I don't see that "commerce" is needed in an information society. As I see
it, commerce is you giving me some object or benefit in return for me
parting with some object or benefit. However, the unique thing about
information is, if I give it to you I don't part with it. So why should I
want something in return? Taking something from you is an extra hassle I
can do without.
I think I do get something from you "automatically" if you take
information from me. I get your attention. And in an information based
economy, as others have pointed out, attention is the scarce resource.
Thats my personal experience on the Web and on mailing lists anyway.
The problem is trading information for real objects and resources that
people have to part with for you to have them. That leads to all the
copyright hassles, and patents, attempts to "scarcify" and "objectify"
information. I hope those attempts don't succeed, but they might.
Being by nature lazy, I hope Dan is wrong about people wanting allows to
work. For myself, I find play more satisfying, and more creative in the
long run.
Bernard
Bernard J Hughes bernard@timedancer.com
Timedancer Systems http://www.timedancer.com/
-----"Creative Laziness at its Best"-----