Philanthropy in Virtual Worlds?
Submitted by Taran on Thu, 06/21/2007 - 21:56
Yup. Instead of turning that philanthropy inward, they're exporting it to virtual worlds. Second Life in particular.
As I commented there - if philanthropy actually worked, it would have eradicated itself by now. Instead, it creates the need for people to write papers to other people who need tax breaks. Pass around the hat.
Wait - who counts among the venture capitalists for Second Life? Oh dear. Maybe poor Philbert is just a meat-puppet. Poor guy.
I'd love to see them actually have one of these meetings in a poor area without electricity, water and (*gasp*) internet access.
So if you want to endure a soiree of who's who and who knows who and who funds who... you know what to do. But if you want to actually make things better in the world, here's all I'll say.
Sometimes the hand you hold is the hand that holds you down.
Some people
Enter a forest and criticize the trees. Point is that the constant reorganization gives only an illusion of progress.
Change comes from within.
Like a virus
it spreads.
What a cynical bunch?
It can work - sadly we don't live in a perfect world real or otherwise. Squeegeeland has always supported investment in individuals in SL and continues to do so. What have you done?
What have I done?
I've done a lot. If you want to toss out the hat for challenges, be very careful. You might just get served.
You toss out some money and think you're doing something? What have you changed? What have you done? Or have you just fed the status quo and trying to be the big man in town?
What have I done? Heh. That you need to ask that question demonstrates your disconnect.
Ouch...
I must have hit a nerve... ?
I didn't realise it was a competition but I can't help thinking that by answering a question with a question you are really avoiding that question?
You know me - I serve the masses by providing good value land. I have employed people, I have set people up in their own land trading business giving a number of people financial and practical support. I have invested in peoples ideas here in SL - some have been successful, some not so but the important thing is that I have tried to do my bit for people that needed a helping hand.
As for me being the big man in town, sure if that's the way you feel then you must be right after all I have told so many people about what I have done, I advertise the fact and boast about it...or do I?
So maybe in that respect you are the same as me? I don't know what you have done, this doesn't demonstrate my disconnect merely that I don't have the information to hand - so why don't you share. What have you done?
And as for the challenge - I didn't know it was a competition but if it is - bring it on I can handle it.
Martin Squeegee is waiting in his office for a visit.
You didn't hit a nerve.
You sell land for a fair price in Second Life, but that isn't philanthropy. That is business. We're talking about philanthropy. Please find a dictionary.
You want an example of something I have done? You did ask. OK. Fair enough. An example of what I have done. I have spent a lot of time and energy trying to do good things with technology, and have never gotten a dime from philanthropists. There are lots of little examples all over, from networking a hospital in Guyana to showing kids how to use computers. Large budgets have never been involved.
That is what I have done. And I'll keep doing it, too.
If philanthropy worked, it would have made itself obsolete hundreds of years ago. If you want to do something positive, just look around you and change things.
Hmm....
ok ok you win... now you're just being silly.
Really I know the difference between selling land for a profit and philan...what was the word?
I am very pleased you have done such noble acts in africa - there should be more people like you willing to put themselves on the line. But that to me is a very different definition of philanthropy? I did look it up as you suggested and all of the definitions I found included some reference to giving money to benefit others. To me that is what philanthropy is... what you have done is fantastic, charitable and I have no doubt has improved those individuals lives in some way - but that is being a volunteer or a charity worker or probably all round good guy.
Philanthropy to me (and the dictionaries I found - OED) is about business people using their cash to invest in people, communities and projects that get them out of that hole they are currently in to something better by giving them the skills, confidence and stability they need to do it on their own. So and please I am keeping this to SL before we go any further - I do my fair share of that funded by the land trading business - I have no misconceptions that trading land for money is a virtuous profession in the slightest - it's what you do with the profits that counts?
I will tell you my biggest problem though in the SL world of helping people... it doesn't work more often than it does by the very premise that people in SL do have some form of education, communication skills etc. so there really aren't that many needy people.
What I am thinking about and would genuinely welcome your views either here, email or in world is how to effectively promote RL projects that do do some of the things you have experienced and can make are real difference to someone. Let's face it SL is a very shallow place, full of sleaze, gambling and consumerism, I'm sure we could do just a small thing to balance that off?
I'll leave it there.
(Martin Squeegee can be found in his huge new office in Mun Saari sat at a lonely desk counting his linden).
Africa?
OK, now you have demonstrated that you didn't read. There's absolutely no connection to Africa in what I pointed you at.
Not only that, your knowledge of philanthropy is only a regurgitation of information which you found in a dictionary (after being directed to go look). Then you accuse me of being silly... OK. You win. I'm silly. I wrote something that I am knowledgeable of, and have seen in operation in the context of poverty and divides - and expressed an opinion. Your response was, "what have you done?" to which I responded.
Philanthropy, in practice, provides short term solutions to long term problems created by policy issues - policy issues which are often created and reinforced by the people who would call themselves philanthropists.
You could have easily avoided all of this by stopping at the 'being cynical' comment, but you went ahead and made it personal by asking what I have done. Why? I can accept being called a cynic; most realists can accept that. But you felt the need to demean people because... why? Are philanthropists better human beings?
Why is it there is a focus on the philanthropists instead of the problems that need to be solved?
It is unfortunate you seem to have left as empty as you came. If you want to discuss solving world problems, that is good. If you think improving the world is a reality television show and has nothing to do with the people at the other end, then consider your concept of philanthropy as good and true - and leave in peace. But if you're actually interested in the problems, discuss the problems and get to know them before even thinking that philanthropy is something worth talking about on someone's website where they have expressed that philanthropy is exponentially more ineffective in a virtual than it is in the real.
Bye.
Ya Know what?
Ya know what would be a true act of philanthropy? Mentors in SL. Folks that are easy to reach to ask the most basic questions without fear of being taunted or being labeled as a lesser being because we don't know those things most of you consider the basics.
There is all this talk about buying land and counting lindens -- but there are some folks (I am one) who never found a way to make that initial linden, much less enough to buy land. Some of us can't figure out how to create (although without the lindens to buy the land, we are restricted as to where and what we can build), even if we do know something about materials, textures and the like.
I know, I know -- there ARE "help" buttons -- but it's like the help buttons think we are in the third grade, but in fact, we ARE in the room with the smallest chairs, waiting for the teacher to come in and teach us the alphabet.
What we need is kinda like a kindergarten, where we might even use an assumed name to learn, then use our chosen names to actually join the community.
Think about it. After all, there are only two types of people in the world: students and teachers...
A few suggestions I hope help....
There are some really great building classes in SL. A quick look through search under education brings up all the classes for the day, although some of them do require payment for supplies. I have found the ^ASL^ and Mystical Mastery classes to be the greatest help. The ^ASL^ has a group you can join to ask questions if you need extra help. If you are unable to take a building class, there are do-it-yourself kits. These give you the building materials, plus a notecard with detailed instructions and pictures throughout the project. You can get these at the College of Second Life Knowledge in Atlas. Other places within SL offer tutorials on textures and the very basics of prims to view at your own pace at Design Center, Idea City and the Ivory Tower Library of Primitives. Also, there are a few classes for the brand new folk to SL, answering basic "how to" questions at Jadowhy. Most of the instructors I have met are very willing to help those who need it. There are resources out there; sadly, they can be difficult to find.
Do you see how I left you alone to rant for just a little bit..
.... which is probably a good thing. Now I am more relaxed, sitting in my big office counting my linden and I won't bite.
You took that as personal attack - not at all - you attacked everyone who has done anything to support people through funding (back to the real meaning of that philanthropy word we were talking about) other peoples efforts. Why get so defensive about the good things that you have done (although getting you say what they were was rather tough??!)
You're right I got it wrong... I didn't read the word Guyana... my head read Ghana... hence the africa thing... either way you win... I can't compete.
IM me so we can meet and talk about what CAN be done in SL. Can't say anything more than that can I?
Martin Squeegee is pacing in Mun Saari.
No, Martin.
I attacked the concept of philanthropy, I didn't attack anyone. Did I name anyone? No.
Winning? It wasn't about winning. It was very simple. It is very simple. Philanthropy's help has not amounted to much. For those who think helping people requires press releases with large dollar figures - well, guess what? That doesn't work either.
Philanthropists? Bah. You want to know who should be getting the press? Single parents who manage to raise their children. People who manage to survive without proper medication and nutrition because of a combination of poor policy and poor government. The person who takes a moment and makes their own back yard a better place. Those are the heroes. Philanthropists get press for... what? Spending money that they can afford to spend?
I wouldn't wait for an IM from me. L8r.
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