We are hackers, and for those of us with whom this article resonates, we can connect those with time but little money (e.g. teenagers looking for charities to contribute to) with the poor through technology. The teens could help with chores, maintenance, errands, filling out forms. Taking some of the time-pressure off might help them to get out of the cycle.
I actually think this is one of the great problems of our time (how wealth inequality lowers productivity by suppressing people who might otherwise contribute to society) and have experienced it acutely at times. One of my mottos is that you can have money or time but not both, but if you do manage to achieve both, then you are in a position to change the world.
I'm not sure I would quite take the matching approach you propose, but I've often thought that a better contracting service like fiverr (where people could make money quickly for the skills they truly excel at) could change the world by giving people alternatives to things like credit cards and payday loans. But there needs to be no little or no friction to make it feasible. Right now it's a PITA to make money through most of the online freelance sites because it's too hands-on, and technology doesn't do nearly enough.
Anyway, just wanted to say hi because this is something that I would like to work on also.
In my experience, in everything from going out to lunch to planning a camping trip to having a party to asking someone out to doing any work-- you have to do it, and yes let other people know you're doing it, but you have to be doing it regardless.
Things generally don't work if you say "I'll do it if you agree to do it too."
Nonsense. If I can't find someone to go to the movies with me, I probably won't go. I care about this issue, and am willing to work toward it - and it might even be fundable through grants, and other philanthropy. So I'd recommend contacting me if it interests you.
Comments
We are hackers, and for those of us with whom this article resonates, we can connect those with time but little money (e.g. teenagers looking for charities to contribute to) with the poor through technology. The teens could help with chores, maintenance, errands, filling out forms. Taking some of the time-pressure off might help them to get out of the cycle.
I'm willing to build it if you are. Contact me.
I actually think this is one of the great problems of our time (how wealth inequality lowers productivity by suppressing people who might otherwise contribute to society) and have experienced it acutely at times. One of my mottos is that you can have money or time but not both, but if you do manage to achieve both, then you are in a position to change the world.
I'm not sure I would quite take the matching approach you propose, but I've often thought that a better contracting service like fiverr (where people could make money quickly for the skills they truly excel at) could change the world by giving people alternatives to things like credit cards and payday loans. But there needs to be no little or no friction to make it feasible. Right now it's a PITA to make money through most of the online freelance sites because it's too hands-on, and technology doesn't do nearly enough.
Anyway, just wanted to say hi because this is something that I would like to work on also.
In my experience, in everything from going out to lunch to planning a camping trip to having a party to asking someone out to doing any work-- you have to do it, and yes let other people know you're doing it, but you have to be doing it regardless.
Things generally don't work if you say "I'll do it if you agree to do it too."
Nonsense. If I can't find someone to go to the movies with me, I probably won't go. I care about this issue, and am willing to work toward it - and it might even be fundable through grants, and other philanthropy. So I'd recommend contacting me if it interests you.