Quote:
Originally Posted by AndrewH
No more absurd than two gas stations across the street from each other with different prices.
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Yes I also think that is completely absurd. Although the gas might not be exactly the same...
If the world is absurd, why shouldn't we be able to do absurd things like read whatever we want whenever we want? Maybe that is not an absurd idea? Maybe that is a good idea?
In the past, pre ebook/pre digital, Having only a single place to access information would have been hard to manage, mostly because of the stocking issue, no one should ever be in charge of that sort of thing, there is just not enough variations possible in one mind or a thousand minds to cover the full spectrum if you know what I mean.
But these days, it seems like it would be so simple to just gather up all the books and load them onto a computer, even straight pdf's are better than nothing. Indeed there are a few sites around whose aim is exactly that but they are continually harassed by the "authorities" for hosting unauthorized knowledge?
Why do we allow this to happen?
Is it the constant repetition of lost sales scaring us into believing that it must be done in order to protect the interests of the creators?
Isn't there a million ways to enable access to all texts while at the same time compensating the creators? Why don't we try some of them? Or do you prefer perpetual copyright?
I voted for a single store, but I'm pretty sure it would only work if that bookstore had all the books and the authors did not have the ability to set the price, although there would be an average price listed that people had paid in order to grease the wheels so to speak.