stereofan

Was wondering - the same way that there is computer ed classes for software and hardware, what if a curriculum were put together for use of machines for fold@home with emphasis on hw/sw efficiency for noobs that put up a few $$ to be taught through classes sponsored by charities affected by folders? Where the $$ would be donated cash and the facilitators could get an add to their resumes? Dunno, it's a big thing to do but committed teams would be able to make a dent by adding @home folders and make $ for charities...

KamuiRSX

Charities wouldn't get anything out of because folding hasn't done anything significant and is filled with maybe's and what ifs. Charities like to get behind things that the majority of donors care about such as juvenile diabetes and other diseases/illnesses/life threatening conditions. Also, charities maybe non-profit but they tend to follow the money and folding is a waste of money for all involved except Stanford with no tax breaks, write offs, or anything else to help out their fiscals.

The real reason is because they would spend majority of the classes trying to explain just what is folding. Then the people are going to learn that it's something they have to do on their own that doesn't get them a tax break and racks up their power bill and then they'll say no. See what I mean? On top of that, even when it comes to your resume, putting I waste electricity in the hopes that some what ifs and maybes come true doesn't really work so well because you're not actually doing anything except paying the power bill. Teaching a class on it is a very minor skill because all you're doing is following instructions relayed elsewhere and then regurgitating it in your own words to others.

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mrwesth

And if you apply your logic universally, everything seems to have a very cold and narrow purpose.

Regurgitating things in your own words to others is one of the highest paid skills in this country. It's called teaching, writing, music, poetry, etc. It's found at all levels of business/society where plagiarism isn't practiced.

And name something that isn't a what if or a maybe and you are showing your naivety. Nothing in life is certain, except change and uncertainty.

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boomboy

well said.

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el gappo

a click to donate to the community folding project would be good, neve know we could get some donations from outsiders.

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KamuiRSX

You can't possibly tell me that you're simple minded enough to believe that people donate to charities because they actually 'care'. If you want any evidence of that, why do charities and non-profit organizations pay their employees. Shouldn't all employees work for free to show how much they 'care'. Why do people and corporations donate to charities? It's not because they care. It's because if they don't, they'll get taxed to hell and back and donating money is a huge tax break.

Folding on the other hand is not a recognized charity or NPO. Therefore, no charity or NPO will get behind it because their donors, the people that keep giving them money to keep them afloat, can't get anything out of it. It's just common sense bud.

Hell I donate to 3 charities a year. Do I do it because I care. Hell no. I do it because I get a huge tax break. So I can either owe $4000 or get back $1500 or more....which option do you think I'm going to choose.

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[PWN]Schubie

some people actually DO care.
i donate monthly to the red cross, green peace and wwf because i believe in what they do, i also fold because i beleive it can help, i dont check my stats anymore, just check daily that its still running.
just because you dont care, doesnt mean people dont care.

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KamuiRSX

Then you might want to take your statement and give it to the rest of the world because no offense, there are more people that don't care than there will ever be of people who do care. The fact is by what the OP asked. The answer is still no because there's no recognizable benefit to the donors. If you don't like it, change the world.

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stereofan

That's a naive outlook; if that measuring stick were applied to all human endeavor, civilization would grind to a halt and perish. The proper question is not, do more people care than not?, but: Do enough people care to make it worth happening? and is there enough of an audience to sustain the practice without being overly dependent on a few big pockets?

While the argument against using it to pad resumes has merit, the one dismissing teaching of classes does not, imho. There are *lots* of viable enterprises that are sustained by teaching people to teach others, and it may not turn joe sixpack into a Hardware Secrets ace reviewer, but familiarity with terminology, demystifying the art of computing as well as developing introductory skills into the art of overclocking/folding etc are useful additions.

I don't think I would pursue this without a clear framework dealing with the above factors, but the question of whether something is worth doing or not does not depend on majority rule, I would say. As you find in any business, there is the need to clearly identify supporters and leaders, get some idea of their quantities, develop ratios that would sustain the effort and extract out the growth curve to compare with other things going on. That's a lot of work, and out of my field of expertise. I assume others here may have ideas about this, hence the post.