Online shopping is retail but semantics… I guess the businesses that aren’t on your list are showing profits made by ghosts then.

No you don’t understand… I’ve spent the last 30 years investing in increasingly awful software companies to create “industry standards” and leaving these companies behind would require me to change and learn!!!

I’m unsure of what you’re arguing here. Walmart continues to grow, Doordash has healthy growth, McDonald’s is still growing despite price increases, subscriptions are growing, micro transactions, cbd companies… I can literally keep going. The need to scroll and consume has hit gen Z hard and despite no “disposable income” they’re somehow pushing profits up along with any other struggling person. These minor comforts are big business.

Retail consumption isn’t growing? Buddy…

What do you spend your money on? I hear this kind of thing from lots of kids and then discover that they’ve normalized spending on things like door dash and subscription services as being essential.

Do you often interact with young people?

For there to be no disposable income these corporations are somehow making money hand over fist at every level of commerce.

I work with college students and unfortunately regardless of the cause this seems to be true. Capitalism finally got its perfect consumer.

No I just know that any reasonable argument I provide won’t change anything. Proponents of AI have a similar psychological profile to religious people. Besides if you truly wanted factual information on the differences between AI and “tools” you’d look into it. You don’t.

I’m not going to bother…

You really think a calculator and generative AI are the same thing?

This is the type of reasonable that will lead us all to an AI hellscape.

Yeah we’re all cowards. I guess there’s nothing we can do! Oh well!

Why not start beating their asses or gently running them over when they’re seen? Every time we don’t act the more this cancer takes root.

Lack of empathy is pretty MAGA, bud. There’s another group that doesn’t like their label…

They’re all evil, bud. That’s my point. You’re causing harm to someone somewhere with the things you spend your money on. Folks can downvote all they want, but what I’m saying is true. Doing the least damage isn’t doing no damage.

What’s the difference in apathy and inaction?

Nothing.

Yeah this is the type of response I expected. An unserious meme potshot because that truth is too uncomfortable.

You guys are gonna lose your shit when you find out where your tax dollars are winding up… Or your phone purchase dollars… Or your electricity bill dollars…

Are you alive and spending? If the answer is yes, congratulations you cause pain and suffering.

You don’t have to ask anyone’s permission except your partner. The ring purchase should also be discussed with your partner. Tradition and capitalism are a heavy combo.

Just switch. The whole industry built around Windows is a sham and refusing to switch is the reason it’s as bad as it is. It’s capitalism 101… Prices keep going up and y’all keep buying. It’s no different in this case.

The concept is a good one. The marketing and financial backing is bad. I think an affordable ev would be a good thing, but this is America.