Thank You

Published June 26, 2018 · Updated July 6, 2022

Hello, Shat on TV Cast,

I thank you for reading my email on air. Your podcast is an excellent companion to the Westworld experience since you discuss theories and events beyond an initial superficial view.

Also, thank you for clarifying the difference between woke and awake. I’m a simple person that began to question my native language until I received clarification. It makes sense considering you’re trendy hipsters and the sound effect was a nice touch to accentuate your hipster vibe.

Lastly, I’d like to comment on the $40,000 a day fee that the park demands.

I realize that it’s a place for the wealthy and super rich, but it may be more attainable that what we first realize. Even though the date isn’t specified we know that it takes place in the future. So, let’s begin by estimating how far into the future that these events take place.

A 2017 article in Technology review states that “US experts predict AI will outperform humans in 74 years and Asian scientists expect it in 30 years.” (Link to the article is https://www.technologyreview.com/s/607970/experts-predict-when-artificial-intelligence-will-exceed-human-performance/)

However; scientists aren’t as smart as they believe they are and I often find their predictions to be wrong. (Scientists in the 70s predicted mass famine and that oil reserves would be gone. Link to source provided http://www.aei.org/publication/18-spectacularly-wrong-apocalyptic-predictions-made-around-the-time-of-the-first-earth-day-in-1970-expect-more-this-year-3/) So, for my point, I’ll be generous to the scientists and assume that Westworld takes place 150 years in the future.

Now we must look at the purchasing power of the US dollar. At an average rate of inflation of 3% the purchasing power of one dollar in 2018 is equivalent to $84.25 in 2168. This makes the $40,000 a day cost more like $475 in our time. It’s still a large sum of money, but today’s ticket price for Disney World is $129 if you buy a one-day pass during peak season. I’d argue that the value you get from a Westworld experience compared to Disney lessens the price gap between the two. After all, you can’t rape and murder people at Disney without going to jail.

This leads me to believe that the true target market is a different group than the super wealthy. Specifically, a demographic made up of young singles with higher paying jobs out of college in their 20s and 30s. They have more discretionary income and replacing a person without a family in their late 20s, is easier than a 45-year-old with four kids and a wife. Thinking in this way the $40,000 a day isn’t that bad.

Thank you for your time and keep up the good work. Hopefully, it isn’t another two years before we get the next episode.

with warm regards,

Eugene Brown

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