Everything is "Free" - Part I - Games, Software, and Reading... "Free"

The Issue

Hello readers of 2coffee.dev, I rarely engage in online debates, but I often follow the perspectives of various parties involved. Honestly, many debates have each individual's opinion reflecting only one aspect of the issue, making it seem like a never-ending argument. According to me, a perfect debate should ensure the presence of arguments, evidence, and a willingness to accept each other's opinions. That way, there won't be a winner or loser, and everyone will be open to new ideas.

No one can please everyone, and it's not necessary to try. As long as we don't break the law or go against morality, life will be beautiful. With some upcoming plans in mind, I'd like to share a few thoughts with you readers. There won't be any "code" or "bugs" this time, just simple confessions about "everything being free".

Games, Software, and Reading… "Free"

From the early days of using computers, I spent most of my time installing games and various software for my Windows machine. I could easily find cracked versions of games and software by searching online or visiting forums. It seemed like everything was easily accessible and that there were generous people on the internet.

Around the same time, I was overwhelmed by the amount of information available online. I gradually realized that I had become addicted to reading. Whether it was at school or at home, I would read anything I could get my hands on. There were so many things to discover, from short stories to online forums and blogs. I could read anywhere, anytime, as long as I had the opportunity.

As a result, reading became free because anyone could write and share their stories for free. Sometimes, writing and sharing stories was like a gift to the readers. This went on until I stumbled upon websites that asked for payment to read their content. What was happening? Didn't reading used to be free?

It's not hard to notice the debates about piracy, copyright infringement, and the use of cracked software. Most people are divided into two groups with opposing views: one side supports piracy, while the other strongly condemns it, considering it a blatant copyright infringement with potential security risks. As for me, I'm neutral; I don't support or oppose it. Those who create content can do as they please, and those who use cracked versions can do so, but they should be aware of the risks.

"Students are still in school, where do they get the money to buy software?" - That's a valid reason to support piracy. I was no exception. Perhaps in the future, I'll have a more open wallet and purchase the software I've been using for free. However, that's not what happened. Even after I started working and earning money, I still looked for cracked versions. The concept of "everything being free" had a strong hold on me.

In recent years, when I built this blog with the initial intention of learning, I gradually became more serious about creating content. The time I spent on each article increased, sometimes taking up to a week to write one due to work commitments. After gaining a significant number of readers, I decided to try monetizing the blog by adding ads.

Although I didn't expect much, it would be great to earn some income from the blog. I thought to myself, "If I can earn $10-20 per month, that's already a good start." It would be a testament to the fact that readers still support me.

However, you know what? One day, I discovered that I was using an ad blocker on my own website, despite the fact that I had put in a lot of effort to write the content. If I couldn't even accept ads on my own website, how could I expect others to do so?

From that moment on, I realized that I had been living with the mindset of "everything being free." I started to limit my use of cracked software and instead looked for open-source alternatives. I discovered that there are communities creating amazing products and sharing them for free.

I also removed the ad blocker from my website. Everyone has the right to earn a reward for their work, and you have the right to decide whether they deserve it or not. Whether you read this article or not, life goes on. However, one thing you can do is reward those who you think are deserving.

"Are you just bitter that many people block ads on your website?" - No! I'm not. I was guilty of the same thing; I used cracked software and game. Now, I've removed ads from this website because I haven't found a suitable approach yet.

Conclusion

In this article, I just wanted to share my experiences and thoughts about games, software, and reading being free. I'm not criticizing or condemning anyone, as the choice is yours. Personally, I learned a valuable lesson: "Reward those who you think are deserving."

In the next article, I'll take you to a darker reality where, when everything is free, we ourselves become the product.