Miss Manners and the case of "Payware, Freeware or No-ware"

[Euphod]

Because that's the complete opposite of what I was suggesting.

Puzzled by this. Do you only expect agreement with what you post?

Anyway at the risk of being disagreeable, since silence implies consent and since I have not replied to the vast majority of your posts it seems reasonable to construe that I agree with the vast majority of your posts.

I base my expectations on your responses to some that have been made in the forums, and I admit that I expect a negative response from you more often than not. I'm sorry if that offends you, but as a very fallible human, I've learned (rightly or wrongly) to base my expectations on experiences from the past. You certainly are entitled to your opinions, none the less, so I promise to try to keep my personal prejustices out of it. I apologize for my knee jerk reactions, I've always been prone to that!

I guess, in retrospect, I should have just kept the post concise; something like: "please remember to thank creators", but I tend to be verbose and have a "probably incorrect" vision of myself as being someone who is able to entertain others.

I'll have to remember the "silence idiom", I never really thought that it implied consent or agreement, just apathy.

I suppose this blog writing thing is going to be an excercise in personal development for me!

Again, apologies for the comment, and thanks for reading and commenting!

 

[leeferr]

I have trouble with the 'silence implies consent' mentality. It either means apathy or the desire to not get involved in a flame war in the forums. The second case applies to me. I see comments quite often on the forums that have a political tendency and most of the time, I just ignore them knowing that 1) those comments are against the CoC and that 2) commenting will just start a war of words. It doesn't work and silence is the better part of valor in most cases. For the more extreme, I just report to a mod. Silence from me on the forums absolutely doesn't imply consent. A member tried to drag me into a debate on an issue in the not too distant past and after figuring out what he was all about, the war of words were over as far as I was concerned. It certainly didn't mean that my silence approved of what he was saying.

Mike

 

[Dinorius_Redundicus]

Hi Ed,

Yours is the first blog I've read since the new forum software was introduced, and it's very well written I must say. I haven't read all the responses yet, so maybe mine will add nothing new, but I'll respond anyway.

You seem to be saying 3 main things;

- freeware creators are numerically rare compared to how many active Trainz users we have.
- they aren't thanked enough for what they do.
- the lack of acknowledgement might be driving this precious few into payware in order to extract some sense of value from their work.

I can only speak about my own motivations and experience. Firstly, why freeware? I've only ever made freeware and will never do payware - that's my philosophical position. I just like the concept of allowing people to enjoy what was once a really expensive hobby (model trains) as cheaply as possible. Lord knows that Trainz users have enough to deal with - clumsy software design, bugs, version incompatibilities etc - without having to pay extra for content. I don't need the money, but even if I did, I think I would look to some other form of income. So that's my rationale for sticking with freeware. If not money, then what are my motivations? Well there are a number and I have tried to rank them into a heirarchy, most important first;

Artistic - just the enjoyment of attempting to make something that looks nice, real or whatever. That's my prime motivation. I'll sometimes do things that I know will be useless or unpopular in Trainz but which have some aesthetic appeal or other meaning for me. Of course it's nice if they are both 'beautiful', useful and popular.

Technical challenge - the enjoyment of wrestling with textures, 3D mesh, operation in Trainz etc, or the chance to improve my skills through practice or learning something new. Some of my most technically difficult creations have been the least popular and vice versa. I've found that doesn't affect my motivation, it's more about how I feel when I see a good result and knowing what went into it.

User response - doesn't have to be an explicit note in the forum - I would count everything from enquiries about reskins, numbers of downloads, spotting my assets in people's screenshots and layouts etc. Although I've ranked it last, it's still important because I'd say it factors more into long-term motivation. I hardly play Trainz itself anymore, so I'm not making things for myself, they are primarily for others. While any praise is extremely welcome, it should not be the creator's prime motivation - that way lies only heartache. We cannot demand praise. It must be genuine and freely given, not a selfish ritual performed to ward off the evil payware spirit. Sure, if I only ever got negative feedback, then I would eventually either take the hint and stop making things, or try to improve my skills until people felt I deserved some credit. The last thing I would do is start charging for my assets. Think, if they were already unappreciated as freeware, they would be absolute flops as commercial items. So I'm not convinced that a lack of appreciation in any of its measures is driving creators from freeware to payware, I just don't see the emotional or financial logic in that.

Perhaps it is we, the asset creators, who should more often thank The User for deeming our things good enough to politely hold back their criticism? If so, let me say here and now 'thank you' to anyone who has used my content or expressed a word of encouragement. I get my jollies in just making things, your enjoyment is icing on my cake.

~ Deane


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[Euphod]

Well thank you Deane, the goal of this blog to entertain and sometimes (but ONLY sometimes) inform. I appreciate what you have added to the discussion, but you are slightly off the mark in a couple of areas. Firstly, I don't contend that creators make freeware, and then move on to payware out of frustration caused by not receiving enough praise, I contend that it's a possibility. Secondly; creators cannot demand praise, that much is true; but is it so wrong to remind those that vacuum up those creations to use their manners and show some appreciation? I suppose it is...

Like any subject on the interwebs, or the media, or in life in general this one has achieved the distinction of collapsing upon itself. You all know the chain of events, something is popular and people agree with it, but then the late comers have to turn against it.

So, in conclusion; this blog is for entertainment purposes only, it is morally wrong to say "thank you", and you creators just shut up and keep cranking out the content!

Thanks for reading, Deane, and for commenting!

 

[amigacooke]

So, in conclusion; this blog is for entertainment purposes only, it is morally wrong to say "thank you", and you creators just shut up and keep cranking out the content!

I'm afraid I can't see where this has been said in the comments on this blog.

As far as I can see posters have agreed that gratitude to creators is a good thing, but is unlikely to happen in most cases.

However, that doesn't mean good manners shouldn't be encouraged.

 

[Euphod]

I just said it in my comment, can you see that?
Thanks for commenting!

 

[amigacooke]

I just said it in my comment, can you see that?
Thanks for commenting!

Sorry for the lack of clarity. I can't see where in the comments anyone was disagreeing with your central premise that creators should be thanked.

 

[Euphod]

Sorry for the lack of clarity. I can't see where in the comments anyone was disagreeing with your central premise that creators should be thanked.

I'm sorry you take everything so literally. Are you not familiar with Hyperbole? It is a "figure of speech", a deliberate exaggeration used for emphasis or comic effect.

 

[amigacooke]

I'm sorry you take everything so literally. Are you not familiar with Hyperbole? It is a "figure of speech", a deliberate exaggeration used for emphasis or comic effect.

To exaggerate a position there has to be some element of truth in it. Still enough paranoia, time to part company.

 

[Euphod]

Yes, please take your paranoia elsewhere. Thanks.:wave:

 

[Dinorius_Redundicus]

..it is morally wrong to say "thank you", and you creators just shut up and keep cranking out the content!

Come on Ed, that's such a warped paraphrasing of what I said, it's almost the opposite of what I feel. It's like I've been misquoted by a Murdoch journalist.

You said "it's a possibility" that creators might be driven from freeware to payware. My summary included "the lack of acknowledgement might be driving this precious few into payware...". So I understood that. I maintain it's much more likely they would go "no-ware" than to payware. Either way, the freeware pool gets poorer so maybe that distinction matters little.

Heaven forbid that any more blogs might collapse upon themselves. Sorry to intrude.

 

[Euphod]

I didn't quote you Deane, but I'll quote myself:

So, in conclusion; this blog is for entertainment purposes only, it is morally wrong to say "thank you", and you creators just shut up and keep cranking out the content!

That's a bit over the top? A little exaggerated? That's HYPERBOLE! For entertainment purposes only! Who am I to set a standard? This is all a joke, should I put a disclaimer on the page?

Really, everyone either thank creators or don't, I don't care! I also don't know why creators make freeware, or payware, or anything. I'm just a court jester, making snarky fun of bad manners! Wait until I start on the screenshots and signature banners, that'll really twist your undies!:hehe:

 

[Dinorius_Redundicus]

I honestly thought you were upset by my take on the subject of 'manners', without knowing why, but figured you just had a bad day or something. So now I can't tell tongue-in-cheek from reality, I think I must be getting old. :'( Pray continue this goodly blog.

 

[Euphod]

I honestly thought you were upset by my take on the subject of 'manners', without knowing why, but figured you just had a bad day or something. So now I can't tell tongue-in-cheek from reality, I think I must be getting old. :'( Pray continue this goodly blog.

I'm sorry Deane, I thought I was civil when I answered you. To be clear; I am not upset with you nor any other, and I enjoyed reading what you detailed in your comment. Readers probably learn more insight into the minds of the creators through reading comments from persons like yourself, and Mike, and others. I am only attempting to write amusing and entertaining blog posts. I expect some to agree with the skewered subject, and some to disagree. If you fail to recognize my posts as tongue in cheek, or snarky sarcasm, then that just shows how much I need to learn about writing!

 

[captainkman]

With my content, I only make stuff that I like! Probably only a very small minority of people here love Volkswagen Beetles as much as I do. I made Herbie, but only because I wanted to! And I made the VW factory because I wanted to, and because I can! I don't care if the majority of the community don't like it!

And while some of my hornsounds were made to appeal to "the market" (of mostly American users), most of mine are just stuff that I wanted to do.

My Matchbox loco - I have seen some people here with Matchbox stuff and similar items like Corgi, etc. Most people would not use it, they would see no use for it. But I see it as my first scratchbuilt creation! And a steam locomotive at that! And I'll settle for a "Well Done" and some constructive criticism.

My next creation will be a Pickfords 200t transporter based on this. At least it will appeal to a few members. Those that like Matchbox vehicles, those that want more Pickfords trucks, those that like big rigs and trucks, and those that want more British road vehicles.

It will, at this stage, come in 3 parts: The Scammell 6x6 tractor, front dolly so it can be rotated, and the main trailer and back dolly. I might have a drivable version too, once I figure out how to animate a wheel. And be prepared for some questions on the bogey setup.

I basically just make things to contribute to the community, and to learn new skills in Trainz. And have a good chat with respected community members. And a laugh. And a fight about why I dislike diesels. Ok, ignore the last comment.

Just my insight to why I do what I do.

Kieran.

 

[leeferr]

Ed
I think you've succeeded. This blog is certainly entertaining.
Mike

 

[Euphod]

With my content, I only make stuff that I like!(SNIP)
I basically just make things to contribute to the community, and to learn new skills in Trainz. And have a good chat with respected community members. And a laugh. And a fight about why I dislike diesels. Ok, ignore the last comment.

Just my insight to why I do what I do.

Kieran.

Thanks for adding that to the conversation! Am I right in taking away that you make things because "you can"? Seems simple enough!

 

[Euphod]

Ed
I think you've succeeded. This blog is certainly entertaining.
Mike

Thanks Mike, controversy is entertaining too, right? I may be wrong but a blog is probably a better place for it than the forums.

 

[captainkman]

Thanks for adding that to the conversation! Am I right in taking away that you make things because "you can"? Seems simple enough!

You, my good sir, would be correct!

 

[leeferr]

Thanks Mike, controversy is entertaining too, right? I may be wrong but a blog is probably a better place for it than the forums.

Controversy can be very entertaining...and enlightening for those willing to take their blinders off.

Thanks Ed and keep it up.