Followers

15 July 2009

Thoughts on freebies . . .

No, I don't have any to offer today. I didn't find any neat new ones.

On one of the boards I frequent, some people were all in an uproar because they wanted a freebie someone posted a finish of. Someone said to email the designer, and then it came out that she had told them she wouldn't email it to anyone else, and that it was coming out as a for-purchase design. And GOOD LORD did the indignation get righteous. Accusations that that was poor marketing, and not fair. And rude that she wouldn't email it. And awful that she was making money off something that was free. BLAH BLAH BLAH. And then she replied that it was still on her blog, she just wasn't emailing. She also said she got several HUNDRED requests for it. I was so annoyed and so embarrassed to be on the same board as these women.

I don't understand what gets in the minds of people sometimes. Freebies are a privilege, not a right. A designer doesn't have to make them available at ALL, let alone at the drop of a hat to anyone who requests or demands them. That design was on her website for MONTHS. Now, as soon as she took it off, and a person has to do a titch of work to get it, suddenly it's the Holy Grail of designs and worth trashing a designer over? Because she legitimately wants to make money off it? As many of you might know (or just B . . .) I studied Arts Administration in college. Despite my best efforts to do otherwise, I did actually learn something, mainly, artists have a right to make money for the art they create. And they ultimately control the dispersal of their art. So, if you don't like it, make your own art.

And to get SNAPPY over it? COME ON! It's a cross stitch design. If you don't get it, there are plenty of other free designs out there. I have several binders of them, and a desktop full of the ones I just haven't printed to prove this theory--I been collecting freebies for 10 years and rarely stitch the ones from my collection (hmmm, that doesn't feel that good to admit). But I've seen people get such ATTITUDES over the one that they didn't get. Sandy from Sanman has caught holy Hell before by requesting that people join her website to get her free designs and then not share them, and that's pathetic. Now this. There are plenty of free designs I wish I'd gotten. BOAF has a couple, and it hurts me to see them finished and know I can't get them. Also EMS' Animal Babies. I didn't get them while they were free. But I'm not going to trash those designers because I didn't get lucky enough to get their gift designs. Maybe that's just me. Maybe I'm a freak. But I have enough to be legitimately upset about in my life rather than being annoyed about not getting a design I want sent to my inbox.

Sometimes it amazes me that grown women can be so childish.

10 comments:

Meari said...

Amen! I agree with you. Designers OWN their creations, therefore have a right to do with them as they please.

Being a photogrpaher, I have to explain to clients WHY they can't just copy photographs I create. They just don't get it.

riona said...

Gee ... could I possibly guess the board??? Remember what we discussed that day at the beach about criticizing designers. I know that I am a little disappointed by the sneak peeks at the JCS Christmas Ornament 2009 issue but I figure the problem is with me not the designers. I have been buying this annual for a little over a decade so is it any wonder that things are beginning to seem "same old same old"? The day I am able to come up with a brand new ornament concept and get it off the drawing board and the model stitched to deadline ... well, that'll be the day I criticize the designers. As to criticizing someone for making a living ... one wonders if they would be welling to labor unpaid.

Julie M said...

I wholeheartedly agree!

CJ in OK ;-) said...

Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I am in complete agreement with you. These designers have to eat like the rest of us. Free patterns are offered in order to get the stitcher's attention, once a designer has your attention the goal is then to sell you a design created for purchase. Making it available only in person, or only if you go to their website, or even only with a purchase, are all the rights of the designer. Be happy and give thanks when you get them, but don't trash the designer who's design you want so badly just because they put restrictions on the distribution of "Their" design. They have to do business to continue designing. Obessions to collect, though I have them too, can get out of hand at times. Thanks for the reminder. CJ ok;-)

Annie said...

My thoughts exactly. I've seen the 'discussions' you are referring to. It's always amazing to me how ungrateful people can be for all the free stuff that is out there.

Andrea said...

You said it girl! I can't believe someone would ever cop an attitude over something that was/is FREE in the first place. Geesh, get a grip people!

LoneStar said...

I am firmly convinced that some people sit around eagerly awaiting some situation to arise so that they can get their knickers in a knot. Having your knickers in a knot is uncomfortable, so then they raise all kinds of heck and make the rest of us wonder if they really have a life. They don't. And we all end up wishing that they did.

Lisa (Texan)

Bette said...

You are so right about this. Life is way too short to get all bent out of shape over a free design which is no longer going to be free. There are so many free designs out there that not getting one is no reason to get mad at the designer.

Pam Seavey Schaffner said...

Pretty much I just lurk on "that board" for laughs any more.

Pumpkin said...

Yup, I saw that. Sad really. It really is embarrassing to see grown people act that way. Great post Rachel!

I do my thing and you do yours. I am not in this world to live up to your expectations, and you are not in this world to live up to mine. You are you and I am I, and if by chance we find each other, then it is beautiful. If not, it can’t be helped--Frederick Perls