Opting Out (@electronics)

What an interesting perspective, Andrew. Please do tell me, since as Rob Colbert noted and you agreed https://gab.com/a/posts/112013412992754630 providing things for free is the act of a socialist ... how much should I charge you for the tutoring and consulting work I do on Gab? I think that the other PhD candidates (and actual PhDs and MDs) who've been answering questions on your site might have similar questions, as well. We wouldn't want to be pinkos, and gosh, I'm afraid that's what we've been, because we've been contributing content and answers for free. I can only hope that the Free Market (hallowed be Its name) can forgive us. Even in perennially economically depressed Chicago, the least expensive college math tutor I knew, aside from one fellow who worked on sliding scale so he could work with the poor (shame! shame!) charged $60/hour before Covid, the second cheapest went for $90/hour, and the rest well over $100/hour - and most of those were just terminal bachelor's recipients from third rung schools. This is not the rate for a PhD candidate, much less a PhD, nor is it the rate for an MD, so out of common decency, really, we all have to charge you more, and then adjust for the post-Covid era inflation. I'm sure that you'll not only understand, but be a little miffed that the degreed professionals on your site didn't do so, a lot sooner - and for that, we apologize. As for that mad plan I had to start uploading blueprints for things like communications systems that would be difficult for rogue LEOs to eavesdrop on - thank goodness that system change was here to save me from myself. Just telling people how to make something? Where's the profit in that? If there is a mortal sin to be found in this newly created church of yours, surely this would be it, for the opportunity costs of such extravagant publishing go on indefinitely, the losses being continually renewed. Obviously, what those of us with Engineering degrees should be doing is what engineers have long done - patented their products and then sold the rights to the highest bidders. And if the highest bidder happens to be the federal agency that puts half of your paying subscribers behind bars, such are the mysterious workings of commerce, which are not to be questioned by mortal man. Anyhow, think of this as a sealed bid. You can send me your offer by PM, and for as long as I'm getting a good offer from you, and it's still the best, we can do business. By the way, the market prices for photos, artwork, recipes and literature aren't zero, either, so those who've been contributing that sort of work to Gab for free might want to make amends, and start charging you for that, as well. To do otherwise would be un-American. Good luck with those profits!