[p2p-research] article request

[Ryan Lanham]

Michel:

For your consideration, here is a Maia Maia article:


Maia Maia: A Coupon Currency for Carbon Reduction Initiatives and the
Failure of Micro-initiatives

A person inclined to follow P2P really wants to like the Maia
Maia<http://www.maiamaia.org/>project, and I do, in principle.
I really hope it works, but it won't--in practice.  The idea is fairly
simple: Implement a carbon reduction club and thereby earn a standard amount
of “booyas” which are a currency coupon to be used at local vendors
supporting the (hopefully) viral movement.

In practice, there are lots of issues.  First, there is no central source of
legitimacy to the idea except the idea itself.  It’s a nice idea, but it is
hardly unique or bold.

Second, we don’t really need to standardize on booyas, and the network of
booya takers is not yet a selling point based on established presence—like
Facebook is.  So there is really little reason to suspect the movement will
catch hold and center itself amongst the many possible spokes of
(potentially) participating groups.

More importantly, the site itself is clunky and the marketing and component
names seem arbitrary--but not in a good way.  In a sense it is a bit sad to
see these little efforts form without building off of standardized
technology or currency components, a base of shared intellectual umph, or
links to important existing environmental or social groups.   In short, Maia
Maia is too small to matter—and that’s a painful thing for a P2P advocate to
say about a well-intentioned P2P effort.  But it needs saying.  Just because
you want to be in charge is not reason enough to clutter the world with yet
another hopeful but ill-conceived project.

Most of us want to solve big problems—have big ideas.  But the real value of
P2P commons leaders is in integration—not entrepreneurship.  Of course we
need social entrepreneurs and big thinkers.  But what is needed more are
players who build commons—consistent and widely used component sets and
linkages that encourage open standards—not hubs.  That’s the future that
will catch hold.  Sadly, we’ll see 500 Maia Maia’s which will make a lot of
people as cynical as my mother was when she was continually confronted with
a new vendor value stamp (like the old S&H green stamps).  Everyone wants to
be the hub; what’s needed is components.  Please find a group of partners to
be in common with…don’t go it alone.


On Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 10:05 PM, Michel Bauwens <michelsub2004 at gmail.com>wrote:

> merci!
>
>
> On Wed, Oct 28, 2009 at 3:06 AM, Ryan Lanham <rlanham1963 at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> Yes, I'll take care of it tomorrow.
>>
>> Ryan
>>
>>   On Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 10:12 AM, Elifarley Callado Coelho Cruz <
>> elifarley at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Hello Ryan,
>>>
>>> Can you take care of that? I'll be focusing on the article about interest
>>> for now.
>>>
>>> Elifarley
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mon, Oct 26, 2009 at 07:51, Michel Bauwens <michelsub2004 at gmail.com>wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi Ryan,
>>>>
>>>> I think you forwarded this right: http://www.maiamaia.org/
>>>>
>>>> If you or Eli have time for mentioning this on our blog, post-dated
>>>> November 1 to 7, it would be much appreciated,
>>>>
>>>> Michel
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Work: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhurakij_Pundit_University -
>>>> Research: http://www.dpu.ac.th/dpuic/info/Research.html - Think thank:
>>>> http://www.asianforesightinstitute.org/index.php/eng/The-AFI
>>>>
>>>> P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net  -
>>>> http://blog.p2pfoundation.net
>>>>
>>>> Connect: http://p2pfoundation.ning.com; Discuss:
>>>> http://listcultures.org/mailman/listinfo/p2presearch_listcultures.org
>>>>
>>>> Updates: http://del.icio.us/mbauwens; http://friendfeed.com/mbauwens;
>>>> http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> " Do not believe anything because it is said by an authority, or if it
>>>  is said to come from angels, or from Gods, or from an inspired source.
>>> Believe it only if you have explored it in your own heart and mind and body
>>> and found it to be true.  Work out your own path, through diligence."
>>> - Gautama Buddha
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Ryan Lanham
>> rlanham1963 at gmail.com
>> Facebook: Ryan_Lanham
>> P.O. Box 633
>> Grand Cayman, KY1-1303
>> Cayman Islands
>> (345) 916-1712
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Work: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhurakij_Pundit_University - Research:
> http://www.dpu.ac.th/dpuic/info/Research.html - Think thank:
> http://www.asianforesightinstitute.org/index.php/eng/The-AFI
>
> P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net  - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net
>
> Connect: http://p2pfoundation.ning.com; Discuss:
> http://listcultures.org/mailman/listinfo/p2presearch_listcultures.org
>
> Updates: http://del.icio.us/mbauwens; http://friendfeed.com/mbauwens;
> http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens
>
>
>
>
>


-- 
Ryan Lanham
rlanham1963 at gmail.com
Facebook: Ryan_Lanham
P.O. Box 633
Grand Cayman, KY1-1303
Cayman Islands
(345) 916-1712
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listcultures.org/pipermail/p2presearch_listcultures.org/attachments/20091028/6d354d01/attachment.html>