'Online Platform Purchasing Co-op'
Sam Toland
Public
Seen by 152
There has been a lot of discussion about what the best outcome of the #buytwitter campaign is, and what areas we should be investing our collective energy.
I feel that we have people settling into several overlapping areas of thought.
(i) let's establish a feasible and pragmatic approach to buying out Twitter today
(ii) use the idea of buying out Twitter as a thought-experiment to stimulate debate
(iii) use the #buytwitter momentum to build the capacity (that didn't exist for the #buytwitter campaign) to buy the next appropriate online platform that becomes available (or indeed invest in nascent platform co-ops).
I think all three areas merit investment - but I am personally most interested in the (iii) area of investment and debate.
I thus propose that we set up a sub-group on Loomio where people who wish to focus on this element of the campaign may do so, without diluting the work on area (i).
What does the community think about this? And does anyone else have another proposal for an alternative way to progress the organisation of the (iii) element of the campaign in tandem with the others.
Past Loomio Threads for context:
https://www.loomio.org/d/KI6Z5P2a/discussion-points-forming
After the group successfully committing the capital to pay for our monthly Loomio use... we are a purchasing co-op! :)
What's next?
Quoting @samtoland
"I think the Solid Fund model could be the answer in the short-term.
It's an unincorporated group based on an operating manual, using Loomio for decision-making, multiple trustees decided by the group, and funds held by a sponsoring organisation.
I think this model (adapted to our specific needs/goals) could get us through the next few steps (and associated trust-building) - and parks the messy (and expensive) conversation around incorporation.
Horse before the cart, as we say in Ireland :)
Next step, work on an operating manual? (Anyone want to pre-empt my proposal, I'll make one once I have a bit of time, but happy for someone else to start it - and i can edit).
Solidfund example: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DSWOH520Gh-JL5bQL9e_X3BqSk9u7NtVI4W5JnoNfm8/edit#heading=h.7vo4c9u6ahtp "
Mark Latham Mon 21 Nov 2016 12:30AM
Thanks @matthewcropp and @ntnsndr for your encouragement. Sorry if I wasn't clear on this key point: The global software users' co-op proposal is to use group buying to get lower prices on software and services that we currently pay for, or that we don't use because they cost more than we're willing to pay, or because we can't be bothered to set up yet another small payment flow (the penny gap).
The strategy is to give members a better deal than they are getting now, so that the co-op will grow without requiring altruism. The more members join, the more software we can buy licenses for, so the more benefit there is to joining.
I'd be happy to work with a group on creating this, e.g. on internetofownership.net.
Sam Toland Tue 22 Nov 2016 7:10PM
@ntnsndr and @coopchange would you consider going ahead and creating the relevant sub-group and let's move this conversation forward.
I think that we as a group should start to make some basic decisions around leadership (and ensure some diversity in that group) so that we can get started with the process of making this a reality.
@ntnsndr I am delighted to hear that you are open to using the internetofownership site / brand as a basis for such a purchasing co-op!
john gieryn Wed 23 Nov 2016 7:21PM
@samtoland I can set something up by Friday, though perhaps a video chat is the first step? What do you think @ntnsndr? Did you have a sense of what rhythm/ best moment to convene or facilitate the energy in that direction? thanks
Matthew Cropp Wed 23 Nov 2016 8:27PM
I'd be game to be on a video chat as well.
Nathan Schneider Thu 24 Nov 2016 6:19PM
I'm going to speak with a Bay Area lawyer interested in this effort on Tuesday. It would be good to have a call before this. When on Friday? @matthewcropp @coopchange @samtoland @marklatham @bonniefoleywong
Bonnie Foley-Wong Thu 24 Nov 2016 9:23PM
Hi, I have limited availability, but could make time for a short call. Maybe a conversation will help me get a sense of how to continue contributing. Between 3pm-4pm PST is ideal, but I could do after 1pm PST (and before 4pm).
john gieryn Fri 25 Nov 2016 2:35PM
I'm also free on Monday, same relative time (EST). Maybe best to coordinate by Slack to not clutter here?
john gieryn Thu 24 Nov 2016 6:24PM
I'm available 7am-6pm tomorrow @ntnsndr, great to hear, thanks.
Mark Latham Thu 24 Nov 2016 7:02PM
@ntnsndr I'm available tomorrow 7am-1pm Pacific Time. Then flying to Hawai'i for 10 days, so limited availability.
Nathan Schneider · Sun 20 Nov 2016 11:43PM
I like @marklatham's approach as well. I just wonder how we can on-board people when it means asking them to pay in order to replace services that they currently don't pay for.
BTW, I'm eager to start developing internetofownership.net into a purchasing co-op of some sort, and I'd love if this effort fed into that.