Money for knowlege

Communities of Rewilding Rewild Camps, Events & Meet-ups
#1

I’m starting this thread in response to a couple of posts in the “TrackersNW TrackersTEAMS Immersion Program” thread. This is a common subject of disagreement and dilemma for many with knowlege or skills to share.

I have been brain tanning buckskin for over 25 years, I’ve been doing it full time for my living for the last ten years. I also have some other skills and knowlege that I get called on to share form time to time. I teach classes and do a lot of presentations in schools and to other interested groups.
These are things that I learned from years of trial and error and putting my ass on the line at times, while also having to provide for my family. I grew up poor (single working mom) and have lived well below the “poverty” line most of my life.
I often have people who have much more economic resources than I who want to dicker with me over my prices.
I’ve had people claim that my buckskin is so expensive that only affluent people can afford it. That’s why I learned to make my own, I was too poor to buy it.
I get people who claim some of my knowlege is “traditional knowlege” and I shouldn’t be charging money for it.
I get people who want me to teach them all these things that took me years and huge effort and sacrifice to learn with little or no exchange what so ever and try to lay a guilt trip on me when I ask what I can expect in return.

In my opinion it’s a matter of priorities. If a person wants to learn these skills they will do what ever they have to do to learn them. That’s what I did. If they want me to hand them all my hard earned knowlege on a platter so they can have it without putting out what I had to put out, then I am going to want something in return for that.

In truth, the idea of a fair exchange is as “traditional” as “gifting”.

When I go to elders for information or help of any kind I expect to give them something in return and the value usually is in direct relation to how important this is to me. For some things I would go into debt to be able to offer an exchange.

On the other hand, I firmly believe in sharing what I know. I do a lot of volunteer things and give away lots of my work each year.

Everything has a cost whether it’s money or time or effort. If someone doesn’t have money then it has to be one or both of the other two.

To be honest I’ve found the internet actually seems to foster an attitude of entitlement. Information is free at the click of a mouse and it’s all fair game and belongs to everyone. Fortunately a lot of the real goods can’t be found here.

#2

I totally agree with you.

I also think that most people (myself included) have a hard time coming up with that money when we work wage slave jobs we hate all day long just to feed ourselves.

It’s a difficult system that is in place. I think that work/trade is good. and skill-trades are better. Everyone has something to offer. Why not set up a skill-trade so that those who work all the time and can’t afford to take big expensive classes can teach and learn. Than, in the meantime the people who do have money who just want to learn, can take classes from us people who like to share and have the skills. I think every penny I spent at Tom Browns Tracker school was a penny well spent. I don’t regret paying money for programs. I don’t think I’ll do it again because I have a community here that shares information all the time with eachother and I don’t think the school or class is neccesary for me anymore. Unless I wanted to immerse myself for a while and not have many other worries. And we don’t have regular meetings/outtings that an immersion program would provide structure for.

But yeah. I agree that gifting/trading/exchanging is an age old practice. It just becomes more complicated when people feel stuck in terrible slave-class and can’t afford to take classes that would help them get out of the slave-class and escape civilization. I do all three. I run classes for money. I trade my skills with others, and I give things away for free.

#3

Heyvictor…this name actually rings a bell, have you seen a film called smoke signals? “Hey Victor…” is a phrase repeated throughout the whole film.

Thanks for posting your thoughts on this issue. I admire that you were able to succeed as a single mother working to provide for your family.
As you say, priorities most definitely play a major on whether one will push oneself hard enough to learn these skills. I’m also glad to hear that you do volunteer work to teach others what you know.

Scout: You’ve pinned the tail on the burro.
Setting up a “skill-trade so that those who work all the time and can’t afford to take big expensive classes can teach and learn”

Thank you all for the inspiration from your words. We might soon start seeing these type of skill sharing gatherings locally where we live. Take care.

#4

Guess I worded that wrong, I’m not a single mom, I had a single mom.

Seems like you understood what I was saying and I didn’t come off like a big time capitalist or something.

I do believe in giving and helping others along the way.

#5

Halarious, ;D, yeah I had to check yo’ profile on that, in which I didn’t find anything of course. Good thing you said something, cause I got a lil comfused. He he.

#6

I agree. With me, although I can’t afford the Immersion program right out of pocket, I did get a job specifically for making the money to attend, and once I complete the program, I will have all the skills and knowledge and can then trade/share it with others.

As far as what Urban Scout is talking about with a community surrounding him, that is also a reason why I want to do this program, because the community in Portland is great, and I wanted to get involved with the people when I lived there before but did not have time or energy because I worked! This way I will totally immerse myself in the learning and it will have my full attention and focus, which I learned is a better way for me to learn things, and keep interested in them.

-emily

#7

In some cultures a gift is not always something to be welcomed as you then become responsible for whatever the gift is, be it knowledge or a blanket.

Thus - you learn something new everyday if your not careful.

#8

I think it makes sense to pay someone to become a teacher of something, because then you are asking of someone to devote their whole life to making sure you are a good teacher, too. That’s vocation, and vocations have to pay the rent, be they in dollars or piles of textiles.

Paying for a weekend or a day, or a seminar, that’s more specious, especially when talking about something that can indeed be learned ‘from a book’.

THis is not a slam on anyone, so sorry if it’s mildly offensive, but I’m rather annoyed by people who serve their interests by trying to create a side income by taking people out in the woods for a weekend. Maybe it’s my extensive network of meatflesh friends who I co-captain ‘figuratively’, maybe it’s my institutionalized volunteerism, maybe it’s my ability to have something tangible to share. I fully expect to cover my share of costs of materials and food, but I prefer get togethers that are cooperative, not top-down master-student, a baggage of a organizational structure that non-bartering intrinsically.

I have learned from my mistakes at Ishcon. Initially, there were times were there was this pressure to ‘impart’ knowledge to the unknowing. Everytime, there was this itch to charge. When we looked at models of sharing, info-fairs, talent contests, and make-your-own-slot that we encouraged each participant to bring to the table, I felt like these things were more successful.

Above all, people want to receive value. I prefer the barter system when it comes to learning.