Comments on: No Free Lunch!? http://foolswisdom.com/no-free-lunch/ A fool and his blog are soon parted. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:39:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0-alpha By: El Yanqui http://foolswisdom.com/no-free-lunch/comment-page-1/#comment-44925 El Yanqui Tue, 12 Jun 2007 09:20:50 +0000 http://foolswisdom.com/no-free-lunch/#comment-44925 If anyone wants to buy me a lunch just to prove them all wrong, I'm all for it. Everything has a cost somewhere to someone. On occasion it doesn't affect us directly and then we see things as being free. Free things tend to end up being abused and then they go away when whoever is really paying for it tires of the abuse. If anyone wants to buy me a lunch just to prove them all wrong, I’m all for it.

Everything has a cost somewhere to someone. On occasion it doesn’t affect us directly and then we see things as being free. Free things tend to end up being abused and then they go away when whoever is really paying for it tires of the abuse.

]]> By: Lloyd http://foolswisdom.com/no-free-lunch/comment-page-1/#comment-44440 Lloyd Sat, 09 Jun 2007 15:44:56 +0000 http://foolswisdom.com/no-free-lunch/#comment-44440 Keith, I think it is more basic than that, and less about the people doing the work and OSS. Most people developing free culture I have worked with and talked to like to help other people, and although it is to fill their own need that is not why they also share it. The problem they see is the attitude and expectations of those taking advantage of the free offer. Just like bloggers that turn off comments on their blog because they understandably are tired of reading what trolls write, other free culture participants get burned out because of the demanding attitudes, and end up saying things like "there is no free lunch". Worse, it leads many to decrease or stop their participation. Keith, I think it is more basic than that, and less about the people doing the work and OSS. Most people developing free culture I have worked with and talked to like to help other people, and although it is to fill their own need that is not why they also share it. The problem they see is the attitude and expectations of those taking advantage of the free offer.

Just like bloggers that turn off comments on their blog because they understandably are tired of reading what trolls write, other free culture participants get burned out because of the demanding attitudes, and end up saying things like “there is no free lunch”. Worse, it leads many to decrease or stop their participation.

]]> By: Keith Bowes http://foolswisdom.com/no-free-lunch/comment-page-1/#comment-44354 Keith Bowes Sat, 09 Jun 2007 05:03:50 +0000 http://foolswisdom.com/no-free-lunch/#comment-44354 It's true that there's no free lunch. However, I feel that assertion with regard to OSS implies that there's some expectation or reason for recompensation. The problem with that assumption is that I think most people who work on OSS do it because they want to elaborate something that will make their time on the computer more efficient, pleasant or whatever. It's software for oneself, not for everyone else, which can make everyone else a bit ticked when you're not enthusiastic about implementing their ideas, fixing their bugs, applying their patches, etc. IMHO, of course. It’s true that there’s no free lunch. However, I feel that assertion with regard to OSS implies that there’s some expectation or reason for recompensation. The problem with that assumption is that I think most people who work on OSS do it because they want to elaborate something that will make their time on the computer more efficient, pleasant or whatever. It’s software for oneself, not for everyone else, which can make everyone else a bit ticked when you’re not enthusiastic about implementing their ideas, fixing their bugs, applying their patches, etc.

IMHO, of course.

]]> By: Ian McKellar http://foolswisdom.com/no-free-lunch/comment-page-1/#comment-44021 Ian McKellar Thu, 07 Jun 2007 21:18:21 +0000 http://foolswisdom.com/no-free-lunch/#comment-44021 The great irony of Asa's comment for me was Mozilla expects others to contribute back without working to make that easy and transparent. The patches I submitted sat and rotted for so long I'd left the company before anyone looked at them. Needless to say the rate at which I submitted patches fell off. Everyone wants a free lunch. Everyone feels entitled to a free lunch. But then we all end up hungry. The great irony of Asa’s comment for me was Mozilla expects others to contribute back without working to make that easy and transparent. The patches I submitted sat and rotted for so long I’d left the company before anyone looked at them. Needless to say the rate at which I submitted patches fell off.

Everyone wants a free lunch. Everyone feels entitled to a free lunch. But then we all end up hungry.

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