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joy faber

recycling artist, Read "Write" Literacy of Torrance County

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Can these big problems be broken down into simpler questions that more people could think about?

Einstein had ideas that came from observation, focused creative thinking and experimentation. If the great problems of climate change, population growth, political and corporate corruption could be broken down into smaller questions maybe more people could participate in the solutions.

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Topics: crowdsourcing simplification
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    joy faber 10+

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    Mar 31 2012: One of the places where I see crowd-sourcing as a valuable tool is in practical application; another is insight and discernment. There are a lot of educated people who would like to contribute but find it difficult for one reason or another. There are people who specialize (even secretly) in the intricate aspects of a problem. I guess what it boils down to is will the educated, privileged and connected share their power.
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    Tawadeen Bankole

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    Mar 24 2012: If we simplify the questions do we also then simplify the answers? Instead of try bring things down we need people to rise up. How well can one participate without broad knowledge? I believe people should be put in places to participate but themselves should rise to have something to participate.
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      joy faber 10+

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      Mar 24 2012: There are a lot of very smart people in the world who will never be TED presenters, university professors, or Nobel Peace Prize recipients. The more people who participate the more successful the outcome will be. Not everyone is blessed with the opportunity to go to school/college, that does not mean they have nothing to contribute.
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        Tawadeen Bankole

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        Mar 25 2012: If they are smart then they should already understand some of the questions. Not everyone goes to school but anyone can get education, for there wise people before schools. But not to be a generalist but if they haven't possibly got the education before seeking to participate education should be on the cards.
        but yes people should be made aware of the problems and be in a place where if they do have answers they can contribute regardless of their backgrounds. but i think it is a fair lot that need to be educated on these topics in my findings.
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    joy faber 10+

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    Mar 23 2012: Seems so much of the time I don't know the right question to ask. I want to contribute but my means are limited and so many problems seem politically loaded, far away, fraught with corruption, waaaay to complex. I've been trying to participate in design development at this site; http://www.quirky.com. Each product has several phases which people vote on. When a product is selected everyone can try to contribute in a meaningful way and get some credit for it. I've seen game developers and others crowd sourcing too. I thought TED presenters could do the same kind of thing.
    Yes, we should drink more water! Thanks for your participation!
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    edward long 100+

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    Mar 23 2012: You mean, for example, address the epidemic of obesity in America by posing a simple, related question like, " Why should we drink more water every day?" That would probably elicit more participation than a sweeping, complex question. Good idea Ms. Faber. (By the way, Albert was strictly a theoretical physicist. He did not perform or rely on experiments.) Thanks for your question.

    • santiago rodriguez

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      Mar 23 2012: I did not understand this question like that, that's a beautiful way of looking at things!!

      thank you
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