@LurkyMcLurkerson:disqus Well, maybe commenters alone aren't, but they certainly make the site more dynamic and interesting. And readers of all stripes are — if people weren't reading, we wouldn't have an industry.

"I'm not seeing that much hateful etc. stuff posted - most of it is largely clear-headed."

"I'm not seeing that much hateful etc. stuff posted - most of it is largely clear-headed."

I personally don't believe that. If we'd signed a contract obligating them to pay us a percentage of profits, we would be legally entitled, but I personally don't feel we're morally or ethically entitled here. And just in general, I don't believe people are entitled to much except their own lives and generally bodily…

I personally don't believe that. If we'd signed a contract obligating them to pay us a percentage of profits, we would be legally entitled, but I personally don't feel we're morally or ethically entitled here. And just in general, I don't believe people are entitled to much except their own lives and generally bodily…

To be honest, the comments add to the pageviews, but aren't remotely near 50% of traffic. It's probably closer to 5-10%, depending on the piece.

To be honest, the comments add to the pageviews, but aren't remotely near 50% of traffic. It's probably closer to 5-10%, depending on the piece.

"Would you all have contributed writing to a criticism anthology and felt the same way if you received no money?"

"Would you all have contributed writing to a criticism anthology and felt the same way if you received no money?"

Kickstarter is not a straw man here, it's ostensibly what we were actually discussing, with Palmer as a very visible example of what's going on right now.

Kickstarter is not a straw man here, it's ostensibly what we were actually discussing, with Palmer as a very visible example of what's going on right now.

We rehearsed with TMBG before the live show, just to make sure we all knew where to walk in, where to stand, where to leave our guitars before the show, what order we were doing the songs in, what the chords were, etc. It all took maybe half an hour, and didn't make us any more professionals who needed to be paid.…

We rehearsed with TMBG before the live show, just to make sure we all knew where to walk in, where to stand, where to leave our guitars before the show, what order we were doing the songs in, what the chords were, etc. It all took maybe half an hour, and didn't make us any more professionals who needed to be paid.…

You hate the word entitlement; I hate entitlement itself. It's a big factor here, so yeah, I'm going to bring it up a lot.

You hate the word entitlement; I hate entitlement itself. It's a big factor here, so yeah, I'm going to bring it up a lot.

She never told people "You should do this because it would be great exposure for you," which is the watchword of cheap-asses trying to get free work out of designers everywhere. She invited them to come hang out onstage and jam. It's entirely their prerogative to decide whether that would be enjoyable enough to serve…

She never told people "You should do this because it would be great exposure for you," which is the watchword of cheap-asses trying to get free work out of designers everywhere. She invited them to come hang out onstage and jam. It's entirely their prerogative to decide whether that would be enjoyable enough to serve…

" It's pretty appalling to ask a paying audience to tip the performers you hired."

" It's pretty appalling to ask a paying audience to tip the performers you hired."

Do you also think the Chicago teachers' union that just went on strike should be allowed to tell, say, tutors in California what they should be paid? It strikes me as exceeding their mandate to represent professional Seattle musicians.