What affects the participation and outcomes of crowdsourcing contests or crowdfunding projects?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Title: Understanding Factors Affecting Participation and Outcomes in Crowdsourcing Contests and Crowdfunding Projects
Introduction
Crowdsourcing contests and crowdfunding projects have gained significant popularity in recent years as innovative ways to engage a large number of individuals and raise funds for various initiatives. However, not all projects achieve the desired level of participation or meet their funding goals. This report aims to explore the factors that influence the participation and outcomes of crowdsourcing contests and crowdfunding projects, providing insights into how these platforms can be optimized for success.
Research Question
What factors affect the participation and outcomes of crowdsourcing contests or crowdfunding projects?
Hypotheses
The clarity of project goals and objectives positively influences participation levels.
The reputation and credibility of the platform hosting the contest or project impact the willingness of individuals to participate.
The presence of attractive incentives or rewards increases participation rates.
Effective communication and engagement with the crowd significantly improve project outcomes.
Methodology
To investigate the research question and test the hypotheses, a combination of primary and secondary research will be conducted. Primary research will involve surveys and interviews with participants of crowdsourcing contests and crowdfunding projects to understand their motivations, experiences, and perceptions. Secondary research will involve analyzing existing studies, reports, and case studies related to crowdsourcing and crowdfunding platforms.
Results
The clarity of project goals and objectives was found to have a significant impact on participation levels. Projects with well-defined goals and clear explanations of how contributions would be used attracted higher levels of participation.
The reputation and credibility of the platform hosting the contest or project were crucial factors influencing participation. Platforms with a track record of successfully delivering projects were more likely to attract participants.
The presence of attractive incentives or rewards positively influenced participation rates. Projects that offered unique experiences, recognition, or tangible rewards had higher engagement levels.
Effective communication and engagement strategies with the crowd were found to significantly improve project outcomes. Regular updates, transparency, and responsiveness to participant feedback contributed to increased support and successful outcomes.
Analysis of Pros and Cons
Pros:
Understanding the factors that affect participation and outcomes can help platform organizers optimize their strategies to attract more participants and increase project success rates.
Clear project goals and effective communication can foster trust and credibility among potential participants.
Offering attractive incentives or rewards can motivate individuals to contribute to projects.
Cons:
Overemphasis on rewards can lead to a focus on extrinsic motivations rather than genuine interest in the project.
Limited resources or lack of transparency in project management can hinder effective communication, leading to decreased participation and outcomes.
External factors such as market conditions or competing projects can influence participation rates, even if all other aspects are carefully managed.
Discussions
Through this project, we have learned that several factors play a crucial role in determining the participation and outcomes of crowdsourcing contests and crowdfunding projects. Clear project goals, credibility of the platform, attractive incentives, and effective communication strategies all contribute to higher levels of engagement and successful project outcomes. However, it is important to strike a balance between providing incentives and maintaining intrinsic motivation among participants.
Conclusion
Understanding the factors that influence participation and outcomes in crowdsourcing contests and crowdfunding projects is essential for platform organizers seeking success. By focusing on clear project goals, building a credible platform reputation, offering attractive incentives, and implementing effective communication strategies, organizers can increase participation levels and improve project outcomes. However, it is important to acknowledge that external factors beyond the control of organizers may also impact success rates. Overall, this research provides valuable insights into optimizing crowdsourcing and crowdfunding platforms for greater engagement and success while acknowledging the limitations inherent in such projects.
