Will you stop folding and why?

[LOUISSSSS]

having a discussion and would like to know if you've stopped folding because you can no longer afford the energy.

Other person is saying that his personal needs ($$) are more important than helping find the cure.

What do you guys think?

 

[PCTC2]

Yes. I stopped folding because my personal needs are more important. If I pay for the energy, I can't afford food, rent, or other important expenses. I would like to live, rather than die, for a cure.

 

[Rudy Toody]

Recently, we had a thread that discussed this same issue. Apparently, it has been archived.

All distributed computing is voluntary and people join projects for all kinds of reasons. When Real Life gets in the way, it has priority. Personal needs are more important than finding the cure.

 

[petrusbroder]

I agree with PCTC2 and Rudy Toody: needs go before charity (any charity, incl. F@H).

Then there is the matter of luxury ... IMHO charity goes before luxury: If you can feed, clothe, provide living space, schooling and reasonable transportation and relaxation to your family and your self, then finding the cure - in one way or the other - goes before luxury.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

Originally posted by: petrusbroder
I agree with PCTC2 and Rudy Toody: needs go before charity (any charity, incl. F@H).

Then there is the matter of luxury ... IMHO charity goes before luxury: If you can feed, clothe, provide living space, schooling and reasonable transportation and relaxation to your family and your self, then finding the cure - in one way or the other - goes before luxury.

so you say: if you have enough money for your immediate needs, then you'd put charity over personal luxuries

 

[Duvie]

If it was truly charitable contribution to A CHARITY then it should be tax deductible. Last time I checked it was not.....

I usually stop because the program becomes a pain in the arse....not so much of late but in the past the software has been buggy, servers hang getting work, etc. I started feeling taken advantage by the nerds at pande group who often cannot seem to get their act together.

I have the money to pay the 20-30 bucks a month it cost me in electricity. The hardware I pretty much would have bought regardless and use regardless.

In the grand scheme the results out of this prgram for the amount of energy that has been consumed and the money involved with that can definitely make a case that it is money NOT WELL spent. I however think it is worth that shot at saving millions of lives, and would much rather spend my money here then bailing out banks, greedy exces, and fat cat auto unions....

 

[Alyx]

Originally posted by: Duvie
In the grand scheme the results out of this prgram for the amount of energy that has been consumed and the money involved with that can definitely make a case that it is money NOT WELL spent.

Sadly I think this is quite true. More so for some projects than others. But there is always the chance of causing a large benifit, or at least being a catalyst that leads to something big. Cost is worth the chance for me. But my cost is also pretty small.

 

[PCTC2]

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS

Originally posted by: petrusbroder
I agree with PCTC2 and Rudy Toody: needs go before charity (any charity, incl. F@H).

Then there is the matter of luxury ... IMHO charity goes before luxury: If you can feed, clothe, provide living space, schooling and reasonable transportation and relaxation to your family and your self, then finding the cure - in one way or the other - goes before luxury.

so you say: if you have enough money for your immediate needs, then you'd put charity over personal luxuries

There's certain personal luxuries that come first, of course. I always donate money to charity when I can afford it, but my car (can be considered a luxury), computers, and my personal happiness (going out and such) come before charity. But I will donate.

 

[Insidious]

I wouldn't play golf either if I was broke.

-Sid

 

[Drsignguy]

How much is folding worth anyway? Is it worth it for just saving just 1 life? Is the expense of our energy costs by the hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars a month that we all use combined by running our PC's to help find some kind of cure really a worth? At least we can help. If you really look into this, the numbers are probably astonishing. I believe it to be yes, as a life is priceless and saving 1 life will lead to 2 lives and so on. It just might be someone close to you. But at the moment each one of us have to take in account that we have to keep our priorities straight. In order to donate to charity, we must each have the means to do so only after we make sure our families are taken care of first. Then if you choose to donate, how much is all budgetary and no matter the charity, the right is all up to you as the individual. With today's economy, it is pretty tough and I personally have to cut back just to make sure I don't exceed my "means". If I do, then I have to stop for a while. So, by "cutting back" for me is much better than not doing it at all. Besides, My PC's are a hobby and I like to see them put to good use. Gives me satisfaction..

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

I am going along with the assumption that the discussion is not limited to folding only, and pertains to crunching as a whole, since not all of us explicitly fold. And while I would never debate that needs come before wants, wants before wishes (ie personal needs, charity, luxury), because you can't crunch if you can't eat nor have electricity. But I think it is wrong to say that we have wasted huge amounts of energy and money to work on a project that has no return, because I hope no one went into it expecting a return. There is a possibility, and we are all hopeful someone does, but it was never an expectation. I sure didn't expect to meet the people here, but it was a nice result.

Okay, I'll just admit it. I crunch as much as I can afford to (and as much as Liz will allow), but I do it for the stats. No concern for the results, because they will happen if they happen.

EDIT: I want a t-shirt that says "I crunch... and my machines like it".

 

[Thump553]

I stopped folding on my home machine. Its an old Athlon and I recently had to do a clean install on it. Without F@H on it I've noticed about 7+ C degree drop for the CPU. The box is pretty adequately ventilated.

I can afford to replace that machine at this time and can't justify running it at the high temps (55 C in the winter, 60+ in summer) that I was getting.

Besides given the numbers crunchers with more modern boxes are turning in (many multiples of mine) my contribution is becoming increasingly insignificant.

 

[Alyx]

Originally posted by: Thump553
I stopped folding on my home machine. Its an old Athlon and I recently had to do a clean install on it. Without F@H on it I've noticed about 7+ C degree drop for the CPU. The box is pretty adequately ventilated.

I can afford to replace that machine at this time and can't justify running it at the high temps (55 C in the winter, 60+ in summer) that I was getting.

Besides given the numbers crunchers with more modern boxes are turning in (many multiples of mine) my contribution is becoming increasingly insignificant.

I did similar fairly recently on my Athlon at home, stopped boinc because it wasn't worth the time to keep everything running. Instead its now underclocked to try to keep electricity usage down since all it does is backup data.

 

[Insidious]

I sold one of my PCs. Used the proceeds to put additional VCs in my other two. Turns out that two more video cards gave me more overall than I originally had with 3 PCs, with one card each. Not to mention the better performance both in crunching and games (physX)

-Sid

 

[LOUISSSSS]

the opposer states that: it is only worthwhile for those with 3+ PCs and/or 3+PS3s to fold in this horrid economy.

i replied with the economy isn't THAT bad. and folding is all relative, what separates those with 3+ pcs and those with 1 pc folding?

we're not talking about keep folding even if we can't eat.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I turned off my folding box, only because I only have enough room right now in my apt to keep two computers running, so I have to swap out one of my PCs to hook up the other PC. I had the folding box running during the December race, but I had to hook the original PC back up to do some work. So I just haven't hooked the folding box back up again.

 

[Gravity]

Well, it's more than a hobby for me. It's a passion I suppose. I fold at a high personal cost and right after my divorce I dropped all interest in folding. That was before the smp client came out. MFW inspired me to give the few boxes I had folding some additional attention and I applied a little time and energy into improving it. Now I'm at the end of grad school, dating and a single parent to boot. I give it what time I can and the cost is secondary. When the electric bill goes up from the AC I will, like many others, turn off a few boxes. it doesn't make sense to put heat into a room that you are paying to cool, very counter intuitive.

I will fold as long as I have boxes and pervue over boxes. I believe we will all benefit from this work if we live long enough. My hats off to every folder that ever installed and ran a client. I applaud each of you for reading about smp, gpu and affinity changer. We are planting trees that we may never enjoy the shade from, but others may benefit immensely from the work we get done by these boxes.

Fold if you can,

Gravity

 

[GLeeM]

Charity:

Benevolence or generosity toward others or toward humanity.

Benevolent goodwill toward or love of humanity

Generosity and helpfulness especially toward the needy or suffering

A gift for public benevolent purposes

Gift:

Something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation

Something that is bestowed voluntarily and without compensation.

 

[petrusbroder]

Hear, hear!

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo
I am going along with the assumption that the discussion is not limited to folding only, and pertains to crunching as a whole, since not all of us explicitly fold. And while I would never debate that needs come before wants, wants before wishes (ie personal needs, charity, luxury), because you can't crunch if you can't eat nor have electricity. But I think it is wrong to say that we have wasted huge amounts of energy and money to work on a project that has no return, because I hope no one went into it expecting a return. There is a possibility, and we are all hopeful someone does, but it was never an expectation. I sure didn't expect to meet the people here, but it was a nice result.

Okay, I'll just admit it. I crunch as much as I can afford to (and as much as Liz will allow), but I do it for the stats. No concern for the results, because they will happen if they happen.

EDIT: I want a t-shirt that says "I crunch... and my machines like it".

I fold because I believe in the value of basic research. Being a chemist, I probably value basic research more than some people. That said, if it comes to folding or feeding/sheltering/etc my wife and two kids, I have no problem shutting down my computers to make that happen.

Also, for the guys with a bunch of boxes folding, you can make the same impact with greater performance/watt CPUs, which will pay for themselves quickly if you're running 24/7. Sometimes you can't see the forest because of the trees, but higher economy folding boxes are a nice way to conserve the earth's resources.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

so most people in here seem to say: i will stop folding if it affects my family, my food, my shelter.

Have any of you stop folding because of other stuff?

does this statement have any validity to you guys: "i thought folding was more of a cult app? i still stand by my opinion- follding is good if u have 3+ pcs and or ps3s and make good money; even better if ur the admin of some corprate and fold all the pcs when no1's looking; the economy + greener living goes against folding rite now"

 

[Insidious]

I quit for a year or so a while back. My reason.... I wanted to!


The idea that there exists some sort of social obligation to crunch is just plain stupid.

On the flip side, the idea that there is some minimum output before contributions count is just as stupid.

I think you've been sucked into an argument with a troll.

-Sid

 

[Drsignguy]

Greener, percentage of production, Global warming? Bah! Each one of us have to take our part in being responsible. With that being said, doesn't mean that everyone will. Where I, so called "waste" energy, with running my electronics 24/7, I make up in recycling. Why not, it's easy. Everything runs in cycles. Sure there are many things that help the environment, but We here cant be the only ones doing it. It has to be a Global effort! And global warming will kill us all, we're going to freeze to death! So, I might as well keep my place a bit warmer to compensate. Besides, I live in Minnesota, it's still cold here...Arg! If I decide to stop folding, it is because I choose to. I take full responsibility for my actions.

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
so most people in here seem to say: i will stop folding if it affects my family, my food, my shelter.

Have any of you stop folding because of other stuff?

does this statement have any validity to you guys: "i thought folding was more of a cult app? i still stand by my opinion- follding is good if u have 3+ pcs and or ps3s and make good money; even better if ur the admin of some corprate and fold all the pcs when no1's looking; the economy + greener living goes against folding rite now"

I've stopped folding on days that are borderline "turn on the AC" days. My wife likes to leave the AC off and open the windows on those days, and the house can be unbearable during the day if all my computer equipment is on.

I also only fold with my PS3 at night because I feel like I need to open the glass door on the entertainment center if it's going to fold for several hours straight. They aren't making any more fully backwards compatible PS3s you know .