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To get the free coffee, university students must [...] Funny, the definition of "free" seems to have changed. It may be that no money changes hands, but the

• paradite 8y ago
  Coffee is free in the same way Facebook and Google services are free. Honestly I would expect more services like this to come out, given how successful Facebook and Google managed to become.
  • zAy0LfpBZLC8mAC 8y ago
    > Coffee is free in the same way Facebook and Google services are free. So, it is not free, just as Facebook and Google services aren't - which is exactly what GP said. So ... what is your point?
    • justtopost 8y ago
      His point, and one I share with great reservation, is that the distinction might be moot now thanks to a changing understanding (selling?) of the various meanings and understanings of "free". The jaded concept of 'nothing is really free' carries with it a cold chunk of truth, and people are baking it in. People think they have to surrender agency and personal dignity for basic services.
      • leetcrew 8y ago
        > People think they have to surrender agency and personal dignity for basic services. who seriously thinks this? the only services i can think of off the top of my head that don't have viable paid alternatives are facebook and google search. and there's at least one decent alternative to google search that is a bit more privacy focused. for most people, privacy isn't even worth a $5 monthly subscription.
  • vongomben 8y ago
    > Honestly I would expect more services like this to come out, given how successful Facebook and Google managed to become. indeed. Yet these private information have to be collected in quantities before becoming relevant, both economically and analytically.