Quote:
Originally Posted by PKFFW
But it's soooo much easier to tear down than it is to come up with something that is actually and demonstratively better don't you see?
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There are a couple of problems with that "better" assessment.
First of all, the current publishing infrastructure primarily pushes the books that can sell in as many copies as possible. If one looks at the overall (pbook) output of the publishing industry, that's the essence of "better" at this moment of time.
Well, one can see books as goods created for the market, I have no problems with that. But if books are goods, and market is driving their prices down, then the conclusion is rather easy. The market does not recognize the value of offered goods. There is competition, obviously. Video games? TV?
Now, if books are NOT (only) goods destined for the market, we enter the realm of authorities. Who is to define universal cultural values? Publishing industry cadre?
The system is not torn down, it is imploding. I can not predict what will be the end result of this change, but one thing is certain, status quo is untenable.
Will the price of the digital goods go all the way down to zero or not is of secondary concern, IMHO.