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Robocallers are a problem! You can help fight this and make a difference with just a few simple steps! First, you... Please subscribe for only $N per month t

Robocallers are a problem! You can help fight this and make a difference with just a few simple steps! First, you... Please subscribe for only $N per month to keep reading!

jaimehrubiks 8y ago
I sadly tend to miss and skip news I can't read
jchw 8y ago
I know it's irrelevant to the discussion, but it really does irritate me when I get paywalled. I am 100% more likely to never purchase a subscription. I don't care if all journalism dies because of it.
- dontreact 8y ago
  If you don’t care about journalism at all, why is paywalling so irritating?
  - jchw 8y ago
    Definitely didn't say I don't care about journalism, just that if this is the future I'd rather it died, consequences be damned. To me, a future with only paywalls is nearly as bad.
- dlivingston 8y ago
  If journalism is dying, it's precisely because of the lack of paywalls. Quality journalism costs money. The un-paywalled, ad-centric business models rewards click-bait articles, not in-depth longform pieces.
  - jchw 8y ago
    Fine. It can die then. I will gladly participate in that.
    - dlivingston 8y ago
      Why the hostility?
      - jchw 8y ago
        I feel it is warranted. To me, paywalled journalism feels hostile. I don't want an internet where every link I click wants me to buy a new subscription. It's the same reason I don't pay for TV anymore. And I don't mean I'm pirating it, I just don't consume it. If this is the only way to save journalism then I'm guessing regardless of people's ambitions it's probably doomed anyways. I mean, there has been some success, but seriously, how many monthly subscriptions do I need? I pay for Creative Suite, Jetbrains Toolbox, YouTube, Amazon, multiple Patreons, a few VPS providers, Mullvad, and so many other things. Monetary value aside, I just can't manage to have more subscriptions, less one for every major publication just so I can click on links and not get paywalled constantly. I don't read from these publications regularly at all. The day every link on the net wants it's own subscription is the day I completely stop bothering with reading entirely.
        dlivingston 8y ago
        I agree completely regarding the overwhelmingness of online subscriptions. Personally, I'm interested in seeing how Apple's News+ works out, as that's the best of both worlds (a single subscription + nominal fee journo support). Edit: out of curiosity, why do you pay for YouTube Red? I don't really see the value in it
        jchw 8y ago
        I basically just pay for things I use a lot. With YouTube I use the offline videos and background playback very frequently, and not having ads without adblock is nice. And yes, I concede that something more like Apple News would be much better. Still, I fear for a future where every last bit of content is behind a subscription paywall. The freemium model and ads in general get a lot of well-deserved flak, but they do at least make things more accessible. I find it fascinating how different the opinion on HN regarding paywalls is when it comes to scientific journals versus news publications. Like yeah, the money is ostensibly going to the right person with news publication paywalls. But a lot of arguments about paywalls hinge around how it gates knowledge and information, and to the end user, it really isn't any different than if your ISP charged you $5/mo for Wikipedia access. I realize this comparison will make people upset, but to the average user? Really is the same thing. All in all, I shouldn't be so irrationally angry over paywalls, but there are days when I come across 3 or 4 links that I can't read, and I just pass over it, remembering the past when people could discuss almost any article online regardless of how much free cash they have to pay for subscriptions.
system2 8y ago
I would love to see a graphic explaining WSJ's users, their jobs, income, lifestyle. I am assuming mostly fintech people.
chrischen 8y ago
I know I read an article claiming that people don’t consume a medley of news publications, but the internet and things like hackernews clearly have changed that. So I think an Apple News subscription really solves this issue. One flat monthly fee, and I can consume all the paywalled stuff on HN.
- pocketstar 8y ago
  inkl.com has been around a lot longer than “apple news” and seems to have much more news sources. Im going to be voting for the underdog with my money.
soared 8y ago
> Hates paying for content > Hates advertising mfw
- dymk 8y ago
  Or use outline.com! Ignore that it's just straight up rehosting pirated content from paid sources. Edit: This is a heavily downvoted comment. Instead of downvoting, how about you explain why you think you're entitled to paid content for free?
  - jelling 8y ago
    Shh...the knowledge workers that arrange bits in one format don't think the knowledge workers that arrange bits in another format deserve to be paid. They should innovate their way out of their victimization in a way that pleases their attackers.
- sugarpile 8y ago
  > paying for digital content mfw never subbed, never donated, adblock, stolen laptop, neighbours wifi
westoque 8y ago
That's why I subscribed to Apples' latest News+ service. If I paid 9.99 to have access to whole bunch of publications, then I wouldn't mind paying at all.

Robocallers are a problem! You can help fight this and make a difference with just a few simple steps! First, you... Please subscribe for only $N per month to keep reading!

jaimehrubiks 8y ago

I sadly tend to miss and skip news I can't read

jchw 8y ago

I know it's irrelevant to the discussion, but it really does irritate me when I get paywalled. I am 100% more likely to never purchase a subscription. I don't care if all journalism dies because of it.

dontreact 8y ago
If you don’t care about journalism at all, why is paywalling so irritating?
- jchw 8y ago
  Definitely didn't say I don't care about journalism, just that if this is the future I'd rather it died, consequences be damned. To me, a future with only paywalls is nearly as bad.
dlivingston 8y ago
If journalism is dying, it's precisely because of the lack of paywalls. Quality journalism costs money. The un-paywalled, ad-centric business models rewards click-bait articles, not in-depth longform pieces.
- jchw 8y ago
  Fine. It can die then. I will gladly participate in that.
  - dlivingston 8y ago
    Why the hostility?
    - jchw 8y ago
      I feel it is warranted. To me, paywalled journalism feels hostile. I don't want an internet where every link I click wants me to buy a new subscription. It's the same reason I don't pay for TV anymore. And I don't mean I'm pirating it, I just don't consume it. If this is the only way to save journalism then I'm guessing regardless of people's ambitions it's probably doomed anyways. I mean, there has been some success, but seriously, how many monthly subscriptions do I need? I pay for Creative Suite, Jetbrains Toolbox, YouTube, Amazon, multiple Patreons, a few VPS providers, Mullvad, and so many other things. Monetary value aside, I just can't manage to have more subscriptions, less one for every major publication just so I can click on links and not get paywalled constantly. I don't read from these publications regularly at all. The day every link on the net wants it's own subscription is the day I completely stop bothering with reading entirely.
      - dlivingston 8y ago
        I agree completely regarding the overwhelmingness of online subscriptions. Personally, I'm interested in seeing how Apple's News+ works out, as that's the best of both worlds (a single subscription + nominal fee journo support). Edit: out of curiosity, why do you pay for YouTube Red? I don't really see the value in it
        jchw 8y ago
        I basically just pay for things I use a lot. With YouTube I use the offline videos and background playback very frequently, and not having ads without adblock is nice. And yes, I concede that something more like Apple News would be much better. Still, I fear for a future where every last bit of content is behind a subscription paywall. The freemium model and ads in general get a lot of well-deserved flak, but they do at least make things more accessible. I find it fascinating how different the opinion on HN regarding paywalls is when it comes to scientific journals versus news publications. Like yeah, the money is ostensibly going to the right person with news publication paywalls. But a lot of arguments about paywalls hinge around how it gates knowledge and information, and to the end user, it really isn't any different than if your ISP charged you $5/mo for Wikipedia access. I realize this comparison will make people upset, but to the average user? Really is the same thing. All in all, I shouldn't be so irrationally angry over paywalls, but there are days when I come across 3 or 4 links that I can't read, and I just pass over it, remembering the past when people could discuss almost any article online regardless of how much free cash they have to pay for subscriptions.

system2 8y ago

I would love to see a graphic explaining WSJ's users, their jobs, income, lifestyle. I am assuming mostly fintech people.

chrischen 8y ago

I know I read an article claiming that people don’t consume a medley of news publications, but the internet and things like hackernews clearly have changed that. So I think an Apple News subscription really solves this issue. One flat monthly fee, and I can consume all the paywalled stuff on HN.

pocketstar 8y ago
inkl.com has been around a lot longer than “apple news” and seems to have much more news sources. Im going to be voting for the underdog with my money.

soared 8y ago

> Hates paying for content > Hates advertising mfw

dymk 8y ago
Or use outline.com! Ignore that it's just straight up rehosting pirated content from paid sources. Edit: This is a heavily downvoted comment. Instead of downvoting, how about you explain why you think you're entitled to paid content for free?
- jelling 8y ago
  Shh...the knowledge workers that arrange bits in one format don't think the knowledge workers that arrange bits in another format deserve to be paid. They should innovate their way out of their victimization in a way that pleases their attackers.
sugarpile 8y ago
> paying for digital content mfw never subbed, never donated, adblock, stolen laptop, neighbours wifi

westoque 8y ago

That's why I subscribed to Apples' latest News+ service. If I paid 9.99 to have access to whole bunch of publications, then I wouldn't mind paying at all.