I believe in getting paid for what one does. If you write software you should get paid for it, if you entertain you should get paid. I'm not saying that the way of the amateur (literaly one who does a thing strictly for the love of it) is wrong. Nor am I saying that one shouldn't donate one's time and talents gratis for worthwhile causes. However, if you create a product or service of any kind by the sweat of your brow and the exercise of your talents, then if other people want to avail themselves of it then they should not only be prepared to pay for it, they should WANT to pay for it, and you should fully expect them to do so.

Your right to expect recompense for the fruit of your labors exsists as a first principle. It is not contingent upon anything. If your 'friends' in your folk circles or theatre groups tell you otherwise they are mistaken. If you work you should be paid in full. That is the right and natural state of affairs. You can make exceptions, but that is a matter of personal choice based on your own judgement and the individual circumstances. Altruism, and doing things just for the love of it are an important part of a life well lived, and of a moral society, and the love of money to the exlusion of other values has always been at the root of many of our social ills. It is also a reality that we are part of social groups and must often take into account how our courses or action will effect our standing in those groups. Be that as it may, the fact remains, the right to fair compensation for ones effort is a Fundamental Human Right on par with the expectation of the freedom to say and think what one wishes. To that end we say, 'An individual has a fundamental right to free speech'. We do not add 'PROVIDED that their thoughts and speech are good enough'.

The fight to establish this right has waged for nearly 400 years. From the battles to abolish slavery to the workers rights movements, to current efforts at righting economic injustice based on race or gender, it is all of a piece.

Literally millions have dedicated and/or given their lives in this cause. You owe it to them to resist the pressure to abdictate your right to seek payment for your own work whenever you damn well please.

(As George C. Scott said when he played George Patton, "Well you sons-of-bitches, now you know how I feel")

Best Regards

Jack