Comments on: Not for the Love of Money http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/04/not-for-the-love-of-money.html NIGHTTIME IS FOR DREAMING. DAYLIGHT IS FOR ACTION. Mon, 1 Dec 2008 16:11:16 +0000 By: Joffan http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/04/not-for-the-love-of-money.html#comment-29022 Joffan Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:34:52 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/04/not-for-the-love-of-money.html#comment-29022 Steven, you should read the recent post <a href="http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/11/prostitution.html" rel="nofollow">On the Morality of: Prostitution</a> to see opinions on prostitution from an atheist perspective. I'm sure your thoughtful contributions to that debate will be welcomed; a simple gut reaction, without analysis, not so much. Steven, you should read the recent post On the Morality of: Prostitution to see opinions on prostitution from an atheist perspective. I'm sure your thoughtful contributions to that debate will be welcomed; a simple gut reaction, without analysis, not so much.

]]> By: Steven Navarro http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/04/not-for-the-love-of-money.html#comment-29020 Steven Navarro Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:24:05 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/04/not-for-the-love-of-money.html#comment-29020 Hey, someone made a reference to the law requiring publicly traded companies to maximize profist for shareholders. Craigslist wouldnt be able to operate under their current business model, legally, because of this. Fortunately, however, craigslist is not publicly traded. So they can do that. Regarding the prostitution comments- its fucking crazy that it goes on. I wish the police would stop it. Hey, someone made a reference to the law requiring publicly traded companies to maximize profist for shareholders. Craigslist wouldnt be able to operate under their current business model, legally, because of this.

Fortunately, however, craigslist is not publicly traded. So they can do that.

Regarding the prostitution comments- its fucking crazy that it goes on. I wish the police would stop it.

]]> By: Tommykey http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/04/not-for-the-love-of-money.html#comment-23200 Tommykey Wed, 25 Apr 2007 02:29:48 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/04/not-for-the-love-of-money.html#comment-23200 One thing I can tell you about Craigslist is that at least here on Long Island where I live it is a forum for promoting prostitution. Almost every other week I read in the paper about the police arresting prostitutes or johns who hooked up through Craigslist, because the police monitor the ads. One thing I can tell you about Craigslist is that at least here on Long Island where I live it is a forum for promoting prostitution. Almost every other week I read in the paper about the police arresting prostitutes or johns who hooked up through Craigslist, because the police monitor the ads.

]]> By: John Nernoff III M.D. http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/04/not-for-the-love-of-money.html#comment-23136 John Nernoff III M.D. Sat, 21 Apr 2007 16:12:15 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/04/not-for-the-love-of-money.html#comment-23136 "The lack of money is the root of all evil."--Mark Twain (1835-1910) "The lack of money is the root of all evil."--Mark Twain (1835-1910)

]]> By: Vicki Baker http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/04/not-for-the-love-of-money.html#comment-23129 Vicki Baker Fri, 20 Apr 2007 17:21:54 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/04/not-for-the-love-of-money.html#comment-23129 "If circumstance makes you wealthy, as is the case with Craigslist's owners, then accept that privilege and use it to achieve something good." The Craigslist Foundation is already using the craigslist money to achieve something good: training, capacity-building, and networking for emerging non-profits. If for example you wanted to start a non-profit to distribute personal water filters, or appropriate-technology water treatment systems in the Congo or elsewhere, you could get training from the Craigslist foundation or find out who else is doing similar projects in order to leverage your efforts. Sometimes smaller grassroots groups can do more to effect social change with less money than the larger established charities like the Red Cross. Here is the link to the <a href="http://craigslistfoundation.org/index.php?page=Programs" rel="nofollow">Craigslist Foundation website.</a> I'm not sure what "maximizing profits" means for craigslist.org, but if it means encouraging Americans to buy more stuff we don't need from resources we can't afford to waste, manufactured in sweatshops far away, I think they should stick with the business model they have now. "If circumstance makes you wealthy, as is the case with Craigslist's owners, then accept that privilege and use it to achieve something good."

The Craigslist Foundation is already using the craigslist money to achieve something good: training, capacity-building, and networking for emerging non-profits. If for example you wanted to start a non-profit to distribute personal water filters, or appropriate-technology water treatment systems in the Congo or elsewhere, you could get training from the Craigslist foundation or find out who else is doing similar projects in order to leverage your efforts. Sometimes smaller grassroots groups can do more to effect social change with less money than the larger established charities like the Red Cross. Here is the link to the Craigslist Foundation website.
I'm not sure what "maximizing profits" means for craigslist.org, but if it means encouraging Americans to buy more stuff we don't need from resources we can't afford to waste, manufactured in sweatshops far away, I think they should stick with the business model they have now.

]]> By: Alex Weaver http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/04/not-for-the-love-of-money.html#comment-23125 Alex Weaver Fri, 20 Apr 2007 01:32:42 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/04/not-for-the-love-of-money.html#comment-23125 It's also possible that the owners of Craigslist are worried about the temptation of making a large income even if they intended to do something socially responsible with the money. If they were in fact worried that they would not be able to resist becoming corrupted by it or by the mentality of always trying to increase profits, surely it's better that they steer clear of it? It's also possible that the owners of Craigslist are worried about the temptation of making a large income even if they intended to do something socially responsible with the money. If they were in fact worried that they would not be able to resist becoming corrupted by it or by the mentality of always trying to increase profits, surely it's better that they steer clear of it?

]]> By: Andrew A. http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/04/not-for-the-love-of-money.html#comment-23124 Andrew A. Fri, 20 Apr 2007 01:16:39 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/04/not-for-the-love-of-money.html#comment-23124 I agree with all of the previous commenters. Craiglist is providing services to a vast number of people much cheaper than might otherwise be found. Massive corporations, in order to maximize profit, ultimately reduce the quality what the customer receives. Any company that manages to maintain an enormous income and still maintain a high quality of service is certainly doing a great thing (for example, Google has maintained quality but continues to grow). Not all businesses should be expected to do so, however. I agree with all of the previous commenters. Craiglist is providing services to a vast number of people much cheaper than might otherwise be found. Massive corporations, in order to maximize profit, ultimately reduce the quality what the customer receives. Any company that manages to maintain an enormous income and still maintain a high quality of service is certainly doing a great thing (for example, Google has maintained quality but continues to grow).

Not all businesses should be expected to do so, however.

]]> By: Alex Weaver http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/04/not-for-the-love-of-money.html#comment-23123 Alex Weaver Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:50:55 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/04/not-for-the-love-of-money.html#comment-23123 I think the notion that a business should have some goal (under a thick layer of advertising whitewash) other than putting as much money in the hands of the people in charge of it by whatever legal (see "lip service") means necessary is revolutionary enough in modern American culture that this is to be encouraged, even if it's not maximally socially beneficial in an absolute sense. I think the notion that a business should have some goal (under a thick layer of advertising whitewash) other than putting as much money in the hands of the people in charge of it by whatever legal (see "lip service") means necessary is revolutionary enough in modern American culture that this is to be encouraged, even if it's not maximally socially beneficial in an absolute sense.

]]> By: Antigone http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/04/not-for-the-love-of-money.html#comment-23122 Antigone Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:28:47 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/04/not-for-the-love-of-money.html#comment-23122 Quite frankly, if more people ran there businesses like Craiglist, we wouldn't NEED as many charities as we have now. The idea that you create a business to serve a need (or want) instead of making money is an arachic one that I would like to revive. Quite frankly, if more people ran there businesses like Craiglist, we wouldn't NEED as many charities as we have now.

The idea that you create a business to serve a need (or want) instead of making money is an arachic one that I would like to revive.

]]> By: rob http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/04/not-for-the-love-of-money.html#comment-23121 rob Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:05:37 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/04/not-for-the-love-of-money.html#comment-23121 <i>If circumstance makes you wealthy, as is the case with Craigslist's owners, then accept that privilege and use it to achieve something good. Helping wealthy Americans trade furniture, or even find spouses, is well and good. What about people who don't have access to clean water?</i> That's not a bad ethic, but, again, you're talking about how a person conducts their own life and finances, which is not the same as running a business. "Maximizing profits" is a pretty loaded concept in the modern world, as Peter points out above. Choosing not to maximize profits and pursue other goals with your time and money is not a crime, and does not make you responsible for all the evil in the world you failed to stop, anymore than Spider-Man is responsible for the criminal acts he failed to prevent. If circumstance makes you wealthy, as is the case with Craigslist's owners, then accept that privilege and use it to achieve something good. Helping wealthy Americans trade furniture, or even find spouses, is well and good. What about people who don't have access to clean water?

That's not a bad ethic, but, again, you're talking about how a person conducts their own life and finances, which is not the same as running a business. "Maximizing profits" is a pretty loaded concept in the modern world, as Peter points out above. Choosing not to maximize profits and pursue other goals with your time and money is not a crime, and does not make you responsible for all the evil in the world you failed to stop, anymore than Spider-Man is responsible for the criminal acts he failed to prevent.

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