Chuq wrote:
>
> I'm getting rather tired of people doing me favors without asking me,
> and then being unhappy when I don't choose to accept their largess.
Yes, especially when they have quite a different view of what a
"favor" or "largess" is. I make advertising dollars from my web-based
mailing list archives. Having someone scarf up my copyrighted
collection and do the same actually deprives me of income (which I use
to offset the costs of running the list and archive). I believe this
is called "monetary damages". :-)
> At least Topica, bless, them, offers it to you and waits for you to
> say yes....
Or rather they ask for something of value from you for free and hope
that you think what they offer in return is of greater value.
Assuming that it is is rather presumptuous on their part. Now, if
they want to pay me, we might be able to come to an agreement, I sure
know how much my web mailing list archives are worth. I just add up
the monthly checks, the figure is real and calculable. In my case,
requests such as Topica's would be more akin to panhandling than "a
favor". (I would, however, be willing to list my list in return for a
link to my web archives - hint hint).
I find it amusing that that Topica is applauded for asking for
something of value for free using a method that costs the askee money
(email) rather than just stealing the item of value in the first
place. There shouldn't even be a choice between the two.
The real choice is whether they should use unsolicited email to make
the offer or traditional advertising venues (paid by them instead of
their target). At this point in time, I'm willing to condone the use
of email for such requests to republish, but only because journalistic
UCE have not yet become a nuisance or monetary burden on the
mailbox holder.
--
Michelle Dick [EMAIL PROTECTED] East Palo Alto, CA
Owner, FATFREE Vegetarian Mailing List
