This entire campaign IS just a way for the owners of BitShares (ordinary people) to generate a favorable increase in volume and, subsequently, the price of BTS.

It does so by generating demand for the flagship product of a real (unmanned) company.  Not hype.  Demand.

What is the value of a company that handles much of the world's currency exchange traffic?  How do we realize that value?  ...by getting folks to use it.

- Short selling is one of the things experts do on a currency exchange.  But that is not required.  
- Borrowing against collateral is another thing ordinary people do - like a home equity loan.

- Holding shares in a company (BTS) is another thing people do in their investment portfolios.

- And buying a 5% CD is another valid economic transaction.

BitShares is a digital exchange and smart coin factory that provides all these financial products and services - without counter party risk and faster and more efficiently than any other company in the world.

It would be _irresponsible_ as shareholders not to promote these products and services in the most aggressive way possible.

The Billion Hero Challenge is the most aggressive way we can think of.  

And it benefits humanity in many ways by encouraging saving, investment, and charity.

:)