Getting something for nothing.

Why is it that everyone in the world these days expects to get something for nothing?

It's the beginning of the semester, and we have an endless stream of students coming in to the library, asking if we carry a certain book that they need for their class. I know books can be expensive--especially at the graduate level--but that's part of going to school. Hell, I certainly checked out a few books here and there throughout my grad school days that were needed only for a week or two.

BUT.

There's a difference between asking just to see if we have it, and getting visibly upset that we don't have it. "Well, I don't want to pay for the book." Okay, then don't go to school. Tonight, I had a girl come in and ask why all of the electronic books available to students were not the most recent version of the books. Her class is apparently using some book that is available as an online book (there's a database that scans books and makes them available to students online). However, the most recent version of this book is not available online. She wanted to know how to MAKE the database put the most recent version of the book online. I told her that I could take down the info and put in an inquiry to one of the librarians, but that my guess was that the publisher wasn't about to give up the most recent version of a book for free use. After all, why publish a book if you don't want to make any money from it? I imagine the older version is free simply because there is a newer version.

She was getting more and more upset as the conversation went on. "Well, why doesn't the school demand it? They're paying for the database!" Yes. Good job. But it's completely out of the school's control what the database has available to put online. "Well, request it." Request WHAT? That the publisher change their mind, decide to distribute a new book for free and lose all sales? She said, "Well, then everyone in the class wouldn't have to go out and buy it." Yes, good job. Gold star for you. Unfortunately, she didn't realize that she answered her own question.

But come on, people. It doesn't hurt to see if you can get something for a lower price or for free, but to expect things for free is an entirely different story. It's like the people who go into stores looking for damaged merchandise, then demanding a discount. In my retail days, I would always smile sweetly, go to the merchandise section, choose a shiny new item, and say, "Oh HERE you go! It's in PERFECT condition! YAY! Full price, plz."

I could probably turn this into a "deep thought," but I'd really rather not. I just wonder where this sense of entitlement comes from and when it became okay to express this entitlement angrily at the people who won't bestow it.