why fold@home?

Guardian01

Guardian01

New Member
i had a question...one that i may already know the answer to but let me ask anyways

why do you (or anyone) fold at home? i've read some of the things on the standford.edu site on protein folding but i'm wondering about motive. why do you fold at home? i understand it helps with research and our progression in science...but what does it do for YOU personally? i may have become an insane cynic over the past few years but it's weird for me to think that all you guys are such philanthropists. i mean, it would make more sense to me if, for example, you guys were paid money, or if this research will ultimately yield in an awesome next-gen processor or something, but i don't think that's happening

i've also come across some readings that gave me the idea that it's similar to benchmarking where one group of people compete with others for better scores, etc. maybe that's what it is?

if it is really for the advancement of science (and people into computers are surely all pro-science and technology) then god bless you all. i've never done it before but i'm definitely looking into it and researching before i start. i have just seen threads in this forum and others saying "help me - i'm building a computer that will primarily be used for folding" and i can't help wonder but why

i don't mean to offend anyone. i would just like to know. thanks in advance
 
I do it for many reasons.

First, I built a fully capable computer so why let it sit there and waste, my rig runs wide open (processor and GPU) the entire time it is on :D

I like the Folding community. I am a member of many forums and have met many people on the web over the years. The Folding community is an amazing group of people. The competition and helping each other Fold is unlike anything. Great fun!

And of course the research. It may not help much, it may help a lot, we may never really know what Folding will do for mankind and the long term effects. I am not smart enough to be a scientist or do any kind of research of my own, but, I can Fold. I guess it just makes me feel like I am doing my little part of a big picture I will never see. Maybe my children or grand children will see the effects of our Folding, who knows.

If you are considering trying it, it's very easy and there are people here that will help in every way possible.


Oh, and...once you start, YOU CAN'T STOP! It's an addiction for me at this point:eek:
 
^^ +1

Why waste a computer's hardware?

It does create some addiction and competition

Nothing but Positive things will come from F@H
 
ah i see. thank you for your responses.

i understand your motives...what i don't understand yet is the "addiction" part. but i guess i might be exposed to that first hand when i start folding any day now :)
 
It's like that extra bit of computer performance that's not doing anything... only now it's doing something.
 
G25r8cer said:
^^ +1

Why waste a computer's hardware?

It does create some addiction and competition

Nothing but Positive things will come from F@H
Click to expand...

Well, im not into the medical field that great by any means, but it could be used towards research on something like chemical weapons or something....but thats not really the point(think of me as a pessimistic realist). But I fold as well because its great fun due to competition, and not wasting my pc's hardware.
 
DMGrier said:
Whats folding?
Click to expand...

http://www.computerforum.com/62246-folding-home-cf-official-discussion-thread.html

What is F@H?

"Our goal: to understand protein folding, misfolding, and related diseases"

It's basically a distributed effort to unfold the secrets behind proteins and the way that they fold which sometimes causes mutations and serious disease like cancer etc. to occur. By joining in, you can help humanity and have fun competing with your friends at the same time.
Click to expand...
 
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