In a world where every free moment is spent refreshing email or responding to text messages, there are fewer opportunities for long-term memories to form.

CNN: A New Year's resolution for the workplace

Additionally, free users have different requirements than paying customers and responding to these needs takes the product development focus off the paying customers.

FORBES: Why Freemium Isn't Free

Silber of BMO Capital Markets says that for-profit schools have been responding to the scrutiny with some changes, like the free three-week orientation University of Phoenix started offering this year, to applicants who have fewer than 24 college credits.

FORBES: Names You Need to Know: For-Profit College Rules

Responding to the debate, Health Minister Lesley Griffiths stressed that "free prescription will not be ditched on my watch".

BBC: Welsh Conservatives debate

That would provide a legal defense for not responding to petitions, a get-out-of-jail-free card.

FORBES: Endangered Species Accord Calls a Truce In The Wildlife Wars

Across the country, politicians are responding accordingly, and that is clouding prospects for congressional approval of pending free-trade pacts with South Korea and Colombia.

WSJ: Americans Sour on Trade

Banks are already responding by trying to charge for services that previously appeared to customers to be free: several, including JPMorgan Chase, have proposed monthly fees for accounts.

ECONOMIST: American banks

In 2003, again responding to advocates and realizing that hungry children cannot learn, New York City declared free breakfast for all.

WHITEHOUSE: Advocating to End Food Insecurity

Free schools are state-funded schools set up by parents or other groups, with the aim of responding to demand from local parents.

BBC: Free schools 'in areas of surplus places', says NUT

But they were also responding by using modern technology to amplify the mood music of Western belief that Arabs too could create free societies.

CNN: Did Iraq War give birth to the Arab Spring?