On January 12, 2010 the world seemed a place of infinite fears and possibilities. Human suffering seemed a fact of life that many of us have become all too used to. The occasional news story of a deadly car bombing in a far off distant place was relatively easy to ignore. That was all before the ground shook and redefined once again our understanding of human suffering. This piece is not about that catastrophic event but rather the immediate and palpable response which arose in reaction to it. In particular, the ingenious way, in which enormous companies have led the charge to aid those in need. The narrative is one, that I feel, must be told before it is all too easily forgotten and we once again revert back to our default positions, regarding corporate greed and injudicious actions.
I am referring to the use of a simple donation device on Amazon and WalMart’s websites. It allows you to simply type in a donation amount which is automatically billed from your credit card. The funds immediately go to legitimate charities and help people in a more expedient manner than most of us can even imagine. The fact that there may be some unresolved issues regarding possible profit taking by credit cards is a legitimate concern but these loose ends do not dramatically impact the efficiency nor the contributions gained through the process. Felix Torres has often weighed in on the discussions held on Teleread reminding us of the growing relevance of electronic communities. This dynamic is wisely being harnessed by companies such as Amazon and Walmart in their attempts to aid the on-going relief efforts.I can relate to you a simple story regarding how social networks can not only assist but also inspire people towards aiding one another. As a future Social Studies teacher I was assigned a university project in which I was asked to gather public opinions concerning the Patriot Act and to then offer a public policy suggestion based on those opinions. I posted the request on Kindleboards and on Amazon’s Kindle users’ forum. Over the ensuing 24 hours 68 respondents weighed in by taking the 10 question survey-on their own, uncompensated time. They were driven by a whole host of motivations but the one that was the most salient by far was simply to help a fellow Kindler in need. I was so touched by their kindness that when I heard Mr. Torres’s theory I could not help but wholeheartedly agree. Ultimately, companies -such as Amazon and Walmart- who get that the internet is redrawing not only commerce but also our own lives will profit.
Their magnanimous leveraging of their commercial and political clout to aid others is something which needs to be highlighted and rewarded. It is all too easy to sit and do as countless other companies have done and remain above the fray. As of this moment companies such as Barnes and Nobles, Borders, and Sony have failed to match either Amazon or Walmart’s user generated donations mechanism. I am not saying that they haven’t as companies individually donated, or that their customers are any less charitable, but rather that they have failed to make our donating as a community easier. By failing to efficiently leverage their clout and capitalize on the growing influence of internet communities they may have missed a golden opportunity to further endear themselves with customers who not only enjoy practicing e-commerce but are also allowing their humanity to be defined by it.
