Why? People don’t value what they get for free. Education was once valued very highly. . . that changed once education began to be provided as a right, and children were obliged
Nice try. I’m not advocating that we force other people to read Eliezer’s writing (I would never advocate that), in the same manner that children are forced to undergo American indoctrination at a young age. By your reasoning, the Nordic countries should value education less than the US since higher education is free there—except that the Nordic people are some of the most educated on Earth.
You think people value the access provided by the internet and libraries less, simply because they’re essentially free (especially when compared to products of the publishing industry)?
The main distinction, I think, is that I’m talking about the free availability of information whereas you’re trying to make it appear as though I’m talking about forcing it on somebody (like making children go to public school). There’s free, and then there’s “free because it’s required”.
You say that like it’s a bad thing. I am neither a Randian nor a libertarian, but comments like yours push me closer to that line every day.
Whether or not selfishness is a bad thing depends on the context in which it exists. Also, your philosophical stances should not be reactionary but pragmatic and rational. If my mere commentary can push you towards Rand or libertarianism, then something else is wrong entirely and I should not be blamed.
Just to warn you, if you see a building labeled “Borders” or “Barnes and Noble” around, use caution. The culture shock could be a bit jarring. Similarly with online references to amazons.
I already believe the publishing industry is evil, so I’m not sure effect you’re going for—because the distributors can’t be much better.
Why? People don’t value what they get for free. Education was once valued very highly. . . that changed once education began to be provided as a right, and children were obliged
Nice try. I’m not advocating that we force other people to read Eliezer’s writing (I would never advocate that), in the same manner that children are forced to undergo American indoctrination at a young age. By your reasoning, the Nordic countries should value education less than the US since higher education is free there—except that the Nordic people are some of the most educated on Earth.
You think people value the access provided by the internet and libraries less, simply because they’re essentially free (especially when compared to products of the publishing industry)?
The main distinction, I think, is that I’m talking about the free availability of information whereas you’re trying to make it appear as though I’m talking about forcing it on somebody (like making children go to public school). There’s free, and then there’s “free because it’s required”.
You say that like it’s a bad thing. I am neither a Randian nor a libertarian, but comments like yours push me closer to that line every day.
Whether or not selfishness is a bad thing depends on the context in which it exists. Also, your philosophical stances should not be reactionary but pragmatic and rational. If my mere commentary can push you towards Rand or libertarianism, then something else is wrong entirely and I should not be blamed.
Just to warn you, if you see a building labeled “Borders” or “Barnes and Noble” around, use caution. The culture shock could be a bit jarring. Similarly with online references to amazons.
I already believe the publishing industry is evil, so I’m not sure effect you’re going for—because the distributors can’t be much better.