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https://slatestarcodex.com/2020/06/04/problems-with-paywalls/

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I hate paywalls on articles. Absolutely hate them.

A standard pro-business argument: businesses can either make your life better (by providing deals you like) or keep your life the same (by providing deals you don\\u2019t like, which you don\\u2019t take). They can\\u2019t really make your life worse. There are some exceptions, like if they outcompete and destroy another business you liked better, or if they have some kind of externalities, or if they lobby the government to do something bad. But in general, if you\\u2019re angry at a business, you need to explain how one of these unusual conditions applies. Otherwise they\\u2019re just \\u201chelping you less than you wish they did\\u201d, not hurting you.

And so the standard justification for paywalls. Journalists are providing you a deal: you may read their articles in exchange for money. You are not entitled to their product without paying them money. They need to earn a living just like everyone else. So you can either accept their deal \\u2013 pay money for the articles \\u2013 or refuse their deal \\u2013 and so be left no worse off than if they didn\\u2019t exist.

But I notice feeling like this isn\\u2019t true. I think I would be happier in a world where major newspapers ceased to exist, compared to the world where they exist but their articles are paywalled. Take a second and check if you feel the same way. If so, what could be going on?