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Saturday, August 10, 2013

Not everything is a business model



I'm a regular reader of George Ure's site, Urban Survival. Mostly, I like the site, but one thing really bothers me. George's motto is: everything is a business model. He has a point. Many things make more sense if you look at them as a business model. Journalists are (were?) trained to “follow the money.” Looking at who benefits financially is usually enlightening.


I wouldn't go so far as to say “everything.” The possibility that such a thing could be true sickens me. Fortunately, I don't believe it.

Money and profit are huge motivators, so having a business model paradigm makes sense. However, not everyone is motivated by material gain. How about those in search of love, friendship, honor, spiritual enlightenment? George could hammer those into the “business model” framework, but not without a lot of damage to everything involved.

As for myself, the universe is energy. Interactions between people and other things are energy transfers. Money is just one way, (a fairly abstract one too) that energy gets transferred. Money represents a certain amount of labor, either physical or mental. Rather than barter that energy directly, we use a convenient substitute called money to facilitate the exchange.

Relationships are energy transfers. Caring and attention flows from on person to another, and usually around and back again. Love is energy. Hate is energy.

Not only does energy flow from person to person, it flows from and through the natural environment. It might take the form of oxygen and carbon dioxide as exchanges take place between animals and plants. It could be the critters themselves as food.

George's world is a business model. Mine is an energetic universe. Of course, both our models are only approximations on how things really work. Probably says more about how George and I think rather than anything else.

How do you see the world?

So that's one thing that bugs me about a site I generally enjoy. Well, that and the darn charts. The guy's chart crazy.

-Sixbears

10 comments:

  1. Sixbear the main differance is.For him he has been taught since school he who has the most toys and cash wins.Remember you had to learn its he who has the most friends and fun wins.The models are simular but the score keeping is differant.I cant take cash with me when i die but i may be able to see friends and remember good times.A business model is a path to a goal i just have differant goals than most.

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    1. You did cause me to reflect on how I was raised. The pursuit of money wasn't high on the list. Dad worked hard, but took time off for family and friends all the time.

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  2. For most things and most people, the guy is probably right. I've learned that it's money, not love, that makes the world go 'round. HOWEVER, I'm not big on money either, and I've learned that the world will keep on spinning, as long as enough OTHER people continue to chase their golden dream. I guess you might say that those willing to make the effort can get a free ride, money-wise.

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    1. I'm going to let some other monkey turn the money wheel.

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  3. I enjoy Georges Wujo posts best. For the rest screw em. I live in a dynamic universe with infinite probabilities.
    Have you noticed all the end worlders flocking around some or other guy and attacking others. Had me scratching my head about all those doomie cultists. Seems that all the conspiracy nuts from FB are spilling over onto the U-tubes. Sometimes on the interwebs the reality gets surreal.

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    1. It does get weird and fascinating out there.

      Some of the Wujo posts are pretty good.

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  4. We all see the world differently. We all have our own reality. Some folks realities are closer aligned than other. As I've said before, we don't see things as they are, we see things as we are.
    It's comforting and reassuring to know of others though who feel, act and live life in a similar manner, to the same philosophical values as yourself.
    One of the reasons I enjoy coming to this site...

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    1. Thank you Flying Tortoise.

      Reality? Built it myself in my garage . . . and I don't even have a garage.

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  5. Money does a lot of strange things to people. Years ago a friend of ours won the lottery. Big time. He changed into a different person and no one wanted to be around him anymore. He lost all of his friends. I don't think it was worth it.

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    1. A sad but all too common tale.

      I wonder if the thing to do is to keep quiet about one's winnings and avoid major life changes for at least a while?

      Of course, I haven't bought a lottery ticket in forever, so it probably isn't something I have to worry about.

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