MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - The culture of entitlement and illegal downloads

spindlegirl · 02-02-2012, 06:59 PM

There actually is merit in not turning things you love into a profession - and just continuing on, in doing it for the joy of it.

For instance people don't understand the cost that goes into quality knitting. I love my hand knit socks, for instance, and I knit with fine weight yarn (sometimes that I spun myself), and often an intricate design that takes concentration, and people will think they are offering me gold by saying, "I know someone who would not hesitate to pay $20 for it! You could make a LIVING on those!" But the reality is, it takes far longer and a lot more than $20 in time and materials to make, and I'd have to charge an insane amount if people are seriously talking "a living" and not a church charity sale.

So I don't crank out fine handknits at sweatshop prices - and just pass on the joy of spinning and knitting to those who want to learn, for free (then they can get as addicted as me and spend too much on yarn and stuff hahaha, evil).

Same works for me regarding writing:

I've actually submitted stuff to magazines and newsletters and written for free when I was younger, but I have no designs on taking it much further than the fanciful dreams of my youth. I have toyed with the idea of writing something and putting out for free on Smashwords, and maybe some day I will. But for now, I am happy with amusing myself - I don't expect to be a bestselling author, I'd someday just like to know that someone read and liked a story I write.

02-02-2012, 06:59 PM	#228
spindlegirl Wizard Posts: 1,594 Karma: 21245891 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra h20, Paperwhite 2017, Phone & Tablet w Moonreader	There actually is merit in not turning things you love into a profession - and just continuing on, in doing it for the joy of it. For instance people don't understand the cost that goes into quality knitting. I love my hand knit socks, for instance, and I knit with fine weight yarn (sometimes that I spun myself), and often an intricate design that takes concentration, and people will think they are offering me gold by saying, "I know someone who would not hesitate to pay $20 for it! You could make a LIVING on those!" But the reality is, it takes far longer and a lot more than $20 in time and materials to make, and I'd have to charge an insane amount if people are seriously talking "a living" and not a church charity sale. So I don't crank out fine handknits at sweatshop prices - and just pass on the joy of spinning and knitting to those who want to learn, for free (then they can get as addicted as me and spend too much on yarn and stuff hahaha, evil). Same works for me regarding writing: I've actually submitted stuff to magazines and newsletters and written for free when I was younger, but I have no designs on taking it much further than the fanciful dreams of my youth. I have toyed with the idea of writing something and putting out for free on Smashwords, and maybe some day I will. But for now, I am happy with amusing myself - I don't expect to be a bestselling author, I'd someday just like to know that someone read and liked a story I write.