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Skin in the Game Theory

The theory, central to Nassim Taleb's work, that having personal stake—"skin in the game"—is essential for reliable knowledge, ethical behavior, and functional systems. Skin in the Game Theory argues that those who make decisions should bear the consequences of those decisions. Without skin in the game, decision-makers become irresponsible, taking risks that harm others while remaining protected themselves. The theory explains why bureaucracies fail (no personal consequence for bad decisions), why experts are often wrong (they don't suffer from their advice), and why capitalism needs bankruptcy (to remove those who made bad bets). Skin in the Game is the great filter of bullshit: if you're not affected by your advice, your advice is suspect. The theory is a weapon against the "I'll tell you what to do but won't do it myself" class that has come to dominate modern institutions.
Example: "The consultant told them to lay off 20% of staff, then flew home to his gated community. Skin in the Game Theory asked: what does he risk? Nothing. His advice cost others everything. The CEO, who owned stock, at least shared some downside. The consultant had no skin—and therefore no credibility. They fired him instead."

all their skin in the game

This describes a situation in which someone is risking everything.
The bomb squad has all their skin in the game defusing the van.

A Booger In The Nose Of Progress 

Anything that impedes or otherwise interferes with a process going forward.
"Militarily, that inquest was a booger in the nose of progress."

or

"As far as human rights are concerned, this political infighting is a booger in the nose of progress."
Word of the Day on June 2, 2026

🤡🫵🏻

How to say "you're an idiot/clown" using only emojis.
Person 1: Insert completely incorrect and/or idiotic statement here
Person 2: 🤡🫵🏻
Word of the Day on June 1, 2026
Fogey/fogy /fougi/ sl. (early 18C+, orig. Scot) old-fashioned, stuck-in-the mud.
Person with old fashioned ideas which he is unwilling to change: Come to the disco and stop being such an old fogey!
You think me an old fogeyand an old tory, his thoughtful voice said. I saw three generations since O’Connel’s time. I remember the famine. Do you know that the orange lodges agitated for repeal of the union twenty years before O’Connel did or before the prelates of your communion denounced him as a demagogue? You fenians forget some things. (James Joyce, Ulysses. Penguin Books,1992. p. 38)
fogey by Petyush September 14, 2005
Word of the Day on May 31, 2026
Add a tablespoon of jarlic to two teaspoons of butter and spread it in bread to make garlic bread
Jarlic by YSAC fanboy June 6, 2020
Word of the Day on May 30, 2026