End of the World (Or Maybe Not) Party

STILL ALIVE! In fact I am ecstatic this morning. The last debate was hurdled by man Barack and all is smooth sailing into the election. The indian summer weather is cheering my soul and my house is nearly ready for me to occupy. So yes, it is October 16th and I feel fine.

But really the point of all of this for me, as stated previously, is that through thick or thin we need to stick together and keep our neighborhoods and communities strong. Gatherings like tonight's will probably be even more necessary than ever if things go downhill economically as they appear to be doing. As somebody not connected in any way to financial services, I must say that my take on the state of the economy vis a vis Brooklyn is more nuanced than many. I know we are in for hard times but I also know that there are so many amazing people living in Brooklyn that we will survive and thrive.

Posted by: wasder at October 16, 2008 11:30 AM

7andFive--do you think that the What would be a more effective spokesman for the economic apocalypse if he/she could uncouple their predictions from simplistic, reductionist sociological analyses? I for one think so. I have given props where props were do in re seeing ahead to the collapse of the investment banking industry but certainly hanging this development on the readers of this blog is stupid and beyond defense, no?

Posted by: wasder at October 16, 2008 11:39 AM

Man, that's my second nomination for Borough President. If Marty Markowitz were not my Facebook friend (he really is) then I might throw my hat in the ring. Doesn't being a total pothead disqualify me from higher office though?

Posted by: wasder at October 16, 2008 11:41 AM

C'mon Montrose. You can find a top hat somewhere at a costume shop. I have one here at my office if you want it.

Posted by: wasder at October 16, 2008 11:54 AM

What about the fact that Marty is on my friend list on Facebook? That would be pretty low to take his job, no?

Posted by: wasder at October 16, 2008 11:56 AM

DOW--if you are not The What, perhaps you can speak for your wing of the blog here (the everything can be reduced to economics wing of the blog) and explain to me why why WHY everything has to revolve around stocks and banks and property values. Everything you write is about this. Brownstoner for me is a place to discuss a wide variety of "living in Brooklyn" issues. How is it that your worldview has been reduced to your narrow focus? Given the way you align yourself with What and given the fact that What doesn't answer questions put to him I will take your answer as at least partially in line with his theoretical answer. (I did enjoy your youtube clip though--definitely lessons to be learned).

But really, don't you (or What) have anything else going on in your life? Or do you really reduce everything to stock and real estate values?

Posted by: wasder at October 16, 2008 1:40 PM

7andFive--you didn't answer my question above. Any thoughts?

Posted by: wasder at October 16, 2008 1:41 PM

"No Biff not the Homo Rope Line Dance.."

this kind of thing totally invalidates anything else What has to say in my estimation. How much more effective a doomsayer would you be if you could stick to the subject and be respectful What? You unfortunately only make yourself look like a chump with this kind of thing.

Posted by: wasder at October 16, 2008 1:43 PM

Sounds like he is coming pitbull.

Posted by: wasder at October 16, 2008 2:13 PM

7andFive--sorry I must have missed your earlier response.

cobblehiller--there are definitely shades of grey, something I have tried to point out many times in re What's reductionist rantings. I should have been more careful in my wording perhaps as I am not trying to get people to choose sides so much as look at the sum total of what What says and see his social theorizing as the ridiculous bullshit it is. I very much respect your ability to appreciate the What on his predictive level but I suspect you must agree with me that there is much more to life than what he writes about, and certainly more to people than the value of their houses or stock portfolios. DOW8000 is an especially heinous poster in that he seems to go out of his way to goad and twist the knife and I was trying to get him to articulate what else he cares about in life.

Posted by: wasder at October 16, 2008 2:39 PM

"The world has not come to an end but out way of life has......"

My way of life has not come to an end and there aren't too many circumstances that would make it come to an end. My way of life is about living in Brooklyn and raising my kids and seeing my friends. Nothing that happens in the economy will change that.

And 7andFive--I don't think you answered my question. Insulting, threatening and demeaning is not "lack of social skills" it is psychopathic, dehumanizing vileness. Don't excuse this behavior because he made some good predictions. I will continue to comment that it is obvious that What was quite insightful about the banking system but this in no way excuses or invalidates the way that he has used this information to threaten and demean other readers on this blog. comment about that if you will.

Posted by: wasder at October 16, 2008 2:54 PM

DOW--thank you, sincerely. It makes me feel better about you to know something about your life. It is doubtful that you and I would have too much in common if we met socially (although beautiful baby daughter, great marriage and satisfying career sound familiar) but I truly appreciate that you took the opportunity to expound a little about something other than how fucked we all are.

At the same time this statement ("Everybody just partying away, oblivious about what's to come") is just not true. There are very few people here (sebb excluded) who are not cognizant of the problems we face. But what can any of us do about it? I can't fix the credit markets, I can't get competent people into regulatory jobs, etc. But I can be a good neighbor, an interested friend, and somebody who is interesting to talk to. These things I can control. The point of the party is not to deny the problems but to celebrate the fact that despite everything here we are on October 16, 2008 able to enjoy ourselves and each other's company. What is there to do but laugh when somebody like the What suggests that somehow I am to blame for this problem. I do hope you can come.

As for me, yes I spend a lot of time here because I feel like I have tapped into a community of people who are worth knowing. I am self employed and work in a field where I have very intense work for a few days (and then you don't see me here) or very mellow periods (where you see me here constantly).

And really, thanks for writing what you did. I know longer think you are such a heinous freak.

Posted by: wasder at October 16, 2008 3:09 PM

cobblehiller--I will see you tonight. I have a feeling we will have a good conversation about this. I am not a concern fascist if that is what you fear. I really do see things in shades of grey, almost exclusively in fact, so I am sorry that I came across as so dogmatic. As you will see I have complimented and appreciated DOW's response to my post and have removed the "especially heinous" tag from my estimation of him.

Posted by: wasder at October 16, 2008 3:13 PM

DOW--right on. I may well be underwasder at some point and I will have to deal with that. I don't think so because I bought a cheap house (comparatively speaking of course) for Clinton Hill but I am certainly not under the impression that it would be impossible for the value to drop so much as to be underwater. And yes, something bad is going down, but I maintain that the only thing I can do constructively is participate in my community.

I also wish you no harm. Now, lets get back to being mildly antagonistic, but still respectful, internet opponents. HAha

Posted by: wasder at October 16, 2008 3:55 PM