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Originally Posted by GtrsRGr8
Well, whoever started using "open" in reference to digital materials surely was not basing that upon knowledge about the Open University. He or she basically invented a new meaning to the word "open." Most words, in the English language, at least, have several meanings. New meanings are assigned to existing words all of the time.
The issue, to me, is what I think of when I hear or see the word "open" in connection to digital materials. If I can assume that it implies "free," that information will save me the trouble of finding out in each individual case. If I cannot assume that, I will know that I have to do some investigation before knowing whether or not the materials are free. And, too, I don't want to misuse the word when I'm writing, and give people the wrong idea. That's all.
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It's kind of like the term "social justice" that I saw in relation to open university. It doesn't necessarily mean what one would think either.