The subtitle of this blog is “Everyone is entitled to my opinion.”\u00a0 It’s been that way since I first started web publishing in 1996.\u00a0 It’s axiomatic that free advice is seldom welcomed, and worth what one pays for it.\u00a0 This is why I have never opted for a “paid subscription” model.\u00a0 I doubt many would want to pay for my opinion.<\/p>\n
I feel the same way about the current trend these days to monetize opinion.\u00a0 Medium<\/a> and Substack<\/a> are both subscription-based web sites that provide a platform for anyone with a keyboard and an opinion the means to express themself.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n Far be it from me to attempt to prevent someone from earning money from legitimate means.\u00a0 But the freedom to charge for a good or service also implies the freedom to refuse to avail oneself of that good or service.\u00a0 Opinions are not like food and housing.\u00a0 I choose to not subscribe.<\/p>\n Podcasts are another form of this capitalization of opinion.\u00a0 Most podcasts I come across have a pay-for-play component to them, but offer the meat in the sandwich for free.\u00a0 Ain’t capitalism great?<\/p>\n Don’t get me wrong.\u00a0 I read a lot.\u00a0 I’m on the web daily.\u00a0 I have numerous news and specialty sites I use to inform me of news and information.\u00a0 I even pay for instructional content (I’m looking at you, Active Melody<\/a>).\u00a0 But I find it difficult to pay for someone’s opinion.<\/p>\n There are some terrific thinkers out there.\u00a0 I’m amazed by the likes of Victor Davis Hanson<\/a>.\u00a0 I’m delighted that I can read many of his pieces free, thanks to sites that publish him as a guest contributor.\u00a0 Hanson posts many articles for free, and as many do, offers a “premium” subscription service.\u00a0 Great.\u00a0 But no, thanks.<\/p>\n Please note:\u00a0 I began this article mentioning Medium<\/a> and Substack<\/a>.\u00a0 Not as a slur, because I have accounts on both of them.\u00a0 I simply do not choose to put my writing behind a pay wall.\u00a0 I also have a Patreon<\/a> account simply because I support one of the content providers I enjoy listening to.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n Newspapers (remember them?) often had a section for editorial opinions.\u00a0 Cleverly referred to as the “op-ed” section, the authors, typically ranking figures of the publication, had a place to speak their minds.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n Who would pay to read or hear someone else’s opinion?\u00a0 Would you pay for mine?<\/p>\n But it’s big business these days.\u00a0 The famous quote attributed to Andy Warhol<\/a>, “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes” appears to have been finally realized.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The subtitle of this blog is “Everyone is entitled to my opinion.”\u00a0 It’s been that way since I first started web publishing in 1996.\u00a0 It’s axiomatic that free advice is seldom welcomed, and worth what one pays for it.\u00a0 This … Continue reading