Digital Good Samaritanism

I've heard it said that you can learn a lot about a person by how they treat people who they think can't do anything for them.

I've taken lately to networking with folks I've not met before, looking for full-time employment in this down economy. Usually I am referred to them by another friend. I connect with them on social networks, and share their resumes with those I think can help out.

I do it because I think it's the right thing to do. Because it is a kind of digital Good Samaritanism. We are finding these unfortunate souls on the digital highways and byways instead of the literal ones.

If anything will mitigate the disasters of this current economy, which I fear will get worse, it is the low-friction digital highway. Information flows much more freely than it did in previous depressions or recessions. That is a good thing. So, help out a soul you find there if you can. It's really not so hard to do.