Cultures and Ethics of Sharing - Universität Innsbruck

30 Volker Grassmuckstrengthened anti-sharing measures like SOPA and ACTA, the force of the resistance selforganisedby the global networked citizens who do not want to let the potential of theSharing Turn be crushed is astounding.ConclusionsThis paper does not pretend to present a systematic mapping of the socio-cultural practicesemerging in the Sharing Turn nor a comprehensive analysis of its dynamics. I hope,though, I have managed to share with you some of what I see as important elements forsuch a theory and will close with posing questions for further research.There seems to be something in the biological make-up and in the cultural history of mankindthat makes us naturally inclined to share. Environmental conditions may be more orless favourable to this inclination being actualized. An abundance of opportunity to networkand interact with others as presented by the digital revolution is clearly an enablingfactor in the current Sharing Turn. The more the technology and the capacity and ability toutilize it are spreading, the more sharing practices become normalized. The break-down ofa prevalent anti-sharing power structure, whether a dictatorial regime or a culture industry,also provides ample opportunity and motivation for commonality, sharing and cooperationto re-emerge. As we have seen in the example of Cairo’s Tahrir Square, as immensely usefulas digital technology is, it is by no means a necessary pre-condition. Also when ideologiesof greed are discrediting themselves by showing their catastrophic effects, their mentalhold over people breaks and makes them reconsider their ideas on competition vs. cooperation.If on- or offline public or commons spaces where communities of sharing can gather are apre-condition then these must not be taken for granted. Zuccotti Park in New York, whereOccupy Wall Street had set up camp, was cleared by police after two months. The Internetis subject to censorship, bans on access to it for alleged copyright infringers, threats tonetwork neutrality and other of its fundamental principles. It is a matter of public policy toconsider the effects of measures taken in these spaces on the Sharing Turn.The design of these spaces and the tools that communities develop for their interactionsalso warrant further attention. Belsky et al. (2010) have taken first steps in identifyingfeatures that are conducive to sharing in the exchanges between musicians and their audiences.These may be summarised as implementing and expressing trust and authenticity,transparency, empathy and solidarity, reputation-building, generosity and fairness.These values themselves need to be looked at more closely. E.g. altruism is often mentionedas a driving force of sharing. Like sharing and cooperating, altruism has become apopular research object in evolutionary genetics and neuroscience. But looking at one ofthe most comprehensive empirical studies of the motivations in the free software community(Ghosh et al., 2002, Figure 35 in Part IV: Survey of Developers) do we really find a