[heavyset_go]

Agree with your assessment. I enjoy the little networks of people that develop as others use and share content. I enjoy the personal messages of thanks, the insights that are shared with me and seeing how my work influences others and the work they do. It's really cool to learn that something I made is the jumping off point for something bigger than I ever foresaw. Hell, just being reached out to help out or answer questions is... nice? I guess.

It's the little bits of humanity that I enjoy, and divorcing content from its creators is alienating in that way.

I'm not a musician, but I imagine there are similar motivations and appreciations artists have when sharing their work.

> I work in a pretty niche field and feel the same way. I don't mind sharing my writing with individuals (even if they don't directly cite me) because then they see my name and know who came up with it, so I still get some credit. You could call this "clout farming" or something derogatory, but this is how a lot of experts genuinely get work...by being known as "the <something> guy who gave us that great tip on a blog once".

Yup, my writing has netted me clients who pointed at my sites as being a deciding factor in working with me.

> I honestly think we should just be done with writing content online now, before it's too late. I've thought a lot about it lately and I'm leaning more towards that option.

The rational side of me agrees with you, and has for a while now, but the human side of me still wants to write.