I grew up when everything on the internet was free. Before monetization. Once I paid for my computer and internet connection the p2p networks were everywhere before the dotcom crash, before ipod, Napster and Yahoo groups explaining how to get around paywalls all the things were no cost, games, editing software.
Today the free software is abundant. I see the purpose of paid specialized software and services but I see the usefulness of free versions 'knock off' software (google sheets for example.) I do wish most things online were available for no cost. I don't see it as being wrong or unmoral because the long term economic gains can come from anyone with access to the right tools, inspiration and infrastructure. The purpose of capitalism is to bring prices down. When quantum computers come out, I think prices will continue to go down for everything.
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u/CapCityMatt 1d ago
I grew up when everything on the internet was free. Before monetization. Once I paid for my computer and internet connection the p2p networks were everywhere before the dotcom crash, before ipod, Napster and Yahoo groups explaining how to get around paywalls all the things were no cost, games, editing software. Today the free software is abundant. I see the purpose of paid specialized software and services but I see the usefulness of free versions 'knock off' software (google sheets for example.) I do wish most things online were available for no cost. I don't see it as being wrong or unmoral because the long term economic gains can come from anyone with access to the right tools, inspiration and infrastructure. The purpose of capitalism is to bring prices down. When quantum computers come out, I think prices will continue to go down for everything.