Comments on: Giving something back http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/09/29/giving-something-back/ Web development and Internet trends Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:20:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Robert Nyman http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/09/29/giving-something-back/#comment-12233 Robert Nyman Thu, 12 Oct 2006 11:10:07 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/?p=469#comment-12233 Pedro, Very good initiative! :-) Pedro,

Very good initiative! :-)

]]> By: Pedro Custódio http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/09/29/giving-something-back/#comment-12231 Pedro Custódio Thu, 12 Oct 2006 10:59:54 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/?p=469#comment-12231 The way I found out to return something to the society was by means of organizing a conference about the role of technology in our societies, its organized by a small group of volunteers and we just run sucessfully our first edition of SHiFT - Social and Human Ideas For Technology. I guess that being a webdeveloper just gives you a whole lot of ways of actually returning some value to your community, we just need to find which ones suits better with our obligations and work life. The way I found out to return something to the society was by means of organizing a conference about the role of technology in our societies, its organized by a small group of volunteers and we just run sucessfully our first edition of SHiFT - Social and Human Ideas For Technology.

I guess that being a webdeveloper just gives you a whole lot of ways of actually returning some value to your community, we just need to find which ones suits better with our obligations and work life.

]]> By: Robert Nyman http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/09/29/giving-something-back/#comment-11074 Robert Nyman Sun, 01 Oct 2006 17:19:09 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/?p=469#comment-11074 CK, I'm sorry to hear that. I've sent you an e-mail with someone in the UK who might help you out, or get you in touch with other people who possibly can. Carl, Don't mention it. :-) Rowan, karmatosed, Great! :-) CK,

I’m sorry to hear that. I’ve sent you an e-mail with someone in the UK who might help you out, or get you in touch with other people who possibly can.

Carl,

Don’t mention it. :-)

Rowan, karmatosed,

Great! :-)

]]> By: karmatosed http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/09/29/giving-something-back/#comment-10981 karmatosed Sat, 30 Sep 2006 09:57:54 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/?p=469#comment-10981 Totally agree with the senitment in this. I do charity work along with paid work - make sure have one project going on at least while doing work ones. It's something I've kept rolling from the start and always gives me pleasure in doing. Open source is also something at the heart of my devleopment soul - without it so many great things wouldn't have gotten off the block. Totally agree with the senitment in this. I do charity work along with paid work - make sure have one project going on at least while doing work ones. It’s something I’ve kept rolling from the start and always gives me pleasure in doing. Open source is also something at the heart of my devleopment soul - without it so many great things wouldn’t have gotten off the block.

]]> By: Rowan Lewis http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/09/29/giving-something-back/#comment-10968 Rowan Lewis Sat, 30 Sep 2006 04:36:02 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/?p=469#comment-10968 I'm writing an open source content management system, redesigning a website for another open source project, helping out in CSS support channels on IRC, moderating a community which talks about community software, ... I’m writing an open source content management system, redesigning a website for another open source project, helping out in CSS support channels on IRC, moderating a community which talks about community software, …

]]> By: Carl Camera http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/09/29/giving-something-back/#comment-10937 Carl Camera Fri, 29 Sep 2006 18:04:55 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/?p=469#comment-10937 Robert, Thank you for bringing up this topic today. I am honored to be mentiioned along with Nathan who has given back so much to the web designer community, including me. And I wholeheartedly agree with your point that how you give back is up to you so do what you like! For some, it's online help, for some it's community involvement, for others it may be volunteering. There are so many less fortunate than ourselves that it's not difficult to find ways to use our talents to benefit others. Finally to Chris or anyone who may have negative feelings that I mention my product's beneficiaries, I apologize for any perceived self-promotion. I only ask that my shortcomings not be extended to an entire culture. It dishonors the enormous number of Americans who silently give their time, talent, and money to those in need. Robert,

Thank you for bringing up this topic today. I am honored to be mentiioned along with Nathan who has given back so much to the web designer community, including me.

And I wholeheartedly agree with your point that how you give back is up to you so do what you like! For some, it’s online help, for some it’s community involvement, for others it may be volunteering. There are so many less fortunate than ourselves that it’s not difficult to find ways to use our talents to benefit others.

Finally to Chris or anyone who may have negative feelings that I mention my product’s beneficiaries, I apologize for any perceived self-promotion. I only ask that my shortcomings not be extended to an entire culture. It dishonors the enormous number of Americans who silently give their time, talent, and money to those in need.

]]> By: CK http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/09/29/giving-something-back/#comment-10929 CK Fri, 29 Sep 2006 16:13:25 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/?p=469#comment-10929 <i>Rob: CK, I hope you get as much help from web developers as possible.</i> It seems quite unlikely. There's currently an overhaul of but a part of the National Health Service's systems which is now a good few million over budget and two years (iirc) behind schedule. I'm a bit of a right-winger, but there's a big problem with contracting out to the lowest bidder. My thought is to see freelance devs joining together to create something in their own time, liasing with public services. It would likely take just as long, but without the fees. I don't know, i'm just bitter, tired nearing the end of a long day, and going majorly off-topic in the process! Rob: CK, I hope you get as much help from web developers as possible.

It seems quite unlikely. There’s currently an overhaul of but a part of the National Health Service’s systems which is now a good few million over budget and two years (IIRC) behind schedule. I’m a bit of a right-winger, but there’s a big problem with contracting out to the lowest bidder.

My thought is to see freelance devs joining together to create something in their own time, liasing with public services. It would likely take just as long, but without the fees.

I don’t know, i’m just bitter, tired nearing the end of a long day, and going majorly off-topic in the process!

]]> By: Robert Nyman http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/09/29/giving-something-back/#comment-10926 Robert Nyman Fri, 29 Sep 2006 15:09:30 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/?p=469#comment-10926 Robert W, Steve, Good work! CK, I hope you get as much help from web developers as possible. Chris, Just like Nathan says, I think and hope neither I or anyone mentioned do it for recognition, but just with the mindset to help out. Then what to do to help out is entirely up to each and everyone and what they believe in. Nathan, No problem, I think you deserve them. :-) Robert W, Steve,

Good work!

CK,

I hope you get as much help from web developers as possible.

Chris,

Just like Nathan says, I think and hope neither I or anyone mentioned do it for recognition, but just with the mindset to help out. Then what to do to help out is entirely up to each and everyone and what they believe in.

Nathan,

No problem, I think you deserve them. :-)

]]> By: Nathan Smith http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/09/29/giving-something-back/#comment-10925 Nathan Smith Fri, 29 Sep 2006 15:01:41 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/?p=469#comment-10925 Robert: Thanks for the kind words. Chris: I agree with you, in that I don't like the typical American attitude of "Ooh, look at all these nice things I'm doing!" Hopefully that is not how my site comes across. Rather, I simply let churches / non-profit organizations know that I exist, etc. That's why my prices aren't listed anywhere, because web projects are usually so subjective and can vary widely in their scope. I realized early on that I wouldn't have enough time to do sites for everyone who asked, so that was part of the reason we started Godbit.com. People can go there to learn more, ask questions on the forum, as well as find freelancers to hire, or if they are freelancers, offer their services. That of course is nothing new, but we also don't charge anything, nor ask for donations. I feel this helps to keep the motive purely driven, rather than money becoming the focus. Anyway, I'm rambling. I just wanted to clarify where I'm coming from, and make sure I'm not perceived as one of those people who does stuff simply for the recognition and the pats on the back. I really do want to see others learn and do more. "Give a man a fish, and he will only eat for a day… Teach a man to fish, and he will eat for a lifetime." Robert: Thanks for the kind words.

Chris: I agree with you, in that I don’t like the typical American attitude of “Ooh, look at all these nice things I’m doing!” Hopefully that is not how my site comes across. Rather, I simply let churches / non-profit organizations know that I exist, etc. That’s why my prices aren’t listed anywhere, because web projects are usually so subjective and can vary widely in their scope.

I realized early on that I wouldn’t have enough time to do sites for everyone who asked, so that was part of the reason we started Godbit.com. People can go there to learn more, ask questions on the forum, as well as find freelancers to hire, or if they are freelancers, offer their services. That of course is nothing new, but we also don’t charge anything, nor ask for donations. I feel this helps to keep the motive purely driven, rather than money becoming the focus.

Anyway, I’m rambling. I just wanted to clarify where I’m coming from, and make sure I’m not perceived as one of those people who does stuff simply for the recognition and the pats on the back. I really do want to see others learn and do more.

“Give a man a fish, and he will only eat for a day…
Teach a man to fish, and he will eat for a lifetime.”

]]> By: Chris http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/09/29/giving-something-back/#comment-10917 Chris Fri, 29 Sep 2006 13:38:04 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/?p=469#comment-10917 Mmh, I am not sure... I do not like when people work for free when there are so many unemployed. Also the charity business has been on for decades and there are more and more problems. I would not like the charity actions to be taken as a pretext for not doing anything really big on a large scale, which is the case I think now. But it is a difficult matter because being good cannot be criticized obviously. It's just that we must be cautious. Also I do not like the American way of showing how good you are. I prefer when people do not say anything about that. But I agree with you Robert that there are things we can do for free, be it for people around us or for causes you think right. Mmh, I am not sure… I do not like when people work for free when there are so many unemployed.
Also the charity business has been on for decades and there are more and more problems. I would not like the charity actions to be taken as a pretext for not doing anything really big on a large scale, which is the case I think now.
But it is a difficult matter because being good cannot be criticized obviously. It’s just that we must be cautious.
Also I do not like the American way of showing how good you are. I prefer when people do not say anything about that.
But I agree with you Robert that there are things we can do for free, be it for people around us or for causes you think right.

]]> By: CK http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/09/29/giving-something-back/#comment-10913 CK Fri, 29 Sep 2006 12:41:39 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/?p=469#comment-10913 You've hit on something i've been pondering for some time. I work in social services in the UK and we have to use a variety of systems for different things. If we ever need to source information from the police, probations, etc, then it's a complete chore as no databases are connected. A single, universal system would be hugely beneficial, but there's no investment due to the sheer scale and costs involved. I feel that open source devs, such as those on Sourceforge, could make a huge difference if they applied their skills and expertise for free. __ CK You’ve hit on something i’ve been pondering for some time. I work in social services in the UK and we have to use a variety of systems for different things. If we ever need to source information from the police, probations, etc, then it’s a complete chore as no databases are connected.

A single, universal system would be hugely beneficial, but there’s no investment due to the sheer scale and costs involved.

I feel that open source devs, such as those on Sourceforge, could make a huge difference if they applied their skills and expertise for free.

__
CK

]]> By: Steve Williams http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/09/29/giving-something-back/#comment-10909 Steve Williams Fri, 29 Sep 2006 11:59:43 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/?p=469#comment-10909 Great timing, I couldn't agree more, and may I plug my contribution (links and donations gratefully accepted): <a href="http://www.nikitamoore.com" title="Visit Nikita Moore's Website" rel="nofollow">Help Nikita</a> Now all I need is a bit more money and these 'benefits' your talking about... what am I missing??? :D Great timing, I couldn’t agree more, and may I plug my contribution (links and donations gratefully accepted): Help Nikita

Now all I need is a bit more money and these ‘benefits’ your talking about… what am I missing??? :D

]]> By: Robert Wellock http://www.robertnyman.com/2006/09/29/giving-something-back/#comment-10890 Robert Wellock Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:35:11 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/?p=469#comment-10890 I already do non-commercial web based work, one for a local charity and another for a local community town festival that is run by a group of volunteers. I already do non-commercial web based work, one for a local charity and another for a local community town festival that is run by a group of volunteers.

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