Not long ago, I stood up for my friend, Reg Braithwaite-Lee. You can read about that here. With the benefit of some distance, and at the prompting of a response I read here, I would like to say a little more about this situation.

First, let me be clear: I stand by my statement. I find it arrogant to ask someone for more free stuff without offering something in return. (There’s a special word for that.) This might just be a rule I have, but it has at least a kernel of truth. I don’t apologize for feeling this way.

I do, however, regret being unclear. I didn’t want to say that one should always offer money for a customized experience; however, I believe one should always offer something the requester finds valuable. Something the requester would want others to offer him. Now, people with a strong bond of trust can ask each other for anything and expect to get it, mainly because the trust is built on only asking for what’s truly important when it’s truly needed; but in all other relationships, it’s merely polite to offer something. Money, sincere gratitude, helping out, something. I inferred from Reg’s reaction that his requesters did not offer him much.

I must grant that I assumed that, based solely on Reg’s reaction. It’s entirely possible that his requesters were polite, showed tremendous gratitude, and thought they were helping their fellow raganwald readers, but I find it a safe guess that if they had, Reg wouldn’t have considered taking away some of the free stuff he’s giving us. A mother rarely threatens to take away a child’s toys because the child does something nice. Still, if I wanted to be sure, I should have asked Reg. Sorry, Reg, if I over-reacted and embarrassed you. I don’t think I did, because you didn’t tell me I did, but I apologize all the same.

So that’s all I have to say about that. If you lost respect for me over this, then I invite you to let me earn it back.