The first one is free

There is a lot of free stuff out there. Actually, there�s supposed to be a lot of free stuff out there. There are free samples, free demos, free t-shirts, and free this and that. There is also strings attached, and the more �free� they claim to me, the more stings can usually be found on them.

Let�s start out with oh... say, free software. You see something that says FREE DOWNLOAD, and you check it out. The program looks good, and you download it and try it out. Uh oh... this is a demo version that will only work for 30 days. Uh oh... this is an incomplete version and you need to purchase the full version to get all the features. Uh oh... this version has an upgrade you can purchase. Uh oh... this version keeps flashing advertising at you.

But it was a free download...

Free T-shirt! Just send us your e-mail and send you offers to buy stuff, then sell it to someone who will send you offers to but stuff, who will sell it to someone else...

FREE MEMBERSHIP TO THE BEST SEX SITE ON THE NET!!! Just give us your credit card number...

Free access if you buy this, free gift with purchase, free chance to win if you fill out this survey... now, is it just me, or has the term �free� become synonymous with �trade�?

I always thought �free� meant �you can have this without giving me anything in return for it�, but now it has become this for that. You want to TRY the program for free? Sure thing, but it won�t work after a month unless you buy it. You WANT it for free? Sure thing, but you will have to have advertising forced on you. You want something for nothing? How about your personal information views and interests? Isn�t that worth a FREE t-shirt?

This sort or mangling of the term �free� pisses me off. But what pisses me off even more is that there is nothing wrong with it. Free has always been an enticement to Buy, and Free has always been a price you paid to be able to sell your stuff. I have a free messenger service, and it has advertising on it when I�m using it, and I have the offer for the messenger on my site with a banner exchange with other sites, so my banner will be seen on theirs. Free messenger, free publication of my site... for the price of advertisement being place on my computer and my site. It�s a pretty good trade.

I have a free music player on my computer, and it has an on-line radio station. They also have advertising and offers to buy the music I listen too over the net on the player. For what I get, it�s a good trade.

I have some else�s art on one of my pages, and I have her permission to use it for having the pictured lined back to her site. A really good trade.

I have programs that conk out in a month if I don�t pay for them. If I find them exceedingly useful, I will pay for them. If not, let them stop working and I�ll remove them from my computer. Fair enough.

My site has the advertising of the company that lets my host my pages on it, and ads for the use of e-mail, news and other things. I have no problems here or there.

But none of this is free. I give something of myself to have them, either time, information, or money. It�s trade in its simplest form. Give me this and I will give you that. Tit for tat. Actually, it�s probably the most fair of commerce. No one is trying to squeeze out a profit from you, or screw you, or take advantage of you...

But why does a sex site need your credit card number if they are offering you a free membership? To verify your age? So they say... and AOL gives you a few free months to use their services, then demands you pay for it afterwards. Are your e-mail and buddy lists on a service so important that you can�t live without them? Does the vast improvement of a program result from the upgrade you paid for, or just the lack of advertising that was previously lagging its operation? How much of your personal information are you prepared to give away for that freebie? And why do they seem to keep asking for more.

Someone out there is saying �Shut up and enjoy your free stuff!� And I will... of what little I have that was actually given to me without strings attached. I�ve been noticing a trend though... of more advertising being put on my computer, and more demands put on my time and money, and more questions about my spending habits and interests. And I�ve been wondering... is there anything out there that is actually free?

I think they still give out those little wieners on a toothpick at the supermarket for free, but you can only have one for free. You still have to buy the rest.