july

Fatter tails on upside outcomes via Internet distribution implies quantity of reps matter more than quality

Quantity of reps going up implies median quality of rep going down, but it also implies improved quality of rep through repeated practice

Where is the free market of human activity going to lead us?

weird internet kid. helping Creators with /seemore. yapping on /okbanger. curating in /creators and /cameron. dev + veteran + HBS. 
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what does "free market of human activity" mean exactly

founder /openventures | /proxyswap | tokenbot @clanker

left it open ended bc I genuinely think this logic applies to basically any human endeavor today

but if I had to define it I’d say something like

“any approximately meritocratic industry, social group, or subculture that is influenced by modern technocapitalist incentive structures”

I agree about quantity of reps mattering, but have little faith that most industries or groups that consider themselves meritocracies are actually meritocratic. 

we have a long way to go, crypto and even more so tech rely on credentialism, insular networks + superficial indicators of prestige > talent, contributions

But we already see a ton of pre-existing industries forced to acknowledge more and more winners selected by the “free market of human activity” a la internet distro

Standup comedy
Music
Writing

Even if we hate our algorithmic overlords and the proxy is imperfect, it’s a pretty bad time to stan Gatekeeping haha

I'm not sure I agree, industries acknowledge virality, but they seem pretty happy to own the platforms. Has the quality of music, standup comedy or writing improved with internet distribution? Is it easier for musicians, comics, or writers to sustain careers purely based on their talent?

I think emphatically yes to all 3 for both questions actually

If you disagree, I def recommend spending some time comparing today’s top quartile content to 2010 era of media

Craftsmanship/creativity are broadly up on all fronts imo - competitive intraniche pressure is forcing all to improve their game every day

Respectfully, you can find rising creators in all of these categories today that didn’t have to play clubs or write copy for a decade before they got a shot

I’d even argue the “default” path is now pure content distro

That’s a HUGE shift of power to creators (whether vets enjoy the new path is a diff convo)

big difference between improving your craft and getting more reach, views, or monetizing those views. 

I know a ton of comics, musicians, & writers who have successful careers doing what they are good at, doubt that most of them would agree that any of these industries have become more meritocratic post 2010