Interesting that you see people wanting to get rather than to give. I have a couple of observations on that which I have come to over several years of observing interactions in Tampa Bay Time.

1. I think this will naturally correct itself. I have seen several people say, I came to this group thinking about all I could get from it, but what I find is that the best part is that I'm making friends. I'm enjoying getting to know people I've "known" for years but now we've become friends. It's fun to get together with them and help each other. (That's an approximation, not a direct quote). While we're only now beginning to have much experience with this, I do think that creating activities people care about helps get them acting for a deeper purpose than just getting something they want or need.

2. I also find that two kinds of people are attracted to time banking and that an equal but opposite issue is the problem of all the do-gooders (like myself perhaps) earning a lot of hours by helping but not spending them. I'll share something Tony taught me a long time ago, which is that when we spend our hours we're creating jobs for people who may need them so we're "giving" even when we're "getting." That's where the equality comes in--both people are helping, not just the ones who "give." I think talking about it in this way is one way to get the do-gooders to see value in spending as well as earning. And, in our time bank at least, that is as common a pattern as the one you mention.

Marie, thank you for your input. While off-tangent in terms of this thread, let me say that it's more a problem of people joining and then doing nothing - not setting up offers or interacting in any way including not accessing the various ways we have set up to demonstrate how to use the software. I believe this is a baby growing pain and that hosting our 1st in person orientation in January will soothe this.

In regards to issue 2, one of my own personal beliefs about how this is going to help those struggling to get back on their feet is by empowering them to help others in need. There is no greater feeling for someone coming out of a depression than to be able to feel valuable again. It's an opportunity to show someone that they do indeed matter. Perhaps if more realized that by accepting offers they are really helping people take their lives back more would do so.

I'm doing a meta-analysis of sorts right now of all the TB studies that document mental health benefits, so if you all know of any off-hand please do send my way.

Cheers.

Tony, the link to word doc on co-producing worked for me! Am studying now.

Hm, I want to reply to all of your recent messages. But this forum is a bit trouble some, lots of scrolling up and down. Nice to have a little wheel on my mouse. One step at a time I'll get caught up to the ideas raised.

I'm requesting that we try running this discussion in another forum. We just may find a forum that works both friendly and efficiently. Please lets make and exchange our messages there as a trial as we check it out?

Thread Topic- Where to Start:
http://timebankswork.net/forum/index.php?board=42.0

In Board- Time Bank Champions/Co-Developers
http://timebankswork.net/forum/index.php#c10

Let us know your thoughts, post either here or in the Forum Board any comments about whatever.

Thanks much for your patience,

So are we moving from Loomio?

Loomio is best used for short discussions, then propose, and then vote to decide. Loomio is not good for long and complex discussions or multi topic threaded conversations. I didn't realize software boundaries or such long conversations here when we started.

We can come back to Loomio to make decisions, however, we are such a small number of participants, I doubt we'll have problems making decisions.

Yet for example I should have used the vote system here for us to decide to move or not to move. Please be patient it's all so new to all of us. So lets vote