eBay and FOAF-style network

1.Considering the Prisoner’s Dilemma in this chapter, provide your own insight on how sites such as eBay “work” for most participants of this popular online auction site. Do they really work? Or is there too much risk?

I personally have never used eBay to buy anything because I think that there is too much risk. I know for others though, especially a lot of my friends tend to use it to buy so many different things. I do think that it works, but I always have in the back of my mind that when I pay for something is it really going to come to my address and receive what I paid for? There is always the risk too of giving out your personal information and expecting it to stay private. I feel like we have talked about this throughout the semester and it is pretty clear that once something is on the internet there is always that possibility of the security being broken and your information getting into the hands wrong person. I also think it depends on experience on whether someone thinks there is too much risk or if it is okay for them to give out their personal information.




2. What professional benefits do you see by investing some time in a FOAF-style network?

I think there are more benefits to FOAF-style networking that comes to mind. To put your name out there in more than one way and be able to network yourself is a great tool to have and be able to use. By doing so you can benefit your career greatly, it’s like the saying “sometimes it’s not about what you know but who you know.” I think this holds true always. That is how I got my internship this summer and through my mom knowing the boss. I also formed more connections and ways to market and network my skills to others. This style of network can not only benefit you, but your friend and the company or profession as well. If your friend already has a job and is well established and happens to put your name out there as a worthy candidate and the company already knows your friends capability, you have a very good chance of getting that position. Especially in today’s society, where the economy is struggling, there are so many qualified people who are in running for a position but FOAF-style network could be what sets you apart from the rest.