RE: Does a Thing Have Value Just Because We SAY it Does?
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Value is a manmade construct so not only does a thing have value because we say it has value, but also a thing can't have value unless we say it does. If someone is on a deserted island: nothing has value. Price, value, and money only exist as a network between large groups of people that don't necessarily trust each other. Without the network they don't exist.
Presenting something that isn't actually a resource as a resource and saying it has value doesn't actually give it value.
Who decides what is and is not a "resource"?
This is a slippery slope because now I can use it to claim that things like art don't have value. Art has no practical value so therefore it must be worthless. Right? Because feelings and emotional states are worthless. Everyone should just be a robot otherwise they're wasting resources.
In the context of crypto sure we'd all like to say that meme-coins don't have value. But to say that is also to deny the emotions that surround the shitcoin casino and the value of experimenting with cutting edge tech in weird and potentially stupid ways. There are plenty of inventions that were created completely by accident, and that never happens if we don't color outside the lines.
Without a doubt, we have to be willing to color outside the lines... in fact, there are many cases where "the lines" make no sense, at all.
When I'm on that deserted island and hungry, a wild pig suddenly has value because I'm hungry. If I'm not hungry, perhaps it has value as a pet/companion. The whole thing is rather, nebulous, to be sure.
There are some interesting dichotomies in the whole experience, though! I agree that things like art, entertainment and feelings do have a value of sorts — to me — but the even if the consensus-ish opinion of the aggregate human experience is that they don't, to a great degree. People will pay you for gold and diamonds, but be very reluctant to pay for art and... feelings. And yet all of these are driven by a feeling component... ego and FOMO.
Just interesting thoughts to bat around!