[thelist] [OT] Gift Culture on the Net: A Rant

Martin martin at members.evolt.org
Sun Aug 19 13:19:21 CDT 2001


Frank wrote on 19/8/01 1:28 am

>I've recently downloaded a freeware tag from the developer's 
>exchange, and found it encrypted. Freeware. You can use it, you just 
>aren't allowed to learn from it. Just what *is* this about?

It's about giving you something which saves you work.

Sounds like a gift to me.

>I can appreciate the fact that a developer took the time to give away 
>some free work. Very nice of you. Thanks. 

Wanna try that again without the sarcasm?

>And why not take the extra 
>step and release the code that goes along with it?

Um, because it's their choice? And you have the choice as to
whether to use it or to go for something else.

You *did* ask the author if they'd share their techniques
with you, right?

And what was their response?

>What could be a more spiritual act than to do something that would 
>allow another to make money (that you would never have seen anyway), 

Sounds like they've done this already.

>I'm not suggesting that one give away the company jewels, 

Not knowing what the author is about, or what the code entails, can
you be sure that the source code doesn't do that?

>I am suggesting 
>that if many of us were to look though some of our old work, we might 
>find some useful components, utilities and such that with minimal 
>effort could be a boon to fellow developers, especially the novices.

As I said - did you ask?

>I see that perpetuating the gift culture on the net as a positive 
>thing. One has access to to a large variety of free tool, programs 
>and learning resources. There's no catch.

For the person who gets the stuff, true. But for the authors?

> In exchange, you give a 
>little away, just what you can and no more.

And how do you know that this tool isn't *exactly* on this mark?

Cheers
Martin

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       martin at members.evolt.org      snailmail: 30 Shandon Place
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