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#introspection

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Martin Rundkvist

I have this strange feeling of accomplishment and self-confidence and uncertainty. I'm 52. The kids are grown and out of the house. I have a huge list of publications and a certificate that I'm fully qualified to get hired as a professor in the German sense of the word. And I have no job after the end of this month. My only appointments for March are a movie ticket and two visits to the dentist.

#introspection
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Martin Rundkvist

A July 2016 podcast: two show hosts explain that role-playing games were important for them to connect with people despite shyness and social awkwardness. I don't recognise this in myself. Briefly, I am socially fearless and extremely easily bored by conversation. I love shared activities such as playing games, but I can't stand sitting around and just talking. Particularly when alcohol is involved.

blasphemoustomes.com/2016/07/1

Blasphemous Tomes · The Appeal of Roleplaying Games - Blasphemous TomesWe’re back, and we’re looking at the dice clutched in our hands, asking “why?” Seriously, sitting around a table with people you like while everyone pretends to be someone else sounds pretty weird. And yet, for many,...
#introspection#ttrpg#podcasts
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Persona Non Grata

I'm trying to live an examined life. I've been taking a look at a lot of the things people did to upset or abuse me and writing about it. But at the same time, I appreciate the cycle that I played into.
Short story is that I've made mistakes and rather than pointing my finger I'm trying to make sense of my motivations, my biases, my actions through the years. It's not a pretty picture, but it gives me a better path forward.
I've broken cycles in my life, and I'm looking for more.

#introspection
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Simon Lucy

Far too many intimations of mortality this morning, Michael Mosley, now Alan Hansen;67, 68 respectively and I'm 68.

Yes this is entirely introspective but this is social media and entirely about introspection and Me, Me, Me.

Anyway I hope Alan Hansen improves and his withering scorn is still missed, and Michael Mosley is more than an English man going out in the midday sun (and born in India).

#Mortality#Introspection
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Terence Eden

🆕 blog! “Is it rude to make a profit from your friends?”

You're in a restaurant with a group of friends. The waiter won't let you split the bill, so you offer to pay for it on your card and have your friends send you their share. How much would you charge them for that service? That sounds absurd, right? OK, you might agree to split the […]

👀 Read more: shkspr.mobi/blog/2024/05/is-it
⸻
#business #introspection

Terence Eden’s BlogIs it rude to make a profit from your friends?
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Terence Eden’s Blog

Is it rude to make a profit from your friends?
https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2024/05/is-it-rude-to-make-a-profit-from-your-friends/

You're in a restaurant with a group of friends. The waiter won't let you split the bill, so you offer to pay for it on your card and have your friends send you their share. How much would you charge them for that service?

That sounds absurd, right? OK, you might agree to split the bill evenly and maybe come out one drink in profit - but it's still a bit of a social faux pas to deliberately make money off your mates.

Recently, I was asked if I'd like to run a market stall at a geek event. There would be a bunch of traders there, and I could have a little pitch where I could sell the various gadgets, trinkets, and bits of art I've made over the years.

But the whole thing weirded me out and I'm trying to understand why.

Everything I could make and sell would involve me buying stuff at wholesale price and selling retail price. Like, I get that's the way commerce works, but it also feels kind of… I don't know how to explain. Rude?

If I buy 100 things at £10ea, assume I only sell 75% of them, plus VAT, plus credit card charges, then I have to sell for £16.50ea just to break even.

That doesn't account for my time spent buying them. Nor does it include dealing with returns, breakages, or any other expenses. I also need to pay corporation tax on my profits.

Speaking of which, that £16.50 above doesn't include any profit! If I wanted to make the enterprise worthwhile, I'd probably need to charge at least double the wholesale cost - which would probably reduce the number of people buying.

Last time I did anything like this, I used pre-orders to reduce my risk and reduce the cost - but I'm not sure how many people would pre-order something to pick up several weeks later at an event.

I've loved all the weird things I've purchased at hackspaces and conferences. And certainly I don't feel ripped off by the merchants. I can't wait to buy my friends' art, books, and gadgets. But it feels weird when it is me doing it.

I guess one issue is that this isn't my main source of income. I'm gainfully employed - so any extra income from selling stuff would really be in the category of fun money. Don't get me wrong, more money is always useful, but this would be a lot of effort for a relatively small amount of money, all of which I don't really need.

Also, and I realise this is my problem, I don't see my time and expertise as valuable in that way. I'd much rather show you how to build a thing, or blog the instructions, or help you understand how something works.

Finally, I think I feel this way because I see all the people I meet as friends. If we're at a weird hacker event, there's a good chance we have something in common and I'd be delighted to share a pint with you.

Does anyone else feel this way? Do you happily make fat stacks of cash from your peers? Am I just weird and neurotic? Let me know in the comment box. It's free.

https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2024/05/is-it-rude-to-make-a-profit-from-your-friends/

Terence Eden’s BlogIs it rude to make a profit from your friends?
#business#introspection
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