The Freebie Rules

Just days ago, perhaps, it would have been safe to declare that a deep philosophical concern of late 20th century America was the Information Age’s assault on privacy. That worry has ranged from major businesses selling off your personal information to having your medical files posted on the World Wide Web.

Surely then, the recent appeal of a Pasadena start-up company named Free-PC was destined to result in a powerful backlash from plain folks who had just been pushed too far. Who in this age of paranoia would want one of 10,000 free computer systems in exchange for this high price: divulging even more personal information, being forced to look at ads and having someone review every Internet site you visit?

Well, as of this week about 1 million people have declared themselves willing to reveal all and take the computer.

This is in spite of the fact that some computer prices have dropped below $400, meaning that fewer people ought to be enticed by such an offer. Perhaps that’s what led the publication Network World to its chief thought on the free-computer lure: “Eureka! Free Cheese in the Mousetrap.”

Maybe the appearance of the free PC was predictable. The American party animal has long been known to forgive egregious faults in a host as long as the drinks are flowing and the food is half-good. Now, Americans risk ending the century with the following aphorism: Never underestimate the power of the freebie.