Let me start with the problem: It is often in fact hard to pay for things one likes.
I often have goods like software, movies, music and so on, that I don't pay for. Doesn't need to mean pirated stuff - much good quality things are for free. Many artists offer their music for free to download. Or just think of web pages - how many people here block ads on those? I don't see that I have to be polluted with lies from advertisement just to get information I want? Yet I want to support these free services and goods.
But it is often hard to support web pages or the artists, unless they offer a "Donate Button" somewhere.
Sometimes they offer to buy the CD or so T-shirts - but I don't want that stuff. I'm just fine with MP3. And why create more waste?
And also: if I actually buy the CD of an artist, I often also support people I don't specifically want to - like record companies.
Ok, here the solution: A web page for universal donations.
There I could create an account - for this specific artist. I donate money to this account. And only that artist is allowed to retrieve the money.
So far so obvious. People donate and thus support specifically artists they like. If it would really work, then games and movies could be offered more for free, and people can support after they've consumed.
I personally often regret to see movies in the cinema and feel ripped off when they're bad. This would solve the problem.
That could be the start - but its not restricted to games, videos and music. How about books? How about paintings? How about software - like plugins?
But what if someone is just cool in what he does, and should get support. One man that comes in mind is Richard Dawkins. He doesn't sell a specific service - but hell yeah, I want to offer him direct support (just an example, I'm sure he's fine off though).
Let's think this a bit further: I could even support things that don't exist yet. I have a wish list for software I would find handy or movies I would like to see. Then one could make an account with a condition like "A painting program that simulates thick paint", or "A movie where monkey-ninjas fight against robot-pirates".(I guess you all can think of useful more things you dreamed about
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Whenever the condition is met, the producer can retrieve the money.
No doubt there is lot to figure out. Many problems to solve. For example how to make sure the right person gets the money. But with a Wikimedia-like institution I think it is possible.
I also have confidence that most people are actually honest and have things they love to support. Just as with the Wikipedia where people just enter their knowledge for everyone without direct personal gain.
What I imagine fits for the motto "let's create a storm" because in my dream the way society works is changed. People don't force each other to pay for things. Huge marketing campaigns can't trick you anymore into buying stuff you don't enjoy. Rather you consciously support whatever you like - and what you would like to see.
...well. Would be curious what people think about that
(heh, and I hope I picked the correct subforum to post this
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