from one perspective this is silly because those people should just be investing in index funds; but that's also the perspective that says they should never actually be spending anything
The guy just doesn't look coherent. In particular, no, that is NOT "also the perspective", these are two different unconnected things.
more like a more than averagely productive sort of consumption.
More word salad. What in the world is "averagely productive sort of consumption"?
I think classifying all this under "marketing nonsense" is much more productive.
these are two different unconnected things
My mental model of the author says: no, they are not unconnected things; the perspective you need to adopt to lead to the conclusion that it's terribly wrong to invest in ways that don't maximize (something like) your expected long-term wealth, even if you find doing so more satisfying and enjoyable than just dumping your money into index-funds, is a sort of straw-Vulcan one that cares only about long-term wealth maximization, and from that perspective all "consumption" just leaves you poorer in the lo...
Another month, another rationality quotes thread. The rules are: