The Reading Public's Believe of Entitlement: Read without paying the Author

Why do certain people believe that a writer should lend them, the esteemed reader, the fruits of their research and labor for their enjoyment without a penny changing hands? These people would not expect a sausage maker to lend them their product with the proviso: "I will return it to you when I have digested it." How would they feel if their boss expected a certain amount of free labor from them?

I have heard this sad complaint from many writers and other artists, and experienced it myself a hundred times over.  For some reason the public believes that creative works are not worth paying for, but should be open to all. My very first book had not sold a hundred copies yet when I heard that already one second-hand copy was available on amazon.com. No wonder bookstores close and publishers only want to publish what they perceive to become a guaranteed bestseller. And so many fine manuscripts are rejected and never see the light of day. I for one think that it is a smart move to publish on line, for then the reader has to at least provide the paper and ink if he/she wants pass on the book.

Perhaps I gripe because I belong to a generation that treasured books. We had, and some of us still do, have extensive personal libraries containing the the great classics, our favorites and research works. We lent books begrudgingly and only to special people we wanted to introduce to a great author. And if our trust in this person was betrayed and the book was not returned within a reasonable time, we  hunted the precious book down because we did not believe that a great book should be circling about like a prostitute, for these ladies were paid, at least.