Lost, Universal Basic Income and a Realisation
We have been watching too much Lost. And like Fringe, Lost grows onto you. We have reached the last season. It does feel like the writers were forced to close with this season. Given a choice, though, they have content for at least another season. Of course, it is entirely possible that they already painted themselves into a corner and is impossible to keep the audience bound any longer.
Today morning, my wife and I had a long conversation on the concept of a Universal Basic Income. I find the idea very interesting. My wife disagrees. She thinks that nobody would remain innovative or productive without a strong reason. I believe otherwise. A handful of people have caused the maximum progress across time. The right people with the right resources will easily offset for the majority.
The discussion raised an important point for us in general and for me in particular. For a good portion of my adult life, I dreamt of being on my own. I have never wanted to be an employee. I always wanted to be someplace with limitless resources and time to do whatever makes sense to do. As I grew up, I figured out that dream was absurd. The real world works differently. So I decided that if I started a successful business and made money, I can do what I see fit with my time. That idea, then, shaped up as entrepreneurship.
I binge watch Netflix. Before Lost, I binged on Fringe and Mr. Robot in Prime. The only reason I didn’t complete them in one session is my job. If I didn’t have the job, then perhaps I’ll binge on science fiction all the time. She was quick to point out that I’d get bored. I have been bored quite a few times in my adult life. I have never created an Amazon or a Netflix. So I don’t see how that changes anything. I stand by my dream, though. As a kid growing up in suburban Chennai, even TV wasn’t 24x7. So all the spare time was imagined as being innovative.
That, or I have been watching way too much Lost.
