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You just don't get it. I can afford to pay for a MOOC and I would consider it, but there are millions of people who can't afford it. Coursera's about page used

You just don't get it. I can afford to pay for a MOOC and I would consider it, but there are millions of people who can't afford it. Coursera's about page used to say this: "committed to making the best education in the world freely available to any person who seeks it". Now they have removed every instance of the word "free" https://www.coursera.org/about/ https://www.coursera.org/about/ Nothing wrong with being a for-profit company, but they went from optional paid certificates to deleting old MOOCs and making new ones exclusive for those willing to pay, every day their monetization tactics get more aggressive. Also check this video from 3 years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUO3Pk0nOCM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUO3Pk0nOCM

togosub 10y ago
Despite the changes, the financial aid option (100% off) is still running. https://learner.coursera.help/hc/en-us/articles/209819033-Apply-for-Financial-Aid https://learner.coursera.help/hc/en-us/articles/209819033-Ap...
jaked89 10y ago
So? They have changed their business model. They're entitled to do so. If you care so much about the poor, you might as well subsidize a MOOC for them, instead of demanding Coursera to do so.
- StevePerkins 10y ago
  And people are "entitled" to criticize them on the Internet. Sheesh, people really over-dramatize Hacker News threads. We aren't a legislative chamber debating a bill. We're an assortment of techno-hipster liberals and wannabe-entrepreneur libertarians, commenting on (often trivial) current events over coffee on a Saturday morning. The moral outrage-over-the-outrage-over-the-outrage-over-the-outrage gets comical after the first couple recursions.
  - jaked89 10y ago
    And people are also entitled to criticize the criticizers. How is that for an outrage over an outrage? :)
    - deleted 10y ago
      [deleted]
- bogomipz 10y ago
  Wow, your response is in no way meaningful. Your response adds exactly nothing to the discussion. Nobody "demanded" anything.
- latenightcoding 10y ago
  So it makes me sad and I am expressing my opinion on a public forum. I don't have enough money to subsidize MOOCs for the poor but if you come up with another useless idea I am sure you will let me know.
- eropple 10y ago
  "Coursera is entitled to do X" is not meaningful criticism, though, when you are responding to a moral argument. It's like when people respond to "you are being an asshole" with "it's my right to." Well, sure, but you're still being an asshole.
- aladine 10y ago
  I think they will change to monetize everything very soon. Right now is the transisition period where by you still able to seek for financial aid and get approved.
freedamn 10y ago
Capitalism, aye. Is this Shirky's Law in action?

togosub 10y ago

Despite the changes, the financial aid option (100% off) is still running. https://learner.coursera.help/hc/en-us/articles/209819033-Apply-for-Financial-Aid https://learner.coursera.help/hc/en-us/articles/209819033-Ap...

jaked89 10y ago

So? They have changed their business model. They're entitled to do so. If you care so much about the poor, you might as well subsidize a MOOC for them, instead of demanding Coursera to do so.

StevePerkins 10y ago
And people are "entitled" to criticize them on the Internet. Sheesh, people really over-dramatize Hacker News threads. We aren't a legislative chamber debating a bill. We're an assortment of techno-hipster liberals and wannabe-entrepreneur libertarians, commenting on (often trivial) current events over coffee on a Saturday morning. The moral outrage-over-the-outrage-over-the-outrage-over-the-outrage gets comical after the first couple recursions.
- jaked89 10y ago
  And people are also entitled to criticize the criticizers. How is that for an outrage over an outrage? :)
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
bogomipz 10y ago
Wow, your response is in no way meaningful. Your response adds exactly nothing to the discussion. Nobody "demanded" anything.
latenightcoding 10y ago
So it makes me sad and I am expressing my opinion on a public forum. I don't have enough money to subsidize MOOCs for the poor but if you come up with another useless idea I am sure you will let me know.
eropple 10y ago
"Coursera is entitled to do X" is not meaningful criticism, though, when you are responding to a moral argument. It's like when people respond to "you are being an asshole" with "it's my right to." Well, sure, but you're still being an asshole.
aladine 10y ago
I think they will change to monetize everything very soon. Right now is the transisition period where by you still able to seek for financial aid and get approved.

freedamn 10y ago

Capitalism, aye. Is this Shirky's Law in action?