Didn't you know capitalism was bad?

Trolls on a mission..

Published on February 11, 2005 By Draginol In Personal Computing

..I'm in a ranting mood...stand back!

Over the years I've noticed a pretty consistent thing - there are people who really really have a problem with the concept of people making a living selling software.

As a result, some of these people make it their mission to go out and harass people (like me) who make a living selling software.

One example came up today. I am a news moderator on the popular tech news site Neowin.net. I think it's a fantastic site with an incredible staff of volunteers. But it has a sizeable user population of "l33t" users who a) Think they know everything on tech because, well they're 19 years old and they know everything doncha know? and Non-free software is the devil and any level of nastiness is justified to thwart the purveyers of evil.

One guy today went so far to create an account called "ToadLad" (my account name there is "Frogboy"). Get it? Toad = Frog. Lad = Boy. Very clever...

Since I post software news on Neowin I also post Stardock's press releases too. On other sites, our media relations goddess does this. But since I'm a news moderator on Neowin, it makes sense for me to go ahead and do this since, essentially I would be the one who would end up approving the final news item.

But this guy went onto a rant that essentially went like this "You just love to spam the world with your crap? You've already got Stardock.com and WinCustomize.com? Why do you have to spam your stuff here?" Here being a Technology NEWS site. And spam being news for software that is (god forbid) not free.

For those not ambitious enough to create fake users to troll the comments, you also have the people who insist on trying to rationalize that any good commercial product has a freeware equivalent. Photoshop? Oh, the Gimp is much better. Terminal Server? Loser, VNC. WindowBlinds? No, just hack your uxtheme.dll. And now with our upcoming Multiplicity program we've got the same crowd chimes in with "Oh, you can do the same thing with Synergy!"

In most of these cases (almost all these cases) these "l33t" users have never actually used the commercial product (see "evil" above). But they just know because they know everything. Who cares if the "Free" program has a lot fewer features or is flakey or requires hours of setup time to work? When you're 19, time is all that matters and $20 or whatever is big money to someone who's source of income is their mom.

I have nothing against free software. I use a lot of free software. In fact, I use free software whenever I can. I'll take free over commercial any day if it does what I need it to do. But there is nothing inherently magical about free software. And the downside is that most free software I run into (not all of course, there are very well known examples) have the 80% problem. They work -- almost. They tend to often be more proof of concept.

"Sure the screen flickers when you switch desktops and you can't play a full screen game while using it and you have to configure the machines using a text file with arcane configuration fields and it sometimes disconnects for no reason requiring you to reboot...but...it's free!"

I don't think I have a problem so much with the people who try to promote a freeware program. Hey, more power to them. I take the view that people who might potentially buy our product will try out the free alternative, try ours and make their own conclusion.

What I do have a problem with are the people who intentionally go out of their way to try to stifle my right to promote our software. The double-standards really irritates me. As if free software somehow deserves special treatment because it's "free". I don't think users should make such distinctions in terms of what gets reported, only in terms of when someone makes a decision on what to actually use.

Comments (Page 4)

kona0197

on Feb 12, 2005

The last 20% of a software project is tedious tweakig, polish, fixing of weird behaviors, etc.

You would think he would take his own advice and fix WC before introducing new software before people get sick of the bugs and quit subscribing and renewing subs. After all HOW long has it been since launch?

Just my .02 worth - ignore me if you wish. (after all it's just my opinion...)

CygnusXII

on Feb 12, 2005

Paint me with your Marginal Brush, and say maybe if I wrote software... I'd truly understand what you say. That is your mode of operation. I am used to that. Maybe people will see the tactic for what it is, a tactic.

Bigotry is Bigotry, to sound redundant. Maybe I do,but it is a fact. And you are using a broad generalization and ridiculing a swath of people and a philosophy of their 'Free Software.' Too some this is equivalent to a religion, and a group of people for using 'Free Software.' It is something they believe in, and you are trying to disparage that belief. No I am not off the 'Deep End' as you put it. I am a bigot myself, and make no excuses for it, it is a part of my nature. Bigotry is a intolerable belief in something or ones own opinions. The difference here is that Brad is displaying his bigotry towards a group of people and singling them out, and drawing rediculous inferences against them. That is unacceptable. To do so against potential customers is stupid. What if one of those folks, parents are reading this. You know (the ones that fork over the $20.) Whoopsie! Shot yourself in the foot. The problem comes when one mistakes bigotry for racism. It is a common mistake, a lot of people make.

kona0197

on Feb 12, 2005

CygnusXII - I agreed with you on your first opening arguments but now your just not making sense. I think it comes down to the fact that you just don't like Frogboy as a person. After all, these last few posts are borderline personal attacks or trolling...

1Kev1

on Feb 12, 2005

When upgrading my computer's hardware I have no choice but to pay the price, because it's a product. When I add software to my system I, once again, pay the price, because it's a product.

The test-drive we're able to take with a software's free version gives us a freedom we've likely never had before when it comes to making purchases: the freedom to try BEFORE we buy. It used to be that you'd go out and buy a new program that you'd heard great things about only to discover after buying it for yourself that it wasn't all you had hoped it would be, leaving you not only disappointed, but out a hundred bucks.

After evaluating the free version of WindowBlinds I chose to pay for the full version because I found it to be a great product that did all I had hoped it would do and more. If Object Desktop were free I'd be happy as a clam, but then again, if it were free who would have the enormous amount of time it took to develop it?

Charging a reasonable price enables the creators to devote their time to writing upgrades, add-ons, and new products for us to use. If they weren't charging us for the software they'd likely be spending a great deal of their time burning themselves out in a cubicle somewhere trying to make a living.

Personally, I'd rather have these folks working on their current projects.They're doing a great job and they're providing us with a great product. If you're poor as hell, like I am, then do what I did and set aside a buck or two here or there. It took me almost three months to save up and I'm glad I did, I got my money's worth.

CygnusXII

on Feb 12, 2005

Also since none of us here is a CEO, worker or whatever else it is you do at StarDock, we cannot understand what you are trying to say. Your "you're not a programmer" comment does not carry weight. You've never walked in my shoes, you've never walked in the l33t 19 year olds shoes, and aparrently you are not walking in the Parents shoes, that forks over $20 for software, by the blatant disregard you are showing towards that type of percieved group. As I stated earlier, you need to apologize and be quiet. I do know this (even if I do not own my own company) If I had a business and talked like you have here, I would fire you. I ran my Mothers business for Several years while she was going through Chemo Therapy, and effectively was the Owner in all but Title, and I would never talk to a Customer or potential Customer in the fashion you have and Do. Let alone put such tripe in writing.

CygnusXII

on Feb 12, 2005

I have nothing against Brad. I have nothing against StarDOck. I love WC, WindowBlinds, the whole schmear.I am not attacking Brad, I am calling attention to the fact that what he is saying is wrong. That's all, there is too it. Nothing more. I have no problem with folks telling me I am wrong. It happens all the time.

I may not agree. I must be nuts, and it must be contaigious.

NightTrainthedark

on Feb 12, 2005

Brad, amongst all the negativity, at least you got these message boards to use for sounding off. People listen and you get some good feedback (and some feedback I will never understand). That's got to give you some balance against trying to reason with unreasonable people. I could use some perks like that.

John Hamp

on Feb 12, 2005

Geez Cygnus, do you have idea how unhinged you sound? Calling people bigots? Why do I get the feeling that in a past life you were one of those people who considered those who disagree with you heretics? Seek counseling.

Jafo

on Feb 12, 2005

I have nothing against Brad. I have nothing against StarDOck. I love WC, WindowBlinds, the whole schmear.I am not attacking Brad, I am calling attention to the fact that what he is saying is wrong.

Cygnus...I can be as pedantic and anal as the next person...so I will correct that phrase...and you may come to understand things better....

I have nothing against Brad. I have nothing against StarDOck. I love WC, WindowBlinds, the whole schmear.I am not attacking Brad, I am calling attention to MY BELIEF that what he is saying is wrong.

Strangely it all makes more sense, now...

CygnusXII

on Feb 12, 2005

Yes Jafo, you have a point..My belief that he's wrong. You are right on that, and I thank you for pointing out my omission. I admit I am a bigot. There's no shame in that. I have a big head,I think it is genetic predisposition. Also I think my wife and Daughter think I am unhinged as well. I find they hide all the sharp objects here in the house.

Legal Disclaimer - The views represented by CygnusXII, are not necessarily the views of sane human beings, and should be taken with a grain of salt. Also it should be noted, I have just eaten 1/2 a container of moose tracks icream and might be suffering from overdose of Sugary Goodness.

kona0197

on Feb 12, 2005

CygnusXII - I have nothing against Stardock or Brad as well.

Frogboy

on Feb 12, 2005

You have the cart before the horse. I do this stuff because I enjoy it first and the secondary priority is finding a way to make it pay for itself.

If WinCustomize had to be run in such a way that we have to tolerate abuse and trolling then we'd simply take the site down.

So Kona, the only rights you have on this site are the ones that the admins provide to you.

kona0197

on Feb 12, 2005

Well then If I stepped out of line all apoligies.

Zoomba

on Feb 12, 2005

Cygnus, you've lost all semblance of coherence in your argument. You're acting like an angry confused kid who has been cornered in an argument. Your arguments have ranged all over the place and don't make any sense at all. I'm not sure what your point in any of this is anymore.

Essencay

on Feb 12, 2005

Rather if this site fails to make money Brad probably wouldn't support it as he does.

To my best knowledge, someone correct me if I wrong, this site does not make money and is in fact subsidized by Stardock and is here because of Stardock's commitment to helping the skinning community thrive.

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