Free Speech, Free Beer, How About Free Rent?

Much is made of the notion of free in chapter four of Bonk. I have to admit that few things tickle my anarcho-socialist leanings like the idea of free education for the whole world, but while the price is right, the cost is not. If I were independently wealthy, I would certainly delight in working for the greater good and devoting myself to the endeavor of making the world smarter (provided I survived the inevitable video game binge that would be the unavoidable consequence of such freedom). As it stands now, however, my landlord might have a few sharp words for me, not to mention my wife.

So the question that Bonk unfortunately leaves unaddressed (at least directly) in the book so far is how does someone support himself while giving his work away for nothing?

This is something I've been obsessing over thinking about quite a bit lately. The author Cory Doctorow would probably reassure me that giving things away for free online would make an excellent free advertising campaign for whatever I do sell. The free beer flows in both directions, in this case. Advertising support can generate income as well, and need not be as invasive as pop-ups and flashing banners. As for software (in the form of any games I might write), many companies will offer a hobbled version for free and charge for additional features. In short, there are a variety of answers that can be considered for a variety of situations. I need not panic. I can stop obsessing any time now.

Any time now.