Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I am a true capitalists by nature, but had one of those thoughts about StartUpNation-A community that openly helps others but does not expect any compensation for that advice/consulting/help (discounting the `marketing` affect of belonging to StartUpNation). So you have the `communal` sharing aspect of socialism that is there to help the capitalist capitalize on the individuals ideas. 

Ummm, according to Merriam-Webster:

Main Entry: so·cial·ism
Pronunciation: `sO-sh&-"li-z&m
Function: noun
1 : any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods
2 a : a system of society or group living in which there is no private property b : a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state
3 : a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done

I see business (mixed with some social) NETWORKING, but not Socialism.  There is no "state" controlling our economic activities and we aren`t distributing wealth to anyone.

~Kim

 

Let me add to Kim`s observation that although SuN offers advice/consulting/help without compensation from it`s members, it is a business that exists for profit.  If it didn`t make a living for it`s founders/employees than it wouldn`t exist.  Definitely no socialistic idealism at SuN HQ!!!

R-


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Quaerite Primum Regnum

"There's a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line."
~ Oscar Levant ~

Twitter: @rossb

I`m being told by my better half to elaborate a bit.  My idea was to provoke thought and discussion only.  I agree that a better word for StartUp Nation is networking.  And I am one of their greatest fans...so, if was taken wrong,  please excuse me.  Key word there was `hybrid` between the two and certainly SuN is providing a wonderful resource center for the SuN community. 

SuN exists as a for-profit business that encourages `collective` information distribution and that information sharing (primarily through the Forums but also other like SuN`s Step by Step Instructions on how to start a business) is free for any in the community to use.  That information is then used to create wealth that is not distributed.

I`ve had a couple of crazy thoughts/ideas before (and a few good ones also!) and if folks think this is one of those crazy ones, I`m ok with that.

I`ll change that icon to a !

KevinYvette,

absolutely no offense taken! i think i can speak for SunBassadors who enthusiastically chimed in. your question was provocative, though, and here`s what you provoked me to state:

StartupNation is a HIGHLY capitalist organization. We think that being a for-profit entity brings out the best in our value and in the dividends to each of us who work at SuN. having said that, it`s dedicated to individual growth in a community setting. we are totally sold on the fact that there`s wisdom to be found and shared in crowds. we also believe that the greater the breadth of our high quality community, the more value individuals within it will gain.

it reminds me of a commencement speech that Mohammad Ali was once invited to give at a Harvard Graduation. within Ali`s speech, he paused and shared a poem. this poem is one of the shortest on record. he gazed at the crowd and said,

"Me, We." His arms opened wide on the "we"...

so, to your point, the "Me" ranks high here, as is often the case among capitalists, but rest assured, so does the "We."



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Rich Sloan , Co-Founder, Chief Startupologist, StartupNation

I think that is the base of social networking ... bringing together the "we" to boost "me". Uniting together in the background, we can stand stronger as entrepreneurs on our own.

I think also at play here is the concept that the more opinions you get, the higher the probability that you will zero in on the correct answer.  I know that there is a term for this but I can`t remember what it is off-hand.

It`s the same reason that wikipedia (and all other wiki`s) exist really, over the course of time, the more input you get from people, the greater the reliability of the information that is presented.

Not sure if that really fits the discussion but it popped into my head so there you go!!!

R-


-------------------------


Quaerite Primum Regnum

"There's a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line."
~ Oscar Levant ~

Twitter: @rossb

Socialism is a *required* giving up of product and effort on the part of the individual for the good of, and under the force of the State (theoretically acting on the behalf of a faceless "society").

Charity, good will, help, aid, barter, sharing, and other words along those lines do not use force or threats. SuN is definitely a capitalist structure.

Along the same lines, the morality of altruism rests on *sacrifice* of one person`s high value for the benefit of someone else, regardless of value. It`s the giving up of a high value for a low value.

People here on SuN offer advice, encouragement, disagreement, argument, commentary, and other forms of discussion. It may be polite, it may be rude. But nobody is "forced" to be a member, write anything, or participate in any way at all.

Here`s to Capitalism!    And Free Speech!!! 

~Kim