Why do you purchase books?

[elcreative]

Yawn... you're repeating ad nauseum... ah well, a giggle a day keeps sanity away...

Originally Posted by Giggleton

As we move into the era of complete connectivity, where everyone has the possibility of connecting with everyone else, every upload can easily be traced back to the creator. We have to start thinking about the sources of our content, if we ever really want to eliminate the middleman so to speak. I'm not saying the middleman is completely irrelevant, they can still be connected to content but should be seen as part of the content's creation. Amazon.com, specifically its servers and marketing algorithms are the middleman between the author and the reader for instance.

This idea of connecting our texts to their creator needs to be instilled in us as early as possible and fostered continuously every time we make a purchase or make a purchase for someone else. I'm not talking about ad campaigns relating downloading an audio file to theft. In a copyright free world theft of content will not be possible, but everybody's gotta eat after all.

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by Nyssa

I answered that way, because, that really is the only reason why I purchase books. At the risk of sounding spoiled or callous, contributing to the author has never really crossed my mind, other than the purchase of subsequent books.
If I really like a particular story I may go ahead and purchase it in multiple formats, i.e. e-book & paperback.

Also, like Anthem, I feel that there are many free things that have great value, including books.

I find this interesting. I've always felt the connection between the author and the work. Perhaps it has to do with my grandmother being a poet, and my grandfather knowing quite a bit about the authors who wrote the westerns he devoured constantly when I was a child. Then I went on to write for a magazine, and later for film.

I do NOT think you sound callous or spoiled at all; I think the disconnect is simply a matter of how life happens, not a failing or deficiency of some kind. Being acutely aware of the author is not always a good thing - I've had more than one steamy romance ruined by finding out more about the author. (Now I sound callous.)

I think most people have at least a peripheral awareness that paying for a book contributes to future books magically appearing at the store, and that's really all that's necessary for the system to function. At least until we all live in Giggles' magical universe where everything is free and cats share.

[stickybuns]

Originally Posted by Giggleton

Would you contribute to the author's collaborator? Those who made the pbook available in ebook form? Some people are at the moment purchasing ebook public domain books when "free" versions are listed as links right next to the paid version. Some think it's a branding issue, people pay for the idea of a high quality Penguin Classic.

There's not much of a need to "steal" from bookstores anymore, and as more books go digital we might not even need bookstores.

I'll try to reformulate this poll because it obviously has issues.

I really don't see it as a "branding issue." I have something in the neighborhood of eight different editions of Henry V on my book shelf not because I think that the play itself will somehow be altered depending on whether the cover says Penguin Classics or Cambridge University Press, but because each publication has its own set of annotations and supplemental essays.

As far as paid vs. free: If you're asking "Given the option of two identical books, would you prefer the paid one or the free one?" Yeah, I'll pick the free.

If you're asking "Given the option between a book that someone ran through an optical scanner and never bothered to proofread or a book that has been lovingly formatted with a working table of contents, which would you prefer?" Then I would select the lovingly formatted version regardless of the cost.

If you're asking "Would you be willing to make a voluntary donation for a well-formatted public domain ebook?" I would be more inclined to make a donation after downloading several books for the same reason that I donate to my local public radio station once per year and not immediately after listening to a particularly enjoyable show.

I hope you found this helpful!

[yochillum]

I tend to agree with most who have said something to the effect of, 'because the books I want to read are being charged for.' I must admit that this stance is taking somewhat of a beating from the big 6 publishers high pricing on ebooks. When ebooks started being sold at prices that to me seemed inordinately high in comparison to the print copies of the very same book, I said to myself, "Self, we shouldn't buy books from these jerks until they learn to price ebooks fairly." That said, when I do come across a title that is being priced within my definition of reason, I will not hesitate to show my support and purchase a copy. Just like any product: be it car, jacket, silly hat, etc. I am always on the lookout for a bargain, and want to get the best deal possible, but that doesn't include stealing.

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

<snip>
I do NOT think you sound callous or spoiled at all; I think the disconnect is simply a matter of how life happens, not a failing or deficiency of some kind. Being acutely aware of the author is not always a good thing - I've had more than one steamy romance ruined by finding out more about the author. (Now I sound callous.)

I understand what you mean as far as "knowing too much" about an author. You do not sound callous at all. I've had that happen to me with music, case in point Chris Brown. He has 2 songs that I absolutely love(d), and after the terrible incident where he attacked Rhianna, I found I could no longer listen to those songs.

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

I think most people have at least a peripheral awareness that paying for a book contributes to future books magically appearing at the store, and that's really all that's necessary for the system to function.

Of course. Plus, if the author continues to write, what I like to read, then he or she will have my contribution, anyway, because I will continue to buy the books. I am a very loyal reader in that way.

Originally Posted by stickybuns

As far as paid vs. free: If you're asking "Given the option of two identical books, would you prefer the paid one or the free one?" Yeah, I'll pick the free.

If you're asking "Given the option between a book that someone ran through an optical scanner and never bothered to proofread or a book that has been lovingly formatted with a working table of contents, which would you prefer?" Then I would select the lovingly formatted version regardless of the cost.

If you're asking "Would you be willing to make a voluntary donation for a well-formatted public domain ebook?" I would be more inclined to make a donation after downloading several books for the same reason that I donate to my local public radio station once per year and not immediately after listening to a particularly enjoyable show.

I agree with everything in the above quote, adding what I stated above. If I really like the book I received for free, chances are that I will look for and purchase others.

Originally Posted by yochillum

I tend to agree with most who have said something to the effect of, 'because the books I want to read are being charged for.' I must admit that this stance is taking somewhat of a beating from the big 6 publishers high pricing on ebooks. When ebooks started being sold at prices that to me seemed inordinately high in comparison to the print copies of the very same book, I said to myself, "Self, we shouldn't buy books from these jerks until they learn to price ebooks fairly." That said, when I do come across a title that is being priced within my definition of reason, I will not hesitate to show my support and purchase a copy. Just like any product: be it car, jacket, silly hat, etc. I am always on the lookout for a bargain, and want to get the best deal possible, but that doesn't include stealing.

I am the same way.

[Quexos]

Well I purchase books because I decide I want to try and read them. I mean I don't do it to help the economy or the writer's cause. It's just a basic commercial transaction to me. It's good that it helps the author get very rich sometimes but I don't have that on my mind when I buy a book.

Originally Posted by Giggleton

I was thinking about this for a bit today, and wondered what this forum thought of the matter.

[Ron.]

I buy books because I am too lazy to go to the library

[Janette55]

The "problem" I see in the first choice is that if I were purchasing books to support the author then I would buy their books no matter how good or bad they are.

Yes, I will buy books from a certain author I like to read. But if she starts to write lousy books I will not continue to buy them just to support her.

In one of the Amazon communites that comes up a lot; there is an author that many have stopped buying her books because of how she has changed so much. Others have stated they will buy her books no matter what. The last group fits the first question. For those who buy books because they enjoy the story, because the only way they can get it is by paying money for it, then the first question doesn't work.

I want to read C. Dickens bookys but I wouldn't pay for his books as I don't want them strong enough to spend the money for them. But since they are free, I have downloaded them and other classics to read. It's not that I don't see them of value, they are of value, just not enough for me to spend money on.

Stickybuns mentioned he has bought several versions of the same book for what is in the books beside the story. For him, that is worth it. For me, I wouldn't buy the book in the first place. I doubt I would even take it if offered to me free (no insult to the book, author or Stickybuns intended) as it doesn't interest me.

I am sure that their are books that I read that he (or she) would have absolutely no interest in. Even if offered free some people would turn down some of the books I read. I like to read classics and well written books; but I also enjoy reading some smut, or what some call soft porn.

So, I don't buy to support the author, but due to my interest in the storyline, plot and the characters created.

May make me seem shallow, but those are my pure goofy pleasure books. Like having a fancy meal created by a top chef to having a slopy hot dog at a picnic. You can enjoy both.

just my two cents worth

[stickybuns]

Originally Posted by Janette55

Stickybuns mentioned he has bought several versions of the same book for what is in the books beside the story. For him, that is worth it. For me, I wouldn't buy the book in the first place. I doubt I would even take it if offered to me free (no insult to the book, author or Stickybuns intended) as it doesn't interest me.

I am sure that their are books that I read that he (or she) would have absolutely no interest in. Even if offered free some people would turn down some of the books I read. I like to read classics and well written books; but I also enjoy reading some smut, or what some call soft porn.

So, I don't buy to support the author, but due to my interest in the storyline, plot and the characters created.

May make me seem shallow, but those are my pure goofy pleasure books. Like having a fancy meal created by a top chef to having a slopy hot dog at a picnic. You can enjoy both.

just my two cents worth

Well, truth be told, the primary reason I have half a dozen copies of Shakespeare (along with other texts) is because I majored in English literature, and each of my professors required that a completely different edition be read. Past the first year or two of study, most literature professors assume that you've read the story/play/book in question. What they really want is for you to read the supplemental essays.

I have a category on my Kindle labeled "fluff", so I'm certainly not adverse to reading non-classic literature. My sincere apologies if you felt that your tastes were being inadvertently judged!

[Giggleton]

Originally Posted by Janette55

So, I don't buy to support the author, but due to my interest in the storyline, plot and the characters created.

May make me seem shallow, but those are my pure goofy pleasure books. Like having a fancy meal created by a top chef to having a slopy hot dog at a picnic. You can enjoy both.

Would you still pay for these books if you could download and read them in their entirety for free? I'm beginning to suspect that for most of our purchases we don't really take into account the origins of the text. Occassionally I do but certainly not for every textual purchase.

Even though most of us picked to contribute to the author, perhaps that was solely due to the lack of the "Because I want to read it option." I know I've mentioned this in this thread before, what an interesting thread then!

I used to think that abolishing copyright was going to be difficult, due to the fact that it also regulates so many aspects of commerce besides the buying and selling of books, but now I see all that's needed is an aggregation of high quality texts, reviewed and rated by those who wish to read them. All available to read prepurchase. The mechanics are still being worked on of course.

[emoorman]

I certainly do not buy books to support the author. My purchases are not charity. I buy them because I think I'll enjoy reading them.

I like a fairly fast-paced book where the author tells a good tale. If it's slow going or doesn't have a story that holds together, I usually don't finish it. I can't remember the books I didn't finish and I definitely don't regret putting them down.

[stickybuns]

Originally Posted by Giggleton

I used to think that abolishing copyright was going to be difficult, due to the fact that it also regulates so many aspects of commerce besides the buying and selling of books, but now I see all that's needed is an aggregation of high quality texts, reviewed and rated by those who wish to read them. All available to read prepurchase. The mechanics are still being worked on of course.

Oh, I see. So this poll was intended to validate some pre-existing notions that you have regarding copyright.

For your conclusions to have any validity, you would need to pretend that consumers are the only stakeholders who have the right/ability to effect prices and that book authors will not say, "You and your over-bloated sense of entitlement can shove it. I don't care if you want it for free. These are my words and I own them."

You will also need to pretend that the respondents to your poll see no difference between legally acquiring free ebooks through promotional offers, public domain servers, and libraries vs. downloading pirated copies over darknet. Such reasoning draws no distinction between what a person feels is an acceptable source for free books and what is unacceptable.

For the record: I feel that legal sources are acceptable because either the copyright holder is A-OK with me having the thing for free... or s/he's been dead a good long time and doesn't much care either way at this point. I feel that illegal sources are unacceptable because I do not take things that do not belong to me without permission. Forcing someone to give me something for free because I felt self entitled enough to strip them of their ownership is something that I also would say is unacceptable.

Is getting stuff for free nice? Yes, of course. But someone wanting something for free does not mean that they believe that copyright ownership should be taken away from the author.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by stickybuns

Oh, I see. So this poll was intended to validate some pre-existing notions that you have regarding copyright.

For your conclusions to have any validity, you would need to pretend that consumers are the only stakeholders who have the right/ability to effect prices and that book authors will not say, "You and your over-bloated sense of entitlement can shove it. I don't care if you want it for free. These are my words and I own them."

You will also need to pretend that the respondents to your poll see no difference between legally acquiring free ebooks through promotional offers, public domain servers, and libraries vs. downloading pirated copies over darknet. Such reasoning draws no distinction between what a person feels is an acceptable source for free books and what is unacceptable.

For the record: I feel that legal sources are acceptable because either the copyright holder is A-OK with me having the thing for free... or s/he's been dead a good long time and doesn't much care either way at this point. I feel that illegal sources are unacceptable because I do not take things that do not belong to me without permission. Forcing someone to give me something for free because I felt self entitled enough to strip them of their ownership is something that I also would say is unacceptable.

Is getting stuff for free nice? Yes, of course. But someone wanting something for free does not mean that they believe that copyright ownership should be taken away from the author.

You must be new here -- the Giggly guy has been playing the role of the misguided idealist for a few months now.

[stickybuns]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

You must be new here -- the Giggly guy has been playing the role of the misguided idealist for a few months now.

Uh, yeah... sorry about having a sudden attack of "Someone is wrong on the internet!!!"

I hope that my head exploding didn't cause too big a mess?

[Giggleton]

Originally Posted by stickybuns

Oh, I see. So this poll was intended to validate some pre-existing notions that you have regarding copyright.

For your conclusions to have any validity, you would need to pretend that consumers are the only stakeholders who have the right/ability to effect prices and that book authors will not say, "You and your over-bloated sense of entitlement can shove it. I don't care if you want it for free. These are my words and I own them."

Not exactly, the poll was created for a number of reasons, one of which brings us to now where my thoughts on the subject have changed based on the posting the poll itself and reading some of the responses.

Also, I abandoned all notions of objective validity awhile back. I advise you to do the same.

But yes, I do feel that copyright is irrelevant and texts can never be owned by anyone.