Musings Report #37 09-14-13 Does the Web Leverage Altruism?
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Does the Web Leverage Altruism?
A recent conversation with my longtime friend G.F.B. raised this question: does the web leverage our innate altruism? G.F.B. has long served as an expert on a professional video editing software program, posting short tutorials to answer beginners' questions. He observed the ubiquity of those willing to help others on the web, and the relative paucity of credit or recognition received for this altruism, especially when people don't use their real names.There is certainly some satisfaction in helping others, even to those posting anonymously, i.e. those whose help will go unrecognized. This satisfaction is a core dynamic in web-enabled altruism, but the larger dynamic is the astonishing array of lessons, tutorials and tips available on the web as a result of people willingly choosing to invest time and energy in posting solutions and help.
Problem with your printer? Just post the model and question, and up pop a variety of forum posts that address the problem. This is true for a truly gargantuan spectrum of problems. I replaced an engine sensor in our Honda Civic a few years ago from instructions found on the web, and have also learned to troubleshoot problems with older household gas furnaces from tutorials found on the web.
The key here is the leverage: in the past, one person might be able to help one other person at a time. With the web, a tutorial designed to help one person is accessible to thousands of people with the same situation or question. The global enabling of altruism is an immensely powerful and perhaps under-appreciated feature of the web. I anticipate that the leveraging of altruism will lead to ever-greater sharing and positive results on a global scale.
Market Musings
The U.S. stock market appears to be forming a right shoulder in a multi-month head and shoulders topping pattern. This is a nearly ideal setup for a sharp decline in October. Interestingly, oil hasn't declined much in the relief rally, and high energy costs continue to threaten the global growth story. If oil breaks out above $125/barrel, a re-test of previous multi-year highs around $150/barrel becomes a possibility.
Best Thing That Happened to Me This Week
Our cucumber plants finally produced flowers. A cool August seemed to have stunted the flowering stage.
From Left Field
Thanks for reading--
charles
