Charity 2.0 | Philanthropy 2.0 | Nonprofit 2.0 - & a mashup of charity 2.0 feeds

We need to prepare for a future where we are facilitators and no longer in charge.

In fact, if we are lucky, our donors are already taking our message and adapting it without our permission. Our depth of experience allows us to become a valuable resource for our cause. The alternative is to become ignored senior organizers.

Centralized and calcified our hierarchies have become targets for bulldozers. Just as open source is challenging Microsoft, so distributed networks of self-organizing individuals are more powerful, flexible, and sustainable than our ivory towers and ivy covered barricades.

We need to have those conversant with virtual cartography creating maps for each other. We are no longer qualified to dictate where to build exploratory camps.

In the classic book on investment, Confessions of a Stock Manipulator, a story is told of a speculator that became a millionaire and then lost it all. When rumors spread that he was back above a million he was asked how he did it. His response approximated: "I was too timid due to my great experience. So I hired a bunch of kids that didn't know better, gave them free reign, and let them run up new millions for me." Our experience makes us conservative, at a time when boldness is called for.

Let's find today's equivalent of those aggressive kids, and give them leeway to search out philanthropy's future for us.

Scouts Out!

A short story that is part of the cyberhhug.me trilogy:

*comic book heroes* meet Moon
As they prepare to leave their table at the restaurant, Mose waves to a planter on his left, and encourages a hidden refugee to approach. "Come over here, don't be afraid, I think we can help you."

A young boy slowly pokes his head out from behind the plant. Mose tries again, "I know you were part of the theft ring, but we can help you. My handle is Mose, what's yours?"

"Is Mose a gang handle or a hacker handle?"

"To some it wouldn't matter, you can call me Mr. Mose if you wish. Since you know the difference, what's your hacker handle?"

"I know that's not your real handle, so I won't give you mine."

"All right, I'll call you Moonlit Knight, or Moon for short. What do you know about hacking?"

"Cool, that's kinda like Knight Watchman's handle. I read his comic books."

Gloria and Mose look at Jon.

Jon smiles, "I'm sure he won't mind. In fact he would probably enjoy knowing a young hacker is wearing a t-shirt with his comic book art drawn across the front. But back to what Mr. Mose said, what do you hack?"

I code well in five 'puter languages, and I can script in more; writing scripts, not just using them. I'm the punk kid that fixes broken things at school."

At that point a security officer walks up behind the child. "Thank you for detaining him, The cameras were tracking him. I'll take him now."

Mose stands and walks slowly to the guard. "Let me show you my ID, I'll handle the child."

The guard signals him to stop, "I'm told you were the one's that spotted the Fagin, do you know this kid?"

"Just met him, but he talks a good game. If I find out he's not for real, we'll let you have him. I think I can help him."

"That seldom works, but we don't have his face on file as a prior perp. This is his first known offense. I'll scan your ID and talk to the Chief, If he objects I'll come back and you can talk to the Chief."

"Agreed."

Moon had nervously stood listening. As the guard walks out of earshot he says, "I ain't agreed to nothing."

Gloria looks at Moon. "First off, stop trying to talk ignorant, you're not good at it. Second, It's your life, not ours -- you can run off if you wish. The cops are probably waiting outside. If not, their cameras are. Finally, we can help you, and perhaps the future of hacking, if we think you may be worth the effort -- It will make us feel good if it works."

"So you will help me because it will make you feel good, That's pretty selfish."

Mose smiles, "Thanks for losing the sloppy speech. Real coding is precise. Hackers may instigate linguistic bathos, but its not based on ignorance."

"Hey, I'm just seven years old. Talk slowly if you use big words."

"What's the most complex Hack you can do?"

"Hardware, firmware, or software?"

"Good answer. You didn't get that from a comic book."

The three tested the limits of Moon's knowledge. They then have him sit at the table with them. Like most kids he eats well. At Gloria's insistence; they each write notes on napkins, share them between themselves, then hand them to Moon.

*I like that you've read outside of technology texts. A well rounded hacker can be more creative.* Miss Gloria
*Nice depth in software. You need to study recent trends in hardware.* Mr. Jon
*We will try to trace your parents. I too am from Elldee. My father died there. You show potential to help free the people of Elldee, even if we can't locate your parents.* Mr. Mose

Moon is struggling to stop crying as he silently reads the notes.

Once Moon is done reading, Gloria speaks first; "The officer left, you can leave now if you wish, or stay and let us help you."

"I won't even finish formal school reading, reasoning, and rhetoric until I'm eight. Then I'm supposed to do open learning about things that interest me, for as long as I wish. What kind of help am I worth?"

"The best," said Jon. "Have you heard of Hacker School?"

"Well Duh, That's where Knight Watchman teaches. That I did learn from comic books. What do comic books mean to me?"

"If Hacker School exists, would you want to go?"

"Hacking is what interests me. Hacking is what I'd mostly study in open-learning, if I could find enough info. But hacking schools are fairy tales, I need something real or I'll end up in jail like the older kids. I need reality"

Jon laughs, he likes being lectured about responsibility by a seven year old. "You are about to enter a comic book if you wish. I know Dean Gladys of Hacker School. She will accept you into a local branch at my say so. I'll say so: If once you graduate you find Mr. Mose, who will be well hidden, and agree to intern under him."

"I can't make a legal promise until I'm twelve and an adult. But I promise."

Mose looks at Jon and shakes his head, "I thought we were free, and you make this choice for me?"

"Your wet eyes made the choice. I just echoed them."

"You're right; but next time ask so I can pretend to think about it." Mose turns to look Moon directly in his eyes, "I promise too."

return to top of page.



The things that haven't been done before

Are the tasks worthwhile today;

Are you one of the flock that follows, or

Are you one that shall lead the way

Are you one of the timid souls that quail

At the jeers of a doubting crew,

Or dare you, whether you win or fail,

Strike out for a goal that's new?

Edgar Guest

"If there are several opposing opinions on an issue, all of them can't be right; however, all of them can be very wrong." - Allan R. Wallace



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