Please note that this article is not specifically about this site, although that is where I'm most familiar with the term "free ice cream" from. But it could easily be changed to be so... I've placed this under Personal Relationships instead of Blogging, though.
I subscribe to a free "online" "magazine" about a hobby of mine: collectible miniature games (CMGs). Specifically, the magazine is "Critical Hit: The Only Magazine Dedicated to HeroClix." The guys who produce it are doing it out of love for the game, volunteering their free time to write or edit articles, and they distribute it via email and web-sites. I don't slight them for this and I didn't intend to slight them for my comments.
The latest issue of this "magazine" featured articles that were about other CMGs (HorrorClix, Pirates, others), which I have no interest in. I voiced my discontent with this choice, that I wasn't interested in these games, and that I had come to the magazine because it was HeroClix only. I asked to be unsubscribed from both of my emails that receive the mailings.
I was then derided for "complaining" about a "FREE magazine" (capitals are not mine in this case).
I'm sorry, but I didn't realize that I couldn't have an opinion. Additionally, I don't feel I was disrespectful in how I voiced my dissent in the change of direction of the "magazine."
I responded on that thread with this:
"Really, I'm not trying to piss on what you guys have done. Everyone has put a lot of work into this and all the previous issues as well. I may check out the occasional issue that will be forthcoming, but I'll definitely be picking past all the non-HeroClix articles.
It's like this: Just because the ice cream is free doesn't mean I can't say I don't like the flavor. You guys had some great chocolate ice cream. I loved your chocolate ice cream. But now you've put cherries in it and I'm just not digging on the cherries. So, if I'm in the mood for some of your chocolate ice cream, I'll know where to find it, but I'll just be aware that I need to pick the cherries out of it to really enjoy it.
Keep making your ice cream, guys, you make it well."