publicizing librivox

[NightOwl]

Thanks, Cori.

I'll tell them today (Monday) in class and persuade them to ask for help in this forum. I might encourage them to write in Chinese (I'll try to translate or Jc would help me to translate). Some of my students are majoring in Chinese Literature, and many of them are majoring in Science and Engineering, only a few are majoring in English Literature. They are all good and cute. They might not be sure about their ability to write in English. But they can if they try. I'll ask them to try.

HC

[NightOwl]

Update!!!!!!!!!

4 students have done the volunteering now.

3 PL and 1 Reading. So they are trickling in while you were sleeping.

I've just received one student's PM telling me that "Searching and finding how to volunteer in Librivox and finally finished his first recording all by himself is a very special learning experience", because he is convinced that his English is not good enough. But I think his English is good enough, and his homework proves I'm right.

I really think I've done something right for my students.

HC

[Cori]

Yay, HC!!

[Jc]

Awesome!! Now, where is this student's recording, so we can have a listen?

[NightOwl]

The recent contribution in Three Hundred Tang Poems - Vol 4 - ct.

I'm so proud of him, so feel free to listen to his recording.

I've got two versions, one with an English disclaimer, and one revised version without any English disclaimer.

I think you have to be quick, because David move the files so quickly, that you have to look for it in the magic window.
This is the up.
http://upload.librivox.org/share/uploads/ct/300tangpoems_vol_4_216.mp3
and
Maybe David has moved the file to:
http://upload.librivox.org/share/uploads/ec/300tangpoems_vol_4/300tangpoems_vol_4_216.mp3
or
http://upload.librivox.org/share/uploads/ec/300tangpoems_vol_4_216.mp3


HC

[NightOwl]

Now, the first essay in Chinese (the author of this essay is willing to translate these essays, including her own essay, after the final exam, but if anyone is willing to help out and translate part of it, he/she is welcome to do so. Thanks.....)

LiBrivox 存在的意義

近年來有聲書以提供生動的學習方式廣受大眾喜愛，逐漸吸引越來越多人的興趣。而LibriVox是一個提供有聲書的平台，藉由無遠弗屆的網路使來自不同國家的人得以分享不同的文學、文化，作為知識的交流和興趣的分享。但……為何有人願意替大眾做這些不求報償的工作呢？

就個人來說，每個人都會追求自己最大的利益。在LibriVox裡，有人想培養語言能力、有人想訓練膽量、有人想藉由分享獲得滿足感、也有人只是想多方面的獲得知識，無論基於怎樣的因素，每位經濟人絕對可獲得自己所想要的，不然LibriVox就不會存在。但是各人能力是有限的，若想自給自足的學習，恐怕除了困難度提高之外，搜尋的成本也會增加。

LibriVox提供一個知識的平台，在那因為有人提供、有人校正，一本一本的有聲書得以完成。我們都知道人類是社會性動物，因為彼此有互動，會分工合作使得群體生存機率大於個人。在知識方面亦是如此，俗話說集思廣益，藉由彼此互動（交流、討論、修正……等），除了可降低個人學習犯錯的可能，更可降低搜尋的成本（時間、心力），所獲得的資訊當然更豐富、多元。以亞當斯密的理論來說，將產物送到最需要的人手中才可算達經濟效率！因為網路的方便性且LibriVox又是免費的，任何經濟人當然都可到這追求自個的利益，藉由提供和索取的互動方式。

因為作業的關係，我成為會員之一。我的第一份工作是擔任校聽的部分，由於不熟悉的關係以致回應在錯誤的地方。所幸，那兒的人都是相當友善的，並沒有人責怪我的錯誤，甚至還熱心地告訴我該怎麼做。因此，當我完成這份作業時，除了校聽完成的成就感之外，還有莫名的喜悅感，使我想要時常來這吸收、學習、交交朋友。現在，我會在閒暇之餘download已完成的部分來聽，以訓練英文聽力。大概才短短一個月或不到，我發現自己聽力變好了！以前常聽的英文歌曲現在竟然可以聽出60﹪左右的歌詞；看電影時也可聽出大約的對話內容，我對英文越來越喜愛……群體的行為真的有助於社會生存，而個人的私益可使團體得到最大的利益，在LibriVox裡我見證了這個道理。雖然現在我只懂得如何索取，但希望未來我也有能力提供，和不同國家的朋友共同創造屬於LibriVox所有會員的利益。有人分享、有人把關這些分享的東西，自然而然地這地方就會成長。

[NightOwl]

I told my students if they'd like to share, they can send me the word file, and I got only one (in the previous post).

Now with the printed version, I've got only a few with written consent. Others either says nothing about sharing their idea, some even with strong notes saying they don't want their opinion go public.

I'll just post the ones with written consent in the following post when I have time...........

HC

Edit: I type so slowly (in English and in Chinese), that when I finished typing a posting message my web browser had already signed me out automatically, and my message would not go through (it happened here most of the time).

So I had to copy my message in a notepad before I hit submit, so I could copy it and submit it again if I was logged out by the machine!

[NightOwl]

Here comes: (I will try to type it verbatim without making any changes, Oh! I'll try to keep it as little as possible.)

試以社會經濟學的角度來分析 Librivox 存在的意義與價值

理性原則：亦即經濟學家假設每個人都是理性的，因為人會去追求最大的利潤。

個人理性與社會理性是兩種不同的觀念，當所有個人都追求個人理性時，反而可能會產生社會無理性的結果；相反的，當一些人追求一些看似沒有個人理性的東西時，往往會造成令一種的規則理性，例如：法輪功事件。

網路上有很多免費下載音樂、電影等等的論壇，但是什麼動機促使他們把這些東西花（時間）上傳到網站（上傳檔案是一件很浪費時間的事）？是什麼動機讓他們肯花時間在這上面？就像我們在錄 Librivox 的錄音，大部分的人都不會主動的想要貢獻自己的聲音，都想說有免費的可以聽就好了，但當我聽到上面有各種不同的人講話的聲音的時候，我突然也覺得好像留下我的一個錄音也是很不錯的，其實也沒有什麼原因，也許是受到網路上的影響；或許大部分的人也不知道自己的動機是什麼了，也或許有很多人的動機跟我一樣，都是受到別人的影響。

現在網路上有很多免費的軟體可以用，不會像很久以前，軟體程式的研發比較屬於某一小部分人才會的東西，現在這個技術已經越來越多人會了，未來這塊市場的型態，一定會有很大的改變。而現在 Librivox 的有聲書，它造福的不只是視障的朋友，也提供我們很大的方便，也給了我們更多的選擇，讓我們不只是只能夠去看書，也節省了我們很多時間，而現今有聲書（並）不便宜，Librivox的出現，一定會對出版社有很大的影響，進而影響有聲書的價格，而價格的改變，也會刺激到消費者購買的意願，使得更多人注意到有聲書的市場，有聲書說不定就會變得更普及。當 Librivox 越做越大，這個新的模式成熟了之後，最後終究會擴大了整個有聲書的市場。

若 Librivox 做得很成功，我想一定會有很多類似的網站，或論壇也會跟著出來，就像是在很久之前就已經出來的「維基百科」，而免費共享的東西也會越來越多，會有很多東西都變成是「共產」的。也會許會有很多人的觀念改變，也許會變得不那麼在意著作權等等的（如果不牽扯到巨大的利益）；其實老師上課就講到有關比爾蓋茲的事情，是因為他先去使用了著作權，才不得不逼得其他人也去使用著作權。而現今網路的發達，加上硬體的改變，我想免費共享的「共產品」會越來越多，然後進而影響到全球的市場，而 Librivox 是改變的先驅之一。

[NightOwl]

Another one:

Librivox存在的意義

有聲書是依據文稿，使用不同的聲因表達出輕重緩急的錄音格式作品。以往認為有聲書是為了弱視及失明人士才發展出來的，但隨著社會的變遷，生活腳步不斷的向前，人們不再有時間靜下心來好好讀一本書，抑或是駕車人士、通勤族、想要盡可能保護視力愛惜眼睛，盡量用耳朵獲取知識的人、又或者是想利用時間看書，卻又不想帶一大堆書在身上的人，都在在助長了有聲書的發展。

在未修「社會經濟學導論」這堂課以前，我對有聲書的接觸就只有買書時，它所附贈黏貼在書後的一片CD，我因好奇心使然而放出來聽個幾次，僅此而已。與其說不願意去瞭解那個世界，倒不如說是因為沒有十分的必要迫切去瞭解。已習慣用手翻閱書籍以獲得知識的我，對有聲書的瞭解仍舊十分的貧乏，直到教授大力推薦Librivox這個網站，要我們上去看一看，並且認領一個工作，我才發現有聲書的分工其實很細緻，有人負責說，就有人選擇校聽，並不因為那是個免費的分享資源，而流於隨便敷衍的態度。在那個環境中，大家都是秉持著一顆互相幫忙、且和諧良善的氣氛在分享事情，明明可能未曾謀面，不知曉在螢幕彼端的人是誰，卻仍舊可以像對隔壁鄰居般諄諄述說著、分享著，那種在現今生活中已難見到的情形，給初次登入拜訪的我一個不小的震撼，我既驚訝這個網站的豐富與細緻，更訝異裡頭人的熱情歡迎。因為 Librivox 是個英文的分享空間，對於想認識外國筆友，或是訓練英文的打字與會話能力，都不失為一個練習的好地方。尤其裡面的人，雖然多數是來自非亞洲國家，且英文能力都很好，但是當你不小心犯了英文上的錯誤時，他們只會用一種溫柔的態度提醒你，而非嘲笑你、抑或是指責你，這讓自尊心高的我，覺得很溫暖，很貼心於他們對一位陌生人的尊重。

如果可以的話，希望 Librivox網站能有越來越多的中文作品被建檔起來，如此一來，即使英文能力沒那麼優秀的人，也能盡情享受這個地方所帶來的溫暖氛圍，就此踏入有聲書的分享世界，即使無薪無酬，也能快樂的參與其中，為 Librivox的壯大，貢獻一己之力，也為真正需要有聲書幫助的人，盡一分心力。

[NightOwl]

Another very interesting interpretation of rationality and the meaning of Librivox......(Librivox might help human being to form an ideal earth federation like in the Star Trek......)

試以社會經濟學的角度來分析 LIbrivox存在的意義與價值

在社會經濟學中，說起個人理性，我們關切油價上漲了多少、薪水有沒有增加、那邊比較便宜？這都是個人理性具體的體現，個人理性就古典經濟學的假設是追求自身的最大利益，但是現今的社會上，卻有越來越多的人發現，有許多經濟現象無法用經濟理論來加以解釋，如果我們暫停所有動作，仔細觀察聆聽身體的訊號，你有察覺到嗎？身體在這個moment有6x10^24個事件在進行，這些事件或許是生化或化學反應，也或許是電流，有些更無法解釋，這些總合造成了你我的動作、反應或思考，難道說你我每次做的任何決定都是符合所謂的個人理性嗎？甚至你我之間理性的定義、底線也不同，當然，理性之預期假說就單純事件來看，平均來說是大致正確的。

網路的世界裡出現沒有成本預算與廣告、也沒有營利的Librivox，或許對於老師來說這是第一次遇到（老師說：我不是第一次遇到，也不覺得驚訝或詫異），但是類似的團體其實已無形中存在於你我的生活中，在ACG的圈子裡，動漫畫論壇中，有人為了分享動漫歌曲的中譯歌詞，去學日文，或熬夜翻譯、校正，為了分享最新的漫畫進度，買了兩本書，一本自己看，另一本撕開一頁頁掃瞄上傳、供人閱覽，撇開智慧財產權的問題，他們的動機是什麼？

社會上有所謂的風俗習慣，有所謂的集體理性，講白一點就是一種共同意識的形成，所謂“眾數”的概念，雖然不是每個人都涵蓋，且有時候個人理性也會抵觸集體理性，而集體理性就難討論得多了，但此時利己與利他的界線已不再這麼清楚，有人會為了集體的利益而放棄個人的利益，當然謀求集體的全部利益也能為自己帶來好處。在課堂上的革命理論中提起，總是要有人開第一槍，總要有人帶頭而且可能會被犧牲，此時並不見得人人都會下這種決定，個人理性在這裡開始與集體理性搏鬥。在這裡我們體會到，當 Librivox 這樣的團體、或是持類似利他理念的團體越來越多，且有越來越多人出來號召時，我們考慮的就不只是個人理性了，就如同老師在第一堂課所說的，我們社會人的那一面就會顯現，除了關心自己外，也會關心別人、關心社會。另外，當人人開始利他行為，就會有人開始期待，想要享受免費的利益，當然一定有這樣的人存在於社會中。在上課中老師提起的許多實際案例，也不是完全利己或利他，例如：CSR。但是反觀傳統經濟學中的利己，利己必須不損人，否則經濟交換活動難以長久維持，所以利他與利己亦並非勢不兩立。所以這裡講的利他有一部份是屬於真利他，有些帶點 gift giving的期望，網路化、全球化帶來的衝擊，已讓傳統的經濟理論開始模糊，這是古人無法預見的， Librivox 的存在類同環保團體般的意念，環保團體除了利他，更重要的是永續生存， Librivox 其實也有其深遠的影響，能夠免費的製作有聲書，也無形加速知識的傳播，與資訊的流通，帶動大家喜歡分享的風氣，也間接的教化人心，或許未來就可能達到 Star Trek裡的地球聯邦一般，沒有貨幣與買賣，各盡其職，各行所長，沒有國家之分，類似大同社會的概念。

目前的經濟理論仍然處於不斷探索與完善的過程，屬於一種動態的變遷，完全沒有可以解決經濟發展或行為的唯一方法， Librivox 的意義或許在未來會有更清楚的定位，或有不同的解讀，我們應該慶幸，自己身為創造歷史的分水嶺中的一員。

[Jc]

Interesting analyses! I have the feeling that Librivox is sometimes regarded as a bit of an economic "anomaly"...

[NightOwl]

Librivox is sometimes regarded as a bit of an economic "anomaly"...

Maybe for the neoclassical train of thought.

But just like my student's concluding remark, economic theory is going through a series of transitional phases. Who knows which way it is going to take?

Economic theory was created by many brilliant and observant minds, and was based on real events and some plausible theory of "human behavior". So Librivox might not be so abnormal and "unique" in socio-economic sense. We are equipped with not only rational instinct, but also social sense of solidarity to aid our decision making process. There are many facets in our social life and there are the expectations of ourselves and others, which will affect our decisions and our "behavior".

Economist preaches rational behavior like biblical truth, but we are not as "rational" as we think! And it all depends on how you define "rational behavior". A lot of librivoxers are drawn to Librivox not because they are rational, but because there are some facets in Librivox (or any other projects) which suited their needs, their sense of solidarity/obligations/purpose/togetherness/greatness/etc......

HC

[Jc]

The very definition of rationality seem a little skewed. I mean, right now , our idea of rationality is what fits the theories of capitalism, and yet capitalism is (in my opinion and some other people's) quite an anti-social system. Our current economic theories would have been regarded as repugnant by some of the earlier societies, and the people who were hoarding money would be regarded as sociopaths...

If only I could remember where I read that stuff...

And besides, who's to say that there's no "rational" motive behind our actions? Maybe getting our voices out there is a reward enough... (It surely is enough for me)

[NightOwl]

Don't get me going.......I asked the same questions when I first studied economics, and never get a straight answer......

Economist studies our decision-making process and the actions/interactions in a social-economic network--a so-called economic system. Economists are trying very hard to solve the economic problem of resource scarcity, and the greediness or our unceasing needs for an affluent life style. Capitalism is not the monster (the monster is actually the desire and greediness inside all of us). Like Joseph A. Schumpeter said capitalism simply unlocked what had bounded us to act for our own self-interest. Capitalism only turn the infamous selfish act into an agreeable piece of action aided by the classical economic theory of market mechanism and the "invisible hand", i.e. the invisible hand will turn selfish action into social wellbeings. And for the last century, it is true in some sense.

The boundage in the previous society and social norm/paradigm cannot give us sufficient incentive to produce more and to create a world of abundance that we sorely needed. Capitalism and the theory of economic rationality only give us the excuse to seek the self-abundance without feeling guilty, and in the end, everyone in the society get more to consume. Nowaday, the problem is not the wrongfulness of "rationality", but the problem of distribution and the monster that we let loose and are still raoming the world in the name of "economic growth". You can sense this monster in every discussion and in any form of political debate. "We want this...., we want that..... we do not want tax ...... we want pay raise.....oil/utility/consumer prices are too high, we can not afford......" Our need does not diminsh with the growing wisdom of our civilization, or the increasing awareness of social-political and resource problem of the 21st century.

I used to joke in my class: "Maybe the only solution to solve the resource and environmental problem in the 21st century once and for all is to live in the cave and give up all the comfort and convenience of today." But we can't forego that, right?

Maybe there's other ways to get us out of this tight corner. As the rational being in a learned society, we need some theory to aid us to gain a solid ground of action. Captialism might make us forget the solidarity, trust, and other factors of social cohesion are the real force which makes market work for us and give us the abundance of today. But nothing is absolutely right or wrong. Socialism tried to fulfill the norm of equity in the distribution of food and other product, but it is difficult to tame the monster in us and also solve the problem of provision.

I do not know what an off-mainstream economist can do, but I'm still thinking very hard about an old professor's last seminal paper: maybe we should focus on economic "conduct" instead of economic "behavior" in forming our economic theory......


HC

[belle]

Now, the first essay in Chinese (the author of this essay is willing to translate these essays, including her own essay, after the final exam, but if anyone is willing to help out and translate part of it, he/she is welcome to do so. Thanks.....)

LiBrivox 存在的意義

近年來有聲書以提供生動的學習方式廣受大眾喜愛，逐漸吸引越來越多人的興趣。而LibriVox是一個提供有聲書的平台，藉由無遠弗屆的網路使來自不同國家的人得以分享不同的文學、文化，作為知識的交流和興趣的分享。但……為何有人願意替大眾做這些不求報償的工作呢？

就個人來說，每個人都會追求自己最大的利益。在LibriVox裡，有人想培養語言能力、有人想訓練膽量、有人想藉由分享獲得滿足感、也有人只是想多方面的獲得知識，無論基於怎樣的因素，每位經濟人絕對可獲得自己所想要的，不然LibriVox就不會存在。但是各人能力是有限的，若想自給自足的學習，恐怕除了困難度提高之外，搜尋的成本也會增加。

LibriVox提供一個知識的平台，在那因為有人提供、有人校正，一本一本的有聲書得以完成。我們都知道人類是社會性動物，因為彼此有互動，會分工合作使得群體生存機率大於個人。在知識方面亦是如此，俗話說集思廣益，藉由彼此互動（交流、討論、修正……等），除了可降低個人學習犯錯的可能，更可降低搜尋的成本（時間、心力），所獲得的資訊當然更豐富、多元。以亞當斯密的理論來說，將產物送到最需要的人手中才可算達經濟效率！因為網路的方便性且LibriVox又是免費的，任何經濟人當然都可到這追求自個的利益，藉由提供和索取的互動方式。

因為作業的關係，我成為會員之一。我的第一份工作是擔任校聽的部分，由於不熟悉的關係以致回應在錯誤的地方。所幸，那兒的人都是相當友善的，並沒有人責怪我的錯誤，甚至還熱心地告訴我該怎麼做。因此，當我完成這份作業時，除了校聽完成的成就感之外，還有莫名的喜悅感，使我想要時常來這吸收、學習、交交朋友。現在，我會在閒暇之餘download已完成的部分來聽，以訓練英文聽力。大概才短短一個月或不到，我發現自己聽力變好了！以前常聽的英文歌曲現在竟然可以聽出60﹪左右的歌詞；看電影時也可聽出大約的對話內容，我對英文越來越喜愛……群體的行為真的有助於社會生存，而個人的私益可使團體得到最大的利益，在LibriVox裡我見證了這個道理。雖然現在我只懂得如何索取，但希望未來我也有能力提供，和不同國家的朋友共同創造屬於LibriVox所有會員的利益。有人分享、有人把關這些分享的東西，自然而然地這地方就會成長。

The Purpose of The Librivox
The books which provide interesting way for learning have been developing and well received in recent years. The Librivox is an online platform that each one can share every things such like knowledge, literature, even culture in different language with everybody who comes from another country. Learning things through internet is fun, but who provide such knowledge which you learn? Why do they want to do this for crowds?

For individuality, everybody chases after his benefit. You can learn languages, training yourself to be brave, sharing what you know to be content, and acquiring large knowledge. Everyone can acquire what they need absolutely, and that is why Librivox exists. Nevertheless, the amount of knowledge one can supply is limited, so those people who belong to the group of the Librivox have to cooperate to supply more.

Librivox is a platform where people exchange, offer, and correct knowledge, hence the amount of knowledge has got more and more large. According to Adam Smith’s theories, it is efficient to distribute resource to the right person at the right time. As we know that human beings are social animals, and mankind make themselves get with the environment by cooperating. As a proverb goes, putting heads together so as to get better results; therefore, we brainstorm in knowledge to avoid mistaking and wasting our precious time. Besides, we can get more aplenty information at Librivox.

I become a member of the Librivox for my homework. My first job is listening to listening to a recording and checking it right or wrong. At the first time, I replied my private message to the wrong place so that nobody knew whether the job I took was done or not. Fortunately, people of the group were so friendly that they not only told me where to reply and how to do, so I felt happy when I finished my first job. Now, I would download some recording in my free time to practice my listening comprehension.