How I deal with the guilt of reading free comics online, a small hack that helps

3 comments

3 Comments

Except that logic falls apart the second you look at it. Calling it a 'delayed transaction' is just a nice story you tell yourself to feel better. The artist doesn't know you, you didn't agree to pay them later, and most people never actually follow through. It's still taking their work without permission, full stop. They need to pay rent NOW, not from a maybe purchase you might make years down the line if you remember. That hack isn't a fix, it's just dressing up the same old guilt in new clothes.

the_val2d ago

Just buy some merch later. Yeah but honestly if you feel bad about it, turn it into a support thing later on. I got really into this one webcomic for free, then when the artist put out a physical volume I bought it right away. Or like, if they have a Patreon, kick them a few bucks one month when you can. It's not a perfect fix, but it turns a guilty read into a "I'll pay you back" kind of deal. Makes it feel less like stealing and more like a delayed transaction.

lisa_reed2d ago

Delayed transaction is a really good way to put it. I always just thought of piracy as plain wrong. Framing it that way actually eases my conscience about finding older stuff.