Comments on: Information just wants to be free! http://www.humanitarian.info/2005/11/08/information-just-wants-to-be-free/ because information can save lives Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:15:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Cogito Ergo Aid at humanitarian.info http://www.humanitarian.info/2005/11/08/information-just-wants-to-be-free/comment-page-1/#comment-257429 Cogito Ergo Aid at humanitarian.info Sat, 14 Aug 2010 17:49:04 +0000 http://www.reliefsource.org/?p=12#comment-257429 [...] As public agencies spending public money for the public good, all of our information should be public unless there is a demonstrable privacy or security risk involved. I’d be interested to hear from people who don’t agree with me on this; unfortunately at the moment the exact opposite is true and I appear to be in a minority of one. [...] [...] As public agencies spending public money for the public good, all of our information should be public unless there is a demonstrable privacy or security risk involved. I’d be interested to hear from people who don’t agree with me on this; unfortunately at the moment the exact opposite is true and I appear to be in a minority of one. [...]

]]> By: Welcome to the future | humanitarian.info http://www.humanitarian.info/2005/11/08/information-just-wants-to-be-free/comment-page-1/#comment-256140 Welcome to the future | humanitarian.info Wed, 18 Feb 2009 09:17:29 +0000 http://www.reliefsource.org/?p=12#comment-256140 [...] and educating the public require a different approach to the one we have now, one that starts with openness: A public entity (a non-governmental organisation) using public funds (either via a government [...] [...] and educating the public require a different approach to the one we have now, one that starts with openness: A public entity (a non-governmental organisation) using public funds (either via a government [...]

]]> By: Administrator http://www.humanitarian.info/2005/11/08/information-just-wants-to-be-free/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Administrator Fri, 23 Dec 2005 09:04:12 +0000 http://www.reliefsource.org/?p=12#comment-8 Thanks for the comment, Paul. The way the system works at the moment, there's a range of disincentives to sharing information. However, looking at the work of projects such as ReliefWeb or organisations such as MapAction, it's clear that their reputations are being built on the provision of information. Obviously it helps that they're not operational, but there's no reason why other organisations can't achieve similar ends. Rather than looking at it as a gift economy, we should see it as service provision - if people value the service, they tend to respect the provider. Thanks for the comment, Paul. The way the system works at the moment, there’s a range of disincentives to sharing information. However, looking at the work of projects such as ReliefWeb or organisations such as MapAction, it’s clear that their reputations are being built on the provision of information. Obviously it helps that they’re not operational, but there’s no reason why other organisations can’t achieve similar ends. Rather than looking at it as a gift economy, we should see it as service provision – if people value the service, they tend to respect the provider.

]]> By: Paul Lawrence http://www.humanitarian.info/2005/11/08/information-just-wants-to-be-free/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Paul Lawrence Mon, 12 Dec 2005 18:37:10 +0000 http://www.reliefsource.org/?p=12#comment-7 Paul, Enjoying your blog, which touches on many topics of interest to me. I have thought a lot about the topic in this post so, while late, wanted to reply. I have been wondering about the incentives for NGOs to share information. While I agree that they should, I believe they don't always get ahead in the short-run. I think that those who have accurate data and other well-articulated ideas and information do actually worry that others will "borrow" their ideas. I have found very few that believe in the gift economy, where sharing ideas eventually benefits your project and organization in the long-run. Not sure if you would agree, but I am often surprise at the way organizations are territorial. Another problem I have seen on any open forum to discuss development or humanitarian issues is quality control of the exchanges. No matter how interesting the topic, once a few "loud talkers" jump in and start posting/sharing random and useless information, anyone with any real work to do quickly loses interest. Openess is great and sharing with everyone is a value I support, but for some reason, I think the purpose-driven and well-facilitated online exchange just hasn't worked yet for most of the NGOs I have seen and worked with. I do agree with your conclusion! Paul,

Enjoying your blog, which touches on many topics of interest to me. I have thought a lot about the topic in this post so, while late, wanted to reply.

I have been wondering about the incentives for NGOs to share information. While I agree that they should, I believe they don’t always get ahead in the short-run. I think that those who have accurate data and other well-articulated ideas and information do actually worry that others will “borrow” their ideas. I have found very few that believe in the gift economy, where sharing ideas eventually benefits your project and organization in the long-run. Not sure if you would agree, but I am often surprise at the way organizations are territorial.

Another problem I have seen on any open forum to discuss development or humanitarian issues is quality control of the exchanges. No matter how interesting the topic, once a few “loud talkers” jump in and start posting/sharing random and useless information, anyone with any real work to do quickly loses interest. Openess is great and sharing with everyone is a value I support, but for some reason, I think the purpose-driven and well-facilitated online exchange just hasn’t worked yet for most of the NGOs I have seen and worked with.

I do agree with your conclusion!

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