Oddbean new post about | logout
 V4V works at a small scale, but it is similar to waiter/waitress salary approach where you’re relying on social stigma, and not sustainable. 

Selling access, exclusivity and scarcity is probably the economic model that would work better for nostr. 
 Can you elaborate more on the second part? Just curious what it is you're thinking about. 
 People pay for HOA, club memberships, opinions, unique features, physical goods, etc. why? 

Why do people buy Rolex watches? It’s not because they can tell time better. 
 Have you tried the subscriptions on clients like highlighter.com? 
 It’s a good idea, but Highlighter only works intermittently in my observation. 
 :/ Are there any other subscription models on nostr? 
 Damus, Nostr Build, Fountain are all annual 
 The thing is, I don't understand if V4V is such a bad idea, doesn't work, and will collapse, why does everyone spend so much time talking about how it won't work as a payment model? Surely you would just not bother because the people implementing it would just not do it anymore. 

The thing about decentralized systems is the modularity with which they are build allow for different models to be tested. The reason why paywalls and V4V are clashing is that one hurts the other and people advocating for either are just partisans. If there's a paywall, V4V gives away content for an ostensibly cheaper price. If there's a V4V model pay walls give people FOMO and draw from charitable payments. You are participating in a culture war. 
 I don’t think V4V on its own has an incentive structure that drives behavior. The cases where it does work are zap.streams that put the top person on the leaderboard or give mention to the person who contributes. If zapping were completely anonymous, it would be exceptionally rare. 
 But it isn't completely anonymous... If my grandmother had wheels she would be a bike. Again, I don't understand the aversion beside standing athwart the hill of payment schemes yelling "Stop giving money to each I other all willy-nilly!" 
Saying it has no incentives then listing incentives is definitely a new way to make a point. 
 I wish this wasn't so, but you're right. V4V might work if you've been on MTV because you need a large audience since only 4% of people 

 Jack Spirko's membership brigade seems like a better option for most people.