The world is ideas is a dangerous place.
I got an e-mail from a guy today asking me to assist him with an idea that, well meaning, was not well thought out. I've coppied his e-mail below and my response.
Hey man!
I saw your post on the forum topic for a charitable internet. I am actually trying to build this entity and I am looking for leaders and artists to help make this dream a reality. I think that the world would be much better off if the major internet media entities donated their profits to charity. There are a number of new problems that have arisen due to the desperation to make money, of internet websites. These include compatibility issues, lower security requirements so that people can upload cookies into your browser, privacy issues, not to mention the ways that people of all backgrounds are depicted to play on our most basic human instincts, driving us further apart, instead of closer together and all for money.
Now I love the controversial media as much as anyone. At the same I believe when artists focus on provacative ways to make the world a better place that the world of media will reach greater hieghts. I also believe that this path will lead them in that direction without preaching. I am all about free speech I just want people to be inspired to work for the greater good.
I understand that the internet is not now the cash cow that I believe that it soon will be. People need to feel secure with the transactions that they are making online. I also fear that when these systems become more secure, and efficient that even more jobs will be lost, and many Americans feel richous turning a blind eye to people that suffer. As the economy becomes more automated, fewer jobs will be available. Soon people around the world will be competing with machines, and slaves for jobs. There is such baligarant ignorance preached by the major media enties, creeping fascism in the US, I am really concerned about the direction of the country. I want to give the people the power to choose their own direction, and invest in the technologies that they believe will make the world a better place, without concern of profit. I want to be part of the answer. I want to inspire the people to demand technologies that will produce virtually unlmited free food and housing. China and Japan are already investing in these areas, I don't think that we can afford to fall behind in these pursuits because recent technologies have made these dreams an inevitable reality.
This is all deep and philosphical, and I am not asking anyone to be like me. I just want everyone to have as much fun, and happiness as possible. I think that this is a dream that people around the world would embrace. There has been as much interest from people overseas in this project, as there have been people here, so I really believe that this could be a world uniting cause. There are many people who believe that economics is the key to world peace. That if we trade, and do business together that we will not want to fight with one another.
Hopefully you will feel inspired to chat a bit more, and possibly join the effort. When we are successful you will be happy you made the decision that you did. I also believe that their will be a place in history for the greatest contributors. I can tell that you like to think. I like to think too. We have a great team of possitive thinkers put together at this point. I hope that you will feel inspired to join the team.
Have fun!
Tony Purdom
www.youmanity.com
The following is my response:
The internet is the greatest invention in all of human history. As the printing press braught the printed word to the illiterate masses of humanity it dawned a new era of knowledge and inlightenment never before seen in all of civilization; The Renisance, so too does the Internet bring knowledge INSTANTLY to every corner of the earth. The printing companies that braught first the bible, followed by millions of other works, to the Great Unwashed did so NOT because they were knowingly invested in some lofty pursuit of knowledge, but because they could turn a profit. They needed to feed their families and they did so through paper, ink, glue, and binding which were formed into books and sold to whoever could afford them.
This new age, the dawn of the modern renisance is in its infancy but it is coming, and fast. There will be a day, in our lifetimes, when a doctor can instantly diagnose your illness because he can tap into a digital database housing all medical knowledge. There will be a day, in our lifetimes, when a child can learn to read before he steps foot in a kindergarden through e-learning. When we are gone, the internet will benefit humanity in ways we can not even dream of; nevermind the movies we watch, the websites we browse, or the funny pictures we look at - humanity will literally become to us what we are to the ancient cave man - a civilization capable of limitless potential and awe-inspiring accomplishments. This will come about because TODAY, a company can sell a product ; be it media or physical, on a digital network requiring servers, web developers, IT professionals, security systems, and an army of artists, businessmen, and academics and turn a profit - a HUGE profit - that snowballs into an even MORE complex array of requirments and technology pushing the boundries, EVERY DAY, of human limitation.
The internet is the venue through which the ruthlessly oppressed Chinese worker learns about the concept of American organized labor and learns to fight for the freedom and equality he is entitled to. The internet is the venue through which an African at risk of contracting AIDS, learns about how that disease is transmitted and how to avoid it. The internet is the venue through which a South American learns about the corruption in his countries government and becomes an agent of change for the better. While we sit and surf myspace forums, engage in e-love, and laugh at Lolcats, the internet is changing the world by bringing knowledge to the ignorant. It is ABLE to do this because the same server housing free medical help, free history lessons, or free news coverage is paid for, in part, by a company that needs that server to house it's 900 hours of Ghost Hunters or 72,000 hours of anime... and it is paid for because that company can turn a profit... but it certainly isn't easy and there are many hurdles.
What you seek to acomplish isn't some lofty dream of diverting a little internet profit toward charity for the betterment of humanity. What you seek to accomlish is nothing short of the strangling of the infant internet in its crib. If a company can't use internet based media to turn a profit, than that company will LEAVE the business of internet-based media... and, eventually, there's no incentive to pay for a server or pay a web developer or IT professional or anyone with experience in technology to build and maintain the internet. And, eventually the greatest achievement of mankind sufocates and dies.
You have no right to lay claim to the products of another mans labor no matter what your cause is. Millions of men and women, just like me, contribute to the internet in a wide range of creative and intelectual ways. We are able to do so, and make a living doing so, because the companies we work for see the internet as a venue for bringing their product to customers and bringing their customers to them; a digital arena in which to compete JUST as commercial venues compete in your neighborhood. Their profits, which you want to divert to charity, pay MY sallary and the sallary of millions of people arround the world. The companies we work for make profits and compete in a commercial world that is NO different that the physcial world we live in except it is faster, bigger, and ever changing - but JUST as compeditive... and we work HARD to provide internet based prducts that people are willing to pay for and NO ONE has a right to the SWEAT and BLOOD that I, and millions like me, shed in pursuit of carving a niche within this new digital era... and THROUGH our sweat and blood, as we toil day in and day out keeping ahead of technology, staying secure, learning about the next trend, wanting nothing more than to feed our families and pay our mortgages and maybe take a vacation once a year it is *WE* who are forging the destiny of humanity. It is *WE* who bringing in the new dawn of human enlightenment. It is *WE*who are crafting the next age of enlightenment. It is *WE* who cary that torch, not some obscure group with a heart of gold but no understanding of basic economics.
I appreciate you contacting me in regard to this issue but I must decline. The unfortunate truth is, although you may have the most admerable of intentions, your method for achieving this "dream" is nothing short of the blackest evil that one person can inflict upon another short of rape or murder. What's more, your movement is as to humanity as the barbarians were to Rome; the unenlightened hordes raging ignorantly against the greatest bastion of civilization for nothing more than their own minute and unworthy cause.
I hope I've helped to open your eyes to the profound wrongness of your intentions and I cincerely hope you fail at what you seek to accomplish.
Mark
2 Comments
He replied with another e-mail:
Well I do appriciate your well contrived arguements. I do understand that these would be some of the weakness of the system.. I have countless ways that I intend on compensating for these weaknesses, including helping small business owners and artists to. I do understand your concerns, I love economics.
I believe that this is what people have been dreaming would be the function of business for generations. People who looked longingly at a store front wondering why business owners would not give them the help that they need to survive, wondering if they will always have to be exploited. . Except for those who wish to exploit, and use their money to manipulate other people, and their minds. I want people to be free of the manipulation of money by giving everyone the ability to make money from their own home.
The world is changing, and any attempt to hold on to any nostalgic image of what business is or has been is ill fated. The way that economics is used to brutally oppress the people may be more obvious in other countries than our own, that is because we have the privlage of bennifiting from this exploitation. It takes far more "ignor"ance to denial my position.(trying to play with words, I know it wasn't smooth)
The internet is changing everything, and my business model is the business model that is finding success in computer technology. Businesses like craigslist, microsoft, myspace, youtube and the entire open source movement subscribe to these principles. These businesses are there more as a service to the consumer than a profit deriving entity. Therefore I feel that your position is the ignorant barbarian and persecutive position. Look how filled with anger you position is. Who is it that seeks to create, and who seeks to destroy.
The fact of the matter is that innovation will occur naturally and at a much greater rate with the advent of the internet.. Money just acts as a whip, and unfortunately backs are breaking all over the world due to the pressure, and anxieties placed on people due to their pursuit of money and power. These pressures are driving people into gangs, crime, drugs, divorce, as well as a litney of other problems that are too many to name. I am not saying that I want an end to money, I want an end to the pressure that money puts on people, and again my dream is to give everyone the ability to make a living from the comfort of their own home.
The fact of the matter is capitolism is dead, and the capitolists will be the last to know. I can not stand to see my people suffer as they compete with machines, slaves, and other automated systems, while listening to the baligerantly ignorant fascists that are trying to defend their right to dominate another person.
You are a smart guy, and a great writer, keep it up. I hope that you find a way to put positive energy into what you do, so that you can lift thier spirits with inspiration, rather than propogate a co-miserate, co-dependent position with cynasism. Even if you are not willing to help me I am willing to help you. If you would like a proof reader who can teach you how to put positive energy into your work, and life let me know.
Have fun!
Tony Purdom
Posted on 09/11/08 | Reply
This is my response:
I understand that you are completely intellectually invested in your world view and there is no argument that I can present, no matter how infallible, that will dissuade you from your position. The road to hell is paved with good intentions and you’re too far along the Yellow Brick road to turn back.
You see business owners as the villain when, in reality, business owners are the hero… the hero who, through their own time and effort, provide a product or service to anyone willing to pay for it. Their “EVIL profit” pays for their mortgage, the rent for their place of business, their insurance, food, AND the salary for each employee that works for him who can IN TURN pay THEIR mortgage and feed THEIR family and, perhaps, one day start a business of their own. You seek to divert the essence of that system into the coffers of “charity” and, consequently, murder the dreams of every hard working man and woman who happens to work for an internet-based company.
I will not deny that there is economic oppression on this earth but that oppression WILL NOT be overcome by grinding the gears of progress to a halt. It will be overcome in EXACTLY the same way we in America overcame our own economic oppression; through organized labor and, eventually, unions. There WILL one day be a UAW in China but, in the meantime, it is NOT the “evil corporations” that are oppressing the Chinese worker, it is the corrupt government exploiting their over-population.
If you REALLY cared about economic equality your movement would be focused on establishing foreign labor unions in 3rd world countries, lobbying the UN to regulate labor laws in those countries, and fighting the foreign governments that care less about their people than maintaining power. But you DON’T care to really make a difference. You’d prefer to attack the bastions of prosperity within the United States because it’s EASY and it’s TRENDY.
You’re right, the internet *IS* changing everything, and for the better. The new business models of Craigslist, Youtube, and the like are fine. The owners of those companies are free to run their business as they see fit. But it is IMMORAL to try to force that business model on any other company. It IS barbaric to try and force your world view on a business and it is even MORE barbaric to disregard the consequences of that endeavor; the stifling of the internet and in turn the millions of jobs; DREAMS, that are tied to it because of some lofty “greater good” that can never TRULY be accomplished until the economically oppressed organize and take their own fate into their own hands. My position is filled with anger because YOU are trying to justify STEELING from the hand that feeds me and millions like me… the hand that makes it possible for me and millions like me to put food on MY table… but you’re to blinded by self righteousness to care about how *I* make ends meet and you’re too brainwashed by socialist dogma to understand the DEPTH of the consequences of your efforts.
You’re also right that innovation will occur naturally and faster with the internet; it is, as I said, the greatest invention in all of human history. But money is NOT a whip. Money is the fuel for that innovation. People want to innovate because they want to achieve something great and get paid for it. They want to take vacations and live in a nice house. They want to build and provide for their families. And it IS hard but it’s not hard because some corporate tyrant has his boot on our necks. It’s hard because competing and innovating in a world full of competitors and innovators is difficult and people like YOU who seek to leach on to the fruits of OUR labor and lay claim to it despite not having produced it certainly don’t make it any easier.
Your understanding of the world is juvenile and dangerous. Capitalism is far from dead and every step you take against it is a sword swing against everything that is good and right on this earth. You are LITERALLY waging a war against human prosperity and progress and you don’t even know it. I don’t expect you to understand but I will fight against you and people like you because your position is evil. I can’t make you understand because you refuse to open your eyes to the world around you. You must be stopped.
Your position that businesses with attempt to monopolize the internet only goes further to prove how limited your understanding of the world is. The beauty of the internet is that it CAN NOT be monopolized in any way. You can try and stop the flow of information (as China, and many other governments do) but there will always be holes and man will always find a way to access the free world of ideas. Your “evil corporations” are not these dark entities driven by sinister overlords that you think. They’re groups of people, just like me, who have families and houses who work together to provide products and services to the world. A corporation is a GOOD THING filled with GOOD PEOPLE who have hopes and dreams and want to retire one day… and you hate them for the virtue of their productive efforts. The world of ideas CAN NOT be monopolized; Microsoft proved that and their technological stranglehold on the world is slipping every day. There will ALWAYS be competition in technology because it is the nature of mans mind to innovate and profit from that innovation.
You want to destroy the motivation for people to innovate. You, in a very real sense, seek to halt the gears of progress and prosperity. I might be persuaded to help your organization if you were ACTUALLY interested in making GENUINE progress toward economic equality in this world but you’re not. You’re distracted by a desire to hurt “evil corporations” and don’t understand how those corporations are lifting the standard of living all across the earth by creating jobs and paying salaries. You haven’t thought your idea through but you’re all-to-ready to embrace socialist dogma to achieve your goals.
Are you going to teach the barely literate worker in China who makes shoes for Nike how to use the internet to feed his family? Are you going to teach the barely literate worker in Argentina who makes baby toys for Walmart how o use the internet to pay his rent? No. You’re not… but because his salary is paid by an “evil corporation” you’d prefer to snatch his job away without regard for the consequences. If you REALLY cared, if you REALLY wanted to change the world for the better you’d go to the worker in China and Argentina and any other country where economic inequality is rampant and start a labor union. And then you’d be able to fight for better working conditions and wages for these people.
But you won’t do that. You don’t REALLY care. You only want to bite the hand that feeds humanity because somewhere along the line you decided that a group of people who work VERY hard to produce services and products to sell and make a living are evil.
Mark
Posted on 09/11/08 | Reply
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