppressive regulations to be considered good money.
  3. Bitcoin's success does not rely on convincing those in power or establishing a free market, but rather on its own merits.