The Anecdote
"I was looking at your website last night," he reached for the last potsticker. "Your alphabets aren't bad. You should get someone to publish them."
"Someone did publish them," I say as I set down my fork. I know what's coming next.
"Really? Who?"
"I did. I published them."
"No, I meant someone real should publish them. Put them on the market. Make some money."
"Why should I do that?"
He switched gears. "Well, maybe you should ask people to subscribe, or pay a fee."
"Why?"
"To get a return, of course."
"I don't want a return."
"Everybody wants a return. Everybody wants to make money on the web. You work for a startup, don't you?"
...
(I just gaped at him, surreptitiously checked for a clock, and changed the subject. He had already displayed enough characteristics to make him less-than-rant-worthy)
For the record: It's not the same thing. The startup's my job. What's on my website is my art. It's my public service. It's my way of keeping my friends and family informed about what I'm doing.
It's my way of sharing information with people who are interested in the same things I am. People who want to learn something, who want to be entertained, who want someone to mock: these are the people I'm catering to, and I do it for free.
This was written on September 25, 2000, and proved so popular and oft referred-to that I've brought it back, and immortalized it here.
