How online can facilitate an offline gift economy

Tim O'Reilly's "Work on stuff that matters" recently struck to heart. Been faffing much with thoughts and ideas and reading oh-so-much-and-then-some about the High tech Gift economy / Relationship Economy and online networking and how it all pertains to the current economic crisis and and... And much as all these things indeed seem to 'matter', I was left quite overwhelmed at what I, personally, really could possibly have to add to all of this. Feeling quite out of my depth really. Also, much beautiful as these conceptions of an alternate economy evolving in cyberspace, I couldn't quite get how this e-volved economy based on relationships, reciprocity and exchange of informational and technological gifts can translate into actual bread and butter issues essential for survival. Which, as social development researcher/ consultant down at the southern tip of Africa is the type of thing that seems to me would really matter.

A g-chat with my dear frien Foom, who suggested I look around on .ning for local inspiration proved most inspiring when my curson stumbed on the Community Exchange Network .ning group, and from there to the CES exchange site. This is not the first time I come across them. Joined the Facebook group awhile back, and been intermittently following and in principle agreement with the SANE philosophy and principles behind LETS systems for years. So why this didn't strike me before one might wonder... But never mind. Now it has and for the first time in awhile I feel a sense of deeper purpose awakening with this research focus I'm to be developing into a thesis in coming months.

For here it would seem is a system that can, just maybe, translate the benefits of a new economy facilitated through ICTs into real benefits for real people, for some of whom actual access to these technologies and the world they represent is (and could remain for some while to come) unfathomable. And yet through the help of others like the CTTE bankers/brokers in Khayelitsha, Cape Town they can benefit from a system made ever so much easier through such technology.

So, I've joined the .ning group, created an account with Cape Town's Talent Exchange, added some offerings on the site, checked out some wants - earned myself some talents and went to a community market in Delft on Saturday to spend some. More on that later. It's late - much to do before this week ends.