long term commitment?

S

Sculli

Guest
This is a hypothetical situation (really is, not like the last time when I said it was and then it really wasn't, this one really is, seriously):

If I were to give you something that's valued at around $20, and you would be part of say 100 people to receive that thing. It's nothing that you couldn't get on your own easily, and it's of no particular value to anyone else, though you may be able to sell it for a couple bucks. However, if you follow my instructions, then it could be extremely valuable to you, and only you, while it retains its face value of $20 and resell value of say $5.

What would it take for you to keep this item, year after year, use it as instructed, and check in with me once a year?

Again, the requirements would be that you are in this for decades to come, 25 years, 35 years, 50 years. You must keep the item, and you should (not must) use it as instructed. If you use it as instructed, then you will personally benefit from it. That benefit will by far exceed the face value of the item, but only to you.

And no, I am not going to buy you a big rubber dildo and make you use it once a year for good prostate health!

At no time will you have to buy anything from me, or anyone else for that matter, in order to be part of this ..., this ..., study is what I could call it I suppose. You will be able to network with other people who have the item, and even if you do not use it, as long as you still have it, you are part of the club. You will have to prove every year that you still have the item. Should you lose it in the first few years, let's say 5 years, you will receive a free replacement. Should you throw it away, you will be shunned and will likely never ever be allowed back into the community of item owners.

Of course you could go out and get the item yourself, after you have thrown it out. It would have to be very special circumstances for you to rejoin the community, and it would be done by community vote. Unlike QCDN that item-commnity would actually be a democracy where the main theme is cooperation, not direction.

Anyway, I know this all sounds a little odd, so my original question remains, what would it take for you to commit to 50 years of participation under the very few rules:
  1. Receive an item of $20 retail value at no cost to you.
  2. The items value will never be greater than its retail value to others.
  3. The items value to you could become immense.
  4. You must keep the original item throughout the years to remain a part of the item-community. This will be verified.
  5. Use the item once a year as instructed.
  6. You must check in once a year with the item-community and provide a report. You can visit the item-community daily if you wish (chances are you will visit it often, it's an online community).
  7. If your item is lost in the first 5 years, you will receive a replacement at no cost to you.
  8. If your item is lost after that, you will be shunned from the item-community, and reentry will be very difficult, but not impossible.
  9. If you throw away your item, you will be shunned from the item-community, and reentry will be very difficult, but not impossible.
  10. Even if you lose your standing with the item-community by losing or discarding your item, you could just buy yourself a new one and try hard to convince the item-community to let you back in.
What would it take?
 
In the interest of the "study" and morbid curiosity, it wouldn't take much.
However, the only thing it would take are the details up front.
I wouldn't dive into 50 years of something if what it entails is not for me.
If I am expected to be up front and honest about my 50 year experience, then I'd expect that same level of honesty from the get go.
 
It would depend entirely on how much, and in what way I would benefit personally from the item. Like anything else in life, if you don't get some results, or gratification from it, you will cease doing/using it.

For example, if I were to buy some teeth whitner, and used it for six weeks. If the product worked, and having whiter teeth gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling inside, I would continue using it indiffently. However, if the product doesn't work as well as I has anticipated, or the effort to use it was greater than the reward, then I would stop using it.

In other words, the product would have to clearly benefit me, for me not to discard it after a period of time. Just being a part of a community would not be insentive enough for me. At least I doubt it would...
 
Aerandir said:
Like anything else in life, if you don't get some results, or gratification from it, you will cease doing/using it.
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I am glad you brought that up.
The interesting thing is that if you use the item, then you will see results. Some of them will be instant, in a sense that you will receive an immediate, if not tangible, benefit. Other results will be over time, if you use the item. Some of those results could be as early as the week after you used the item as instructed, others may take years to develop.

All results will be cumulative, so just because you got a positive result today, doesn't mean it is gone for good tomorrow. You remain affected by the results for the rest of your life.

The amazing part is that it takes very little time to use the item. So little time, that many people will say: "Bah, I know how to use the item, I don't actually need to use it for this short period of time, since I already know how to use it. I will maybe use it next year when the time comes."

They will go through life like that, believing that they know how to use it, and thus not spending a few minutes here and there to actually use it.

In the end, they will not get any results at all.
There will be no results, absolutely none, if you do not use the item as instructed. No matter how often you tell yourself that you know how to use the item already and thus don't need to use it, you will in fact get nothing out of it at all.

The terms would be clear and laid out. I am just dancing around the details because I am not 100% commited to actually doing it yet. Once I am in, I will say what it is all about on the front page, no hidden clauses, no fine print.

What I am trying to avoid is to send out 100 items as requested by those who want to participate, and those people just blowing it off, and I am out two grand for nothing. I have no problem with some people dropping out. This is expected. If the drop-outs will keep tabs on those who are still in, then they will want to rejoin anyway.

I also have no problem with spending 2k on getting this started. Amazingly enough there is no monetary gain in it for me. The online community will have to be paid for somehow, but I don't see that as a problem if there are only about 100 people. Later I would want to add a public forum to the community as well, so that the public at large can interact with the item-holders to talk about their progress and whatnot, but I don't really anticipate this becoming an expensive issue.

Why would I do this?
I would make 100 friends for life, but not just any 100 people, 100 people who use the item, understand its use, and personally benefit from its use. You simply can't put a price tag on 100 of those kind of friends.
 
Well, with that in mind, I would have to say I would use it. I, among most other people do stuff on a daily basis to not only have short term, but also long term benefits. Such as taking vitamins, investing money, or even exercising.

I guess the question that would come to mind next is, what is the catch. I would expect to hear that there wasn't one after inquiring, however the thought would still be in the back of my mind through out the entire 50 year period. Like, is this thing going to give me cancer? Is there a little camera in this thing that has been documenting my every move while in it's presence. I'm being silly, but I think you catch my drift.
 
Hmmmm...my interest has been peaked....if it is something that is not terribly time consuming (like i could "use it" in say 15 minutes or less) and it wouldn't hurt anyone (or my pride) I would use it too.
 
This sounds very intriguing. But is the items' worth accounted for by the amount of time it has been held, and by who the people it connects you to? Like, a linkshell? (maybe a bad reference, but all the same...)

Sounds to me like the value to the person who holds and uses the item might be purely gauged by sentiment.
 
Sculli, whatever you're selling, I'll take a million of 'em.

You've managed to grab my attention though, that's a difficult thing to do when I just woke up XD.
 
Aerandir said:
I guess the question that would come to mind next is, what is the catch.
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The catch is that you give your word that you will stick it out, and check in with the community at least once a year, no matter what. That also means that your life may take you somewhere that is very different from where most of the other community members will be at that time. For instance, the majority could be wealthy, while you could be poor, bankrupt, and on food stamps.

You give your word that no matter what your situation is, you will let the community know truthfully. You give your word that no matter what your situation is, you will not abandon the item, and that you will use it, even if life has you down and it's the last thing on your mind.

To me that's a pretty big catch, though it is not unreasonable to ask for that.

The item is small, portable, doesn't require electicity or any sort of consumables, it could become somewhat frail over time, but if you keep it long enough for it to become frail, you will have learned to treasure it and take good care of it anyway.

@jender
I would estimate that it would take about 10 hours per year to use it as instructed. You can spread those 10 hours out over the entie year in whatever small increments you like. It would be advisable to make an effort to get the 10 hours in within a few weeks when you use it for the very first time ever. You can use it pretty much anywhere you like, there is no problem associated with using it in public, or at work when you are on a break. 10 hours is if you use it once per year, some people will probably use it a couple times a year, I doubt anyone would use it much more often than that. Some people will probably be able to complete the instructions in much less time than that, but 10 hours is a good conservative estimate.

The item use doesn't do any harm to you or others, including domestic animals. ;) The use is completely nondestructive. And no, it's not a healthcare, beauty, or diet thing. You will not have to ingest anything to use the item. ;)

Excim said:
Sounds to me like the value to the person who holds and uses the item might be purely gauged by sentiment.
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Sentiment is part of it, but sentiment has to be based on something, it can't just be pulled out of thin air. You will over the course of years encouter people who will tell you that the results you are seeing have nothing to do with the item use at all, it's purely coincidental. You will smile, and know better, ;)

But yes, the fact remains that the value of the item to just anyone on the street will be next to nothing. If you were to take the item and offer to sell it to just a random person at a bus station, you may be able to get a few bucks for it if it is still new, once you had it for a while there will essentially be no resell value at all.

However, you are also correct in saying that part of that particular items worth, not just any similar item you can buy yourself, but the one item that you and 99 other people started out with, is in having the connection to your peers. That worth is not something that is easily measurable, but if you want, then it can become a bond that no hardships along the way can break.

When you start out, you will not know many of the other participants, maybe none of them. Over time as you start to communicate with them, you will learn to dislike many of them, mainly because their opinions will likely be different from yours, just as we see it here at QCDN. Then something will happen, guaranteed, it will happen for everyone, not at the same time, but if the item will be used as instructed, and if the user keeps his or her word and stays in touch with the others at least one a year, something will happen. After that occurance many things will be different for your and thus for your peers. The result will be that friendships will be forged that will last a lifetime.

One of the main reasons why this has to be a very long term thing is that there will be people who will use the item, and not understand what is happening. They will see no result. They will get upset, frustrated, angry, the item use is so simple, yet here they are, without any result at all. That is when some will drop out and call BULLSHIT! FUCK THIS SHIT! I QUIT! There is very little any of the others can do about that.

Using the item as instructed is very simple, a child could do it. Some children would probably understand what is happening, some adults probably wouldn't.

One way to think of it would be to imagine a mechanical clock. Of course you know how to use it. You look at it, and you recognize based on the arms, or whatever they are called, what time it is.

Knowing what time it is doesn't mean you know how the clock works. If your goal is to find out what time it is, then it really doesn't matter how the clock works, or does it?

Using the item is like looking at a clock, it's easy to do, it's easy to see what is happening, but it's a little bit more complicated to understand what's happening.

If you do not know, at least on a very basic level, how a mechanical clock works, then you may want to look that up, just to enrich your common body of knowledge.

Gatttsu said:
Sculli, whatever you're selling, I'll take a million of 'em.
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LOL, I hate having to sell stuff. I tried myself in sales in younger years, and I always felt like I was ripping the customers off, which I essentially was. I would feel comfortable to sell something I believe is of outstanding quality and great value, but there are very few of those things around.

No sales involved in this project. ;)
 
Sculli said:
LOL, I hate having to sell stuff. I tried myself in sales in younger years, and I always felt like I was ripping the customers off, which I essentially was. I would feel comfortable to sell something I believe is of outstanding quality and great value, but there are very few of those things around.

No sales involved in this project. ;)
Click to expand...

I know exactly what you mean, almost got involved in some sales scams disguised as jobs when I was unemployed, and they wanted me to sell stuff that people don't buy, besides, I'm no salesman whatsoever ><
 
For $20 and it's life changing.... sounds too good to be true. But like Sneaky said I'd like details upfront before making a lifetime commitment. It's not the $ per say but the commitmen.....

P.S. The people from Nigeria have my information and are sending my millions as I write this. :evilsmile:
 
Excim said:
*cough* "piqued"
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Peak is fine too. I think piqued is exactly it, as it relates to this thread, but neither is wrong per say.

Either is appropriate. Piqued implies that something provoked and interest...This thread and idea, for example.

However, peak would imply interest of the subject reaching its maximum height. Jen watched, and peaked ( all right. ;) ) interest after seeing some commentary.


It's Friday. I'm bored.
 
Tenkax said:
For $20 and it's life changing.... sounds too good to be true.
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And as we all know, if it sounds too good to be true, then it is. ;)

This isn't a get rich quick, or get anything quick, or get something for nothing type of deal. I think I already went a little bit back on my story, didn't I? Yes, you get the item at no cost to you, yes it will take about 10 hours a year to use it as instructed, and yes, unless you understand what you are observing as you use the item, you will not be able to get anything out of it.

However, the potential of someone to understand what they are observing is 100%. There is no reason at all, unless you have some sort of severe mental illness that disables your brain or something, that one wouldn't understand. Maybe not the first time around, maybe not the second, or thrid. Some people will likely be well served if they use the item, realize that they do not understand what is happening, and put the item away for a year. Then try again. Trying again over and over in short succession is possible, and allowed, but it is unlikely that it will lead to understanding.

What is the opposite of success?
 
Sculli, I was beginning to think that this "item" was just an idea to be thought of as something tangible...Acting like it costs 20 bucks and that we'd actually get it sounds convincing enough. I was thinking maybe the reaction to that idea of interacting with this item once a year for 50 years was what you were getting at...And to actually get that, you'd have to play that game with us.


But, it seems like, after your last post, more details come out. It seems like this is actually an item that would be handed out and require the participants to interact with ~10 hours a year, and remain in contact with each other.


My interest is there, and I have no doubt that I could handle the committment, but I admit that the presentation of this is stretching on.
I find myself interested and willing, but completely dependant and exactly what this item is and how I am to interact with it, even for just 10 hours a year. Keeping in touch via a forum once a year is cake...No concern there. Just what is it, and what should I do with it???

Answers prs.
 
Sneakypants said:
My interest is there, and I have no doubt that I could handle the committment, but I admit that the presentation of this is stretching on.
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Yes, sorry about that, a function of it being Friday.

And yes, it is an actual physical item.

And no, I am unfortunately not ready to start the whole thing up.
I was really just looking for reactions to see whether people would be willing to consider it.

The current ITEM-PROJECT to-do list looks something like this:
- create a web site that presents the project and lists every detail involved, has a signup for participants, and a forum for participants to interact (this already begs the question whether participants should be somehow screened, or whether it is a first come first served kind of thing)

- consider the probability of people dropping out how many of 100 will remain true to their word after 1 year, 3 years, 5 years?

- giving the likely bleak outcome of the above probabilities, it would be worth to consider starting with 1,000 people, or even 10,000, in which case funding to acquire the items would have to be found (perhaps donation of those who create the item)

- legal issues? I would need to get some legal advice for sure, both in terms of liability as well as issues concerning a user agreement of sorts that outlines the terms

I have done none of these things, for now this is an idea. Of course I believe it's a good idea, and time has already proven that it will work, it was just never done on such a scale before.

Realistically speaking, I would probably shoot for a September 1st launch date, people are back from the summer vacations or time off and whatever.
 
So is it just the reaction you ae looking for, or would you really consider doing this, if legally there is nothing stopping you?

Edit: AND...Do you have an item in mind, specifically? Or you just know that it would be a physical, tangible item at this point?
 
I am past considering, I will do it, that's a given. What's variable right now is when I will do it. I don't think it makes sense to start something like this early in the year. By the time it gets going the summer comes around, and then people may be too busy to pay attention.

While it's not necessary to use the item right away, I am sure that a bunch of people will do that and it will generate some discussion. That momentum can be totally lost in July/August.

I think it would perhaps be possible to start sign-ups at the beginning of summer, and then ship the item during the first week of September.

I do have a very specific item in mind.

I don't think there is any law against giving people who request it stuff and say "do this with it", within the boundaries of exisitng law of course, I won't be mailing out bongs. I do want to word a user agreement in such a way that I can't be sued for a billion dollars if this doesn't work for someone though, you know like "Sculli promised I will become the richest man on Earth, and by God, it shall be done, even if that means suing!". Not that I have a whole lot to go after.

My idea really revolved around 100 people, but based on the assumption that nearly all of them would stay focussed. If I had some time to make my case to the creator of the item, I could potentially get them to donate say 10,000 of them, and then the drop-out rate could be high and there would still be enough people left to provide a functional community.

Ideally I would like to hire some educated staff and have that person conduct an interview with each participant once a year, for like a couple hours or so. Much more information is relayed in an interview, perhaps even a webcam enabled one, than in a written report.
 
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