"I don't feel that just viewing , listening, watching or reading anything creative should ever be paid for - there is enough money to be made in between the cracks with the incidentals that all this worry over actually getting paid for content sometimes puzzles me."
This statement just boggles my mind, Piro, really it does. I mean, you've just invalidated the entire movie, cable TV, and video rental industries. All those PEOPLE, Piro! Do you honestly mean to say that you've felt ripped off EVERY TIME you've watched a movie in a theater, watched a cable channel, rented a video from Blockbuster?
I just can't swallow the argument that "payments won't work because it's human nature not to want to pay." It's human nature not to want to work either, but people work quite happily as long as they feel they're getting a good salary for what they do-- a favorable rate of exchange.
It's one thing to say that "free is a sustainable business model." Many of our colleagues would agree. But when people say "free is the only business model that's MORALLY CORRECT," then whatever I'm drinking spills out my nose. I'm glad you've stopped short of advocating economic anarchism ("STEAL THIS COMIC NOW! DOWNLOAD ALL MOVIES!"), but if you endorse the beliefs that lead to economic anarchism, I'm not sure there's that much of a difference.
Boy, that last graf reads like an open declaration of war, doesn't it? Not my intent. You've shown yourself to be a reasonable, fair-minded individual with a strong moral center, which is why I'm taking the time at 1:30 AM to try to reach you.
"Webcomics are not worth paying for" sounds to me rather like saying "webcomics are worthless." Say something like that often enough and the public starts to believe it... and then all of us suffer, especially you.
(Disclaimer: for those who don't know, I've been writing comics and webcomics for just over four years, and have lots of personal concerns about the business models involved. But while I'm concerned about the perceived value of my own work, I'm even more worried that Piro's statement will invalidate HIS own work to those not familiar with webcomics. I mean, assuming an equal price, who would you want to read, the guy who says their work is worth paying to read, or the guy who says it isn't?)
In closing, Piro, I'd urge you to reconsider the magazine deal. It's an opportunity to bring MEGATOKYO to a new audience, a chance to grow as a creator, and a chance to make some connections that might help the webcomic later. And if some of your readers feel it's not worth the money-- THEY WON'T BUY IT. Your responsibility to them is not to protect their wallets. Your responsibility is to provide them with the best work you possibly can-- and that's it-- and that's all.
Slashdot Mirror
"I don't feel that just viewing , listening, watching or reading anything creative should ever be paid for - there is enough money to be made in between the cracks with the incidentals that all this worry over actually getting paid for content sometimes puzzles me."
This statement just boggles my mind, Piro, really it does. I mean, you've just invalidated the entire movie, cable TV, and video rental industries. All those PEOPLE, Piro! Do you honestly mean to say that you've felt ripped off EVERY TIME you've watched a movie in a theater, watched a cable channel, rented a video from Blockbuster?
I just can't swallow the argument that "payments won't work because it's human nature not to want to pay." It's human nature not to want to work either, but people work quite happily as long as they feel they're getting a good salary for what they do-- a favorable rate of exchange.
It's one thing to say that "free is a sustainable business model." Many of our colleagues would agree. But when people say "free is the only business model that's MORALLY CORRECT," then whatever I'm drinking spills out my nose. I'm glad you've stopped short of advocating economic anarchism ("STEAL THIS COMIC NOW! DOWNLOAD ALL MOVIES!"), but if you endorse the beliefs that lead to economic anarchism, I'm not sure there's that much of a difference.
Boy, that last graf reads like an open declaration of war, doesn't it? Not my intent. You've shown yourself to be a reasonable, fair-minded individual with a strong moral center, which is why I'm taking the time at 1:30 AM to try to reach you.
"Webcomics are not worth paying for" sounds to me rather like saying "webcomics are worthless." Say something like that often enough and the public starts to believe it... and then all of us suffer, especially you.
(Disclaimer: for those who don't know, I've been writing comics and webcomics for just over four years, and have lots of personal concerns about the business models involved. But while I'm concerned about the perceived value of my own work, I'm even more worried that Piro's statement will invalidate HIS own work to those not familiar with webcomics. I mean, assuming an equal price, who would you want to read, the guy who says their work is worth paying to read, or the guy who says it isn't?)
In closing, Piro, I'd urge you to reconsider the magazine deal. It's an opportunity to bring MEGATOKYO to a new audience, a chance to grow as a creator, and a chance to make some connections that might help the webcomic later. And if some of your readers feel it's not worth the money-- THEY WON'T BUY IT. Your responsibility to them is not to protect their wallets. Your responsibility is to provide them with the best work you possibly can-- and that's it-- and that's all.
And that's PLENTY.