The Price of Free...
You know, I've never had a problem with making a buck on my hobby, or any other legal means. I am also willing to help others do so, if they have something useful. So far I haven't been interested in the eBooks, but I am a charter subscriber to TrainMasters.TV.
I believe that the complaints mostly come from people who don't understand what it is you are doing (even though you have explained it many times), and worry that their free magazine is going away. Others it seems, just don't want to see you succeed.
I notice that I have never once heard anyone complain about ads from Digitrax, Yankee Dabbler, Bowser or Litchfield Station (random advertisers I picked out of the advertiser index). No one seems to have any problem with model railroad companies paying you for advertising, so that you can offer the magazine for free. So why do they have such a problem with you putting ads for your other projects in the magazine?
The only answer I can come up with, is because they are ads for your projects. I have no doubt that if I or anyone else were paying you for the ad space in the magazine, no one would say a word about it. Same ads, same products, but because it's not the Publisher, it's ok. Everything I have heard from these complainers, is that either the ads shouldn't be in the magazine, or that the videos (read information) should be free.
It's as if suddenly people decided that anyone who finds a way to make a little money from their hobby, is bad, and money is inherently evil. Sure, it's ok for Walthers to charge for their products, but you shouldn't. So when was the hobby of model railroading taken over by hippies? There's no such thing as free, and they should have learned that in the fall of 1969, when they had to pay for their summer of free love. (I say theirs, because I was 4 years old in 1969)
I think that some complainers are afraid that if TrainMasters.TV is successful, you will suddenly decide that people are willing to pay for this, and you'll start charging for MRH. It will no longer be Forever Free. After all, it only makes sense that if people are willing to pay for it, they will be charged. Now I know and understand what a business model is. MRH is based on the business model that advertisers will support the costs of publishing a magazine that is free to subscribers. The business model doesn't change. The magazine might end publication, but it won't ever charge subscribers. It won't surprise me however, if someone does begin publishing a high quality online magazine, using some of the ideas MRH has proven out, and charges for subscriptions.
I think others, feel that because you are the publisher of MRH, and don't have to pay yourself for the ad space, that you are stuffing the magazine with ads for TrainMasters.TV. Because there are two or three ads in an issue, in high visibility spaces, I can see why people might think that, but looking at the advertiser index for the February issue, I see that Berrett Hill has two ads, Ring Engineering has two ads, Digitrax has a two page spread, as does NCE and Rapido. TrainMasters has two ads, both are full page, but that's nothing out of the ordinary.
Yes, you took some editorial space to talk about TrainMasters when it came out. That can be considered a bit unusual, since I don't usually see the magazine push new products from other companies that way, but you've done that once, and it's your magazine. I would have done the same exact thing if I were Publisher.
So what it really seems to come down to, is a matter of perception. Because you are the Publisher, some perceive that you are taking unfair advantage, and putting far more ads for TrainMasters in each issue than other advertisers get. That is untrue. Just do what I did, and look at the advertiser index. You will see there are no more ads than any other advertiser. Are the ads free to you, as Publisher? Probably, but that really doesn't make any difference, I'm not paying a higher price for the magazine.
What about the idea that you might make money off of the hobby? If you do, that's great! That is the free market system at work. The American Dream. Anyone with a good idea has the ability to turn it into a means of making money and supporting themselves. Capitalism is NOT a bad thing! I don't care what the current cultural attitude that everyone gets a ribbon for participating, says.
If you really have a problem with Joe (and I know it's only a problem with Joe, not any of the other staffers) making a living, or better, from an idea based out of his hobby of model railroading, you have several choices. You can not buy a subscription, or any other product from him. You can come up with your own idea to make money from model railroading, and then advertise it everywhere you can find. Or you can just leave the hobby altogether, because it's obviously not what you want it to be.
I've known Joe online for many years. He's a nice guy, who is always willing to help out someone who wants it. I'm really sorry that he's had a target painted on his back because he dared to start some things he thought might be useful to those of us who are, or want to be model railroaders. I have found however, that this is what happens to leaders in any community. Those who wish they were leaders, do everything they can to tear them down, for fear of being left behind. Joe's time is valuable, just as mine is, and just as yours is. I have no problem paying him for valuable content. If you don't find it valuable, don't pay for it.
I suspect however, the problem is you find it valuable, you just don't want to have to pay for it.
