computer help: Do you have ideas :: How to Start a Global Social Network for Baby Boomers ? - Help.com

Would the first step be a web address?

most-wanted-websites wrote:
no, the first step is to develop a plan to figure out how such a site might work

You da man…lol

Part of my job is to develop and maintain our company web site. I use PHP, MYSQL and APACHE. I use GIMP to do the picture and I use FFMPEG to do video.
So this should not be a problem. Hosting in Hong Kong is very cheap. The one we use cost 80USD a year. Allows 2G storage, unlimited band width (within reasonable limit), 7 x 24 support (that’s what they claimed. But I did tried to call Saturday evening to verify and some one answered the call)
Domain name is with Networksolutions and use their DNS server. Performance is quite good.
This should not be a problem.

But we need a plan as to how to start. Let’s work on it.

Have you looked at things like http://www.eons.com/ for potential inspiration?

1. About the language and culture issue. It seems that most other social site find that it is workable and the members always find a way out to communicate with each other and adjust to each other’s culture.

Especially that we are targeting a group with college education who can have intelligent discussion about such things as: psychology, computer, Linux, Windows, World economy, Inflation, Oil price, Finance etc. Would language and culture really cause a problem ?

When we were in the university, I thought we have already been exposed to many different people with different language and culture, haven’t we?

2. About energy of other scarce resources. Since we will be consuming the same amount of energy and resources, it really does not matter where we stay. As long as we stick to our own self discipline of conservation and environmental consciousness, we should not be adding any new factor to the overall formula.

3. As far as taking away resources from other people, since everything is pretty much globalized, commodities are being shipped all around the world. Do we really take away other people’s resource if we visit their country ?

4. I checked out the eons site. Does it represent what “we” have in mind ? or should “we” need to proceed further ? May be the thing we want to do is already there? Maybe we need to define what we want to do first ?

5. Thnaks Michael for the link.

I know you are targeting the boomers, but would you mind defining exacting what age group you believe that to be? Here the boomers have been a target as some believe they are a untapped source of income or revenue. True, but they don’t like giving up their capital under the fear that they are being forced to retire and their saving are not going to be sufficient to sustain themselves. We are working on an issue of the millennium generation not working with any dedication towards commitment and generation X being downsized into entry level positions. The boomers that we call generation Y like the youthfulness and gullibility of the millennium’s. The X’s are caught in the middle. I apologize if I got off topic and if you don’t mind could you refresh me on the direction again?

I must admit that I do not have those issues well thought out.
Please let us know your suggestions and plan so we can work from there.

Maybe I am still dreaming of the days of college when students of different culture and background talk about their experience and work on projects together and have fun.

My simple thought is why can’t we do that again now that we have more time and no assignment to worry about ?

I agree with you. My input may be limited as I can only see two directives. It may just be my personality or perception. 1) Forming this directive to acquire a source of income from boomers or 2) helping the boomers communicate for their personal best interest. This is what is confusing me as I think of the boomers as a retiring source on income generation that needs to be replaced in order to generate future funds to sustain their retirement(social programs and taxes) or children’s careers. It seem to me that when a boomer retires, most times their companies or industries do too. Do you understand and am I making any sense?

“Maybe I am still dreaming of the days of college when students of different culture and background talk about their experience and work on projects together and have fun.”

There is nothing wrong with this dream and if we had more like you we wouldn’t be facing some of the issues we do today.

We are experiencing the same issues they did thousands of years ago. You are just looking for a way to keep from making the same mistakes. It’s like chasing your tail..lol

From all those financial sites I read, most of the boomers seem to be well prepared financially. Have their house paid off with an empty nest. Mostly counting on investment income. Health issue and medical care is the big worry…

Maybe my perception is wrong.

You are right on, but what seems to concern them the most is the power of their dollar and taxes. What good is it to have a house paid off when the taxes to live there are 500.00 a month plus expenses and increasing yearly at a rate that their investments can’t keep up. 80 percent of our social costs in Canada come from health care. These costs are translated into tax burdens.

My thought is to target those who fit in the description (situation). Whatever they are called; Whoever they might be; Wherever they are located.

most-wanted-websites wrote:
right — let me just make up a new term: “silver scholars” (how does that sound?) ;D

Yes, like Journeymen or Master’s wishing to teach or share their skills?

BD for the purpose of?

max_needs wrote:
BD for the purpose of?

Having a term to use certainly makes the discussion easier. When I was in school, one of my first discovery was that people have to create term for everything and without the term, it is hard to know what we are talking about and impossible to have a meaning discussion.

Shall be concentrate us on the “silver scholars” or ““silver socializers”?

So, now what shall we do ? Can / should we move on and actually do something ?

blastber wrote:
My thought is to target those who fit in the description (situation). Whatever they are called; Whoever they might be; Wherever they are located.

I guess I’m confused as to the goal. If it’s to generate a more secure level of income or investment..then scholars are more appropriate. If it’s for living out their retirement, then socializers may be better. The direction of this conversation seems to be focused on marketing a service.

As to sitting in the park, we don’t have retired people sitting there unless they are going out of their way too. What we do have is governments forcing them into fast food restaurants to pay their taxes. See what I mean? I feel if we expanded the apprentice program to involve them as teachers, we all would be better off and put the students in the coffee shops.

What I mentioned is college educated. Whether they are educated or not is a different issue.

Please let us know how you think we should proceed ?

I am very familiar with the boomer as I’m a volunteer for some of their campaigns and keeps the tax man at bay is the biggest issue due to the “cost of doing business”. Retention of their resources and skills depleting. The responsibility of retention, education and sustainabilty to be ours, not the governments. The government doesn’t have the front line experience of the ability to react quickly enough to meet the current needs and it waters down their effectiveness and cost us a whole lot more money to bring in an elephant to deliver a small program. I favor the old fashion responsibility for your own environment issue and I also would like to see the boomers teach. We get caught up in a need it now attitude and people look for instant gratification. Maybe a net work of “members” like this help site geared towards a global retention of masters of their own environment or skills.

Okay, what is you next step?

Having a grand and flexible design is good (in computer programming) but then it usually becomes too complicated and the project cannot get started. That’s only my worry.

BD could make a sample post and test the topic or name maybe?

Should we

1. limit to “silver scholars”;
2. Self discipline (environment, heath, carbon foot print);
3. Not count on government help;
4. Mutual help and support to further educate ourselves;
5. Trans boundary friends and discussion;
6. Do it in a affordable way, get the most out of it while enjoying it;
7. Gather a mailing list of those who would be interested;
8. Make it do-able (even it is small and limited in scope)

?

1. No, give them a level of membership linked to performance or contribution.
2. No, productivity.
3. Too soon to comment. But you don’t want to lose control.
4. yes
5. yes
6. Free, exchange or barter service.
7. That’s a sell-able item.
8. Kiss, keep it simple stupid…lol

? = What do you need from me?

http://members.freewebs.com/index.jsp

Good idea, I’ll wait for the results:)

I guess this what I must do. Just be patient and wait for the results.

Thanks for the time and help.

How did you do on the poll BD?

blastber wrote:
I guess this what I must do. Just be patient and wait for the results.

Thanks for the time and help.

Here’s the deal.
BD you seem to be a Information Architect. I work with them and I blown away by your talents.

Blastber, you seem to have a caring heart and want to change the world so it’s healthier and better while putting your friends in the parks to work instead of them wasting their time and talents. Am I right?

I’ll be in and out. Blastber what do you think?

I guest I am too idealistic and always have a utopian dream. Thought people should have the freedom from worry about
1. financial issue (paying the bill)
2. worry about the leaking roof (or no roof at all)
3. worry about being ill health and being helpless and lonely (like living in a retirement house, and having one of the toes bitten by a mice [in the news once in a while]).

People ought to be able to enjoy life (in a affordable manner, not luxury, keep busy - within ones physical ability) after so many years of hard work.

I always dream about living in a small cul-de-sac community where people can help each other, do things together, have a small common club house that people can eat dinner together if they choose to. (keeping privacy while having the feeling of being together and belong to a group)
Don’t have to worry about car problem (some younger ones will always drive, help fix the roof)

That almost sound like a cult community. But then it is different. Every one has own privacy, manage one own matter and finance, not control by any one else. A truly free individual - mentally, physically, financially, medically.

I’ve seen people back packing in Asia, living in a very cheap and run down hotel (hostel). They have all kinds of skills. Some are doctors who wants to do some traveling before starting a career. Some can sing and do music very well. Some are photographer. Some can do mechanical and engineering work. Some are senior citizens.
The amazing things is after 10 years, I went back to the same place and find those people again. I ask them why they can afford to back packing for so long and not get tired of it ? Do tbey have a family ? (I dare not ask). I never get any real answer. But I saw in their face and feel that they are looking to belong to a group and enjoy the feeling the togetherness and mutual support. (Backpacking is a big community - belief it or not)

But I am just too idealistic as my friends always told me.

We have something here called co-operatives that provide a similar environment.

http://www.eons.com/
this is cool for you, just something to look at:)