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by oraphalous 599 days ago
The whole world seems dedicated to the goal of extracting value rather than creating it.
3 comments

Or tricking someone else into creating value for you to take.
People tend to create value inherently. If they are not receiving the benefit of that then it would most appropriately be described as theft with the aid of blind regulators.
Anything you get for free, that requires someone else to work to provide it, means you're going to pay for it one way or another.
It could be true for things that could only be "used" once. But I don't think that it's a valid point at all times. Recently, for example, I've made a little "Linux for dummies" zine, and put it on my shelf. Sometimes guests take it, read it, and put it back. Technically, all of them get to read it for free, through no additional cost to me, because this zine already existed before they knew they wanted to "use it", and this zine will continue to exist after they "use it".
Do you let random people use your car for free, too? Do you pay for their gas as well?
Sure, if it doesn't exist before you order it.

If it's already been made, someone may even pay you to take it away.

You're surrounded by and typing on valuable goods and services that you received in exchange for a store of value called money, which you received by providing value to someone else.