The long read: From the generic hipster cafe to the ‘Instagram wall’, the internet has pushed us towards a kind of global ubiquity – and this phenomenon is only going to intensify
I haven’t been to the NFL, but friends took me to a baseball game while i’s there. It was a Mariners game, very fun night. But i felt the pressure to spend on everything as soon as you walked in, it felt like the stadium was incompetition against each specatator over the contents of your wallet.
Luigi Zingales, a Chicago University Economist, recently did a Q&A where he talked about the two meanings of competition that the English language roles into the one word, that of competitions to defeat an opponent, and competitions creating something in kind. There are parts of the community that have opted for the first definition and act in all times against their opponents, as you say “weaponized greed”. What they don’t realise is what makes the market a force for good is acting with competitors, following the second defintion.
A good example is the downtown nightlife district of a city. Alone those bars and eateries might be nice establishments, but if they’re the only option in town their product offering can become stale, but together in competition with each other they act to collectively create this fantastic and flexible destination for a night out.
As for hostile public spaces the same happens here l, in Australia, so so much. I even have to catch myself and correct my preconceived notions when i see someone laying in a park. I suppose the only difference is the economic interests are more evenly weighted, due to no detroit-like lobbyists.
Another weird thing that’s happened in recent NFL games…fans have been asked to help shovel snow out of the stadiums.
I honestly don’t know what I think about that. I’m sure the underpaid and overworked stadium staff appreciates the help. It’s a massive job.
On the other hand, it reminds me that these pro teams are always expecting subsidies of various types from the taxpayers and local communities, while vacuuming up almost all of the money to the pockets of the owners.
Wow. That takes self serve to whole other level. I get the stadiums are big, but that kind of request needs to come with consideration, even reduced ticket prices could do the teick if they’re asking fans.
Or yeah, they could just pay fair value for services rendered, i know alien concept isn’t it! Lol
I imagine the fan reactions are all over the place. Some of them probably think it’s fun and enjoy the sense of community they get from doing it shoulder-to-shoulder with other fans. Sort of like tailgating with extra sweat. And there’s nothing wrong with that. I have also learned that at least some of the stadiums are paying the fans, too. Something like $20/hour. So not as dystopian as I first thought.
Yeah theres that comradery. “Tailgating with more sweat” thats such a vivid description lol! You need to be on these guys marketing team with lines like that.
$20/hour is actually a fairly reasonable hourly rate for the US isn’t it. I’m just going off min wage being $15 in a lot of States now
Don’t get me wrong I have a lot of problems with the NFL, NFL owners, and stadium projects. I just didn’t feel right punching down on these fans if they are enjoying it and making some money doing it.
Yeah no, of course. I understand. For me it’s a problem i never considered with all those stadiums. The worst the ones over here would get is like hail once a year, or a precipitation of Queenslanders every so often ;p
I haven’t been to the NFL, but friends took me to a baseball game while i’s there. It was a Mariners game, very fun night. But i felt the pressure to spend on everything as soon as you walked in, it felt like the stadium was incompetition against each specatator over the contents of your wallet.
Luigi Zingales, a Chicago University Economist, recently did a Q&A where he talked about the two meanings of competition that the English language roles into the one word, that of competitions to defeat an opponent, and competitions creating something in kind. There are parts of the community that have opted for the first definition and act in all times against their opponents, as you say “weaponized greed”. What they don’t realise is what makes the market a force for good is acting with competitors, following the second defintion.
A good example is the downtown nightlife district of a city. Alone those bars and eateries might be nice establishments, but if they’re the only option in town their product offering can become stale, but together in competition with each other they act to collectively create this fantastic and flexible destination for a night out.
As for hostile public spaces the same happens here l, in Australia, so so much. I even have to catch myself and correct my preconceived notions when i see someone laying in a park. I suppose the only difference is the economic interests are more evenly weighted, due to no detroit-like lobbyists.
Another weird thing that’s happened in recent NFL games…fans have been asked to help shovel snow out of the stadiums.
I honestly don’t know what I think about that. I’m sure the underpaid and overworked stadium staff appreciates the help. It’s a massive job.
On the other hand, it reminds me that these pro teams are always expecting subsidies of various types from the taxpayers and local communities, while vacuuming up almost all of the money to the pockets of the owners.
Wow. That takes self serve to whole other level. I get the stadiums are big, but that kind of request needs to come with consideration, even reduced ticket prices could do the teick if they’re asking fans.
Or yeah, they could just pay fair value for services rendered, i know alien concept isn’t it! Lol
Are attendees going along with it?
I imagine the fan reactions are all over the place. Some of them probably think it’s fun and enjoy the sense of community they get from doing it shoulder-to-shoulder with other fans. Sort of like tailgating with extra sweat. And there’s nothing wrong with that. I have also learned that at least some of the stadiums are paying the fans, too. Something like $20/hour. So not as dystopian as I first thought.
Yeah theres that comradery. “Tailgating with more sweat” thats such a vivid description lol! You need to be on these guys marketing team with lines like that.
$20/hour is actually a fairly reasonable hourly rate for the US isn’t it. I’m just going off min wage being $15 in a lot of States now
Don’t get me wrong I have a lot of problems with the NFL, NFL owners, and stadium projects. I just didn’t feel right punching down on these fans if they are enjoying it and making some money doing it.
Yeah no, of course. I understand. For me it’s a problem i never considered with all those stadiums. The worst the ones over here would get is like hail once a year, or a precipitation of Queenslanders every so often ;p