Spaulding Class :

1) What is a good example of generosity as a business model on the Internet ?


At the beggining, Internet was an unbelievable source of generosity. It was made for scientists, they had the possibility to share their researches and informations. Therefore, it was supposed to be a sharing programm.

But internet, like other media, has become an oppotunity to broadcast advertisements and make money on the surfer. Of course, sites are generally free of charge but we all know that behind them, there is a humongous amount of money. If Google or You Tube are free, they are also in war against their competitors. Google is so powerful that they just overwhelm the other brands.

Generosity exists on the web, fortunately, but it's between the internautes through blogs and helpful sites. When we have a look at Google which is among the most lucrative firm in the world, we can't really think about generosity but money. Internet has become a buiness even if the idea of a worldwide village still exists.

The thing is we must define generosity on the web; I don't believe it doesn't exist nevertheless it's hard nowadays to find a trully generous business model.

Luckily, sharing appears elsewhere : in associations, institutionnal sites etc etc.