從2004年第一次來台灣、選擇住下來到現在，我看台灣的社會變了很多。從我的視角目睹了許多改變，最大的改變是發現台灣社會分裂為兩種人，裂得清清楚楚。
第一種，通常圍繞在我們生活周遭，他們每天賺錢，為了填飽自己或家人的肚子。
第二種，在YouTube看得到，他們每天填飽自己和家人的肚子，為了賺錢。
當然，兩種都很辛苦。
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我自己兩年前左右也做了幾個鳳梨酥跟其他給我家人吃台灣零食的影片，後來我回來英國發現Google有給我等同一張機票的薪水。當下馬上想到一位美國經濟學家米爾頓·傅利曼常常引用的一句話：天下沒有白吃的午餐...
我以前覺得他的理論都還蠻有道理，現在這句完全不管用。假如他看得到現在台灣的Youtube生態，他可能也會想從墳墓爬出來、來台灣開一個頻道吃點心、夜市小吃或泡麵之類的...他會重新思考他的經濟學領域的立場、修改所有過去他提出的理論...
From my arrival in Taiwan in 2004 I’ve seen a lot of changes in Taiwan. The most astounding change of all has been the clear division in society between two types of people.
The first type of people you see all around you. They work in order to make money to fill their stomachs.
The second type of person you can see on YouTube. They fill their stomachs so that they can make money.
I myself have spent time either side of this fascinating equation. I made a few food challenge videos in which I fed random snacks to my family in the UK which I knocked up into a few videos. Much to my surprise, by the time I arrived back in the UK the next time google had paid me enough money for a plane ticket!
At that moment I immediately thought of Milton, an economist of note. He would often say “there is no such thing as a free lunch”. I had previously thought this was a sound statement. Now however, I do not.
I’m sure if Milton could see Taiwanese youtube he would climb out of his grave and open a YouTube channel himself! He would be forced to have a long hard rethink about his theories on economics.
#清醒夢
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