Do you think free software, and tech tutorials are bad or good for IT?

[froggyboy604]

When I talk with non-IT people about freeware, free tutorials, and providing services for free a lot of them say "Free software, tech tutorials, and services (volunteering at places which teach people about computers) is a bad idea since it will cause those people to not call tech support, buy as much software, and eventually steal IT job from people already in IT due to cheaper wages of entry level employees."

They talk about computer skills like it is some sort of Magic which is best to keep it a secret, so people will be in the dark and seek the guy from a computer store for his Technical Skills like how people seek for magicians for their magic tricks.

I think tutorials, and freeware is good since it lets people have access to software, and knowledge .

If you look at other industries like stain glass making, japanese katana swords, and black smithing, you can see their industry have fewer skilled workers because they were so secretive about the methods they use which is a good thing for the few people who still know those skills since they can charge more for their services, but a bad thing for the consumer who pays huge prices for a katana sword made by a good black smith.

[SetoTK]

On tutorials, it's good providing there ACCURATE and not for obscure and useless software.

On free software is good also though again providing the software is stable and reliable with the necessary features