By Ana Billotti
Round Table reporter

Free is not a word that we hear every day. Well, it is, but usually only because we are talking to others about the outrageous price of going to the movies or gas and we just think to ourselves; why can’t everything just be free? It would solve all our problems, wouldn’t it? No, actually it wouldn’t, at least I don’t think so.

Things being free can cause laziness. With everything being free, people will begin to take it for granted and not appreciate what they already had. It can cause people to not work because, really, why would they need to when everything costs them nothing? Laziness is a thing America is already fighting. No one wants to put in the extra effort if it truly isn’t necessary. Okay, sure, there is that random person that will come into work an hour early to get some extra things done but how many times have you actually seen that happen? …I thought so. Laziness already affects us, so let us not further it more by giving us a true reason to be lazy.

Another problem America has? Taking things for granted and taking advantage of things; now imagine if everything was free. This ties in with my last paragraph where I stated that America would become lazy and I truly believe that. No need to work to earn a paycheck, everything will basically be provided for you- all you need to do is go get it. And I feel that people will take advantage of everything being free and I’m not above that, I probably would too but this will cause a lack of work ethic. Heck, would anybody work at all anymore if everything was free for the taking?

I would like to conclude this blog on a positive note, however, so I will provide some examples of when free is actually a good thing. Let us start with a simple but extremely enjoyable one: free samples. I personally have never met a single person who did not enjoy a free sample from Sam’s Club, Costco, or Walmart, what have you. Free samples are a great idea, for the free is in moderation. You try one, you like it, you buy it. You don’t like it, you don’t buy it (that or you just don’t want to spend money on something that was waved in your face just so that you were tempted to buy it).

Another time when free is good is when you are allowed to have a product for a free trial period. One late night when you have nothing better to do then to watch the shopping channel you decide to order a Miracle Blade Knife Set for only $39.95! A few weeks later the Miracle Blade finally arrives and you are so excited but after a few attempts at trying to cut into a simple block of cheese using the Cheese Knife you realize these knives in fact are not up to snuff. But thank goodness the Miracle Blade people thought ahead. You are able to return the knife set because you were awarded a 30 day risk free trial period. Free trials are a great invention for it provides the purchaser of the product a chance to test out the product they are purchasing and see if it is a keeper or not. (Note: I have nothing against the Miracle Blade Knife Set. I was simply using their product as an example of when a free trial period is a fantastic idea.)

So here is where I am going to sum everything up for you. Free can be good, but it can also be bad. It’s your opinion so I won’t press mine upon yours but think of it this way: too much of anything can be a bad thing and the same can hold true if everything, everywhere, became free.