Should We Admire Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX? - Michael Lewis [Part II] | Intelligence Squared

[@andtheinternettkills]

No. There. I just saved you all a bunch of time.

[@gregvinson1]

This guy never “made” vast sums of money. He “stole” vast sums of money.

[@azamaziz7139]

Tq have a nice day

[@PhillipHilton]

Exactly.

[@don__hector7845]

Admire an entitled spoilt brat who thought that he was untouchable ? He stole it he never made it ,it was never his money to spend or to give

[@F3RACTION]

Ok

[@alexvtan]

He is clearly smitten by SBF who treats life like a videogame. In an alter world where there is no risk and consequences doesn't matter.

[@hblee88]

Kudos. My thoughts expressed perfectly.

[@carpediem4512]

Shouldn’t have had a woman interviewing. The man can barely finish his points.

[@shaunspadafora7943]

I think you misunderstand how Lewis' mind works. He's smitten by a good story, NOT by SBF.

[@Patyavecillas]

I think Lewis is an excellent writer and a honest person.

[@2smoulder]

Was SBF intelligent - probably; was he devious - definitely; did he display sociopathic behaviour - definitely; did he behave unethically - absolutely; was he devoid of empathy - yes; is Michael Lewis missing the point of embezzlement - sadly Yes.

[@petercofrancesco9812]

All Michael Lewis cares about is making himself seem important and selling books. He initially thought he was writing the story of financial genius in the making and now that he was doped, he tweaked it to be about the misunderstood genius who flew too close to the sun.

[@lydiab6063]

I am no fan of SBF. The book is good. Read the book.

[@petercofrancesco9812]

I don't respect Lewis. He embodies the worst in "journalism" if you can call what he does that. He acted as a conduit for Sam to sell this fake persona to the public. He was so infatuated with Sam and pleased with himself for getting the inside scoop he never considered fact checking what he was being fed. @@lydiab6063

[@danibravo5700]

This guy overlooks that much of the personality Sam created for himself was fake. He admitted to it and just look at how he allowed his parents to profit from their connections with Sam...

[@barteksudol]

that what's wrong with the society now these days, we are supposed to admire criminals ?

[@jewellui]

Look at Pablo Escobar lol

[@thevelvetmaul]

I bet Sam's parents LOVE Michael Lewis

[@biglemoncoke]

The parents probably paid him.

[@thevelvetmaul]

That tracks

[@MOVIE2GUY]

They had dinners together.

[@ipsizm9265]

Michael Lewis’s defensiveness on full display.

[@Alperic27]

dude… use your brain… he is give u an inside view of the recipes sociopaths function by … and if you want to try to con people yourself, then follow the advices…

[@Alperic27]

yes … the problem is not just ‘money is missing’ or ‘money is not missing’ … it is about what does it mean that a small number of people are ready to live outside of all the rules commonly accepted as ‘the norm’ … if you have people who routinely lie to large masses of idi0ts in the name of what they want to achieve, then it is a breakdown of society. so this whole thing tells us about us …

[@ElLotdog]

Michael Lewis gossiping about SBF like he’s a schoolgirl in junior high is so cringey and disgusting.. does he not understand that real people had their lives ruined because of SBF and FTX?

[@theresachung703]

This has told me something about Michael Lewis

[@RR-et6zp]

lol, true

[@Yor_gamma_ix_bae]

This guy wrote the most delusional book ever.

[@gfxpimp]

Was anything in his book incorrect?

[@biglemoncoke]

Yeah, SBF was not worlds youngest billionaire, he stole depositors funds.

[@jewellui]

Bible *cough*

[@ryanswild]

Sam definitely paid this fool to write the book

[@biglemoncoke]

yeah he is shilling SBF

[@marciacampos9966]

The problem is that Michael Lewis is not a fool. He is compromising his reputation.

[@lydiab6063]

I disagree. I read the book.

[@ryanswild]

@@lydiab6063 well say no more lol

[@biglemoncoke]

@@lydiab6063 are you a bot for SBF?

[@tahneetran1471]

To borrow from Mr. Steve Eisman, “They mistake leverage for genius. “ I want to add they can hurt you with that kind of leverage.

[@bobli30]

how much you got paid to muddle the water? it's a simple and clear case of precalculted frauld.

[@scienceobserver7009]

Nothing but smitten with a conman's game. Ridiculous that he could be pulled in so deep that FTX crumbling has left him scrambling to double down or face the truth.

[@shaunspadafora7943]

Lewis is smitten with a good story, and this is indeed a good story. It was the same with Billy Beane & Michael Burry.

[@reddog6256]

What sort of question is this? Should we admire dishonesty?

[@isaacnewton3514]

Michael Lewis has completely ruined his reputation during this period of defending SBF

[@JesseBeahm]

I am not even going to watch, this guy just wants to stay relevant and doesn't want to rewrite his book

[@95davidt1]

12:20 that face when you know you lost all journalist integrity

[@adeniran77]

It is extraordinary stuff and I can understand why Michael Lewis is beside himself on the subject. Read the book twice, and I need to go back and reread it.

[@renpilak6048]

Question is - How much was he paid? Also, he needs to be on their good side so he can sell his book and eventually sell the rights to Hollywood!

[@sherrieludwig508]

Never meet authors, They are always worse in person than their books.

[@frankstipes4114]

How we create false images What a disaster.

[@aluxendr]

Ah yes, from his culture's point of view, destroying your host is the ultimate display of skill

[@ryanswild]

It's not very intelligent to lose that much money

[@carterrennerfeldt1607]

How is anybody still taking Lewis seriously?!

[@paulklee]

Fascinating interview. I could listen to him talk anytime. I think he had a few cups of coffee before this one, but it was still great.!

[@davids2218]

Lewis was a personal advisor to SBF at a time when Fried was making a lot of decisions that were illegal. Lewis needs to be put under oath and asked a lot of uncomfortable questions.

[@biglemoncoke]

Michael Lewis trying to play Nick Carraway in Great Gatsby? Is SBF the ugly Jay Gatsby?

[@jonitufarr]

This is so niche and I'm here for it

[@chrissheppard5068]

No he is a fraudster.

The old story since time immemorial: GREED on everyone's part

[@briancolucci536]

Did he actually suggest that SBF’s 20% stake in Anthropic (which is valued at $30 billion - totally illiquid btw) is going to be used to pay back investors? That is insane. This guy is delusional.

[@SantosSantos-bf5sz]

Like if a bank robber promised to pay back the bank.

[@vtr8427]

Micheal Lewis probably got paid by Sam. Kevin o Leary also supported Sam and he was paid a million per hour.

[@briancolucci536]

I don’t know what you call this book. It’s not journalism, though.

[@douglaswynn9668]

Isn’t it amazing how such a talented and interesting writer can be such a complete nitwit

[@theresachung703]

So right. So odd how he is so in lie

[@whatsdoin2392]

No. Someone's thinking is chaotic and magical.

[@brettcoleman8]

Just as clueless as his jailed friend.

[@sidog77-kt9bb]

My bet is that he got paid big bucks. everyone has a price

[@ilyalittt]

Damn…. Michael Lewis is arrogant af

[@Linalaelae]

I understand you gotta sell your books, but it’s ridiculous. Sam is a sociopath that charmed you, sadly he didn’t have an opportunity to steal your money and use it “for the greater good” (dining with bigger celebs etc), maybe that would’ve changed your mind? Honestly, that’s disgusting.

[@harambetidepod1451]

Effective altruism = greed is good

[@Sotoberi]

Did he ACTUALLY help any underprivileged, sick, or poor people with that money? Was any real altruism ever displayed? Or does that EA Society define altruism as donations to the wealthy?

[@lindadeeds5326]

@@Sotoberiactually, the EA movement doesn’t support helping people as much as they do preventing things that could end the world. So Sam donated money for pandemic prevention- that happened to be given to his brother and his parents’ employer! So the people who benefited most were his family.😂

[@thisorthat4195]

Watching Michael try to save his book is pure comedy

[@frankstipes4114]

This man has no clue of finance , economics or business sense. The teachers were right, but the public that reads him , as ignorant as the writter

[@frankstipes4114]

Nothing to laugh about here!!!!

[@frankstipes4114]

How much false information . He is aa bad as Scam Bankman Fried

[@GEB-yy3ud]

Lewis has lost his mind.

[@jxrdxn2611]

He doesn’t have nothing. He came from a wealthy family

[@lesabri]

Here's the answer: NO

[@ddhgerlb]

I guess that depends if your aspirations are a long life behind bars.

[@back2d_lobby]

Michael got hooked like a fish

[@F3RACTION]

Why does everyone discredit Michael when he knows him better than most. Just cos you don't like what you hear don't mean it's not true.

[@BanTheBBCHD]

"Should We Admire Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX?" - No. Just saved you 28m and 04s. Now that Michael Lewis has completely ruined his reputation defending this multiple convicted fraudster, you can skip reading any of his books too.

[@stephenmlangeni1243]

Lewis is full of BS just because SBF is his friend we are supposed to bealive him, Lewis, because he says bealive me, he is no different from SBF they are both full of BS

[@sanghoonlee5171]

Answer: Not unless we admire jail time too.

[@idicula1979]

Don’t suck SBF too hard Micheal.

[@jxrdxn2611]

Wait why is this guy so fascinated by Sam bankman story, almost in an envious way

[@Thejellybaby]

Michael Lewis is telling the truth. “At a bankruptcy hearing in April 2022, an attorney for FTX said $7.3 billion in cash and liquid crypto assets had been recovered from the exchange.” Yet customers haven’t received their funds. What else is really going on here? This is not a Bernie Madoff situation. Albeit not all, the money is there. Could the other 1.5b be tied up in SBF’s betting on upcoming A.I. firms? Curious.

[@mattius459]

It is a Bernie Madoff situation. The hearing in April 2023 was after crypto market had bounced back. In other words, Sam got lucky that the assets he still had rose in value over time. It would be the same as if Madoff stole his customer's money, bought some powerball tickets, and then actually hit the lottery. It doesn't change the fact that Sam/Bernie took their customer's money and gambled with it. This was the exact example given during the trial that Sam was convicted in last week, and was the reason why it wasn't admissable evidence.

[@10010x0x0x01101XX0X1]

It's really sad watching what has happened to Michael Lewis.

[@hblee88]

Agree. Will wait for him to evolve after he gets over the giggliness of being in the heart of a tornado and writes a post script book.

[@ryanswild]

Michael he doesn't sleep because he takes adderall duh

[@kylebroflovsky6015]

This guy seems impressed by cluelessness.

[@idicula1979]

Long story short SBF is going to jail, don’t know about his internet status.

[@InTenMinutes1]

Even the host recognised he was taking Sam at face value or somehow being besotted by him. Lewis then got his nickers in a twist. The whole world thinks his treatment of Sam is a bit on the rose tinted side to say the least.

[@silversurfer8237]

Michael Lewis provides an interesting perspective. His book plus SBF's court days will shed more light on what went on.

[@sireric41]

What the hell, Mike

[@Marva123]

Turns out Sam was just a very average kid, who a lot of people were tricked into giving their money to.

[@Youtubeuser42057]

This guy was clearly paid $$ by SBF. It’s so obvious it’s cringe

[@PrismverseTales]

Not a nice man. Hard to watch this.

[@matthewmaguire3554]

When the illusion is made real the illusion becomes priceless.🍿

[@chrism.1131]

14:28 all the people who were with him, turn on him. All the media, turn on him… That is, everyone except Michael Lewis.

[@sovereignruler]

The question in the title is diametrically opposed to your username.

[@diane4968]

This is my first time seeing Michael Lewis speak and he comes off so defensive. Like he is protecting his ego and that’s the whole point of the interaction. Like he just can’t face how wrong he got it.

[@finbarrmcgrath1686]

Get a room guys……

[@nndlchModi]

This is disgusting

[@theodorearaujo971]

The Court will determine when FTX was "insolvent" not "bankrupt." Fighting this is very dificult because the question of insolvency controls.

[@jakebradminster709]

It's like the emperor with no cloths. Everyone praising this dysfunctional character because they think they are too stupid to see the genius everyone else sees in SBF.

[@carl2488]

It's just true that people can't separate "this guy did something to my finances" and "his intent and personality may not be as strongly negative as I *need* it to be". People need to collapse nuance and make the guy a 2D film-like villian to feel better.

[@user-qj1ex4ui1h]

‘Did something to my finances’ actually isn’t separate from ‘intent’- even if you put aside the personality. What Sbf did to peoples finances was fraud, and the intent behind it was both deliberate and careless, certainly not accidental or coincidental. That literally is 2D villainy, it’s type straightforward, depending on how enchanting you find his neurodivergence and slovenly appearance

[@MrTimothybee]

No No No and No

[@sarahmalan8946]

INTELLIGENCE DIVIDED...Mike Lewis is NO GENTLEMAN....Absolutely RUDE to the Host...SHAME...SHAME...SHAME!

[@lucasng3330]

Yes. Democratic party can be controlled by donation.

[@BloggerMusicMan]

I get why Michael Lewis was initially drawn to Sam Bankman-Fried. He has some of the same personality traits as a lot of other characters from his books, and is quite explicit about that as a reason he was drawn to him. The problem is that I think he became too absorbed in SBF's world and stopped looking at him objectively. Once the evidence starts coming in about the fraud case and the collapse, you have to be willing to change your perspective. I don't see Michael Lewis casting enormous amounts of doubt on the prosecutor's case, but he's still too credulous about SBF. I can put myself in his place and see how he may have gone there. But being credulous when everyone now knows what kind of fraud he's been up to is a very bad, reputation damaging move. Michael Lewis is one of my favourite writers, and seeing him still be this credulous about a guy who is clearly a con man saddens me. I still think his other books are great.

[@DeeDeeCHAUNCEY]

No. Gross.

[@danibravo5700]

It's a pitty we wasted time on answering that audiences member's question...

[@ioanaanaoi8232]

He is what his parents groomed him. They are interesting to learn more about.

[@BC-lf4om]

Something seems 'off' in his discussion , as if he had a deep inner uncertainty that he had been conned by SBF, and/or that there was a deeper level to the SBF phenomenon that he is mystified by.

[@shelleymartin1451]

I couldn't even listen to this after the halfway point, I just turned it off and gave up. She couldn't shut up long enough for him to finish a thought.

[@jonbuck4607]

this was a very good interview. sadly:)

[@theresachung703]

100

[@shaunspadafora7943]

SBF became an overnight sensation, and people flocked to him like moths to flame. This is very much a part of the story, and I appreciate Michael Lewis' ability to tell this very nuanced story.

[@user-qj1ex4ui1h]

He doesn’t tho. He just dickrides the guy and fawns over his sloppy neurodivergent ‘genius’ without criticality

[@PPp-fg3ps]

You did not warn people to save their money out of FTX.

[@ana1ysis]

SBF’s MO was to only associate with people he paid off. Is Lewis the exception? The book was published the first day of the trial.

[@sandworm9528]

Crypto twitter is gonna hate michael lewis for giving a nuanced analysis. The most complex thing they can understand is "line go up", everyone is so traumatized by rug pulls they demand the rest of the world agree that "sam is a scammer" haha sorry guys, its not that simple

[@GEB-yy3ud]

Yeah, he stole in a sophisticated way.

[@jamesito-adler7840]

He is fascinating; she is not. When you have a great story and storyteller--DO NOT INTERRUPT THE FLOW. He was way ahead of her at every step or should I say mis-step.

[@dousiastailfeather9454]

Let's name drop our way to glory! Laughable...

[@SantosSantos-bf5sz]

Jeff Bayzos

[@thelammas8283]

Of course. So many people are greedy, and are willing to suspend critical thought in order to satisfy that greed. He created a place for them to do that. Without effort, without a plan, without even knowing what he was doing.

[@SantosSantos-bf5sz]

He got off easy, 25 years. Judge not impressed.

[@direwolf4981]

This dude is milking one interview with SBF into a lifelong piggybank. FFS

[@pete_roszell]

This excellent, super entertaining I can't wait to read the book.

[@AlxzAlec]

This guy stutters a damn lot

[@Pilgrim812]

A first class financiopath

[@marcomac8824]

This author is just a twit. Light upthe world in a different way? Straight out mismanagement by clowns and incompetents.

[@nunyabizness573]

I refuse to watch any Michael Lewis video.

[@anandhunt1000]

yeh admi pagal ho chukah ai kuch bhi bol raha hai ...mai isse jayda phada likha hu par bhajpa ko vote nai deta....