RavenBlog
Black:  ravenblack.net | me | games | books | email | wishlist | rss
Blogs:  Angryblog | As Above | MonkyBlog | Nightshade | Journals
Blimey:  SomethingAwful | Advice
Archives: Last 4 Days | June2001 | July2001 | August2001 | September2001 | October2001 | November2001 | December2001 | January2002 | February2002 | March2002 | April2002 | May2002 | June2002 | July2002 | August2002 | September2002 | October2002 | November2002 | December2002 | January2003 | February2003 | March2003 | April2003 | May2003 | June2003 | July2003 | August2003 | September2003 | October2003 | November2003 | December2003 | January2004 | February2004 | March2004 | April2004 | May2004 | June2004 | July2004 | August2004 | September2004 | October2004 | November2004 | December2004 | January2005 | February2005 | March2005 | April2005 | May2005 | June2005 | July2005 | August2005 | September2005 | October2005 | November2005 | January2006 | February2006 | March2006 | April2006 | May2006 | June2006 | July2006 | August2006 | September2006 | October2006 | November2006 | December2006 | January2007 | February2007 | March2007 | April2007 | May2007 | June2007 | July2007 | August2007 | September2007 | October2007 | November2007 | December2007 | January2008 | February2008 | March2008 | April2008 | May2008 | June2008 | July2008 | August2008 | September2008 | October2008 | November2008 | December2008 | January2009 | March2009 | April2009 | May2009 | July2009 | August2009 | September2009 | February2010 | March2010 | June2010 | July2010 | August2010 | September2010 | October2010 | November2010 | December2010 | February2011 | March2011 | April2011 | May2011 | June2011 | July2011 | August2011 | September2011 | October2011 | December2011 | March2012 | April2012 | May2012 | September2012 | December2012 | March2013 | April2013 | May2013 | June2013 | October2021


Comments on Sunday 10 November 2002:
The foolish views that make the Free State Project seem even less appealing and more flawed than I thought, part two (from a more representative voice): "I expect at least 15,000 to come through" - speaking in response to my suggestion that 20,000 people signed up doesn't mean anywhere near that many who will follow through.

His statement is based on a belief that libertarians tend to be bound by their 'word of honour'. Even assuming that to be true (which I don't), the suggestion is still flawed, because it's based on the assumption that the 20,000 sign-ups will be libertarians, rather than, as I suspect, more like 15,000 of them being people who just think 'ooh, that sounds neat'.

We all know some people, right? Now, of those people you know, how many have said "I hate my job; if they don't start treating me better I'll quit"? How many have said they'll break up with their partner? How many have said they'll move out of their parents' basement? How many people do you know who have said things like this and not followed through when their stated conditions have been met?

When I finished writing Revelations, I put three chapters online followed by a short survey, including the question "would you buy this book for $10?" Before I had the book printed, I had over 200 email addresses who had said yes, they would buy the book if it were $10. After I had the book printed, a mere one month later, I emailed those 200 addresses. About 20 of them bought the book.

A mailing list I am on has occasional projects. Whenever a project starts, interested volunteers are asked for. Ten to twenty people will state interest. When it comes to working the project (and it's never anything really difficult, or requiring much time) no more than three people act. Ever.

This 10-15% is about the level of commitment I expect from people 'giving their word'. Expecting 50% would be insanely optimistic. 75% is so utterly unrealistic that I am inclined towards giving up on the whole idea, on the basis that the proponents don't have a clue about people - and they're relying on people for their project to succeed. [04:26]

Lenny
yeah... about the book. I really liked those 3 chapters and I want to buy a copy, but I'm a college student. Maybe I'll be able to spare $10 sometime without starving b/c of the loss.

QuickSlash
I did buy the book, and read it. Was very good.

I think that the FreeState thing is a good idea that's being poorly implemented. I, of course, could do no better, but I wouldn't be trying. Futile, if you ask me.
Add Comment:
Name:Comment: (max. 2048 characters)
Email:
Show Email: (if no website)
Website:
No HTML tags allowed.
(Antispam) What is 22 + 27?
Archives: Last 4 Days | June2001 | July2001 | August2001 | September2001 | October2001 | November2001 | December2001 | January2002 | February2002 | March2002 | April2002 | May2002 | June2002 | July2002 | August2002 | September2002 | October2002 | November2002 | December2002 | January2003 | February2003 | March2003 | April2003 | May2003 | June2003 | July2003 | August2003 | September2003 | October2003 | November2003 | December2003 | January2004 | February2004 | March2004 | April2004 | May2004 | June2004 | July2004 | August2004 | September2004 | October2004 | November2004 | December2004 | January2005 | February2005 | March2005 | April2005 | May2005 | June2005 | July2005 | August2005 | September2005 | October2005 | November2005 | January2006 | February2006 | March2006 | April2006 | May2006 | June2006 | July2006 | August2006 | September2006 | October2006 | November2006 | December2006 | January2007 | February2007 | March2007 | April2007 | May2007 | June2007 | July2007 | August2007 | September2007 | October2007 | November2007 | December2007 | January2008 | February2008 | March2008 | April2008 | May2008 | June2008 | July2008 | August2008 | September2008 | October2008 | November2008 | December2008 | January2009 | March2009 | April2009 | May2009 | July2009 | August2009 | September2009 | February2010 | March2010 | June2010 | July2010 | August2010 | September2010 | October2010 | November2010 | December2010 | February2011 | March2011 | April2011 | May2011 | June2011 | July2011 | August2011 | September2011 | October2011 | December2011 | March2012 | April2012 | May2012 | September2012 | December2012 | March2013 | April2013 | May2013 | June2013 | October2021