The 'selling' of freeware

Note : This piece was originally written back in 2003, but it is still as relevant as it was back then.

I am actually beginning to 'enjoy' part of the 'freeware' world (note, I said 'some parts of the freeware world'). For I am so delighted that the Freeware Revolution is now beginning to gather momentum and to reach many via some open mined media journalists. This is contrary to the previous maligning goings ons about it that were occurring(and for all I know still do go on). I also am really pleasantly suprised at the numerous kind exchanges I have had via membership at FreewareArena, which it is free, with no strings attached, and no pressures to 'do anythings' (like the typical 'tell everyone about us', click on this link, or visit these sites because we "approve" of them), for people have sent me very nice messages and that is not the typical result of 'joining' a site, usually the site operator is either 'pushy' (as previosuly addressed) or the 'webmaster' simply wants anyone and everyone to be a 'member' to either A ) brag about members numbers, B ) lourde over their 'members' like they are their 'minions' to do their bidding (sorry that is just a line I have always treasured from "Creative Writing" class a few years back), but it does illustrate what many nefarious 'webmasters' do - they impose their greedy goals by pushing the 'promote me' issue, sometimes very discreetly (albiet subtle) or just plain 'hammer to the head' boasting of how their site is so..."blah blah whatever, bling bling of this or that...and soon we will be on top", and other pathetic diatribes to encite visitors to act as promotional tools. I feel sympathy for sites that have to play the 'fame game' and play dirty to 'succeed'. They spend so much time talking trash** that they only end up appealing to the same type of users that they are (**lowest common denominator theory).

The more opportunistic 'webmasters' there are, the narrower the lines of useful knowledge become. Search engines are already overwrought with poor 'results' when searches are done. And the number of 'keyword games players' grows. I am in total agreement that content trumps flash anyday. But intelligence is insulted when this 'knowing how to properly use keywords' is the petty excuse put into play.

Then there are those sites that will proudly link to anyone. Anyone? Hmmm...anyone, could that signify either an urgency to get traffic or simply that they have no regard for visitors as they have no standards. I myself (though new to the 'webmastery' realm) am very selective and though that may ire many, I don't use my site as a soapbox to scream 'look at me'. I have communicated with a small number of very reliable and professional 'webmasters' whose sites are useful and certainly are usable from my youngest cousin to my Grandma. I was raised to be respectful of others and the Internet has the potential to reach untold numbers, so should someone new to my site visit and I send them to a site that I myself would not revisit or am appalled at, what message am I sending to 'guests' to this site? That people are only numbers? NO, I prefer to do things honestly, professionally and straight as an arrow. I only seek to share resources and sites that I find helpful or useful.

Now if I were so inclined to make money, I could follow the trend of 'selling' freeware on disks. But how can doing that convey to people what freeware truly is? If you visit a site that sells freeware, stop, and click to another site, or resign yourself to having been indoctrinated into believeing freeware and shareware are synonymous. And abandon the respect that freeware authors deserve for you have just enabled a plagarist to take a 'gift' and turn it into a 'product'. Also acknowledge that by frequenting/supporting these 'payware' sites, you are condoning and validating these bandits lack of creativity. For they haven't the intelligence to create an original idea, and must ripoff talented people.

Perhaps the answer is one that may trouble some but 'could' alleviate such thievery from getting recognition - censoring on the part of search engines. But with a different approach - have 2 Nets, one for free content(s) and one for 'pay for' contents(s). YES that is a far fetched idea, and no doubt would have 'free speech radicals' warbling about freedom of speech, but when something is blatantly stolen it is a crime, plain and simple. And users deserve the truth, not just 'come ons' of the best 'free software', and then to be led to questionable sites, or lurid content(s). Nor to be duped into 'buying freeware'.

But maybe it relates to how the words aesthetic and pathetic sound so similar any yet are so diametrically different, one deals with beauty (or the conveyance thereof) and one is the almost putridness that results from wallowing in depravity and smirking at what one can wreak.

Sincerely,
Lis