Forums Register Login

why do you share information?

+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
A co-worker said:

.. and I could not think of any reason why I would want to give free information to the anonymous general public.



I was kind of floored/surprised by this statement. So I blogged my response freely to the anonymous general public .

Almost everything I wrote applies equally to CodeRanch and blogging. I'm curious what else people here can think of as an advantage of information sharing.
2
+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
I'm not going to tell you.
+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
Why wouldn't I share information with the general public? That's the question to be answered, in my opinion.
2
+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
1. I hope it can help somebody else
2. It also serves me as a memo, which I can go back to later
3. I may be misunderstanding something and somebody will point it out. Or there may be a better/easier way to achieve something and somebody will point it out.
+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
Because I'm a snitch.
+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
1. It would help me to learn better as I would take sometime to understand things better before sharing it
2. It will be like recording it some where so that I can go back and refer it when I want.
3. And also helps me to correct my understanding when readers leave comments to the articles.

One thing I would like to say is- if I don't share information, there would be hundreds of others who would. :-)
+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
To me, not sharing is selfish. My mom didn't bring me up to be selfish.

Sharing information, research, et cetera is like a way to form bonds with other people. You share stuff with them, they share with you... eventually everyone is getting along like [well behaved] kids in a schoolyard. That's the only way people truly learn is through other people... and in exchange for the stuff you share, folks share their stuff with you.

The bottom line is, everyone wins.

P.S. Love the blog post!
2
+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
 

Paul Clapham wrote:Why wouldn't I share information with the general public?



Because you might end up with the Swedish police trying to extradite you on rape charges.
2
+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
The best way to make sure you understand something it to try and teach it to someone else. it forces you to really THINK about the issue. If you can't explain it to someone else, you don't really understand it yourself.

second, I get a little 'high' out of telling someone else something they don't know. When I taught middle school math, seeing the light-bulb go on over a kids head was AWESOME. Granted, you don't see that most of the time in a blog post, but every once in a while you get a "Boy, that was a GREAT explanation. Now I get it" feedback, which makes it worthwhile.

third, think of it as professional defense. It is possible that a year or eight from now, I'll have to work with someone who read my post. If they learn something, now, the won't make that mistake in the future, and I won't have to fix the bugs in their code.
+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
To answer this question I heartily recommend reading Pragmatic Programmer "The Passionate Programmer".
+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
All good answers.

Bear: LOL.

Janeice: Thanks! And I like the selfish angle.
+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
Are we not "selfish" by sharing information and expecting something in return pleasure, satisfaction, etc.?
+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
To annoy my manager! Out of general protest against that everything should be paid and calculated and quantified in money! Because I am a rebel!

Also because I asked a lot of stuff from other programmers when I was newbie in a subject, hence to give back to 'the community'.
1
+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
Free?

Money is an abstract concept, and only has value because we believe in it. When we exchange information, we are simply using a different currency -- one that has (perhaps) even more intrinsic value.

Me... I'm paid in poetry.
1
+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
Poetry used as pay,
is not worth my time, I say.
But to someone who treasures the iambic,
verse as currency is slick.
+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
 

marc weber wrote:
Me... I'm paid in poetry.



You made me think of a commercial....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tviPLpD8VG8
+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
 

marc weber wrote:Free?

Money is an abstract concept, and only has value because we believe in it. When we exchange information, we are simply using a different currency -- one that has (perhaps) even more intrinsic value.


Good answer!
+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
 

Bear Bibeault wrote:But to someone who treasures the iambic


I prefer the alembic.
If you live in a cold climate and on the grid, incandescent light can use less energy than LED. Tiny ad:
a bit of art, as a gift, that will fit in a stocking
https://gardener-gift.com


reply
reply
This thread has been viewed 1299 times.
Similar Threads
java 9 shell (vs nashorn)
"it's easy"
JavaRanch goes mobile
jeanne on software - a reply to "smart and gets things done"
Mandatory Course Requirement for OCMJD & OCMJEA starting October 1st
Building a Better World in your Backyard by Paul Wheaton and Shawn Klassen-Koop
More...

All times above are in ranch (not your local) time.
The current ranch time is
Mar 28, 2024 05:38:51.