QotW4: Internet Economies and You…

The Gift by Lewis Hyde

A gift economy is an economic system in which the prevalent mode of exchange is for goods and services to be given without explicit agreement upon a quid pro quo (the Latin term for the concept of “a favor for a favor”). Typically, this occurs in a cultural context where there is an expectation either of reciprocation—in the form of goods or services of comparable value, or of political support, general loyalty, honor to the giver, etc.—or of the gift being passed on in some other manner. This can be considered a form of reciprocal altruism. In other cases, gifting is done without implicit expectation of reciprocation (“Gift Economy“, 2007).

Here’s the Question of the Week (QotW):

  1. After reading “The Economies of Online Cooperation” by Kollack (1999), identify an “economy” that you participate in (or with which you are at least familiar), and show that it is a gift economy. Examples include: Photographic Societies, Anime Groups, Car Tuning Enthusiasts, Sports Fan Clubs, Open Source Projects and so much more!
  2. Cite facts from the Kollack article (1999), including at least two additional sources from this week’s readings or from external peer-reviewed sources.
  3. Make a specific argument in 700 words (proper written English), supported with at least three APA-style citations.
  4. Start the title of your blog post as “QotW4: _____”
  5. Drop a comment here with a permalink to your blog post.

Deadline
Extended to 10th Feb, Saturday, 5pm
(Warning: Late work will not be graded)

Readings
A gift economy is an economic system in which goods and services are given, rather than traded. For our present generation, the Internet has naturally allowed for the development of several gift economies.

Gift Economies

Many kinds of Gift Economies, this is an example:
Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)

Optional

Creative Commons

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 6th, 2007 at 12:42 pm and is filed under Assignments. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

76 Responses to QotW4: Internet Economies and You…

  1. Wong Renhao says:
    February 6, 2007 at 5:28 pm

    Note to Kevin/classmateys: the Open Source Wikipedia link seems a little outdated. Apparently it was “merged” with the following URL, although I don’t see anything obvious of such a nature.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-source

    Reply
  2. theory says:
    February 6, 2007 at 10:01 pm

    As to note to what Renhao saw, Wikipedia articles are always in-flux, and as such, sometimes articles are merged or separated according to how contributors to that page vote on it. It doesn’t mean that it is invalid and is usually still usable as a citation.

    I do caution that as Wikipedia articles can change daily or even hourly, it’s credibility as a academic citation is always in question. To be on the safe side, educators like myself recommend that you use Wikipedia as a starting point for research, NEVER as an ending point. That is, it’s better if you use the references mentioned in the Wikipedia, rather than the Wikipedia article itself.

    If you have more questions, do ask me in person as it’ll be easier to show what I mean.

    Reply
  3. Pam says:
    February 7, 2007 at 1:53 pm

    here’s the gift… i finally posted my 3rd blog assignment! hope its right 🙂

    The Gift: http://pam-mylittleblackdress.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-it-is-better-to-give-than-to.html

    Reply
  4. PMenon says:
    February 7, 2007 at 6:10 pm

    DONEDED!!!!!

    http://ironiesofwhatis.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-id-quot-circumiret-circumveniat.html

    Reply
  5. Benjamin Yap says:
    February 7, 2007 at 9:31 pm

    really have too many assignments to do…. i am drowning but anyway i hope this is right… i killed a few thousand brain cells for this…
    http://raverantramble.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-sharing-is-caring-e-gift.html

    Reply
  6. Jonathan LEE says:
    February 7, 2007 at 11:45 pm

    And the race is on!

    http://jons-ashes.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-eye-for-eye-tit-for-tat-and-all.html

    Reply
  7. Melvin Fernandez says:
    February 8, 2007 at 2:34 am

    done with qotw4

    Reply
  8. Jerry Tan says:
    February 8, 2007 at 5:52 pm

    Here’s qotw 4

    Reply
  9. Song YuYing Felicia says:
    February 8, 2007 at 6:42 pm

    http://felsong125.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-spreading-cheer-escaping-jeers.html

    Reply
  10. Graham Choo says:
    February 8, 2007 at 10:01 pm

    http://grahamchoo.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-share-some-love.html

    Reply
  11. Yepp says:
    February 8, 2007 at 10:47 pm

    I have completed the assignment. Hope it is ok. See http://yepp-itstartsinthemind.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-free-gifts-from-market.html

    Reply
  12. Eric Longman says:
    February 9, 2007 at 1:54 am

    http://longmaneric.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4free-free-free.html

    Reply
  13. jiayi says:
    February 9, 2007 at 1:55 am

    this is my wrk….finalli done!
    http://com125lo.blogspot.com

    Reply
  14. Ximin says:
    February 9, 2007 at 2:45 am

    here you go.

    http://knightinrustyarmour.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-of-giving-and-receiving.html

    Reply
  15. Felicia Lam says:
    February 9, 2007 at 2:46 am

    http://lolaloleia.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-gift-economy.html

    Reply
  16. Benjamin Chen Bao Da says:
    February 9, 2007 at 4:41 am

    u get my temperture rising! so much to read. however much, im done

    http://benbasket.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-gift-economy.html

    Reply
  17. Samantham Wong says:
    February 9, 2007 at 11:11 am

    Here’s my post!
    http://samantha125.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-no-such-thing-as-free-lunch-get.html

    Reply
  18. monica says:
    February 9, 2007 at 12:42 pm

    my work is done! Take care!

    http://atheneyuugi.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotwd4-free-riders-on-posting-forums.html

    Reply
  19. Tharavathi Sithi says:
    February 9, 2007 at 2:06 pm

    And so I tried to get that book like an idiot and it doesn’t seem to exist in this part of the world. Referring to “The Gift” here. 😦

    Reply
  20. Amanda Kee says:
    February 9, 2007 at 3:03 pm

    The Gift:

    http://i-mandy.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-gift-economy-future-tense-of-i.html

    Reply
  21. Ruzaidah Binte Md. Rasid says:
    February 9, 2007 at 6:02 pm

    my week 4’s assignment: http://in-cognoscible.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-online-gift-economies-paying-it.html

    Reply
  22. Nur Liyana says:
    February 9, 2007 at 6:19 pm

    This week’s assignment

    http://leeyaanaa-liyana.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-i-give-you-take-you-give-i-take.html#links

    Reply
  23. ho viet hai says:
    February 9, 2007 at 6:27 pm

    http://amadshow.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-my-little-community.html

    Reply
  24. Maria Paul says:
    February 9, 2007 at 8:28 pm

    HERE’S MY LINK
    http://shalom11.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-internet-economies-and-you.html

    Reply
  25. Goh Li Rong says:
    February 9, 2007 at 10:17 pm

    Here it is :))

    http://eubegoh.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-multiply.html#links

    Reply
  26. Daphne Ng says:
    February 9, 2007 at 10:50 pm

    Sent it with gifts! 😛

    http://velveteden.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-to-give-and-to-indirectly-receive.html

    Reply
  27. Kenny says:
    February 9, 2007 at 11:16 pm

    http://space-action-hero.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-gift-economy-in-online-game-clan.html

    Reply
  28. Carol Liu says:
    February 9, 2007 at 11:18 pm

    Hi, here’s my post. Thanks for reading! 🙂
    http://amateur-blogger-carol.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-magic-of-gift-economies.html

    Reply
  29. Wong Renhao says:
    February 10, 2007 at 12:04 am

    Ah infine! È rifinito!

    http://internet125.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw-listserv-as-gift-economy.html

    Reply
  30. Dionne Wu says:
    February 10, 2007 at 12:36 am

    http://somethingborrowedsomethingblue.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-pay-it-forward.html

    Reply
  31. C Hemalata says:
    February 10, 2007 at 12:44 am

    hopefully this is better than the 2nd!

    http://hema125.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-internet-economies-and-you.html

    Reply
  32. Khoo LayHowe Bryan Anthony says:
    February 10, 2007 at 2:05 am

    Here’s to hoping I did this one right.

    http://baklhx.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-gift-economies-is-it-really-true.html

    Reply
  33. Siti Nur Aliah says:
    February 10, 2007 at 2:06 am

    i come bearing GIFTS!

    http://travisismyapollo.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-i-come-bearing-gifts.html

    Reply
  34. Graceilla Yvonne Andries says:
    February 10, 2007 at 2:10 am

    Link to the gift : http://cheillalala.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-better-to-give-than-to-receive.html

    have a nice weekend 🙂

    Reply
  35. Sangheetha says:
    February 10, 2007 at 2:14 am

    this week’s assignment

    Reply
  36. Joanne Lin says:
    February 10, 2007 at 2:20 am

    http://juststoning.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-free-and-out-there.html

    Reply
  37. Yong En says:
    February 10, 2007 at 2:59 am

    Okay…I’m close to fallin on my keyboard..but the work is done!! Yay..

    here’s my link: http://www.com125bazzar.blogspot.com

    Reply
  38. Jonathan Yip says:
    February 10, 2007 at 3:26 am

    here’s this weeks assignment

    Reply
  39. wah suying says:
    February 10, 2007 at 4:01 am

    -phew-
    here it is~!

    http://yingy-forsch.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-santa-blogger.html

    Reply
  40. Raihana O says:
    February 10, 2007 at 4:13 am

    my “gift” to you
    -___-

    http://nanacabana.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-i-give-therefore-i-take.html

    Reply
  41. Mihiri Salpitikorala says:
    February 10, 2007 at 4:30 am

    and again I say… Phew!!!

    http://mihiris.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4missing-out.html

    Reply
  42. Andrea Lim says:
    February 10, 2007 at 5:02 am

    Here it is: http://andreosity.blogspot.com/2007/02/dont-we-all-love-free-gift-nevertheless.html

    Reply
  43. Siti Zawiyah says:
    February 10, 2007 at 5:25 am

    Done!! Can i sleep now?

    http://zaweeeya.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-pass-it-forward.html

    Reply
  44. Dalina Daud says:
    February 10, 2007 at 7:53 am

    QotW4

    http://astoldbydee.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-internetcookies-yumm.html

    Reply
  45. Shelwyn Neo says:
    February 10, 2007 at 8:08 am

    um.. finally done!

    http://inshockingpink.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4.html

    Reply
  46. Shamala says:
    February 10, 2007 at 10:54 am

    here is my assignment…

    Reply
  47. Catherine says:
    February 10, 2007 at 11:27 am

    http://sabishi-cat.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-gift-economy.html
    can be betta, coz i’m drained dry.

    Reply
  48. Mahfudz Bin Mohd Zainal says:
    February 10, 2007 at 12:53 pm

    Here’s mine…

    http://fudzyisnoblogger.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw-4-gift-economy.html

    Reply
  49. Valerie Lam says:
    February 10, 2007 at 1:01 pm

    http://vahlahweeeee.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-its-for-free-come-and-get-it.html

    What a relief…=P

    Reply
  50. Hailee says:
    February 10, 2007 at 1:15 pm

    http://mystar-viva.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-gift-economy-flowerpod.html

    Reply
  51. Jane Killick says:
    February 10, 2007 at 1:28 pm

    http://janey-the-baney.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-gifts.html

    Reply
  52. Derek Joseph Sun says:
    February 10, 2007 at 1:52 pm

    heres my assignment hope its right: http://rekyjos.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-eye-for-eye-makes-whole-world.html

    Reply
  53. Melissa Leong says:
    February 10, 2007 at 2:08 pm

    Done!

    http://mellieleong.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-to-give-and-not-to-receive-is.html

    Reply
  54. Charlotte Ng says:
    February 10, 2007 at 2:23 pm

    done

    http://charlotteng.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  55. Siti Hamimah Aminuddin says:
    February 10, 2007 at 2:30 pm

    Dunnit!

    Reply
  56. Jasmine says:
    February 10, 2007 at 2:51 pm

    It’s finally done!!!

    Here’s the link:
    http://jaslilparadise.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-taking-what-you-need.html

    Reply
  57. Hans A Yamin says:
    February 10, 2007 at 3:19 pm

    DONE!!! phew… here u go!

    http://intheirdarkenedshrine.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-gift-of-giving.html

    Btw, Mr.Kevin you might wanna take a look at my previous post, I think you’re gonna like what I put up.

    http://intheirdarkenedshrine.blogspot.com/2007/02/web-20-is-using-us.html

    Reply
  58. Sabrina says:
    February 10, 2007 at 3:22 pm

    http://tequilapinkrose.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-animesuki-and-me.html

    Thankew…

    Reply
  59. Wei Yang says:
    February 10, 2007 at 3:23 pm

    Permalink:

    http://wyactuallythinks.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-give-and-take-economy-you-give-i.html

    Reply
  60. julius ethan says:
    February 10, 2007 at 3:37 pm

    http://juliusethan.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-gift-economies-wha.html

    Reply
  61. Wan Ting says:
    February 10, 2007 at 3:55 pm

    Here’s the permalink to my assignment :

    http://moomoocowhugspigpigoink.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-gift-economy.html

    Thanks!

    Reply
  62. Cheon Ee Lin says:
    February 10, 2007 at 4:06 pm

    here it is…..

    http://eelin10.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-online-gift-economies.html

    Reply
  63. Wee Qi-Mei Rosalyn says:
    February 10, 2007 at 4:08 pm

    http://centsability.blogspot.com/2007_02_04_archive.html

    here you go…:D

    Reply
  64. Christabel Wong says:
    February 10, 2007 at 4:09 pm

    Running a 38.3 degrees fever after doing this, please be nice

    http://quizzicalcharms.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-good-it-samaritians.html

    Reply
  65. Vo Thi Thu Ha says:
    February 10, 2007 at 4:12 pm

    It’s done!

    Reply
  66. Lee Ying-Zhi says:
    February 10, 2007 at 4:33 pm

    http://zhi-zhi-125.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-i-am-fan-of-ellen-degeneres-show.html

    There you go!!

    Reply
  67. Andrea Ng Yuen Fei says:
    February 10, 2007 at 4:37 pm

    my permalink!
    http://backdropublicity.blogspot.com/2007/02/qotw4-internet-economies-and-you.html

    Reply
  68. surrealdejavu says:
    February 10, 2007 at 4:43 pm

    my permalink

    QotW4: Gift Economy

    Nashrin

    Reply
  69. Mariani says:
    February 10, 2007 at 4:49 pm

    link….
    sick at here, so sorry if the assignment is messy
    http://marianichen.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  70. Mariani says:
    February 10, 2007 at 4:49 pm

    link….
    sick at here, so sorry if the assignment is such a messy
    http://marianichen.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  71. Ainil Hawa Bte Zulkarnain says:
    February 10, 2007 at 4:50 pm

    Gift economies.

    Reply
  72. Roshni Rawla says:
    February 10, 2007 at 4:53 pm

    Hi. Heres my assignment. thanks.

    Reply
  73. Tharavathi Sithi says:
    February 10, 2007 at 4:54 pm

    Mine!!!

    Reply
  74. Jerry Tan says:
    February 11, 2007 at 1:06 am

    Here’s the link of the car forum i was talking about…

    Reply
  75. Cheon Ee Lin says:
    February 12, 2007 at 11:35 pm

    Sorry, Mr Kevin, I did post a permalink in the comments section. I’ve checked. Maybe there is some technical problems. Would you kindly update me if you still could not see it so that the next time I post a comment, I will know whether or not it is posted. Thank you.

    Reply
  76. theory.isthereason » From Eco-Gaming to Community Currency Research says:
    February 19, 2008 at 12:31 pm

    […] as a form of social currency in an online community. If you’re interested, here are the reading materials I assigned back in Feb 2007. Readership () […]

    Reply

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