28 Dec 11, 06:05AM
Well, first I'll address the economics analogy. I don't think it holds because in economics producers are compensated by consumers in some tangible way. Mapmaking differs from this in that the producers bear 100% of the costs (by investing their time) and receive no remuneration, often not even gratitude.
As far as my choice of the word 'art', I used it because in my Lockean view of human nature, art is something made for the enjoyment of others without the precondition of compensation. Of course, in the real world art is almost always made with the expectation that the artist will profit from it. 'Craft' would really have been a better word to use, but I wanted to convey the idea of 'pro bono publico'.
Ultimately, it's all moot. I see now that the majority of people supporting my view fundamentally misunderstand it. My mistake for using four syllable words. And if I had been aware of the elitist cynicism (which I'm sure will be called 'realism') of the devteam, I wouldn't have made such a naive and altruistic post.
I'll close by asking for a mod to kindly lock this train-wreck of a thread.
As far as my choice of the word 'art', I used it because in my Lockean view of human nature, art is something made for the enjoyment of others without the precondition of compensation. Of course, in the real world art is almost always made with the expectation that the artist will profit from it. 'Craft' would really have been a better word to use, but I wanted to convey the idea of 'pro bono publico'.
Ultimately, it's all moot. I see now that the majority of people supporting my view fundamentally misunderstand it. My mistake for using four syllable words. And if I had been aware of the elitist cynicism (which I'm sure will be called 'realism') of the devteam, I wouldn't have made such a naive and altruistic post.
I'll close by asking for a mod to kindly lock this train-wreck of a thread.