3 ms·

To quote a reviewer: "We should not let the publishers hold us hostage because we prefer to read the electronic format.” I think you're missing the principle m

To quote a reviewer: "We should not let the publishers hold us hostage because we prefer to read the electronic format.” I think you're missing the principle matter: people are complaining that ebooks shouldn't cost as much as physical books because they cost less to produce. Nobody is saying they prefer physical books because they are physical objects, and nobody seems to be treating them like anything other than the same thing delivered in different ways at different costs. Find me evidence please that this whole thing isn't driven by the perception of fairness in what the product costs to produce. Edit: Vote me down all you want, but lack of evidence is still lack of evidence. I guess when emotions run high people lose the need to make rational points and just downvote. Give me some justification. Argue with me.

jaysonelliot 16y ago
Quick point of etiquette - not only would I not downvote based on disagreement, it's actually IMPOSSIBLE to do so when the comment in question is in reply to one's own comment. It's a HN feature to avoid the downvote becoming a kneejerk response to back-and-forth discussions. You use one reviewer's statement that that person prefers an ebook. There's no further explanation as to why (s)he prefers that format, and no data behind it - just a single comment. I expect that the primary issue is, in fact, what you say - fairness over cost of production. That does not logically lead to your assertion that the two are "same thing delivered in different ways."
- siglesias 16y ago
  Here's an apt analogy. Let's assume that customers preferred paperback books to hardback books, possibly because paperback books are lighter, take up less shelf space, and are easier to hold in one hand. They are, obviously, less expensive to make. It seems to me almost a given that these same customers complaining would be giving one-star reviews to the publisher for charging more for the paperback version. Under a utility model this wouldn't happen.

jaysonelliot 16y ago

Quick point of etiquette - not only would I not downvote based on disagreement, it's actually IMPOSSIBLE to do so when the comment in question is in reply to one's own comment. It's a HN feature to avoid the downvote becoming a kneejerk response to back-and-forth discussions. You use one reviewer's statement that that person prefers an ebook. There's no further explanation as to why (s)he prefers that format, and no data behind it - just a single comment. I expect that the primary issue is, in fact, what you say - fairness over cost of production. That does not logically lead to your assertion that the two are "same thing delivered in different ways."

siglesias 16y ago
Here's an apt analogy. Let's assume that customers preferred paperback books to hardback books, possibly because paperback books are lighter, take up less shelf space, and are easier to hold in one hand. They are, obviously, less expensive to make. It seems to me almost a given that these same customers complaining would be giving one-star reviews to the publisher for charging more for the paperback version. Under a utility model this wouldn't happen.