The subtitle of this blog is “Everyone is entitled to my opinion.”  It’s been that way since I first started web publishing in 1996.  It’s axiomatic that free advice is seldom welcomed, and worth what one pays for it.  This is why I have never opted for a “paid subscription” model.  I doubt many would want to pay for my opinion.

I feel the same way about the current trend these days to monetize opinion.  Medium and Substack are both subscription-based web sites that provide a platform for anyone with a keyboard and an opinion the means to express themself.  They offer a free level, of course, because to not do so would hinder new subscribers, but often writers will put the majority of their content behind the site paywall, blocking free readers.

Far be it from me to attempt to prevent someone from earning money from legitimate means.  But the freedom to charge for a good or service also implies the freedom to refuse to avail oneself of that good or service.  Opinions are not like food and housing.  I choose to not subscribe.

Podcasts are another form of this capitalization of opinion.  Most podcasts I come across have a pay-for-play component to them, but offer the meat in the sandwich for free.  Ain’t capitalism great?

Don’t get me wrong.  I read a lot.  I’m on the web daily.  I have numerous news and specialty sites I use to inform me of news and information.  I even pay for instructional content (I’m looking at you, Active Melody).  But I find it difficult to pay for someone’s opinion.

There are some terrific thinkers out there.  I’m amazed by the likes of Victor Davis Hanson.  I’m delighted that I can read many of his pieces free, thanks to sites that publish him as a guest contributor.  Hanson posts many articles for free, and as many do, offers a “premium” subscription service.  Great.  But no, thanks.

Please note:  I began this article mentioning Medium and Substack.  Not as a slur, because I have accounts on both of them.  I simply do not choose to put my writing behind a pay wall.  I also have a Patreon account simply because I support one of the content providers I enjoy listening to.  It’s music, not opinion, so even though I’m not a fan or Patreon, it’s the best way I find I can support the efforts of the producer.

Newspapers (remember them?) often had a section for editorial opinions.  Cleverly referred to as the “op-ed” section, the authors, typically ranking figures of the publication, had a place to speak their minds.  These op-ed pieces came with the subscription to the newspaper as a whole, so in there was a value add if you only wanted opinions.

Who would pay to read or hear someone else’s opinion?  Would you pay for mine?

But it’s big business these days.  The famous quote attributed to Andy Warhol, “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes” appears to have been finally realized.