Some people like the idea, and they make more copies of Alice's card, together with other cards, and give them to other people they know. Alice's card might even end up indexed in an online database. That's okay, she wants to publish that information to the public.
Now, Bob somehow gets a copy of Alice's card. Bob needs someone to walk his dog Zoe, as he has an unpleasantly full-time job. Bob lives near Alice. So he calls her, and asks, `Will you walk my dog for me?'. Alice says `I'm happy to walk your dog - but please will you make a card too, and give me a copy? That's all I ask in return.'
`Okay!' says Bob, and he whips up a card. Bob can teach the flute, he's an experienced systems-administrator, and reckons he'd like to work on a farm sometime to get away from the CRTs and fluoro tubes. He emails his card to Alice, and they arrange to meet at the local pub.
Alice and Bob get along okay, and Alice starts taking Zoe the dog for a walk every second morning. She enjoys getting exercise in the fresh air!
Now, Alice isn't too keen on learning the flute, but not to worry, she passes Bob's card onto her friends (keeping a copy for herself), and in no time Claire calls Bob - Claire's son Daniel wants to learn the flute. Bob's feeling grateful because his dog is much happier now-days, and he likes to teach music, so he says `sure! is half-an-hour every week okay for a start?' That sounds good to Claire and Daniel!
Bob forgot to ask Claire to make a card of her own, but she likes the idea, so she makes one on her own initiative. She includes fruit and vegetables, because she has quite a handy home-garden which is producing well in spite of the drought. Her card spreads through the network. Alice finds it by accident when she's on the Internet one day. Now it so happens that Alice is out of a job, and fruit and vegetables are in short supply. She jumps at the opportunity to get some free grub!
Claire invests a lot of effort into her garden, but she's happy to give generously as she enjoys gardening, she has too much for her family to eat, she's not short of money, and she's still feeling good about the flute lessons.
Claire and Bob both have full-time jobs, but they find it doesn't take much time to participate in this game. The three of them are each doing something they enjoy, and helping someone else; each has found two new friends.
Fred is old. He tells stories to children about the old days. That is very valuable and soon the whole neighborhood are scheduling play dates with him. (Hehe! but some old people really are entertaining, for example Bilbo Baggins!)
Greg is a mentally retarded paraplegic with a glass eye. He can't do anything much of help to anyone, but he's not miserable. We look after people like him today, so of course that service will continue and improve in the future. Nursing can be very rewarding, however some aspects are unpleasant. Some people are worried that UnpleasantJobsWontGetDone, however WeCanShareTheUnpleasantJobs.
If you liked this hypothetical story, why not real TheRealStoryOfCards?
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