On paying money for things

‘Free’ can be deceptive:

I pay for comics and stories because, as a creator, I enjoy art and creativity, while knowing first-hand just how much work go into these things. I want markets to exist that appreciate creative ideas, and for that to be the case, I support market activity that facilitates that reality.

I pay for my email (both personal and professional) because I want my tools to get better for me, rather than an advertiser’s tools for whom I’m the product. I want the privacy, the quiet, and the comfort of knowing a sustainable business model is powering something I rely on. I want tools that are important to me to experience healthy competition so that innovation thrives.

I would pay for Twitter if I could access such an immensely powerful communication channel without having my timeline manipulated in pursuit of more complicated business models.

The best —and the worst— things in life are all free.

For everything else, there’s the option of simply paying money for things.