wanderer33
Jedi
The only answer I can give to that post is to say, that I did not say one way or another exactly what I believed. You are assuming that I believe a certain thing. That is your assumption and you are welcome to it.
Good Website for Free Books
- Thread starter dblue
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durabone
Jedi Council Member
Couple of good points, folks. Thanks. For certain, survival as a writer or a publisher is tough enough without any revenue losses.
These other two other trends seem related:
1) International, cheap textbooks. I take high-tech classes at University. I pay $120 for a textbook that my classmates paid $50 for from a Chinese website. Is my price higher due to the fact that the textbook company is experiencing less demand for their product because it is being printed abroad?
2) The trend for paid science. Once upon a time, free technical papers rained down on the internet. Now many are $30-150 bucks per paper, and as a lone researcher, you'll never make it! ('nuther good reason to be enrolled at the U!). Seems I don't like seeing research paid for by tax monies blocked from my access. And I am shouldering which cost exactly? Downloading a PDF of someone's thesis paper?
These other two other trends seem related:
1) International, cheap textbooks. I take high-tech classes at University. I pay $120 for a textbook that my classmates paid $50 for from a Chinese website. Is my price higher due to the fact that the textbook company is experiencing less demand for their product because it is being printed abroad?
2) The trend for paid science. Once upon a time, free technical papers rained down on the internet. Now many are $30-150 bucks per paper, and as a lone researcher, you'll never make it! ('nuther good reason to be enrolled at the U!). Seems I don't like seeing research paid for by tax monies blocked from my access. And I am shouldering which cost exactly? Downloading a PDF of someone's thesis paper?
wanderer33
Jedi
Point taken Anart. I have a habit of playing the devil's advocate. It stems from the realisation that nothing seems cut and dried when you peel the layers away. As a potential writer/victim, I am theoretically shooting myself in the foot on this one.
Hi,
What I just did is making the list of stolen books which I am going to buy soon. That is thanks to inspiration from thish topic.
What I did more is deletion of all "not paid" music and e-books.
Just before reading this topic I was trying to "download" :) some materials related to the course I was going to attend but got ill. And I thought that this will be ok becasue I have already paid for that. But than I thought that maybe I am greedy and this is not the same.
Other thing which comes to my mind now is:
- ok I may pay for the book, but anyway is that enough? How to value such a thing?
How to establish price for my inspiration, for the light, for new experience, for discovery???
Maybe some inspiration is changing life completely and than what? It is funny a bit huh?
Or leaving books aside, what about my language, my knowledge given by parents, school, colleagues, family?
How to give back to the world what I have received?
I have a kid and that is one who may be given something from me. But is that enough?
What about gifts from other people like saving life by doctors in hospital? I had few months ago appendictis and this could have been the end if not healthcare system.
How to give back?
But give back wisely.
What I just did is making the list of stolen books which I am going to buy soon. That is thanks to inspiration from thish topic.
What I did more is deletion of all "not paid" music and e-books.
Just before reading this topic I was trying to "download" :) some materials related to the course I was going to attend but got ill. And I thought that this will be ok becasue I have already paid for that. But than I thought that maybe I am greedy and this is not the same.
Other thing which comes to my mind now is:
- ok I may pay for the book, but anyway is that enough? How to value such a thing?
How to establish price for my inspiration, for the light, for new experience, for discovery???
Maybe some inspiration is changing life completely and than what? It is funny a bit huh?
Or leaving books aside, what about my language, my knowledge given by parents, school, colleagues, family?
How to give back to the world what I have received?
I have a kid and that is one who may be given something from me. But is that enough?
What about gifts from other people like saving life by doctors in hospital? I had few months ago appendictis and this could have been the end if not healthcare system.
How to give back?
But give back wisely.
Yeah, excellent questions, Mikel! It is true that the equation always seems unbalanced, isn't it?
Monetary "energy" to pay back is one way, but that is not even enough in most cases. Another way is to really appreciate it, and share the information with others, recommend it, etc. Whatever helps you grow can help others grow too.
The more you get, the more you can give. It should always be a flowing kind of energy. We shouldn't take just for ourselves, but to apply the knowledge we receive so that we can give it to others who are also seeking it. Being thankful and never forgetting how lucky we are is a good reminder of how much we can do to "pay back".
But we are always in debt with the Universe, I'm afraid. It is ridiculous when you think that most people believe the Universe owes THEM! What a world...
Monetary "energy" to pay back is one way, but that is not even enough in most cases. Another way is to really appreciate it, and share the information with others, recommend it, etc. Whatever helps you grow can help others grow too.
The more you get, the more you can give. It should always be a flowing kind of energy. We shouldn't take just for ourselves, but to apply the knowledge we receive so that we can give it to others who are also seeking it. Being thankful and never forgetting how lucky we are is a good reminder of how much we can do to "pay back".
But we are always in debt with the Universe, I'm afraid. It is ridiculous when you think that most people believe the Universe owes THEM! What a world...
maryjk_99
Jedi
Laura said:
I also downloaded for free Mouravieff's three Gnosis books, and it is bothering the heck out of me
I cannot in good conscience expect to gain from these works if obtained under false pretenses. I have not yet actually read these books, and they are still on my hard drive. I just wrote to Praxis Institute in Chicago asking if I could donate a sum to compensate for my theft, and if not that I would immediately delete the files. The three volumes can be ordered directly from them for $90 plus shipping
_http://www.praxisinstitute.net/BOOKSHOP/gnosis_trilogy.htm
I explained that Laura had first introduced me to these works, and that downloading them for free is an assault and an unabashed theft. I apologized to them and told them I would honor their reply ...whether a donation would be sufficient, or if they would prefer I order the hard copies from them.
Here is a link to one of Laura's articles that I am working through:
Boris Mouravieff: Polar Opposites, or the Fifth Way of Love
http://www.cassiopaea.org/cass/mouravieff.htm
