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Author: Tejretics

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Tejretics
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Hi! I’m Tejretics. I joined DDO in 2015, and DART in 2018. I was this site’s first Voting Moderator, and was on the DDO Hall of Fame. I’m currently a college student in the United States studying math and economics, and am from India. I’ve got a fair bit of experience doing formal parliamentary debate, and care a lot about effective animal advocacy and international development. Ask me anything!

Some things I can talk about:

  • My thoughts on trends in modern competitive debate 
  • Any of my political views
  • Anything about India
  • My honest opinion of you, if I have one 
That’s a non-exhaustive list!


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@Tejretics
Being from India, but studying in the United States,
I'd imagine such gives you a different perspective,
Kind of like when watches a chess game, sometimes people can see moves they would not have seen if they were playing the game themself,

Are there any blind spots in America's actions or views, that you might see, but many Americans miss, that come to mind?
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  • What is your reaction to India's Joint Military exercises with China in Russia this week?

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@Tejretics
Give me your honest opinion of me.
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I just found out today that a long time friend has died of a drug overdose. His mother called me. What can I do to ease her pain?
Tejretics
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I’m sorry for your loss. I would suggest asking someone more qualified than me.
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@Lemming
Are there any blind spots in America's actions or views, that you might see, but many Americans miss, that come to mind?
I’m not sure Americans miss it, but I’d say even cosmopolitan/progressive Americans tend to have pretty U.S.-centric views of the world. Conversations about politics center around American politics, for example, and it feels like Americans are quite uninformed about the rest of the world -- even really smart and compassionate ones. 

I recall a specific example of a friend and I walking through some place with pictures of great leaders of our time. One of those pictures was of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, with the caption “our first female president,” and the friend instinctively looked at it and said, “But we haven’t had a female president!” 
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@RationalMadman
Give me your honest opinion of me.
I don’t know you that well. It seems like you’re really confident in your view of the world, and really confident when you disagree with people. I suspect a bit more openness to having your mind changed would serve you well. It also seems to me that you’re sometimes a bit quick to rush to judgment about people and their intentions, and often lack tact when speaking to people. Regardless, I respect that you have strong convictions and are consistent about the principles that you believe in. 
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@oromagi
What is your reaction to India's Joint Military exercises with China in Russia this week?
I’m not sure it’s very high impact (and potentially reduces risky tensions with China), but I’m really concerned about India’s willingness to continue treating Russia as a major military partner in the aftermath of the (illegal, illegitimate, and immoral) invasion of Ukraine. 
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Why did you choose to study in the US? And how’re you liking it? 

Also, how have your political views changed over the last few years and why? 
Shila
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@Tejretics
Hi! I’m Tejretics. I joined DDO in 2015, and DART in 2018. I was this site’s first Voting Moderator, and was on the DDO Hall of Fame. I’m currently a college student in the United States studying math and economics, and am from India. I’ve got a fair bit of experience doing formal parliamentary debate, and care a lot about effective animal advocacy and international development. Ask me anything!

Some things I can talk about:

  • My thoughts on trends in modern competitive debate 
  • Any of my political views
  • Anything about India
  • My honest opinion of you, if I have one 
That’s a non-exhaustive list!
The Covid pandemic brought to the public attention the majority of healthcare workers and doctors are Indians.
Do Indians find America a sick country or even worse than the country they left?

Tejretics
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@Hayd
Hey Hayd! Been a while. Hope you’re doing well. 

Why did you choose to study in the US? And how’re you liking it? 
I chose to study in the U.S. because American universities are generally stronger than Indian ones for econ, and because I appreciated the flexibility to pick classes I wanted to take. I got an offer from a top school with generous financial aid, so I took it. 

I’ve liked it quite a bit! 

Also, how have your political views changed over the last few years and why? 
I can think of three important changes in the past two years.

First, I’ve become a more sympathetic to industrial policy and redistribution as engines of economic growth in developing countries. I’m still broadly quite pro-market, but I’ve certainly moved on the value of some regulation and government support for industry. This change was mostly driven by reading a bunch of research from people like Dani Rodrik, and from reading the book How Asia Works by Joe Studwell (which I highly recommend). 

Second, I’ve become a bit less libertarian on criminal justice policy. Even though I’m cautious about advocating higher sentences for crimes in general, given how awful prison is, I still see some value in it -- not because of deterrence (which I think is largely false), but because of incapacitation. I’ve also become in favor of hiring more police officers, and ensuring police departments have good amounts of funding to fight crime. I favor a broadly more-police-and-less-prisons approach to crime, as I think over-incarceration is a serious problem regardless. I will underline that I’m still broadly quite liberal on criminal justice policy. 

Third, I’ve moved on some environmental policy issues. I used to think nuclear power was really important. I’m still pro-nuclear, but I think it matters a lot less than I used to think it did. I used to be anti-fracking, and now I’m pro-fracking, as I think natural gas is cleaner than coal and petroleum (and hence useful in the transitionary period). I used to think carbon taxes should be the primary focus of the environmental movement; I still think carbon taxes are great, but now I’m more focused on green tech R&D and clean energy subsidies

Going back a bit further in time, some other changes to my worldview include:

  • I’d say I was quite left-wing in late 2016 and through much of 2017, and I moderated a lot (became broadly pro-capitalism, pro-free trade, and anti-excessive economic regulation) in 2018. I went from socialist to regular liberal. 
  • I became a decent bit more hawkish on counterterrorism measures, and less dovish (though not quite hawkish) on military intervention. For example, I got convinced that the War on Terror was largely a success, drone strikes seemed often (though definitely not always) effective at saving lives, and that the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan did more good than harm. I still think the Iraq War was bad, as was the 2011 intervention in Libya, though. In part, this opinion was formed by watching the fall of ISIL, as well as the serious failures of the pull-outs in Syria and Afghanistan under Trump and Biden. 
  • I think I became a fair bit more conscious about the importance of reducing caste inequality in India, and its importance to intergenerational mobility. This wasn’t necessarily a shift in views, as much as views forming -- but I gained some appreciation for, for example, Tamil Nadu’s Dravidian politics and the Self Respect Movement. 
  • I used to be in favor of legalizing all drugs (as you, no doubt, remember). I’m still in favor of legalizing soft drugs (especially if they can substitute smoking, which is terrifyingly bad), but I oppose legalizing hard drugs. 

Shila
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Why did you choose to study in the US? And how’re you liking it? 

Also, how have your political views changed over the last few years and why? 
There is no debt forgiveness in Indian universities unlike in the US.

Indians are very politically conscious. American politics and people would appear naive to the average Indian.
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@Shila
There is no debt forgiveness in Indian universities unlike in the US.
The cost of attendance at Indian universities is lower even in PPP-adjusted terms. 

Regardless, I received a significant aid package from my current university, so this wasn’t a factor -- I don’t have any student debt, because I qualified for financial aid.


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> @Shila
There is no debt forgiveness in Indian universities unlike in the US.
The cost of attendance at Indian universities is lower even in PPP-adjusted terms. 

Regardless, I received a significant aid package from my current university, so this wasn’t a factor -- I don’t have any student debt, because I qualified for financial aid.
So I was right. There are financial reasons for you picking an American University.

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@Shila
So I was right. There are financial reasons for you picking an American University.
No, because I’d have paid a similar amount for a top university in India (because that would have a cheaper base price). My claim is that for the same cost, American universities are better. 

But also, your claim wasn’t “financial reasons.” It was specifically about “debt forgiveness” -- which is one possible financial reason, but not the correct one. 
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So I was right. There are financial reasons for you picking an American University.
No, because I’d have paid a similar amount for a top university in India (because that would have a cheaper base price). My claim is that for the same cost, American universities are better. 

But also, your claim wasn’t “financial reasons.” It was specifically about “debt forgiveness” -- which is one possible financial reason, but not the correct one. 

How you see how you see American universities are better. when your basic comprehension is so poor.
(1)For the same cost is a financial reason. You even agree,(2)  debt forgiveness” -- which is one possible financial reason,

That is two financial reasons you admitted  made you pick an American University.
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@Shila
That is two financial reasons you admitted  made you pick an American University.
This argument is pointless, but you’re misreading what I said.

Debt forgiveness is a possible financial reason. But it’s not a reason for me -- i.e., it is a possible reason that someone might make a decision, but it was not a reason I considered. 

“For the same cost” is barely a financial reason. Because the point is it’s an equal cost, not cheaper -- in fact, it’s actually a bit more expensive to study in the U.S., even with my aid package. 
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@Shila
That is two financial reasons you admitted  made you pick an American University.
This argument is pointless, but you’re misreading what I said.

Debt forgiveness is a possible financial reason. But it’s not a reason for me -- i.e., it is a possible reason that someone might make a decision, but it was not a reason I considered.

“For the same cost” is barely a financial reason. Because the point is it’s an equal cost, not cheaper -- in fact, it’s actually a bit more expensive to study in the U.S., even with my aid package.


How you see how you see American universities are better. when your basic comprehension is so poor.
(1)For the same cost is a financial reason. You even agree,(2)  debt forgiveness” -- which is one possible financial reason,

That is two financial reasons you admitted  made you pick an American University.

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@Tejretics
Which is your favourite debate on this site?
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@Ehyeh
Which is your favourite debate on this site?
Good question. I’ve admittedly read fewer debates on this site than on DDO, so I’ll start with my favorite debates on DDO. 

I’d say those are:
I’ve read a lot fewer debates on DART. The debate between Coal and FourTrouble on corporal punishment looks good, though I’ve only skimmed it somewhat. I thought this debate on jury nullification was pretty nice. I thought this debate on vaccines between Whiteflame and FourTrouble was decent, although one-sided (Whiteflame was far ahead even before the forfeit) -- though I think, in part, this was because FT picked a really hard position to defend. Honestly, though, I don’t know much about the DART landscape.

I’ll just plug my own debates with Whiteflame from three years ago and Logical-Master from four years ago (though my own debating has improved quite a bit since then) -- I thought they were reasonably good too. Whiteflame beat me with quite a strong performance, and LM picked a very hard side that he himself disagreed with and put up a good performance given that (despite not winning in the end). Whiteflame and LM are both people I knew back in the old times of DDO. 
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What is your reaction to India's Joint Military exercises with China in Russia this week?
I’m not sure it’s very high impact (and potentially reduces risky tensions with China), but I’m really concerned about India’s willingness to continue treating Russia as a major military partner in the aftermath of the (illegal, illegitimate, and immoral) invasion of Ukraine. 
Indi has a cyber advantage because of the number of Indians employed in the IT  industry in America. But the 
Joint Military exercises with China in Russia are necessary to improve its military preparedness.
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@Tejretics
Hi! I’m Tejretics. I joined DDO in 2015, and DART in 2018. I was this site’s first Voting Moderator, and was on the DDO Hall of Fame. I’m currently a college student in the United States studying math and economics, and am from India.
... ... ...interesting.

Ask me anything!
Do you plan on post-graduate study?

  • My thoughts on trends in modern competitive debate 
What are your thoughts on the debate format of this site?

  • Any of my political views
Rather than your political views, may I ask to which school or schools of Economic thought you subscribe?

  • My honest opinion of you, if I have one 
Go for it.


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@Athias
Do you plan on post-graduate study?
I’m strongly considering an econ PhD! Or potentially a masters in economics from outside the U.S. (e.g., at the LSE). 

What are your thoughts on the debate format of this site?
I worry that it unfairly favors whoever gets the last word -- because in, say, a 10,000-character round, you have 10,000 characters of the final round, and that’s a huge advantage under tabula rasa judging. It’d be nice to replicate LD or Policy, and have a Neg block followed by a short last word for Aff. 

Otherwise, I like it. I appreciate that it allows for incorporating evidence and making compelling arguments. I think the 4-point system is a bit silly, though (luckily you can opt out of it!), and the judging quality is not the best (nor is the quantity good). 

Rather than your political views, may I ask to which school or schools of Economic thought you subscribe?
I feel like people on online forums care more about broad schools of economic thought than most economists do. I feel like it’s a fairly easy label or identifier that doesn’t capture much nuance. 

That said, I’d say on business cycle macroeconomics, I’m somewhere in between the New Keynesians and market monetarists; I’m not sure that New Keynesians are right to treat price stickiness as more important than wage stickiness (i.e., their models often come to the conclusion that prices being slow to change affects the business cycle more than wages being slow to change) -- especially since we’re in the midst of an economic expansion where real wages are falling, which would be a bit more in line with old Keynesian or market monetarist thought.

As far as long-run economic growth goes, as well as microeconomics, I think the standard neoclassical paradigm is alright, but needs to be moderated and more driven by empirics.

Go for it.
I don’t believe I’ve interacted with you on this site! So I’m not sure I have one. Sorry about that!
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@Tejretics
I’m strongly considering an econ PhD! Or potentially a masters in economics from outside the U.S. (e.g., at the LSE). 
Since your studies are focused on both Economics and Mathematics, are you considering an M.S. or phD in Econometrics at the London School of Economics? 

I worry that it unfairly favors whoever gets the last word -- because in, say, a 10,000-character round, you have 10,000 characters of the final round, and that’s a huge advantage under tabula rasa judging. It’d be nice to replicate LD or Policy, and have a Neg block followed by a short last word for Aff. 

Otherwise, I like it. I appreciate that it allows for incorporating evidence and making compelling arguments. I think the 4-point system is a bit silly, though (luckily you can opt out of it!), and the judging quality is not the best (nor is the quantity good). 
I think the point system in general is silly especially since one is required to provide an RFD. I do agree however that it's nice that one can opt out of it.

I feel like people on online forums care more about broad schools of economic thought than most economists do. I feel like it’s a fairly easy label or identifier that doesn’t capture much nuance. 
That may be true to some extent, but there are some schools of thought that are fundamentally different (i.e. Keynesian & Classical.)

That said, I’d say on business cycle macroeconomics, I’m somewhere in between the New Keynesians and market monetarists; I’m not sure that New Keynesians are right to treat price stickiness as more important than wage stickiness (i.e., their models often come to the conclusion that prices being slow to change affects the business cycle more than wages being slow to change) -- especially since we’re in the midst of an economic expansion where real wages are falling, which would be a bit more in line with old Keynesian or market monetarist thought.

As far as long-run economic growth goes, as well as microeconomics, I think the standard neoclassical paradigm is alright, but needs to be moderated and more driven by empirics.
I suppose I can ask you to elaborate further on the matter, but it is not my intention to turn this AMA thread into a debate over Economics. When the opportunity arises elsewhere, I will.

I don’t believe I’ve interacted with you on this site! So I’m not sure I have one. Sorry about that!
No worries.
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@Athias
Since your studies are focused on both Economics and Mathematics, are you considering an M.S. or phD in Econometrics at the London School of Economics? 
I’m considering the MSc in Econometrics and Mathematical Economics at the LSE, yeah! 

For a PhD, I’d just do an econ PhD, preferably in the US (if I did end up doing one). Econ PhD admissions generally expect that undergraduate students do a lot of math.
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@Tejretics
I’m considering the MSc in Econometrics and Mathematical Economics at the LSE, yeah! 
I wish you the best. I got a lot out of the experience when I did it--though not at the London School of Economics. As long as you like the math, you'll be fine.

For a PhD, I’d just do an econ PhD, preferably in the US (if I did end up doing one). Econ PhD admissions generally expect that undergraduate students do a lot of math.
Are you considering teaching Economics?

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I’m considering the MSc in Econometrics and Mathematical Economics at the LSE, yeah! 
I wish you the best. I got a lot out of the experience when I did it--though not at the London School of Economics. As long as you like the math, you'll be fine. 
Your profile says you have a high school diploma.

For a PhD, I’d just do an econ PhD, preferably in the US (if I did end up doing one). Econ PhD admissions generally expect that undergraduate students do a lot of math.
Are you considering teaching Economics?

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@Shila
Your profile says you have a high school diploma.
I do have a high school diploma, as well as a number of others. My profile is meant to poke fun at those who treat personal information on these debate sites like BattleCards (not to be confused with Battle Cards.) If you've interacted with me much when I was at DDO, then you'd be hard pressed to not know that my DART  profile is mostly satirical--i.e. my choosing the most ridiculous options available. If one has bothered to have a decent conservation with me, they too would know that my profile is mostly satirical. I admitted as much when I starting posting on DART, amused by the questions and often misfired ad hominems when "my subscription" to notions like "Confucianism" and "Monarchism" were concerned. FYI: the only accurate items on my profile are my (native) country, and my native language.

As far as the subjects Tejretics and I were discussing, when I was at university I double majored in Mathematics and Economics. Thus my stating:

Athias Post #23:
I’m currently a college student in the United States studying math and economics, and am from India.
... ... ...interesting.
And I knew to ask Tejretics about Econometrics given that it's the most logical post-graduate pursuit after undergraduate studies in both Mathematics and Economics. One of my M.S.'s is in Econometrics. So this is my incredibly prolix way of telling you that my "education" isn't limited to High School--only my humor is.




Shila
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-> @Shila
Your profile says you have a high school diploma.
I do have a high school diploma, as well as a number of others. My profile is meant to poke fun at those who treat personal information on these debate sites like BattleCards (not to be confused with Battle Cards.) If you've interacted with me much when I was at DDO, then you'd be hard pressed to not know that my DART  profile is mostly satirical--i.e. my choosing the most ridiculous options available. If one has bothered to have a decent conservation with me, they too would know that my profile is mostly satirical. I admitted as much when I starting posting on DART, amused by the questions and often misfired ad hominems when "my subscription" to notions like "Confucianism" and "Monarchism" were concerned. FYI: the only accurate items on my profile are my (native) country, and my native language. 

As far as the subjects Tejretics and I were discussing, when I was at university I double majored in Mathematics and Economics. Thus my stating: 

Athias Post #23:
I’m currently a college student in the United States studying math and economics, and am from India. 
... ... ...interesting.
And I knew to ask Tejretics about Econometrics given that it's the most logical post-graduate pursuit after undergraduate studies in both Mathematics and Economics. One of my M.S.'s is in Econometrics. So this is my incredibly prolix way of telling you that my "education" isn't limited to High School--only my humor is. 
Your profile also claims your gender is unknown. That would not be typical of even a high school grad.
But your humor is certainly High School level. We can all see why it didn’t go beyond that.