I'm too Greedy.

[GlenBarrington]

I hear about a free book that seems interesting, and I download it. I download it even though I know I won't get around to it till I'm a very old man.

I wonder if I'm being fair to the author.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

I hear about a free book that seems interesting, and I download it. I download it even though I know I won't get around to it till I'm a very old man.

I wonder if I'm being fair to the author.

That's "file collecting."
What a wonderful First World Problem. An overabundance of books!

Fair to the author? Yeah, sure, why not? Unless you are given a review copy or something and you never get around to reviewing it.

[Greg Anos]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

I hear about a free book that seems interesting, and I download it. I download it even though I know I won't get around to it till I'm a very old man.

I wonder if I'm being fair to the author.

As fair as any other advertising driven freebie. I go by free samples stations at grocery stores. Just because I sample the product doesn't mean I have to buy it. And the company (person) providing it knows up-front that that is the case....

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by ApK

That's "file collecting."
What a wonderful First World Problem. An overabundance of books!

Fair to the author? Yeah, sure, why not? Unless you are given a review copy or something and you never get around to reviewing it.

I'm also overweight, another first world problem! I wonder if they are related in some way?

[apbschmitz]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

I hear about a free book that seems interesting, and I download it. I download it even though I know I won't get around to it till I'm a very old man.

I wonder if I'm being fair to the author.

This probably isn't keeping you up at night, but I don't think there's a problem when the author offers the book for free and you take it.

It seems slightly different to me if, for instance, you're taking a LibraryThing giveaway that's offered with the suggestion that you post a review after you've read the book. The author is trying to make a deal with you: I'll send you a coupon for a free book, you'll make an effort to read it and comment. The author is actually expending some effort in this case to get you a book, which is different than posting a book that's free to all takers with no further effort on the author's part.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

I hear about a free book that seems interesting, and I download it. I download it even though I know I won't get around to it till I'm a very old man.

I wonder if I'm being fair to the author.

Only if the author is a very young man [woman], and if he [she] survives the infirmities of old age and disease. Then you can write your review - if you remember having read it.



Don

[Barty]

There's no ethical problem here since you are not depriving anyone the ability to read the book. If it were a paper book and you were just hoarding it, then that would be different.

Adding to the download count may even encourage the author and/or give him / her greater visibility.

[cromag]

I'd say you're being fair. If nothing else, you're boosting the download count.


EDIT: Barty beat me to the "download count" mention. Great minds think alike!

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

I'm also overweight, another first world problem! I wonder if they are related in some way?

Yes, possibly they are.

You *do* know that "devouring books" is a figure of speech, not meant to be taken literally?

[pendragginp]

I'm greedy too, but I can't at all see how it could be 'unfair' to the writer to accept a free book.

As some have said, it at least adds to the writer's download count.

And I wouldn't take it if it didn't interest me and I didn't at least intend to read it.

[GlenBarrington]

Having just retired, I wonder how many books I've read that I simply don't remember reading.

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Yes, possibly they are.

You *do* know that "devouring books" is a figure of speech, not meant to be taken literally?

B U U R R P ! What'd you say? I missed that, I was chewing.

[Anabran]

"That's "file collecting."
What a wonderful First World Problem"

Also Known as "Digital Hoarding"
I know people in the 3D market
who have terabytes of "Digital Content"
3D models of every conceivable item
along with every Free 3D program etc. on the planet.

And each year as Digital storage becomes cheaper they upgrade to bigger external hard drives and continue their compulsive downloading.
The problem with this
is that unlike traditional
physical hoarding, there is no obvious evidence
piled to the ceiling of your home that would be apparent to to outsiders/family members so it goes unabated.

[pendragginp]

And that makes it a problem because - ?

Truly not getting the big deal here.

[Anabran]

"And that makes it a problem because - ?

Truly not getting the big deal here"

Well IMHO it, Digital Hoarding as with any addictive behaviour, an become the cause of unneeded anxiety
as the mere act of collecting/downloading
the content begins to overtake the pleasure of actually consuming it.
and incidents such as crashed hard drives/datalosses take an unusual emotion toll on people who have become addicted to having their hoard.
I personally know people who have risked loss of employment by violation of company policies against personal web surfing on company time
because they cant wait to get home to download yet another new "3D Item".

no its not on the level of alcoholism etc, but it can cause
problems in relationships.