The Careware Idea
(adapted from http://www.arachnoid.com/careware)
— Copyright © 2003, P. Lutus
Even though this page has a big, impressive title, it is about a simple idea which I hope I can convey in a few words. Here are the main points:
· Economic principles lie behind many more human activities than most of us realize. We are almost constantly exchanging something for something else.
· Many economic transactions don't involve money. In traditional societies, and sometimes even this one, people trade using favors, influence, even pure ideas, instead of money.
· Sometimes money is not the best way to convey value. And sometimes money is so completely inappropriate that it destroys the transaction. CareWare is one of those transactions.
· CareWare doesn't involve money, but it is a transaction nevertheless. Something is delivered, something is received. Adam Smith's invisible economic hand moves through the CareWare economy just like everywhere else. I can't ask for something more than I am giving, but I can ask for an appropriate exchange.
In CareWare, the "buyer" gets something of value in exchange for something the "seller" wants. And what does the seller want? The general answer is "Anything except money," but I prefer the really remarkable transactions, which you recognize instinctively when you see them.
Here is an example -- here is a hypothetical transaction between myself and you. I have a program called "Arachnophilia" which is a rather nice Web page editor and workshop, but I don't want your money in exchange, I want something else. So I say "This is what I am offering, and here is what I want in return." Simple, right? I have been doing this for a little while now, and the responses have been very interesting. Many people think I have religious beliefs -- I don't, at least not religious beliefs recognizable by a person of normal intellectual gifts. Others try to push the transaction in a more traditional direction for one reason or another -- I recently received this message:
Careware, eh? A small price to pay for such a great software package. My pen quivers over my checkbook in case you change your mind.
(adapted from http://www.arachnoid.com/careware)
— Copyright © 2003, P. Lutus
Even though this page has a big, impressive title, it is about a simple idea which I hope I can convey in a few words. Here are the main points:
· Economic principles lie behind many more human activities than most of us realize. We are almost constantly exchanging something for something else.
· Many economic transactions don't involve money. In traditional societies, and sometimes even this one, people trade using favors, influence, even pure ideas, instead of money.
· Sometimes money is not the best way to convey value. And sometimes money is so completely inappropriate that it destroys the transaction. CareWare is one of those transactions.
· CareWare doesn't involve money, but it is a transaction nevertheless. Something is delivered, something is received. Adam Smith's invisible economic hand moves through the CareWare economy just like everywhere else. I can't ask for something more than I am giving, but I can ask for an appropriate exchange.
In CareWare, the "buyer" gets something of value in exchange for something the "seller" wants. And what does the seller want? The general answer is "Anything except money," but I prefer the really remarkable transactions, which you recognize instinctively when you see them.
Here is an example -- here is a hypothetical transaction between myself and you. I have a program called "Arachnophilia" which is a rather nice Web page editor and workshop, but I don't want your money in exchange, I want something else. So I say "This is what I am offering, and here is what I want in return." Simple, right? I have been doing this for a little while now, and the responses have been very interesting. Many people think I have religious beliefs -- I don't, at least not religious beliefs recognizable by a person of normal intellectual gifts. Others try to push the transaction in a more traditional direction for one reason or another -- I recently received this message:
Careware, eh? A small price to pay for such a great software package. My pen quivers over my checkbook in case you change your mind.
-Still here? OK,Click Here for more of P. Lutus, and the rest of the story.
So here is my deal: stop whining for a day, for a week, and you will have earned your copy of Arachnophilia. Say encouraging words to young people, make them feel welcome on the planet Earth (many do not). Show by example that we don't need all we have in order to be happy and productive.
That's my transaction -- that's how you get your copy of Arachnophilia. And that's the CareWare idea.
So here is my deal: stop whining for a day, for a week, and you will have earned your copy of Arachnophilia. Say encouraging words to young people, make them feel welcome on the planet Earth (many do not). Show by example that we don't need all we have in order to be happy and productive.
That's my transaction -- that's how you get your copy of Arachnophilia. And that's the CareWare idea.
2 comments:
I think your blog ia great and very informative!!
Good luck in your class and I hope we can work together sometime.
Tony Bucaro
Great Job
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