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Inkscape
September 2008 
I don't know what to think of Gaia- my reservations
Posted on Jan 15th, 2008
by 
Quiche
Quiche
Gaia domination (punny!), and what does that mean to me? I don't know, really. Change can be good or bad, and all points in between. Gaiam, Inc. 22.53 -1.52 on the NASDAQ, as I write this, is the leading distributor of special interest programming with more than 46 percent of the fitness and wellness market. It seems there has to be some corporate buy out of nearly everything- phone companies, hospitals and healthcare, TV networks, radio stations, etc. I realize Zaadz had it's sponsors, and conscientious entrepreneurs that helped maintain the costs of running such a site, which is one thing, but it is quite another thing for a big corporate identity to buy and own a site or business. Fox Entertainment Group, a News Corp. subsidiary, who also owns 20th Century Fox and various TV networks bought Beliefnet, Inc. (as reported in the Wall Street Journal, 12/05/07), a community Web site devoted to religion, faith, and spirituality. This is disturbing, because the same folks who control a great portion of the media and news we watch, selectively choosing, with intentional bias, what we watch, and what opinions or views they deem worthy, influencing us more than we would like to give credit, now own a web community (the largest) about spirituality and belief. Disturbing, to say the least. I do not want that for Zaadz, or the folks that were formerly known as Zaadz. Therein lies the difference- we were Zaadz (seeds of change), very democratic- a site by people for people. Now we are becoming a corporate identity? What adds to my reservations is the allusion of being the planet (Gaia, who was considered a Goddess, Mother Earth in Greek mythology), and a worldly corporation, which Zaadz is now owned by- very Big Brother-ish in its implications.
I cannot say I know what Gaia or Gaiam Inc., is about, other than, "nifty yoga videos!", and that they are connected to the Mayo Clinic, about health, wellness and fitness, nifty, and some of what I have seen on the beta pages, but just like Fox Entertainment Group buying Beliefnet, I wonder if that very human, individual contributed, collective spirit, and personal expression will be lost behind a logo, commercialization, big business (and all that the term entails), and for some corporate identity which has their own agendas, and no doubt at least one of which is making more money. I guess the proof, as they say, will be in the pudding, and it is too early to tell. But I have my reservations, which I think are worth mentioning, so I am proceeding with caution and my eyes wide open.
I cannot say I know what Gaia or Gaiam Inc., is about, other than, "nifty yoga videos!", and that they are connected to the Mayo Clinic, about health, wellness and fitness, nifty, and some of what I have seen on the beta pages, but just like Fox Entertainment Group buying Beliefnet, I wonder if that very human, individual contributed, collective spirit, and personal expression will be lost behind a logo, commercialization, big business (and all that the term entails), and for some corporate identity which has their own agendas, and no doubt at least one of which is making more money. I guess the proof, as they say, will be in the pudding, and it is too early to tell. But I have my reservations, which I think are worth mentioning, so I am proceeding with caution and my eyes wide open.
Access: Public
We are Living in the Material World.
We can hesitate or we can jump in and participate.
Love = Action = Change = Growth needs Trust.
We are Gaia ~ just as we are Zaadz.
We can't be hurt in any way. We are sharing life & love.
What's to loose? What's to hurt us?
We are unconditionally accepting of human hearts here on the internet.
people we never met, probably won't ever meet, yet we are connected.
We are Gaia, just as we will always be Zaadz.
Hey Q:
Totally agree (probably cuz I used to say the same thing :), the proof is in the pudding.
I'm personally giddy. we now have the resources of a very conscious business with deep resources and an equally ardent commitment to making a difference in the world. :)
love and hugs,
-bri
Ladybear- I have always believed in the spirit and goal of Zaadz and have expressed many times how profoundly inspiring and transformative my experience with Zaadz has been in my life. The same people who were Zaadz day before yesterday, are the same folks on here as Gaia today, and my issue is not with any of the inspiring, brilliant and wonderful, former Zaadzsters that I consider friends. There are some things which require a certain amount of compromise, tolerance and patience, and I am not resistant to positive change (not all change is positive), but there are things that are unacceptable, infringing and usurping on rights, that one cannot participate in, in good conscience, no matter how much the world says it is so.
Brian- I have never doubted that you had the best intentions for the future of Zaadz, nor do I question your choice to sell Zaadz, as you have a sense of purpose and path, which I have always admired about you. I do however question the motives of the folks who bought Zaadz, and as with any business deal, once they take ownership, they have a right to operate it and change it as they see fit, which may or may not follow the spirit or vision of it's creator. I have reservations over the corporateness, just as I do with how much of this country is becoming more and more socialist, more control, and less and less about individual rights. I am disturbed over Gaia's terms and conditions which concern the content that we have created and posted on here that the current wording says they have the right to reprint, publish and copyright elsewhere (outside of the website Gaia), in stark contrast to the Zaadz terms which only concerned content within the site and or until we are no longer members. Are you comfortable with that? I for one, am not. That tells me, I have no rights, that they can publish a book, for instance, with my art or writing in it, outside of the website, without my permission, and copyright it, and make money from it, and I lose the rights to my art, and the money that might be made from it- where are my rights as an individual? As far as I am concerned, this could not possibly be legal, since none of us, to my knowledge, have been presented with a new terms and conditions to agree or decline, the choice of which continues or discontinues membership on Gaia- breech of contract. Serious business.
I agree, and the results remain to be seen.
I didn't know that News Corp purchased Beliefnet though - that's crazy! And scary, once you get to know what Rupert Murdoch is all about. That's actually a big reason why I left MySpace (News Corp owns MySpace as well) - I didn't want to willingly be a part of anything that he had his hands in.
Quiche,
Thank you for expressing your concerns. Siona is putting the old TOS back currently. See the team blog
Gaia is still being run by the same people today and YOU guys really are the community. You create this space. Do you want it to be an authentic place of trust, light and love? It is up to ALL of US to co-create the community we want to BE.
Blessings to you!
Mark
As for my initial response to Ladybear and Brian, the changes had not been made at that point in the terms and conditions of use, which have now been amended to protect our intellectual and creative content rights, and I suggest everyone reading this to visit the Gaia Team blog and read the latest post, as well as the Terms and Conditions of Use, link is provided in the Team Blog's latest post. I appreciate the timeliness of their response and their changes which alleviate a few of my concerns.
As for trusting Gaia, or knowing the corporation's motives, trust is earned, not freely given, and only time will tell- I was not privy to months of briefings, preparation, and an inside scoop, as you, Mark, Brian, Siona, and the rest of the Gaia Team were. Again, never have I questioned the intentions or motives of the folks here, I simply expressed my concerns and reservations, though I remain hopeful. I still love you folks, and I'm still here. Hope you understand.
Tara- MySpace sucks, I agree.
Infinite blessings to you all.