Tansy Kelly Robson
@artemisapphire.bsky.social
"Bond Girl of Screenwriting", serial overreacher, ill-advisedly candid political economist
Adventures in writing, money, power and war (and Kittenz) 🖋️⚔️🌎😼🏦
Adventures in writing, money, power and war (and Kittenz) 🖋️⚔️🌎😼🏦
Mebbe 👀
Waiting around to hear back after sending the thing out got the better of me and I may now be 80 pages into episode 2
Waiting around to hear back after sending the thing out got the better of me and I may now be 80 pages into episode 2
November 12, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Mebbe 👀
Waiting around to hear back after sending the thing out got the better of me and I may now be 80 pages into episode 2
Waiting around to hear back after sending the thing out got the better of me and I may now be 80 pages into episode 2
I need to delve more into which specific policies encourage distorted incentives, which admittedly I haven't dived deeply into, but on a general note, a healthily competitive market. The more hungry young businesses coming up, the more incumbents need to focus on their core offer (see Tesla & BYD)
November 12, 2025 at 12:41 AM
I need to delve more into which specific policies encourage distorted incentives, which admittedly I haven't dived deeply into, but on a general note, a healthily competitive market. The more hungry young businesses coming up, the more incumbents need to focus on their core offer (see Tesla & BYD)
De nada 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it ❤️
Writing in short format really does make me keep thing concise and understandable (a problem for me irl as I really tend to waffle!)
Writing in short format really does make me keep thing concise and understandable (a problem for me irl as I really tend to waffle!)
November 11, 2025 at 11:56 PM
De nada 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it ❤️
Writing in short format really does make me keep thing concise and understandable (a problem for me irl as I really tend to waffle!)
Writing in short format really does make me keep thing concise and understandable (a problem for me irl as I really tend to waffle!)
Consistent social media image
November 11, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Consistent social media image
(for anyone wondering, I am a fan of free markets and competitive marketplaces, survival of the corporate fittest. But based on them doing their JOB, and providing humans with high quality, well designed and well managed goods and services. Not fucking about with Ponzi scheme gimmicks)
November 11, 2025 at 4:34 PM
(for anyone wondering, I am a fan of free markets and competitive marketplaces, survival of the corporate fittest. But based on them doing their JOB, and providing humans with high quality, well designed and well managed goods and services. Not fucking about with Ponzi scheme gimmicks)
The moral of the story is we are all fucked, because without investors there is no business, but as companies grow and reach marginal returns, the Enron incentives kick in to focus on return on shareholder value, not return on output and performance
On that cheerful note
Robson out
End/n
On that cheerful note
Robson out
End/n
hello kitty is wearing a yellow dress with a red bow and the words have a nice day love to you
ALT: hello kitty is wearing a yellow dress with a red bow and the words have a nice day love to you
media.tenor.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:29 PM
The moral of the story is we are all fucked, because without investors there is no business, but as companies grow and reach marginal returns, the Enron incentives kick in to focus on return on shareholder value, not return on output and performance
On that cheerful note
Robson out
End/n
On that cheerful note
Robson out
End/n
The sweet spot are new firms hungry for Your Business as the customer
They focus on good quality innovative products and good customer service
And companies with healthy profits that don't need gimmicks (Apple)
And those legally bound to quality (automotive)
The rest?
17/n
They focus on good quality innovative products and good customer service
And companies with healthy profits that don't need gimmicks (Apple)
And those legally bound to quality (automotive)
The rest?
17/n
November 11, 2025 at 4:26 PM
The sweet spot are new firms hungry for Your Business as the customer
They focus on good quality innovative products and good customer service
And companies with healthy profits that don't need gimmicks (Apple)
And those legally bound to quality (automotive)
The rest?
17/n
They focus on good quality innovative products and good customer service
And companies with healthy profits that don't need gimmicks (Apple)
And those legally bound to quality (automotive)
The rest?
17/n
In the US, pharma companies surviving solely on M&A and cost stripping ran out of firms to buy so actually started increasing the price of rare essential medications to start paying off dividends. That's right. It blackmailed sick and dying CUSTOMERS to pay dividends
Customer is king, hey 🤪
16/n
Customer is king, hey 🤪
16/n
Okay. No Hard Feelings.But I Hate You..Gif GIF
ALT: Okay. No Hard Feelings.But I Hate You..Gif GIF
media.tenor.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:24 PM
In the US, pharma companies surviving solely on M&A and cost stripping ran out of firms to buy so actually started increasing the price of rare essential medications to start paying off dividends. That's right. It blackmailed sick and dying CUSTOMERS to pay dividends
Customer is king, hey 🤪
16/n
Customer is king, hey 🤪
16/n
So the point here is
Your customer service is shit, your products are shit, your banking is shit, TV is shit, well, everything is shit because as long as the share price increases, the company doesn't actually gives a fuck if the product or service is shit
Because they're making money
16/n
Your customer service is shit, your products are shit, your banking is shit, TV is shit, well, everything is shit because as long as the share price increases, the company doesn't actually gives a fuck if the product or service is shit
Because they're making money
16/n
a man in a suit and sunglasses is holding a bunch of money and throwing it in the air .
ALT: a man in a suit and sunglasses is holding a bunch of money and throwing it in the air .
media.tenor.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:22 PM
So the point here is
Your customer service is shit, your products are shit, your banking is shit, TV is shit, well, everything is shit because as long as the share price increases, the company doesn't actually gives a fuck if the product or service is shit
Because they're making money
16/n
Your customer service is shit, your products are shit, your banking is shit, TV is shit, well, everything is shit because as long as the share price increases, the company doesn't actually gives a fuck if the product or service is shit
Because they're making money
16/n
And the profits from shows did not, hilariously, increase. And new subscribers are like pulling teeth
Having exhausted gimmicks
Netflix has decided
TO START DOING MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS!
WHO SAW THAT COMING!
Shocked face 👉🏼 😐
15/n
Having exhausted gimmicks
Netflix has decided
TO START DOING MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS!
WHO SAW THAT COMING!
Shocked face 👉🏼 😐
15/n
fry from futurama is shocked while standing in front of a blue wall .
ALT: fry from futurama is shocked while standing in front of a blue wall .
media.tenor.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:20 PM
And the profits from shows did not, hilariously, increase. And new subscribers are like pulling teeth
Having exhausted gimmicks
Netflix has decided
TO START DOING MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS!
WHO SAW THAT COMING!
Shocked face 👉🏼 😐
15/n
Having exhausted gimmicks
Netflix has decided
TO START DOING MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS!
WHO SAW THAT COMING!
Shocked face 👉🏼 😐
15/n
Customers started noticing, content was being removed, good expensive shows cancelled without warning, subscription prices just kept going up and up and up while the quality of the content fell, except for a few exceptions
Customers became 2nd class citizens to the shareholders
14/n
Customers became 2nd class citizens to the shareholders
14/n
a man in a plaid shirt is standing in the woods and says well that can t be good
ALT: a man in a plaid shirt is standing in the woods and says well that can t be good
media.tenor.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Customers started noticing, content was being removed, good expensive shows cancelled without warning, subscription prices just kept going up and up and up while the quality of the content fell, except for a few exceptions
Customers became 2nd class citizens to the shareholders
14/n
Customers became 2nd class citizens to the shareholders
14/n
But someone savvy at HQ noticed whenever they ANNOUNCED a new expensive show, or ANNOUNCED a new subscription model, like postcode specific, or ANNOUNCED a new gimmick like AI something magical
The shareprice LEAPT in anticipation and increased capitalisation
Netflix were saved. But...
14/n
The shareprice LEAPT in anticipation and increased capitalisation
Netflix were saved. But...
14/n
a cartoon of a man behind a podium with the words everyone can i get your on it
ALT: a cartoon of a man behind a podium with the words everyone can i get your on it
media.tenor.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:16 PM
But someone savvy at HQ noticed whenever they ANNOUNCED a new expensive show, or ANNOUNCED a new subscription model, like postcode specific, or ANNOUNCED a new gimmick like AI something magical
The shareprice LEAPT in anticipation and increased capitalisation
Netflix were saved. But...
14/n
The shareprice LEAPT in anticipation and increased capitalisation
Netflix were saved. But...
14/n
First they tried increasing prices
That's an economic dead end in a saturated market because as you just lose a proportion of customers
Then they tried expensive shows
Problem is shows don't make money on exclusive platforms, so that actually lost them more than they made in new subs
12/n
That's an economic dead end in a saturated market because as you just lose a proportion of customers
Then they tried expensive shows
Problem is shows don't make money on exclusive platforms, so that actually lost them more than they made in new subs
12/n
a woman is holding a crown on her head with a netflix logo behind her
ALT: a woman is holding a crown on her head with a netflix logo behind her
media.tenor.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:13 PM
First they tried increasing prices
That's an economic dead end in a saturated market because as you just lose a proportion of customers
Then they tried expensive shows
Problem is shows don't make money on exclusive platforms, so that actually lost them more than they made in new subs
12/n
That's an economic dead end in a saturated market because as you just lose a proportion of customers
Then they tried expensive shows
Problem is shows don't make money on exclusive platforms, so that actually lost them more than they made in new subs
12/n
Then we have barrel scraping gimmicks
This is when you experience a slowdown in profit returns because, say, you've reached peak subscriber numbers for, I dunno, a streaming platform, like Netflix
Customers are happy
Low prices
Lots of shows
Shareholders not happy (sad face)
11/n
This is when you experience a slowdown in profit returns because, say, you've reached peak subscriber numbers for, I dunno, a streaming platform, like Netflix
Customers are happy
Low prices
Lots of shows
Shareholders not happy (sad face)
11/n
a cat is looking at a youtube loading screen
ALT: a cat is looking at a youtube loading screen
media.tenor.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Then we have barrel scraping gimmicks
This is when you experience a slowdown in profit returns because, say, you've reached peak subscriber numbers for, I dunno, a streaming platform, like Netflix
Customers are happy
Low prices
Lots of shows
Shareholders not happy (sad face)
11/n
This is when you experience a slowdown in profit returns because, say, you've reached peak subscriber numbers for, I dunno, a streaming platform, like Netflix
Customers are happy
Low prices
Lots of shows
Shareholders not happy (sad face)
11/n
This wasn't efficiency
It wasn't sharper business practice
It is basically cutting out all the costs to prioritise long term cashflow into dividends and share returns
See also your mobile phone provider, energy supplies, pharmaceuticals and ha ha! Boeing, where customer safety was a Cost.
10/n
It wasn't sharper business practice
It is basically cutting out all the costs to prioritise long term cashflow into dividends and share returns
See also your mobile phone provider, energy supplies, pharmaceuticals and ha ha! Boeing, where customer safety was a Cost.
10/n
Fight GIF
ALT: Fight GIF
media.tenor.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:09 PM
This wasn't efficiency
It wasn't sharper business practice
It is basically cutting out all the costs to prioritise long term cashflow into dividends and share returns
See also your mobile phone provider, energy supplies, pharmaceuticals and ha ha! Boeing, where customer safety was a Cost.
10/n
It wasn't sharper business practice
It is basically cutting out all the costs to prioritise long term cashflow into dividends and share returns
See also your mobile phone provider, energy supplies, pharmaceuticals and ha ha! Boeing, where customer safety was a Cost.
10/n
Take your bank
It announces a merger
Cool
Share values soar, shareholders laughing all the way to... Well, their own bank
Branches were closed, customer service automated, everything stripped to the bare minimum
Why?
Customers
Don't make investors rich
Share value does
9/n
It announces a merger
Cool
Share values soar, shareholders laughing all the way to... Well, their own bank
Branches were closed, customer service automated, everything stripped to the bare minimum
Why?
Customers
Don't make investors rich
Share value does
9/n
a video game character holding a sword with the words hey look a customer below him
ALT: a video game character holding a sword with the words hey look a customer below him
media.tenor.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Take your bank
It announces a merger
Cool
Share values soar, shareholders laughing all the way to... Well, their own bank
Branches were closed, customer service automated, everything stripped to the bare minimum
Why?
Customers
Don't make investors rich
Share value does
9/n
It announces a merger
Cool
Share values soar, shareholders laughing all the way to... Well, their own bank
Branches were closed, customer service automated, everything stripped to the bare minimum
Why?
Customers
Don't make investors rich
Share value does
9/n
Between 1978 and 2025, banks, energy and pharma went crazy, buying everything that breathed until in Lloyd's TSB's case it actually ran out of other companies to buy
Share prices soared, dividends soared, shareholders were ecstatic
Customers and the products delivered?
Got more and more shit
8/n
Share prices soared, dividends soared, shareholders were ecstatic
Customers and the products delivered?
Got more and more shit
8/n
a cartoon cat laying down with the words " not fair " written above it
ALT: a cartoon cat laying down with the words " not fair " written above it
media.tenor.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Between 1978 and 2025, banks, energy and pharma went crazy, buying everything that breathed until in Lloyd's TSB's case it actually ran out of other companies to buy
Share prices soared, dividends soared, shareholders were ecstatic
Customers and the products delivered?
Got more and more shit
8/n
Share prices soared, dividends soared, shareholders were ecstatic
Customers and the products delivered?
Got more and more shit
8/n
...dividends promised.
Make some mergers, buy some promising firms, then pay up front returns... But with what?
Cost stripping!!!! Woot!
Cut costs, pocket the difference, distribute to your investors.
Retail banking and pharma totally went for this 80s to... Now
7/n
Make some mergers, buy some promising firms, then pay up front returns... But with what?
Cost stripping!!!! Woot!
Cut costs, pocket the difference, distribute to your investors.
Retail banking and pharma totally went for this 80s to... Now
7/n
a man in a suit and tie is standing with his arms crossed in a room .
ALT: a man in a suit and tie is standing with his arms crossed in a room .
media.tenor.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:02 PM
...dividends promised.
Make some mergers, buy some promising firms, then pay up front returns... But with what?
Cost stripping!!!! Woot!
Cut costs, pocket the difference, distribute to your investors.
Retail banking and pharma totally went for this 80s to... Now
7/n
Make some mergers, buy some promising firms, then pay up front returns... But with what?
Cost stripping!!!! Woot!
Cut costs, pocket the difference, distribute to your investors.
Retail banking and pharma totally went for this 80s to... Now
7/n
But, What's easier, is to play off future expectations of larger returns
Sweetened with juicy up front dividends
From the 70s onwards firms found they could do this through gimmicks, mergers and acquisitions
Let's go M&A first
Step 1. Announce a merger, share price soars, dividends
6/n
Sweetened with juicy up front dividends
From the 70s onwards firms found they could do this through gimmicks, mergers and acquisitions
Let's go M&A first
Step 1. Announce a merger, share price soars, dividends
6/n
a man in a dark room with the words it 's merging time
ALT: a man in a dark room with the words it 's merging time
media.tenor.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:00 PM
But, What's easier, is to play off future expectations of larger returns
Sweetened with juicy up front dividends
From the 70s onwards firms found they could do this through gimmicks, mergers and acquisitions
Let's go M&A first
Step 1. Announce a merger, share price soars, dividends
6/n
Sweetened with juicy up front dividends
From the 70s onwards firms found they could do this through gimmicks, mergers and acquisitions
Let's go M&A first
Step 1. Announce a merger, share price soars, dividends
6/n
Now, the classic answer, given businesses exist not to make money, nope, but TO PROVIDE GOODS AND SERVICES PEOPLE WANT and need
Is to invent newer and cooler and better ways of doing it to increase profits
Except, that's hard work, and inventing isn't easy. And it's costly
5/n
Is to invent newer and cooler and better ways of doing it to increase profits
Except, that's hard work, and inventing isn't easy. And it's costly
5/n
a woman wearing glasses says genius is rare on a netflix advertisement
ALT: a woman wearing glasses says genius is rare on a netflix advertisement
media.tenor.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Now, the classic answer, given businesses exist not to make money, nope, but TO PROVIDE GOODS AND SERVICES PEOPLE WANT and need
Is to invent newer and cooler and better ways of doing it to increase profits
Except, that's hard work, and inventing isn't easy. And it's costly
5/n
Is to invent newer and cooler and better ways of doing it to increase profits
Except, that's hard work, and inventing isn't easy. And it's costly
5/n