The Open Social Experiment

I tend to consider open source software to be something of a social experiment. It tests the boundaries of human interaction, and seems to laugh in the face of capitalism. When you think about it rationally, it doesn't seem like the system should work. People are generally understood to be greedy and self-serving, and to contribute to a project with no expectation of personal gain seems improbable at best. Yet the facts dictate that open source does, in fact, work. I am typing this blog post on a computer running an open source Linux operating system, which is running the open source Firefox web browser. The fact that the open source movement not only exists, but thrives in our world, gives me hope in human nature. Maybe, just maybe, the movement is a sign that we are all inherently generous and selfless. Here's to hoping the open source movement enjoys a full, long life.