Gift wikinomics

I was researching some more into gift economics and low and behold, I actually found the Wikipedia entry quite thought provoking. Some examples of gift economics:

• The blood bank system
• Amish barn raising
• Wikipedia itself, as information gift economy
• Give away shops

Even more interesting, it gave me words for some things I already practice.

Comments

[Lex Fear]

My philosophy towards ownership and money has shifted completely over the last 10 years.

Coming from a pentecostal church highly sedated on business culture and the prosperity movement, I once held a view that capitalism is good and that it is Godly to pursue money and conduct the church like a business.

As you may already be aware I'm now vehemently against that philosophy and have embraced some form of gift economics myself, but never knew it under that name.

I started Freecycling a couple of years ago and I try to give away anything of value I no longer need - I even gave away our last car (it was old but in good condition and worth about £600). I used to ebay but it just doesn't fit with my ethics anymore.

I also switched to Open Source software, and have recently discovered the project to create a public domain web bible (free to print, quote, distribute).

I wish the church would seize this culture while there are opportunities to be had to make a real impact on society. Right now it seems to be a mostly secular movement - which I really think puts the church to shame.

[Kalessin]

http://www.timebank.org.uk/

Check this out.