The rise of the web was a rare instance when we learned new, positive information about human potential. Who would have guessed (at least at first) that millions of people would put so much effort into a project without the presence of advertising, commercial motive, threat of punishment, charismatic figures, identity politics, exploitation of the fear of death, or any of the other classic motivators of mankind? In vast numbers, people did something cooperatively, solely because it was a good idea, and it was beautiful. […] Put a happy philosophy of life in software, and it might very well come true!
Jaron Lanier, You Are Not a Gadget.