Right. [LWN.net]

Right.

Posted Aug 9, 2002 19:17 UTC (Fri) by corbet (editor, #1)
In reply to: Thanks, Thomas. by Inoshiro
Parent article: Where has the pioneer spirit of LWN gone?

"...but I asked why their costs were such a Big Deal ( http://lwn.net/Articles/6621/ ) when they could take a day job and leave their hobby as a hobby (which paid well)."

A 40-60 hour/week "hobby" (which does not pay well) is rather hard on one's family, health, and general well being. This is the kind of comment that, frankly, makes me want to throw up my hands, go do something that people actually value, and let the "hobby" folks show us all how it's done. If an LWN subscription is not worth your paying for it, then, by all means, do not pay. But if our readers do not value LWN enough to pay for it, we'll go and find something to do that people do value, and the arrogance of those who think we should work for free, move to another country, or whatever just so they can continue to get a free LWN will not slow us down.

(We would be deeply unhappy about disappointing the large number of our readers who have been so supportive and understanding through this whole thing).

-- jon (whose "hobby" is making him a little grumpy about now...)

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Right.

Posted Aug 9, 2002 23:26 UTC (Fri) by barbara (subscriber, #3014) [Link]

Jon,

I can see why this type of response would make you want to pack it in and do something else.

However, I'm sure this isn't the attitude of the vast majority of LWN readers (like 99%!). Please hang in there -- we're pulling for all of you and we don't expect you to work 40-60 (or more) hours/week with *no* income.

All the best,
Barbara

So don't work on it so much.

Posted Aug 16, 2002 5:50 UTC (Fri) by Inoshiro (guest, #3070) [Link]

A hobby should be an act of love, not a means of staying alive.

I'm asking why the editors can't do it for 10-20 hours a week, at their leisure, and still not reap the benefits of participation in the community *without* being forced to deal with all the money issues that LWN says it's facing.

No one has yet answered why, until LWN can actually live off of its subscription money (as I'm sure we'd all like to see it do), you people behind it can't "go native" for a while and work a normal 9-5 while doing this on your slow Sunday nights.