--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What you need for a participatory system…" description: "\"What you need for a participatory system to work: \"a plausible promise, an effective tool, and an acceptable bargain.\"\" — Clay Shirky" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/clay-shirky-3364_acceptable_what-you-need-for-a-participatory-system_2895132.png" --- # What you need for a participatory system to work: "a… ![“What you need for a participatory system to work: "a plausible promise, an effective tool, and an acceptable bargain."” quote by Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/clay-shirky-3364_acceptable_what-you-need-for-a-participatory-system_2895132.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/clay-shirky-3364_acceptable_what-you-need-for-a-participatory-system_2895132.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/clay-shirky-3364_acceptable_what-you-need-for-a-participatory-system_2895132.png) > “What you need for a participatory system to work: "a plausible promise, an effective tool, and an acceptable bargain."” [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A functional participatory system requires a credible promise, a usable tool, and a fair exchange. **In simple terms:** Three elements needed for collaborative platforms. Key Takeaway Ensure promise, tool, and bargain align. Themes collaboration design trust Mood optimistic analytical Type advice strategic When to use this quote - online communities - open source projects - crowdsourcing platforms - civic tech initiatives Key Concepts social computing collective intelligence incentive design Questions to Reflect On - What promise are you making to participants? - How can you make the tool truly effective? A Different Perspective If any element is weak, the system collapses. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptable/) [Bargains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bargains/) [Need Participatory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-participatory-4087161/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Negotiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiation/) [Participatory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/participatory-679466/) [Participatory Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/participatory-work-4087160/) [Plausible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plausible/) [Plausible Promise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plausible-promise-4087162/) [Promise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promise/) [Promise Effective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promise-effective-4087163/) [Tools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tools/) ## Related quotes > [It's essential for us to develop an imagination that is participatory. Art is the primary way in which this happens. It's the primary way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/it-s-essential-for-us-to-develop-an-imagination-that-is-participatory/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [At the Big Bad Lab, we build participatory art and media platforms for causes, communities and organizations we care about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-russell/at-the-big-bad-lab-we-build-participatory-art-and-media-platforms-for/) [Cameron Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-russell/) > [In other words, the bar should be maintained at the level of a pluralistic and participatory democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/recep-tayyip-erdogan/in-other-words-the-bar-should-be-maintained-at-the-level-of-a/) [Recep Tayyip Erdogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/recep-tayyip-erdogan/) > [What should be targeted is a concept of organic, and not just mechanic, democracy that preserves the rule of law, separation of powers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/recep-tayyip-erdogan/what-should-be-targeted-is-a-concept-of-organic-and-not-just-mechanic/) [Recep Tayyip Erdogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/recep-tayyip-erdogan/) > [Participatory democracies. Open economies. Web-based communication. All American innovations to the great conundrums of the globe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murphy/participatory-democracies-open-economies-web-based-communication-all/) [Chris Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murphy/) > [If instead policy makers and program managers participate in an interdisciplinary assessment team, make informal visits to local families and have in-depth conversations with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-simmons/if-instead-policy-makers-and-program-managers-participate-in-an/) [Ruth Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-simmons/) > [Participatory culture shifts the focus of literacy from one of individual expression to community involvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jenkins/participatory-culture-shifts-the-focus-of-literacy-from-one-of/) [Henry Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jenkins/) > [We have emphasized the importance of applied action research because it allows evidence-based policy and program development and a focus on learning. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-simmons/we-have-emphasized-the-importance-of-applied-action-research-because/) [Ruth Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-simmons/) > [“If the skill of participatory listening came effortlessly and easy for everyone, there would not be so many misunderstandings, communication breakdowns, irritations, and frustrations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/if-the-skill-of-participatory-listening-came-effortlessly-and-easy/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [Inherently participatory in nature, Community Video focusing on using video to enable communities to communicate amongst themselves as well as with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-edwards/inherently-participatory-in-nature-community-video-focusing-on-using/) [Ben Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-edwards/) > [The menu of this kitchen will have more than soup; it will serve as an opportunity to explore the vast untapped power of food…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-kass/the-menu-of-this-kitchen-will-have-more-than-soup-it-will-serve-as-an/) [Sam Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-kass/) > [This is supposed to be a participatory democracy and if we're not in there participating then the people that will manipulate and exploit the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-takei/this-is-supposed-to-be-a-participatory-democracy-and-if-we-re-not-in/) [George Takei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-takei/) > [Participatory complexity may well be the key descriptor of the 21st century - in our economies, in our politics, and in our everyday lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamais-cascio/participatory-complexity-may-well-be-the-key-descriptor-of-the-21st/) [Jamais Cascio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamais-cascio/) > [If our love for each other really is participatory, then all other human relationships nourish it; it is inclusive, never exclusive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/if-our-love-for-each-other-really-is-participatory-then-all-other/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“Participatory Medicine is a model of cooperative health care that seeks to achieve active involvement by patients, professionals, caregivers, and others across the continuum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertalan-mesko/participatory-medicine-is-a-model-of-cooperative-health-care-that/) [Bertalan Mesko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertalan-mesko/) ## More by Clay Shirky > [ “\[N\]ew technology enables new kinds of group-forming.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/n-ew-technology-enables-new-kinds-of-group-forming/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [To have a discussion about the plusses and minuses of various forms of group action, though, is going to require discussing the current tools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/to-have-a-discussion-about-the-plusses-and-minuses-of-various-forms/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [“Mass amateurization of publishing makes mass amateurization of filtering a forced move.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/mass-amateurization-of-publishing-makes-mass-amateurization-of/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [“Information sharing produces shared awareness among the participants, and collaborative production relies on shared creation, but collective action creates shared responsibility, by tying the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/information-sharing-produces-shared-awareness-among-the-participants/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [More interesting than thinking about what's possible in 10 years is thinking what's possible now but that no one has built.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/more-interesting-than-thinking-about-what-s-possible-in-10-years-is/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [“Digital networks are increasing the fluidity of all media. The old choice between one-way public media (like books and movies) and two-way private media…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/digital-networks-are-increasing-the-fluidity-of-all-media-the-old/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [Even with the sacred printing press, we got erotic novels 150 years before we got scientific journals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/even-with-the-sacred-printing-press-we-got-erotic-novels-150-years/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [Tools get socially interesting after they're no longer technologically interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/tools-get-socially-interesting-after-they-re-no-longer/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [Carpooling is important for urban density, air pollution and other reasons, but carpooling is not the kind of thing that actually changes the energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/carpooling-is-important-for-urban-density-air-pollution-and-other/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [If what you're doing is valuable for people, they will find a way to pay you to keep doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/if-what-you-re-doing-is-valuable-for-people-they-will-find-a-way-to/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [Multi-taskers often think they are like gym rats, bulking up their ability to juggle tasks, when in fact they are like alcoholics, degrading their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/multi-taskers-often-think-they-are-like-gym-rats-bulking-up-their/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [Civic participants don't aim to make life better merely for members of the group. They want to improve even the lives of people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/civic-participants-don-t-aim-to-make-life-better-merely-for-members/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [I would not hesitate to say I was addicted to the Internet in the first two years. It can be addictive, and things not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/i-would-not-hesitate-to-say-i-was-addicted-to-the-internet-in-the/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [Bureaucracies temporarily suspend the Second Law of Thermodynamics. In a bureaucracy, it's easier to make a process more complex than to make it simpler,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/bureaucracies-temporarily-suspend-the-second-law-of-thermodynamics-in/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [The more ideas there are in circulation, the more ideas there are for any individual to disagree with. More media always means more arguing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/the-more-ideas-there-are-in-circulation-the-more-ideas-there-are-for/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) [Explore all 132 Clay Shirky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) ## More Acceptable quotes > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I remember being a kid and seeing the 'National Inquirer' at the grocery store checkout line. When somebody actually picked up a copy, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-jones/i-remember-being-a-kid-and-seeing-the-national-inquirer-at-the/) [Rashida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-jones/) > [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [You cannot have 300-some million Americans - and really, right, the global citizenry be at risk of having their phone conversations intercepted with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/you-cannot-have-300-some-million-americans-and-really-right-the/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [THE REAL PURPOSE OF HOLOCAUST REVISIONISM IS TO MAKE NATIONAL SOCIALISM AN ACCEPTABLE POLITICAL ALTERNATIVE AGAIN.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-covington/the-real-purpose-of-holocaust-revisionism-is-to-make-national/) [Harold Covington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-covington/) > [The government has once again made the right socially acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elfriede-jelinek/the-government-has-once-again-made-the-right-socially-acceptable/) [Elfriede Jelinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elfriede-jelinek/) > [The study of Freemasonry is the study of man as a candidate for a blessed eternity. It furnishes examples of holy living, and displays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-study-of-freemasonry-is-the-study-of-man-as-a-candidate-for-a/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [Or why it is acceptable to train fast runners and high jumpers but not to breed them. I can think of some answers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/or-why-it-is-acceptable-to-train-fast-runners-and-high-jumpers-but/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [As the future is never known with certainty, the evaluation of the prospective benefits requires the formation of expectations. An acceptable house, partner or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/as-the-future-is-never-known-with-certainty-the-evaluation-of-the/) [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) > [If a man is pictured chopping off a woman's breast, it only gets an R rating; but if, God forbid, a man is pictured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-struthers/if-a-man-is-pictured-chopping-off-a-woman-s-breast-it-only-gets-an-r/) [Sally Struthers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-struthers/) > [We cannot guess the outcome of our actions... Which is why our actions must always be acceptable in themselves, and not as strategies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-heilbrun/we-cannot-guess-the-outcome-of-our-actions-which-is-why-our-actions/) [Carolyn Heilbrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-heilbrun/) > [In any case, open-seat presidential elections like 2008 just are different in character from incumbent reelects, and I think that's the most important thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/in-any-case-open-seat-presidential-elections-like-2008-just-are/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [It's horrible how money and fame can make you acceptable while, if you're not famous or rich, you're not acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-tonioli/it-s-horrible-how-money-and-fame-can-make-you-acceptable-while-if-you/) [Bruno Tonioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-tonioli/) > [I disagree with the prevailing point of view of some black leaders that special treatment for blacks is acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/i-disagree-with-the-prevailing-point-of-view-of-some-black-leaders/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [We get used to a certain kind of colour of form or format, and it's acceptable. And to puncture that is sticking your neck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-krasner/we-get-used-to-a-certain-kind-of-colour-of-form-or-format-and-it-s/) [Lee Krasner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-krasner/) [Browse all 750 Acceptable quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptable/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What you need for a participatory system to work: \"a plausible promise, an effective tool, and an acceptable bargain.\"", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Clay Shirky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/what-you-need-for-a-participatory-system-to-work-a-plausible-promise/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acceptable" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/what-you-need-for-a-participatory-system-to-work-a-plausible-promise/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/clay-shirky-3364_acceptable_what-you-need-for-a-participatory-system_2895132.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/clay-shirky-3364_acceptable_what-you-need-for-a-participatory-system_2895132.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/clay-shirky-3364_acceptable_what-you-need-for-a-participatory-system_2895132.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What you need for a participatory system to work: \"a plausible promise, an effective tool, and an acceptable…” — Clay Shirky", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Clay Shirky", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What you need for a participatory...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/what-you-need-for-a-participatory-system-to-work-a-plausible-promise/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/what-you-need-for-a-participatory-system-to-work-a-plausible-promise/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```