Viliam_Bur comments on Things I Wish They'd Taught Me When I Was Younger: Why Money Is Awesome - Less Wrong

32 Post author: ChrisHallquist 16 January 2014 07:27AM

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Comment author: Error 16 January 2014 04:02:07PM 9 points [-]

For example, you could start giving poor people free programming lessons.

I've seen this suggestion elsewhere. I'm all in favor of it, but it kind of bugs me anyway. The assumption is that most people can learn to program (or do other forms of IT) if taught. I don't think that's the case. Programming well is hard. IT pays reasonably well because good IT people are hard to come by, and I don't think lack of access to training or facilities is the reason. Certainly not since OSS became widespread.

Any widespread solution to poverty has to work for people that don't have hacker-natures or Mensa-class IQs.

Comment author: Viliam_Bur 16 January 2014 04:45:30PM *  6 points [-]

Yeah, it's a solution of type "pick a few people who are easiest to save, and save them, ignoring the rest".

It's worse than solving the problem globally; and it's better than doing nothing -- which is what most people will do; including most of those who like to think about global solutions. It's far from optimal. It's also something that one can do as an individual -- so it can be used as a backup plan is case no better idea comes around.