Unfortunately, I need to make a living. I'm considered one of the top nanotech writers in the world (really, no kidding), but I can't give it away for free anymore. Daddy needs to buy diapers.

Howard

Well, then start a subscription site. If people feel your writing is worth paying for, they will.

If information needs to be free why suggest that we pay for it?

Well, I was news editor for a nanotech magazine and Web site for three years. When I left, I decided that what this industry really needs is a discussion -- not another subscription site or investment newsletter or other such snake oil. Development of nanotech is very much about the discussion, itself.

*cough* *cough* *cough* SULLIVAN *cough* *cough*

Well, Bullwinkle, what can I tell you. Don't pay for it. Anyway, thanks for letting me rant on Wizbang. All the best,

Howard

Easy solution. Tell your landlord that information needs to be free.

Hey, what's the problem here? Surely anyone has the right to hold out the tip jar for whatever reason, whether it's to keep your site running or to finally pay off the phone bill from that time you fell asleep while listening to Candy from Kansas slowly rubbing her... But I digress.

It's up to you whether to contribute, and the market deals with writers who don't have the chops - which is why my Paypal button vanished into the ether many moons ago. Lay off the guy.

As long as he's not just looking to cash in, his readers will determine whether his blog is worth contributing to.

Perhaps list a running total of PayPal contributions to let his readers know how much (or how little) has been donated to keep the imformation 'free'.

LMAO @ Simon...

One thing he could do is offer up "posts" for a fee. Like our own troll without a blog, Jay ;-)

As long as he's not just looking to cash in, his readers will determine whether his blog is worth contributing to.

So what if he is looking to cash in? There's nothing wrong with making a profit. If his readers think he's performing a valuable service that's worth something to them, then he should profit from it, whether it adds up to ten bucks or ten million.

I'm a little confused on the soliciting thing. As in, if a male blogger does that (and many do, Sullivan comes to mind and I see also to someone else's), it's fascinating and merits money. If a female does that, it's scuzzy and she's trailer trash or, worse.

Excuse the tangent, was something I was already thinking about, as to "free information."

I STILL cannot understand WHY so many males gave and gave and gave to Sullivan and seemingly with an element of grandiosity, perhaps 'mere' indulgence. Perhaps I am the only person with instincts? I dunno but it was a mystery to me just what the attraction was there. I mean, I can understand accumulating readership but what I can't understand was the "deer in the headlights" mindnumbing amount of ongoing financial 'contributions' that Sullivan solicited from other male bloggers, for the most part, based upon what I've read. Not like he was dying of cancer, or his children were, or he lost his home in a tornado while his Dodge was sucked into a sinkhole during a hurricane.

Best of luck to any blogger, however, who asks for support and receives it. It's a great element of blogging that some of us can help out when needed.

So what if he is looking to cash in? There's nothing wrong with making a profit. If his readers think he's performing a valuable service that's worth something to them, then he should profit from it, whether it adds up to ten bucks or ten million.

"Information needs to be free."

Nothing at all wrong with it as long as he's upfront about it. A free blog with "free" (both meanings) information is all of a sudden asking for money. I agree, his readers will decide. More power to him, but if Wizabang or other blogs I frequent suddenly wanted to be for profit, I'd want to know why.

Oops, forgot that Wizbang is already for sale......

BTW, I kinda like 'Wizabang'.

Oops, forgot that Wizbang is already for sale......

Sorry, I must be a bit dense, mesablue. I've never given Kevin a penny.

Or are you implying that Wizbang will be the next revelation along the lines of Armstrong Williams.

I'm soooo confused.

THIS BLOG FOR SALE

You're right, there is nothing wrong with trying to make a buck. Blogging is not a career for most people, it is a hobby. Like the post says, he has a free hosting platform. He already runs blogads.

Simply put - he does NOT need the money to keep his blog going. If he is putting so much time into his blog that he cannot work a real job to pay his bills - well that is where personal responsiblity and opportunity costs come into play.

I have no qualm with someone making a living from blogging, but to go on about how the information needs to be free in a free and open forum, on a free hosting platform, then hold your handout. Come on.

Daddy needs to buy diapers? What does that have to do with your blog? You either have a real job or you don't. Blogging nanotech isn't so important that you need to give up earning a real income to do it.

Let me put it this way. Either you charge for your site, and make that your job. Or you stop being blogging as much or at all and focus on your real job.

Because all you seem to be doing now is begging on a virtual street corner - not for your blog - but because you can't seem to pay for necessities.

I say try writing pro-Dean pieces and see if Daily Kos can hook you up to get a handout.

I'm glad you have it all figured out, Sean. The thing is, this is not a hobby for me. I was a journalist before blogs existed, I'll be one after they morph into something else entirely. I also write for other publications for real money. The blog is something that I put some extra time into because I believe in them as a viable source of information. Unfortunately, the tradeoff is the more time I spend on the blog, the less time I have to write for money. So, again, my question to my readers is whether the blog is worth keeping alive.

Sorry, mesablue. I told you I was confused. :)

No problemo Boyd,

Your post caused me to visit your blog. The new grand daughter is a cutie.

Also, on the Clinton quote, she is only trying to mainstream herself. Must have killed her to say that.

Well, if time is the issue ... perhaps a speed
typing class would help.

Why is it inconsistent to say "Information needs to be free" and "I need to be paid or I can't continue blogging at this rate"?

Radio and broadcast TV are free to all because some companies voluntarily advertise. Lovy is suggesting that NanoBot will remain free if some readers voluntarily subsidize it. The only people for whom it will not be free will be those who have willingly decided that it's worth supporting with donations. Those who don't think it's worth paying for will still get it for free.

Am I missing something?

Ether,

Not at all, those who choose to pay-- will.

I hope that Howard is succesful in his venture,

Thus is the beauty of the new media.

I'm hoping that he hasn't placed to much confidence in it.

The blog is something that I put some extra time into because I believe in them as a viable source of information. Unfortunately, the tradeoff is the more time I spend on the blog, the less time I have to write for money. So, again, my question to my readers is whether the blog is worth keeping alive.

Again, it is your choice to put so much time into a hobby that pays nothing rather than earn a living. You are asking your readers to supplement your income, not support your blog. There is a difference. If you had to pay for your hosting platform and the cost just kept going up, okay, I could understand looking for a tip or two to cover that.

This is entirely different. I already said I'm not opposed to making a living from blogging. But if you are so obsessed with it that you can't seem to concentrate on your real job, well, there's a problem in there somewhere. You either have to make the blog part of your real job or give it up. Just asking for a tip or two isn't going to cut it.

If you only need a few extra bucks a month that should be fairly easy to come up with on your own - just cut back blogging a little and work. If you need substantial income well then, a tip jar isn't going to do it. Either way, claiming you need the money to keep your free blog flowing isn't really accurate. Had you been more explicit in your post - that you can't make ends meet because you are neglecting your paying job in order to blog - well, that may have gotten you some sympathy.

Not from me, of course. I'm a heartless bastard when it comes to this stuff. To neglect earning an income for your family because you want to blog is downright unconscionable in my book. Of course, opinions will vary. You and others will probably think I'm being much to harsh.

Nice monologue, Sean, but it's based on too many suppositions on your part. Writing about nanotechnology is my "job." It's what I do full-time now, and my blog has become a vital source of information for those who follow nanotechnology. Without it, the science and business of nanotech will lose an important source of information. This isn't just my ego talking. It's recognized even by those who disagree with what I write. So, I'm seeing whether readers would be willing to help me out while I put time and effort into it. I could buy office supplies with the couple hundred dollars I've received so far, or I could buy diapers, or I could feed my heroin habit (a joke); my readers will trust that whatever I do with the money, their contribution will help keep their source of information alive.

Next step: branching off from blog to media company. That way, I'll create separate diaper and office supply funds. Would that make Sean happy?

Howard

I'm not sure why you think I would be happy or upset about any of this. I guess that's your ego talking.

I simply pointed out that you post your blog on a free platform. Actually, Kevin pointed that out and I reiterated it. Your request for contributions was couched in terms of your hobby, not your job.

If you are that well regarded in the nanosphere then you really should set up a pay site. My suggestion? (which at this point you could probably care less about) would be to set up a tiered system. Leave a small portion completely totally free, open to the public, have a subscription site that perhaps some individuals would be willing to join, then a premium area designed specifically for professionals and industry medial.

If anybody has the technical knowhow to help me do this, please contact me. A series of blogs, traditional journalism and subscription services are all part of my business plan.

Howard

I'm of the opinion that Sean should just a) not give any money if he doesn't want to, and b) shut the fuck up. But then, I'm a mean cuss with little tolerance for people who really should be shutting the fuck up.

Incidentally, this "begging on a virtual streetcorner" simile I hear being trotted out is inapt. What Howard is doing (and what I'm now doing, after my computer blew up) is saying, "hey, you're welcome to come over to my place for nachos and beer, and if you feel like kicking in so that we can keep doing this, that would be cool."