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Linux-Is-Best OP t1_j68fugy wrote

Reply to comment by wkomorow in Newly adopted Subreddit rules by Linux-Is-Best

If the information is not easily accessible and is exclusive, it's not welcome here. The year is 2023 and whatever The Boston Globe is reporting can be found from The BCC, NPR, and alike. The old days of 1 news source having the sole exclusive and everyone else not reporting on something to "respect" that exclusivity, ended nearly a century ago. Times have changed, and this is one of those for the better.

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wkomorow t1_j68lvol wrote

Thank you for replying and I am sorry for the negativity in this thread. As a moderator elsewhere I know it is not an easy job. I, of course, respect your decision. I would however like to point out that not all information is freely available even in 2023. I have been a librarian for over 35 years and the monetazation of information behind paywalls is stronger than ever and something we librarians struggle with every single day. In fact, the BBC news division (which you mention) is actually considering paywalling BBC news in the US. https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2021/06/10/bbc-broadly-favours-faster-introduction-of-paywalls/

Again, I respect your decision and will no longer cite to sources such as the New York Times or Boston Globe. I do hope that people use the curated free e-resources those provided by BPL and other libraries to broaden their understanding of the world by being exposed to wider viewpoints beyond Google's front page.

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Linux-Is-Best OP t1_j68pjrv wrote

Thanks for your kind words, understanding, and feedback.

Thanks for your concern. I do this for a living, as I work full-time for another well-known social media company. Reddit is my escape from work and while I did volunteer to moderate this Subreddit, it's still a lot easier than what I deal with professionally. Trust me, the administrative side (which I don't deal with here, but elsewhere) is more demanding and the content more disturbing.

That said, this thread has gone about as well as can be expected. I knew the moment I posted it, that it would bring mostly silent observers, a few curious individuals (such as yourself) about both the policy and management, and lastly, it would double as a "honey pot" for the trolls I could nip in the bud. So I guess what I am saying is, I actually view this thread as a success.

Back on topic...

I would be disappointed if the BBC added a paywall. It would mean my primary source of news and information would escape me. I value the BBC because they offer real news. And by that I mean, they are not conservative, progressive, or moderate. The BBC does not attempt to sell you an opinion or cherry-pick, instead choosing to report everything (the wonderful, good, bad, and ugly), and then leaving things "as is" allowing you to form your own opinion without first hearing someone else's.

That's something I fear we have lost in America. The fact that you can argue that Fox News is not always honest and is conservative or that MSNBC may be more moderate or progressive, is a problem. News should be neither, and should stick to the facts (only).

In my opinion, paywalls have become a "thing" because people accept them. And I am thankful the bulk majority of new sources have not instituted them. News should be freely accessible and available to everyone. Thankfully, it seems to be limited to the old media press, which once depended on a subscription model (primarily newspapers). Rather than change and adapt, they've decided to cling to that old business model. Looking over their earning reports, it is not proving to be successful, and I do not believe it should.

People come to social media and Subreddits like this to dive right in. They do not want to sign up for yet another useless or costly service. Almost everyone I know dreads the idea of having to enter a username, e-mail, and password, verify their e-mail, etc... etc... Just to create 1 simple account. And then be told they need to pay on top of that? It is partly why old social media forums slowly died off.

As a librarian (thanks for serving your community), you already struggle just to keep people informed these days. I'd like to make it easier on people, and that means welcoming outlets that do not require a subscription membership. It means not supporting outlets that would hold the news as an exclusive entitlement. The news should be easy to access and freely available when possible.

But I digress. Thanks for your understanding, and thanks for informing me of the possible change with the BBC. That would be unfortunate.

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