Charity or Creativity?

OK, an old debate that was started when I declared that I love to by most of my paperbacks from charity shops. I just like the feel of a used book and there is a difference. There is also that feeling that in a small way I am helping a good cause too.

A friend of mine was shocked, even mildly appalled that I did. Her line was that I was stealing food from the mouths of creative authors. That authors relied on new book sales to keep the roof over their heads and food on their plate. Authors don't get royalties from used book sales. Used books should be pulped if you no longer want them!! Give authors a chance.

My retort was simply by buying a book from somewhere like Oxfam, I could possibly be putting the roof over the head of a homeless child or feeding an impoverished, starving infant.

But she was adamant that charity shops don't need to sell books to achieve this. They sell clothes and knick-knacks and items that aren't linked to a single individual. How is an author to know s/he is appreciated if their book doesn't sell through proper channels!

So what side of the fence do you stand on? Charity or Creativity?