Crowdfunding critical infrastructure

Thu Jun 27 16:32:26 UTC 2019

>
> Encouraging folks to contribute to specific individuals directly may be a
> little more difficult though, compared to, say, getting a legitimate
> organization going that provides (likely objectively-determined
> merit-based) payouts to the sort of folks you're talking about.
>

Adding an organization in front of that whose sole reason for existence is
to decide who gets what % of the money doesn't make a lot of sense, mostly
because it is just creating another layer of people who are then going to
feel entitled to be compensated for taking the time to decide who should be
compensated.

Maintaining a list of individuals who freely maintain important software,
with links so people can choose to donate a few bucks if they like seems
perfectly fine.

On Thu, Jun 27, 2019 at 11:59 AM Matt Harris <matt at netfire.net> wrote:

> On Thu, Jun 27, 2019 at 10:41 AM Eric S. Raymond <esr at thyrsus.com> wrote:
>
>> The members of this list are, I think, much more aware tham most that
>> a lot of critical Internet software is maintained by unfunded
>> volunteers, and of the systemic risks that result from this.
>>
>> I'm attacking the problem at the root, applying what the Internet has
>> taught us about decentralization and avoidiing single poimts of
>> failure. In part because I'm currently struggling with medical bills
>> (nothing life-threatening, just ankle surgery) but I've been worrying
>> about the larger problem for a decade.
>>
>> Please read http://loadsharers.net
>>
>> Of course I would like everyone on here to take the pledge and spread
>> the word in technical communities where they have influence. But
>> beyond that, there are several members of this list who are clearly
>> qualified to join as advisers. We're going to need that as the
>> Loadsharers network scales up.
>>
>
> Interesting concept, and seems like a good idea. What's the end goal look
> like? Encouraging folks to contribute to specific individuals directly may
> be a little more difficult though, compared to, say, getting a legitimate
> organization going that provides (likely objectively-determined
> merit-based) payouts to the sort of folks you're talking about. Is that on
> the table, or is the goal more to just encourage direct payments from one
> individual to others?
>
> I think many of us assume that doing the sort of work you're referring to
> will definitely result in the regular receipt of many prestigious,
> high-paying job offers. If that's not the case, maybe something else we can
> do is to help find full-time employment/funding for folks who contribute
> and need it.
>
> Hope your ankle's feeling better soon!
>
>
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