Composable Membership and its Role in Generating Social Capital — Mirror: Choose Enjoyment Over Pleasure

Composable Membership and its Role in Generating Social Capital — Mirror: Choose Enjoyment Over Pleasure

In the world of Web3, composable membership plays a crucial role in generating social capital. While having a token may bring a community together with a financial stake, it is composable membership that holds a community together long term with social capital. Composable membership is about more than just access; it encompasses discovery, permissions, and status. Unlike in Web2 where membership forms around services, in Web3, services form around membership. This shift allows for a more decentralized approach, where no one platform owns the primitives (tokens), and no one fights to be at the top of the membership hierarchy.

But what exactly is social capital? Social capital refers to the building of trust, experimentation, and flexibility within a community. It is about improving ownership of decisions and preventing a social fork. To achieve this, a membership system that encompasses membership, identity, and relationships is essential. This holistic approach to membership can serve as a proxy for a reputation score, opening up possibilities for more creatively weighted incentives.

While composable membership and social capital are important in the digital realm, it is also crucial to consider our approach to life in general. In the pursuit of happiness, it is often tempting to prioritize pleasure over enjoyment. However, pleasure is addictive and animalistic, while enjoyment is elective and human. Pleasure happens to us, while enjoyment is something we actively create through our own effort.

Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi argues that enjoyment gives us a sense of effort, forward movement, and accomplishment. It is a commitment to savoring the situation and engaging in tasks to experience positive feelings of joy and fun. The memory of an enjoyable experience, such as a meal shared with friends, can bring long-lasting good feelings. It is important to note that the enjoyment of life can be ruined when we use it to show others how happy we are. When we share our experiences online, we may feel pressure to present ourselves in a positive light, which ultimately diminishes our happiness.

Efficiency can also be the enemy of enjoyment. When we view activities as wasteful or unproductive, we tend to enjoy them less. Hanging out with friends or engaging in leisure activities should not be seen as a waste of time, but rather as an essential part of a fulfilling life. The 20th-century German philosopher Josef Pieper aptly puts it, "Leisure is only possible when a man is at one with himself." Enjoyment of life goes beyond mere good feelings; it is a declaration of independence from our base impulses and a key ingredient in creating the life we truly want.

In light of these insights, here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Embrace composable membership in your online communities: Look for platforms or communities that prioritize composable membership and social capital. Seek out opportunities to contribute, form relationships, and have a say in decision-making processes. This will foster a sense of ownership and trust within the community.

2. Prioritize enjoyment over pleasure in your everyday life: Take the time to engage in activities that bring you true enjoyment, rather than simply pursuing fleeting moments of pleasure. Embrace the effort, forward movement, and accomplishment that come with genuinely enjoyable experiences.

3. Be mindful of how you present yourself online: While sharing moments of your life on social media can be enjoyable, be aware of the pressure to present yourself in a positive light. Remember that true enjoyment comes from within and should not be dependent on external validation.

In conclusion, composable membership and social capital are essential components of thriving communities in the Web3 era. By prioritizing enjoyment over pleasure, both online and offline, we can cultivate a more fulfilling and meaningful life. Embracing composable membership and fostering social capital can lead to a sense of ownership, trust, and creative incentives within communities. So, let us choose enjoyment, embrace composable membership, and create the life we truly desire.