Why do Aid Bloggers get Snarky

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Comments

[Saundra]

Very interesting, I have to admit this is the first time I've heard of email apnea.

[Dan Kyba]

I quickly googled 'email apnea' (American spelling) and found plenty of hits. Huff Post has the following piece:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-stone/just-breathe-building-the_b_85651.html

[Saundra]

Dan,

I'm assuming there's quite a bit of tongue in cheek about the apnea concept. I do agree that the anonymity of the internet does allow or lead people to say something they would never think to do face to face. Unfortunately, for the moment blogging is one of the few outlets I, and many others, have for getting donor information out there.

[Dan Kyba]

re: "snarkiness" - two points
1) The aid industry is a free-for-all made up by a continuum ranging from the very good to the very bad and the outright predatory. It should be a professional and regulated industry, as you correctly argue but at this point it is not and likely will not be in the near future. You are doing good work education-wise, but in some cases your message will never be received since you are challenging bases for existence and profit.

2) There is a a growing body of psychological literature about on-line discussions and the people who participate in them. One concept is 'e-mail apnoea'. The argument is that when using the key-board people hold their breath and thereby restrict the flow of blood to their brain. This affects their judgement and will at times make them more aggressive in what is already a disinhibiting (due to anonymity and absence of in-person contact) situation. Based upon this, there is a tongue-in-check law (Gibson's I think) that says that as an on-line discussion progresses the likelihood of a comparison being made to Hitler, or some other extreme straw-man, will approach one.

[Saundra]

Katherine,

Great quote! Thanks

[Katherine Lucey (@solarafrica)]

"Irreverence is the champion of liberty and its only sure defense." -- Mark Twain

[Saundra]

Luna,

Microfinance has it's own pitfalls, unfortunately nothing in aid is ever a sure bet. I've written two posts on microfinance http://informationincontext.typepad.com/good_intentions_are_not_e/microfinance/ I also suggest you read David Roodman's Open Book Blog as it's all about microfinance.

Cheers

[Luna]

hi! :)
I have been reading your website for quite some time and I very much agree with all the things you say. I am now writing a paper on the morality of in-kind donations and i am drawing inspiration from your website's examples =)

I have always wondered what your opinion on microcredit would be.
microcredit is a total different approach to aid that encompass the idea that the people are the ones who know what they need and CREATE what they need out of their own hands. I find it fascinating how much of an impact microcredit could have to developing countries and i was just wondering your opinion on that.

thanks =)