Buy my Attention: $0.02c / min. on eBay via Skype

So (all great Seattle monologues begin with "so"), here's a cunning thing you can do, or rather, may be able to, now that eBay's bought Skype ... sell your attention online on a $/minute basis ... this is quite whacky, so, I'd recommend you read my analysis of the acquisition first. If you have, this is an extension of that idea and explores the "passive" sale of our time, another new marketplace for eBay/Skype, additive to the "active" selling of professional services I discussed earlier ...

Like any GREAT idea, this one's not new. It's been predicted by Steve Gilmore at ZDNet when he says in this epic thesis;

What does matter is a pool of attention metadata owned by the users. This open cloud of reputational presence and authority can be mined by each group of constituents. Users can barter their attention in return for access to full content, membership priviliges, and incentives for strategic content.

What Steve, nor anyone else could have predicted is that eBay & Skype could be the first to make it happen - a global marketplace for our attention.

I know that I have some-one's attention while I'm on a skype / phone call - better yet, on vskype. How much more "attention" do you want than when I'm speaking with you? Surely measuring a conversation online is the optimal way to monetize our attention? I think this is the "passive opportunity" that the skype/ebay marketplace creates.

My most-read blog, is A_VC, by Fred Wilson. Fred's audience has debated the acquisition up and down - a good discussion. Fred and I are both Bloggers, but, as a Blogger, my time's worth about $0.02c / min to Fred's (at least) $1,350.00 / min (Fred's readership X $0.02c). Imagine you could get Fred's attention! Today, you can, by podcasting your elevator pitch for him to hear on his morning bike ride, or doing the same with a song you think he'd like - and may blog about. But not all VC's are that tech-savvy, or frankly, that generous (/ efficient) with their time. Sometime soon Fred and I will be able to "list" our attention for sale on the eBay/Skype marketplace ...

... the clock starts ticking when we answer the skype call, click the "icon" on the pop-up on our screen, and appear on your screen by streaming video. You get to interact with us, tell us about your products, ask us our opinions. You'll probably have to pre-purchase Fred's attention, me, you'll mostly get "on demand". Major corporations will buy attention in bulk and hold direct to consumer interactive "press conferences" with individuals in target audiences who can influence the adoption of their products. The more the marketplace knows about you, the more passive income your attention will attract, provided you fit the demographic that is. When we hang up, our Skype account is credited, yours is debited, and we have the option to cash out via PayPal. Kiss "privacy" sweet goodbye online, "publicity" is about to become profitable on SkypeBay.