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I totally agree with you about the value perception, and don't take your post in the wrong way at all. But seeing people put even $10 into the 'hole' project j

I totally agree with you about the value perception, and don't take your post in the wrong way at all. But seeing people put even $10 into the 'hole' project just highlights that someone, somewhere, thinks that giving their hard earned $10 is better value to them than an app that costs $3. More than 3 times the worth, really. That kind of thing really sucks, to me. I've spent a few dollars here and there in the past to support people whom I think deserved it for their efforts - be it a small trinket at a craft fair or a CD from a busking musician in the street. To me, spending money on the efforts of their craft (even if it is on things I didn't really need) rather than a cup of coffee, or a hole, says to them "I think that your efforts and creative energy are worth something, and I am willing to give you some of my hard earned cash to prove its worth". Even giving a few dollars to a homeless person is leveraging the money for the betterment of humanity. The sadness here is the fact that I live in a society that thinks a hole in the ground is worth more that someone's creative output. All the worse for the fact that they are prepared to make a statement about it by quite literally throwing away money to make their point. Is this the every day person's equivalent of lighting up cigars with $100 bills?

imagist 10y ago
The problem is, a hole in the ground is indeed often worth more than someone's creative output, because many people's creative output has negative worth. Silicon valley has fixated on behaviors that are actively harmful to users--corporate surveillance, spam, poor security, etc. In some cases these behaviors are damaging society as a whole. I put $10 in the hole. If such a thing existed, I'd be willing to put a lot more toward any effort that would plausibly put Facebook out of business without an equally evil alternative arising. I can't say the same for your apps, since I don't know you or your apps, but the average app I wouldn't install for free, because I know they would collect my data and use it against my interests.
- cyberferret 10y ago
  Valid point re: collection of data in apps. Mine don't do that, but of course I understand that a lot of people have that natural suspicion these days. I didn't think of that aspect and am grateful you pointed it out.
marssaxman 10y ago
I put $10 into the hole project for exactly the same reason I might drop $10 into a talented street musician's tip jar: to express my appreciation of their creative effort. The hole is just a hole, but the project to dig the hole is a hilarious, dark, and well-executed piece of performance art.
- cyberferret 10y ago
  A good point. I had actually never even considered this hole project as a performance art piece, and now see that it indeed can be perceived as such. Glad this discussion elicited feedback like this, because it has helped me see things in a new light (and feel better about it myself).

imagist 10y ago

The problem is, a hole in the ground is indeed often worth more than someone's creative output, because many people's creative output has negative worth. Silicon valley has fixated on behaviors that are actively harmful to users--corporate surveillance, spam, poor security, etc. In some cases these behaviors are damaging society as a whole. I put $10 in the hole. If such a thing existed, I'd be willing to put a lot more toward any effort that would plausibly put Facebook out of business without an equally evil alternative arising. I can't say the same for your apps, since I don't know you or your apps, but the average app I wouldn't install for free, because I know they would collect my data and use it against my interests.

cyberferret 10y ago
Valid point re: collection of data in apps. Mine don't do that, but of course I understand that a lot of people have that natural suspicion these days. I didn't think of that aspect and am grateful you pointed it out.

marssaxman 10y ago

I put $10 into the hole project for exactly the same reason I might drop $10 into a talented street musician's tip jar: to express my appreciation of their creative effort. The hole is just a hole, but the project to dig the hole is a hilarious, dark, and well-executed piece of performance art.

cyberferret 10y ago
A good point. I had actually never even considered this hole project as a performance art piece, and now see that it indeed can be perceived as such. Glad this discussion elicited feedback like this, because it has helped me see things in a new light (and feel better about it myself).