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The phrase "make it for free" means the people who use or enjoy it are not expected to pay or provide other direct compensation for it. Think "make it for uncom

The phrase "make it for free" means the people who use or enjoy it are not expected to pay or provide other direct compensation for it. Think "make it for uncompensated use". It does not mean that it cost nothing to make, as otherwise that phrase would have no meaning. Yet a Google search finds people using the phrase "make it for free" for things which quick clearly require the input of personal time ("DIY Circular Saw Storage Holder (Make it for Free)"; "I'll make it for free to get experience."; "Why would a client want to pay for a website, when they can just make it for free with platforms like ..."; and "My Favorite Composting Bin; How to make it for free in minutes.") > Plenty of businesses began the same way. So did a huge amount of academic research projects, with funding paid for by other sources.

keepamovin 3y ago
It seems your point is that I misunderstand the meaning and my dispute is thus invalid. Let's dive in, but first address your point about projects. It’s true that academic projects begin like that, too, but if you want to turn them into businesses you have to think about business aspects. Google for example, with ads: that started as an academic project. Regarding your point about meanings, the more common English usage of the quoted phrase is to signify the meaning: “creation had zero cost”, as indicated by your Google search. In English, the more common way to convey the meaning “a product with zero price”, is, “It’s free”. To conclude, while it seems your point is that I misunderstand the meaning and therefore my dispute is invalid, it also seems true that it is your interpretation which goes against the common usage. Could you be be deliberately misinterpreting simply to create a disagreement, or is it accidental? In any case, it’s hard to argue that it's my point which is invalid. Instead, it looks as if your attempt to discredit my point by misrepresenting its meaning is the only invalid thing here.
- eesmith 3y ago
  "but if you want to turn them into businesses you have to think about business aspects." Sure. But you never established that blueflow wanted to turn the software into a business before rejecting the "for free" statement. For all you know, blueflow was working on a scientific research project as a retirement hobby.

keepamovin 3y ago

It seems your point is that I misunderstand the meaning and my dispute is thus invalid. Let's dive in, but first address your point about projects. It’s true that academic projects begin like that, too, but if you want to turn them into businesses you have to think about business aspects. Google for example, with ads: that started as an academic project. Regarding your point about meanings, the more common English usage of the quoted phrase is to signify the meaning: “creation had zero cost”, as indicated by your Google search. In English, the more common way to convey the meaning “a product with zero price”, is, “It’s free”. To conclude, while it seems your point is that I misunderstand the meaning and therefore my dispute is invalid, it also seems true that it is your interpretation which goes against the common usage. Could you be be deliberately misinterpreting simply to create a disagreement, or is it accidental? In any case, it’s hard to argue that it's my point which is invalid. Instead, it looks as if your attempt to discredit my point by misrepresenting its meaning is the only invalid thing here.

eesmith 3y ago
"but if you want to turn them into businesses you have to think about business aspects." Sure. But you never established that blueflow wanted to turn the software into a business before rejecting the "for free" statement. For all you know, blueflow was working on a scientific research project as a retirement hobby.