The Illusion of (FREE) On The Internet

isMobham · 07-05-2006, 12:15 AM

The Illusion of (Free) On The Internet

Just like the real world, the Internet has its ups and its downs, its good and its bad. Just like the real world, the Internet is made of decent folks and crude folks, respectable Website and sleazy Websites, truths and lies.

And just like the real world, the Internet has a rule that has invariably proved itself correct ... Nothing Comes For Free!

But if that’s true, then how come we seem to see this word, FREE, everywhere we look? Free membership, free subscription, free graphics, free software, free hosting, free offer, etc.

To answer that question, we have to understand what free means ...

Of course, like any other word, it has many meanings. But the one definition that concerns us here is:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online

not costing or charging anything

So, according to that definition, whenever you see a Website presenting something free, it implies that you don’t have to pay anything for it. The emphasis here is on the word anything.

So let’s take a look, with this definition in mind, at some of the allegedly free offers we find online ...

Step #1: FREE Doesn’t Exist

Take a look at www.dot.tk. This is a service which promotes itself as a ”Free Domain Name Registrar.” But when you get right down to it, the only free thing about it is the name. Now consider what you have to put up with ...

Pop-up advertisement

The Non-standard look of the domain name.

The lack of name-server configurability.

The slow service.

The risk of the registrar going offline and of losing the domain name.

... to name a few.

So how could such a service be free, according to the definition above? This service is costing you a lot ...

You lose the confidence and trust of your visitors,

You get an unprofessional, amateurish stigma,

And ultimately, you lose the money that you could’ve gained from your visitors had you paid for a known domain name like a .com or a .net.

Step #2: FREE Doesn’t Last

I’m sure you’re used a trial or a shareware version of software before. We all have. For example, ACDSee has always been one of my favourite pieces of image viewing and manipulation software. It can be downloaded as a 15-days trial version.

But what happens after those 15 days? Well, you have to buy the full version, or the software keeps annoying you with purchase reminders, and eventually stops functioning altogether. And that’s the way it is with all shareware and trial versions of any software out there.

Step #3: FREE Doesn’t Come Cheap

Consider the Linux Operating System. We all know it’s free, right? You don’t have to pay anything for it, right?

Well, I don’t know about that ...

It’s true that you don’t have to spend money in order to get yourself a Linux distribution, but you pay in other ways.

You find yourself having to learn the basics of a different operating system. You find yourself dealing with a new paradigm, in terms of infrastructure, code compilation, software compatibility, user-friendliness, availability of quality software, and customer service, or lack thereof.

So indeed you pay for using a Linux. Perhaps not with cash, but with time, effort, and peace of mind. Linux may be free, but for most, it certainly isn’t cheap.

Step #4: FREE Doesn’t Suffice

A prime example for this is PayPal.

At PayPal is free to join, to send money to another PayPal account, and to receive money from another PayPal account. But with the free account, there are limitations ...

There’s a certain limit, above which money can neither be sent to nor received from another PayPal account.
You can’t use credit cards to increase your funds, nor can you receive money from them.
You can’t accept donations through your Website.
You can’t deposit your funds into your bank account.

... and many, many more restrictions.

Yes, PayPal can be free. But does free suffice? I think not.

Nothing Comes For Free!

And so the rule proves itself again to be perfectly true. The word free is an illusion. It works only because people believe in it. It’s fueled by greed and nourished by ill logic.

No matter what you see, no matter what hype wants you to believe, always remember this ... That which costs nothing is worth nothing.

Yes, you can get something without having to pay money for it. But keep in mind, money isn’t the only determining factor. In both real life and the Internet, there are many factors at work.

Most Websites offer their services or products in exchange for something. They might ask for money, an e-zine subscription, a regular presence and helpful posting in forums, viewing advertisement, etc.

Those Websites are the one to take seriously. They’re NOT free, even if they sometimes use that word. They want something in exchange for their services and/or products. They understand the golden rule ... That which costs nothing is worth nothing.

Finally, I have one last piece of advice for you. If and when you see a Website claiming that you’ll get this or that absolutely free, RUN ... run your butt off!

By now, I’m sure you know why, right?

Yup. Because Nothing Comes For Free!

Regards,
Dr. Tamer Aly

kiviniar · 07-05-2006, 12:36 AM

huuuuuuuuu....good i read this...wanted to flex my muscles...

Most of the times, the best may not be free but usually the second and the third best is....

I strongly believe that we have a lot of free stuuf out there which actually have made people merry

Quote:

And so the rule proves itself again to be perfectly true. The word free is an illusion. It works only because people believe in it. It’s fueled by greed and nourished by ill logic.

I like this.. why limit it to web space i guess even you would be fueled with greed for giving us this free information or joining this board....makes me think...

must be a past horific encounter with the free net..

But must say Good arguments

ali_420 · 07-05-2006, 01:40 AM

Nice read, but what was the point of posting this

?

xeno · 07-05-2006, 10:43 AM

I have gotten so many free scripts from the web it is not even funny. Yes, it cost me 3 minutes of my time, but that is looking to deep into it.

JamieJelly · 07-05-2006, 10:54 AM

isMobham, all your examples are businesses, the fact the people providing the 'free' service are part of a profit making entity would indicate money needs to come from somewhere.

The businesses you point out are based on what is known as a freemium business model... google it.

There is REAL free. Check out the GPL license.

isbtown · 07-05-2006, 12:06 PM

This is free, http://www.responsebooster.com Yes, there are some premium features but everything that we say is free is actually free.

wiworkspro · 07-05-2006, 12:08 PM

Nice Topic... I'm new to this forum.

isMobham · 07-06-2006, 05:51 PM

Hello everyone,

The fact of the matter is, I honestly don't know why I wrote that article. It could be boredom .. it could be too much free time these days .. it could be the attitude of some young people who are new to the Net and desparately seeking the free even when it's obviously NOT always the route to go.

Perhaps that stirred a reaction that was equal in velocity and momentum, while opposite in direction

.

The funny thing is, I'm a big fan of the "Free." I support it whole-heartedly. I use GPL software a lot, and recommend it to others. My OS has been mostly Linux since as far as I can remember. I frequently encourage people to share their knowledge and experience with others, merely in the spirit of "sharing." I always try to tell others that "give" and "take" are two words that don't necessarily have to be in the same sentence

So I admit it, I was wrong. I generalized too much, where I should have been more specific. Yes, I was too irritated, but that never is an excuse ... merely a reason.

And so, in the hope of making it up to you, to myself, and to the "free" movement, I intend to write another article to try and right what I said wrong. It should be a delightful exercise in Schizophrania

Thank you all for your wonderful input. It was truly a joy to read.

Best Regards.

Chexx · 07-07-2006, 11:33 AM

isMobham,

I was wondering if I may add this article to my website article database. I would be happy to give you a backlink on the article post to your website in return.

**cldnails** · 07-08-2006, 06:13 PM

'Young People' on the net...whoa even more generalizing. lol

At any rate, I did enjoy your article.

isMobham · 07-10-2006, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chexx

isMobham,

I was wondering if I may add this article to my website article database. I would be happy to give you a backlink on the article post to your website in return.

Be my guest, Chexx

But if I may point out, I stated that most of the article was stirred by emotion and not logic. I'm going to write a more logically-inclined article soon.

But again, if you want to add the article to your Website's database, be my guest. There's no need for a backlink, since this is NOT my final view on this subject matter

-----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by cldnails

'Young People' on the net...whoa even more generalizing. lol

lol ... oh no no, I learn from my mistakes, cldnails ... that's why I said "... some young people who are new to the Net and desparately seeking the free ..."

Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed it

.

Cheers.