It is difficult for an ongoing business (or an investor) to go bankrupt without debt.
- Manlobbi
Stocks A to Z / Stocks B / Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A)
No. of Recommendations: 22
Not that I was ever particularly active or that anyone will care, but I’m leaving this board, and I’m sharing this only because I feel compelled to issue a warning and because I care about the long term survival of this board even if I will no longer take part.
This board is becoming a political echo chamber. Whether you realize it or not, it’s creating an environment that favors those who share a single political narrative. Opposing views are suppressed or marginalized. I already know of at least three other posters I enjoyed reading who have left because of what I would describe as “political bullying.” Sometimes it’s direct, but more often it’s subtle. It’s not every post of course. Maybe one in 20 or one in 50?
So now, another “MAGA idiot” (me) will leave. It’s a self-reinforcing cycle—each different thinker who leaves only strengthens the echo chamber, making it even more likely that the next dissenting opinion will be driven out too. Half the country votes for Trump, and when you push that group out of your life you may start to believe that everyone thinks like you. That’s one of the reasons so many people are continuously “shocked” at political developments.
I knew I would eventually have to leave when the board celebrated how “unpolitical” the “How To Invest under Authoritarian Trump” thread was. It was uncanny to see otherwise smart people trying to pass opinion for unbiased facts. I silently wondered how a similar thread on “Kamala communism” would have been received. I stuck around for another few months but lately the trend has been all too clear at least to me.
Good luck to all, and I genuinely hope your tolerance grows. To those other “different thinkers” who stick around—well done. You’re stronger than I am, I have to think about controlling my blood pressure and it has been spiking here lately. Peace.
No. of Recommendations: 1
" Good luck to all, and I genuinely hope your tolerance grows. To those other “different thinkers” who stick around—well done. You’re stronger than I am, I have to think about controlling my blood pressure and it has been spiking here lately. Peace."
Good morning, just in case I'm your only rec, 20 years ago I posted that Buffett should authorize buybacks at, material discounts to Iv, and several other suggestions to get brkb to trade at a higher premium to BV. I've been the bad boy of brkville ever since. The most obnoxious fools I ignore, others have offered value over the decades. I doubt it's fair to ask Manlobbi to be the board policeman. Several very sharp old timers agree with you, they refuse to post or left the brkb board. IF it bugs you, happy healthy new year to you and yours, I get many good laughs from the lightweights, especially on the US policy board. Take care, hc.
No. of Recommendations: 10
I silently wondered how a similar thread on “Kamala communism” would have been received.
You have my sympathy. Your post reminds me on the German media (all "reputable" papers, from "DER SPIEGEL" over "FAZ" to "Die Welt" etc.) which lately were outraged and uniformly called it a "Scandalous interference of a Billionaire in the internal affairs of another country" when Musk said "Only the AFD [our most right wing party] can save Germany" --- leaving me wondering whether the same papers would have been simply silent or would have even applauded had the same Billionaire said the same about the Green Party.
Not that I was ever particularly active or that anyone will care
I do care. I hate to see you leaving. I appreciated your posts plus, as you say, as more not mainstream voices are leaving a building as more uniform and mainstream it becomes. Very sad.
No. of Recommendations: 73
My impression has been the opposite, namely that Manlobbi has done a great job of creating a forum without the heavy moderation that is often found elsewhere.
No public censor, no algorithm, etc. I for one am pleased, and simply ignore the overtly political posts.
No. of Recommendations: 16
“My impression has been the opposite, namely that Manlobbi has done a great job of creating a forum without the heavy moderation that is often found elsewhere.
No public censor, no algorithm, etc. I for one am pleased, and simply ignore the overtly political posts.”
This! Great post.
I recently had a thread locked at Bogleheads, probably because it had “bubble” in the title, which was simply the title of the Marks’ memo. Moderation there is heavy handed and subjective with no appeal. Manlobbi has created a great thing here.
No. of Recommendations: 26
I don't agree with your critique of the board. If a poster really bothers you, put that poster on Ignore.
Onward and upward!
No. of Recommendations: 62
I’m sharing this only because I care about the long term survival of this board even if I will no longer take part.
Thank you. Not only I, but most other readers here, are grateful for your openness.
Not that I was ever particularly active or that anyone will care, but I’m leaving this board, and I’m sharing this only because I feel compelled to issue a warning and because I care about the long term survival of this board even if I will no longer take part.
You have a 6-Shrewdness level which is very high, showing that the audience value your posts, and with that rating here is admirable. Keep posting, people love you here.
This board is becoming a political echo chamber. Whether you realize it or not, it’s creating an environment that favors those who share a single political narrative. Opposing views are suppressed or marginalized. I already know of at least three other posters I enjoyed reading who have left because of what I would describe as “political bullying.” Sometimes it’s direct, but more often it’s subtle. It’s not every post of course. Maybe one in 20 or one in 50?
For Dagdom and others when irritated:
For authors that are offending you, please don't pay any attention. This is not only your self-protection, but also your secret weapon. The crucial thing to remember is that you have no obligation to defend yourself when insulted (unwittingly or deliberately - and it is amazing how often it is unwittingly even when we take personally). When insulted by what seems a petty insinuation, all other readers paying attention will anyway see through it as well as you do, and it will have absolutely no change in their respect towards you. If your "blood is boiling", it is hard but you can learn to self-regulate and not care - this will be an incredibly useful tool that can be developed here and then taken into other aspects of life. (I'll refer to my personal experience: I used to get really irritated 15 years or so ago with certain posters at TMF, especially when they 'stick' to you and keep pressing on something, but eventually realized how to self-regulate and not care. This took a new level of maturity, and what is great that it was incredibly useful to bring out of (what is now Shrewd'm) into other aspects of my life where I have public relations, occasional false articles, etc. These forums actually helped me develop in this way, which saved a lot of - what would have been - wasted energy.) So one interpretation of being irratated by someone at Shrewed'm is to use it as a training technique to not care, given you are anonymous here, and being able to use that new skill developed here, for 'real life' situations later on. Shrewd'm psychological toughness training.
Place them on ignore by clicking the unhappy face against their post. If we think about it, people with views contrary to oneself are all around us, and we don't walk through streets in fear, as we don't hear their views, and if a random person even insults us but we are pretty certain it is without merit, we can just laugh.
For those who can't help adding in political references:
Please keep politics off this board, and if politics are mentioned at all in some context then make extremely sure that there is no ego or bullying psychology involved at all. For non-political ideas, attack ideas but not people. For political ideas, don't post here full stop. You value the posters you are accidentally offend with political insinuations, they will disappear, and even at a personal level you'll be losing out.
Any subject relating to Democrats or Republicans or their policies at Shrewd'm should only be at the US Policy board. The culture on that board will over time develop also in a positive way such that authors with opposite views can learn to respect each other (with opposite political alignments) and have normal engaged pleasant discussions. This is how the US public behaved as recently as the 1980s and more so certainly earlier.
- Manlobbi
No. of Recommendations: 10
Is it possible to agree with every post in this thread, including the ones by Manlobbi?
Because I do agree with all the points.
Slowly..over time..the board HAS become increasingly political. Not overtly, but you can feel the creep. Sure, you can ignore it, And, yes, the truly crazy threads are easy to ignore. Yes, you also need to learn to regulate the blood pressure raising reactions. And, yes, blatantly political threads are banned.
All spot on.
The original post issues a warning of “caution”. I agree with him. Now, I don’t think it’s a real problem now—but I think that warning is prophetic. And he’s generous in sharing his words rather than just vanishing.
There’s a sort of unspoken, often political, undertone to discussion. It’s almost a byproduct of a couple of super smart, high volume contributors. It’s the “way they are” and by extension “the way smart people are”. The political thing is NOT any agenda-pushing effort AT ALL. It’s just: “that’s the way the smart people here think”.
If you want to pull up a seat to this bar, you’re not going to feel real comfortable if you think a certain way. The bartender is friendly, welcomes ALL, is polite, and openly encourages free speech…but..I’ve been at a seat at this bar where I felt quite uncomfortable and under passive aggressive, pile on attack from a very on topic Berkshire issue that had political ramifications. I’ve limited my contributions since. It’s a fantastic place but if left completely unregulated it will follow the inevitable path of all of its once-superb predecessors that ran into the ground. It’s the way these places evolve. And it’s human nature.
No. of Recommendations: 9
Interesting "keep political posts out" thread that is obviously intensely political. If we are going to chant non political? Well then make the comments non political.
No. of Recommendations: 4
Define political.
The Gates Foundation will own the single largest block of Berkshire Hathaway post WEB passing and is/was WEB's closest friend in life. The aforementioned certainly have reputational links and risks. Moreover, WEB has emphasized the importance of reputation forever and emphasize at every annual meeting with the classic Solomon Brothers Congressional testimony.
But if one suggests Gates is in DEEP trouble due to his ties to Epstein and the Covid vaccines, it is labeled and POLITICAL and one is derided and told to ignore.
History will be the final arbiter and I sense truth is forthcoming very soon.
No. of Recommendations: 19
The Gates Foundation will own the single largest block of Berkshire Hathaway post WEB passing
I don’t think this is true. The Gates foundation is selling BRK.B all the time and will not receive any shares when Warren passes or afterwards. The stock they do have is not high voting A shares.
Warren’s children will run a foundation together that has the largest voting block of Berkshire stock - as they disperse funds the shares will be converted to B-shares.
I’m in Mexico on shitty Wi-Fi so I can’t look up exact figures. If Gates is so important to you, stay up to date on his involvement with Berkshire.
No. of Recommendations: 1
" The Gates Foundation will own the single largest block of Berkshire Hathaway post WEB passing and is/was WEB's closest friend in life. "
The Gates F will get nothing once Buffett passes and it's fair to say Buffett has been disappointed with Bill for several reasons, to be kind.
No. of Recommendations: 2
Well, ORIGINALLY it was all supposed to go to Gates Foundation but it was SUDDENLY amended. Kind of like Gates ABRUPT resignations from boards of BRK and MSFT and Melinda's QUICK filing for divorce.
Connecting the dots on the POTENTIAL damage is political.
No. of Recommendations: 6
Yes agree 100%!
Also...Can Trumps new administration (Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Howard Lutnick, Linda McMahon, Scott Bessent, David Sacks, and Dr. Oz) take America back from the out-of-touch elites?
And...is anyone else going all in on Trumps new meme coin $TRUMP? Or is it just another an unethical grift, like the sneakers and the bibles, and the coins and the boots, and the stock (DJT)
and the hoodies and the shot glasses and the knives and the coffee and the flags and the throw blanket and the cologne and the golf clubs and the pickleball rackets and the socks, etc etc?
TIA
https://www.trumpstore.comhttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9vmym2jvy9o
No. of Recommendations: 13
The Gates Foundation will own the single largest block of Berkshire Hathaway post WEB passing and is/was WEB's closest friend in life.
Neither of these statements are even remotely true. As discussed on this board in a fair bit of detail, Buffet has stopped granted shares to the Gates Foundation and upon his death his remaining shares will go to a foundation run by his children.
According to the 13F, the Gates Foundation owns about 22 million B shares, which is a lot. But it is a tiny number compared to Vanguard, Blackrock, etc. As a SWAG the Gates Foundation might not even be in the top ten largest shareholders. And of course, B shares are non-voting.
Also as discussed on this board, Gates and Buffet have had some sort of falling out in recent years. We don't know what their relationship is, but they don't seem to be close at the moment.
But if one suggests Gates is in DEEP trouble due to his ties to Epstein and the Covid vaccines, it is labeled and POLITICAL and one is derided and told to ignore.
That's not true either. You can for yourself from your own post history that it isn't true.
History will be the final arbiter and I sense truth is forthcoming very soon.
Truth would be quite refreshing.
No. of Recommendations: 0
"Also as discussed on this board, Gates and Buffet have had some sort of falling out in recent years. We don't know what their relationship is, but they don't seem to be close at the moment."
WHY IS THAT?
No. of Recommendations: 4
WHY IS THAT?
I don't know, and neither do you.
No. of Recommendations: 3
No but I can think and analyze.
Let's examine facts:
1). Bill Gates abruptly resigned from boards of MSFT and Berkshire.
2). Melinda Gates files for divorce and sites Epstein ties.
3). Bill Gates repeatedly met with Epstein and travelled to Epstein Island.
4). Bill Gates massive ties to Fauci, NIH, vaccines and pre-pandemic planning event.
5). Bill Gates admits "it was a mistake having dinner with Epstein".
6). WEB abruptly distances himself from Gates and changes BRKA gifting.
IS THIS POLITICAL? IS IT NOT TRUE WEB IS CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH GATES and that can impact reputation of Buffett and therefore, Berkshire itself? *Who will retain the greatest VOTING block post WEB's passing?
No. of Recommendations: 0
“ Class B shares carry correspondingly lower voting rights as well. Class B shares now carry 1/10,000th of the voting power of Class A shares. “ Cranky Kojak, if Buffett holds the next annual meeting on Epstein Island and he allows R Kelly to cater it, would that help to solve this mystery?
No. of Recommendations: 7
Am a bit late to this thread. But perhaps it would be
appropriate to note that this is NOT the "A Clockwork Orange"
board:
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=a+clockwork+orange+eyes+...No one is being forced to keep their eyes glued to the screen
and read every post.
At least not yet.
vez
No. of Recommendations: 6
So now, another “MAGA idiot” (me) will leave.
I thought the non-MAGA were supposed to be the snowflakes. Live and learn.
I knew I would eventually have to leave when the board celebrated how “unpolitical” the “How To Invest under Authoritarian Trump” thread was.
You wouldn't rather stick around staying fully invested so you could say "I told you so" in a year or so?
***
Of course, do what brings you peace. I suppose I am blessed to know so many people on both sides that I can still talk to, I realize that is not a skill that the whole country has developed yet.
R:)
