eBook Gold Rush

[anamardoll]

Chiming in to +1 on that post. It was beautiful, and very spot-on.

As Piper says, the constant bettle between the extremes ("despicable"?? really? really??) is tiresome, especially since the proponents for either sides can't seem to be willing to not strong-arm the topic into all other threads.

I neither believe that authors shouldn't own or be compensated for their work nor do I believe that sharing a book with a friend should be a capital offense.

Speaking of sharing with a friend, I love the Baen Free Library take on the subject.

[DiapDealer]

I neither believe that authors shouldn't own or be compensated for their work nor do I believe that sharing a book with a friend should be a capital offense.

I'll chime in with my +1, as well. The all or nothing arguments between polarizing extremists that most threads here are devolving into are not conversation. We're not at war here... we're book readers/writers for the love of Pete.

[mldavis2]

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

This is not new, and not related to the digital world. We have always been surrounded by free entertainment, including entertainment that other people were paying for.

Didn't kids used to sneak under the tent to see a circus back around the turn of the century? Human nature -- get something for nothing.

[HansTWN]

I generally do agree with Elfwreck's position -- but when arguing with Giggleton you cannot take any middle ground. He does not accept any author's rights or even the slightest restrictions on his. I was arguing for educating people precisely because the line between right and wrong is not clear. But we must agree that there is such a line. No, I don't see the line where the publishers see it, I myself remove DRM and format shift. Just some common sense is necessary to stay within fair use limits.

[anamardoll]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I'll chime in with my +1, as well. The all or nothing arguments between polarizing extremists that most threads here are devolving into are not conversation. We're not at war here... we're book readers/writers for the love of Pete.

This.

I wonder if anyone has studied the human tendency towards clanism (fanboism?) in the context of these arguments. I think there almost needs to be a new internet rule.... the longer a thread gets, the greater the tendency for the arguments to resolve into polarized camps.

In completely unrelated news, B&N ROCKS AND AMAZON SUCKS.

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(That was meant to be purely ironic - I have serious praise AND criticism for both companies and their products, customer service, e-readers, formats, and their respective CEO's choice of aftershave. Seriously, it was 100% a joke. )

[Giggleton]

Let me just say that the Gold Rush of California circa 1849 was extremely devastating to the environment and the ecology of California, the state has never fully recovered actually. Comparing the proliferation of ebooks to this event in our history, doesn't exactly give this proliferation the most positive of connotations.

[BillSmithBooks]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

This.

II think there almost needs to be a new internet rule.... the longer a thread gets, the greater the tendency for the arguments to resolve into polarized camps.

In completely unrelated news, B&N ROCKS AND AMAZON SUCKS.

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You see, I was always under the impression that the thread ends up being Godwinned ("You're a fascist" or other epiteth of choice) or endless links to 1) cats playing piano, 2) cats doing unfunny things who cannot spell, 3) "Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down..."

In my unrelated news, DRM SUCKS. SMASHWORDS AND BAEN ROCK!