This is Wise and Awesome
Y'all know that I've had conflicted feelings about free downloading of media. I think the Creative Commons License is a wonderful thing, and I think Cory Doctorow is simply brilliant.
But I also think that the Creative Commons License is a choice, and Cory himself admits that his way of releasing his titles online for free isn't a way that will work for every author.
I'm fairly sure that for some people, a free download will convince them to make a sale. I downloaded Cory's LITTLE BROTHER, and then promptly bought it and started recommending it to friends. I--like many other of Cory's fans--look at free downloading as a sample, or a free trial--and if I like it, I buy it.
But there are some people who consider free downloading as a right. They think it's perfectly fine to have any media for free. If it can be downloaded, it should be, and it should be for free. These people are book pirates.
For me, there's the issue of intention with free downloads. Do you intend to buy the product if you like it? Or do you intend to download it with the express purpose of not buying it? There's a big difference of people in there, and unfortunately, I think the majority are the latter, not the former.
It's a difference of attitude. And it's as hard to compromise the attitude as it is to convince a Republican to be a Democrat, or a Yankees fan to like the Red Sox, or a vegetarian to eat a chicken McNugget.
But I think Jackson Pierce is doing a good job of trying:
But I also think that the Creative Commons License is a choice, and Cory himself admits that his way of releasing his titles online for free isn't a way that will work for every author.
I'm fairly sure that for some people, a free download will convince them to make a sale. I downloaded Cory's LITTLE BROTHER, and then promptly bought it and started recommending it to friends. I--like many other of Cory's fans--look at free downloading as a sample, or a free trial--and if I like it, I buy it.
But there are some people who consider free downloading as a right. They think it's perfectly fine to have any media for free. If it can be downloaded, it should be, and it should be for free. These people are book pirates.
For me, there's the issue of intention with free downloads. Do you intend to buy the product if you like it? Or do you intend to download it with the express purpose of not buying it? There's a big difference of people in there, and unfortunately, I think the majority are the latter, not the former.
It's a difference of attitude. And it's as hard to compromise the attitude as it is to convince a Republican to be a Democrat, or a Yankees fan to like the Red Sox, or a vegetarian to eat a chicken McNugget.
But I think Jackson Pierce is doing a good job of trying:
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Nisa
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Oct 05, 2010 09:18AM
You're very right. Trying is great though. Raising awareness. Some people just don't even think about it to realize their own motivations. When you write blogs and post about it, it kind of settles in the heart like a spec of dust in the eye. You have to decide what to do with it. Not the greatest of analogies, but it does make people face themselves and decide who they want to be. It's easy to "go along with the crowd". Deciding what kind of person you're going to be takes more effort. My two cents, what they're worth. Sorry for the ramble!
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*g* I like the ramble. It's spot on! Making someone think about it rather than follow the crowd is about all we can do.
