Re^2: Suffering from CPAN guilt

You did pay for the car, though, right? (If not, let's pretend you did ;->)

You paid someone for all the work and materials that went into your car.

With CPAN modules, you're not paying for it. You're taking from the community. Which is, IMO, ok. Some people feel guilt that they aren't giving back to the community as much as they are taking from the community. Or at least what they may consider a fair ratio of taking to giving.

Not that I suffer from the OP's affliction here, but I think I at least understand it enough not to use the car analogy. Your analogy would hold better if you got all your materials and information for free, and just had to labour to put it together. Highly unlikely for a vehicle, but common practice with perl and CPAN modules.

Update: I'd like to reemphasise that I don't suffer from the OP's guilt - as thor points out below, these are modules that are freely given to the community. I do understand, however, the feelings of give and take - if all you do is take, you feel like less of a person than if you give in return.

Comment on Re^2: Suffering from CPAN guilt

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Re^3: Suffering from CPAN guilt by thor (Priest) on Mar 12, 2005 at 17:47 UTC
But it's free only because the authors made a conscious decision to make it so. They were not forced to make it available for all to use. One should not feel guilty for taking a cookie that was offered to you at church. Likewise, one should not feel guilty for using code that others have made freely available. thor `Feel the white light, the light within Be your own disciple, fan the sparks of will For all of us waiting, your kingdom will come`	[reply]
Re^3: Suffering from CPAN guilt by jZed (Prior) on Mar 12, 2005 at 19:05 UTC
Some people feel guilt that they aren't giving back to the community as much as they are taking from the community. Good point! And with this minor change I'd agree: s/guilt/sense of responsibility/.	[reply]