In Defense of a Pirate

[Atlas14]

Ok, so many people that illegally download things off the internet do not have a legitimate excuse; they are simply cheap, lazy thieves. However, my defense is that I am actually spending more money on music by illegally downloading songs, because I use they system to see if I actually like an artist or not.

Before, I would not risk buying too many cds unless I had heard at least a few of their songs on the radio, but I don't listen to Pop, rock, or anything anymore that is played on the radio. So actually, the music industry is making more money off of me when I illegally download music than if I was not doing it.

So if this law prohibiting illegally downloaded music is actually not effective in individual cases in its purpose, then can the law bend to pardon people like me? Would I have to show proof that it is not effective in my case?

 

[Urederra]

You can borrow CDs at you public library.

 

[skadistic]

Lets like saying robbing the grocery store makes more money off you beacause you shop there the rest of the year.

You can borrow CDs at you public library.

The music I listen to isn't stocked at your local library it isn't played on the radio and most isn't sold in stores.

 

[downtown]

Of course the law wont bend to people like you. There are legal ways to try before you buy. What you're doing may not be immoral, but its still illegal.

 

[JollyRoger]

You can also legally listen to cuts of songs for free without illegally downloading.

 

[Lambert Simnel]

So if this law prohibiting illegally downloaded music is actually not effective in individual cases in its purpose, then can the law bend to pardon people like me?

Wouldn't have thought so.

Would I have to show proof that it is not effective in my case?

Don't think it would matter if you did.

 

[JollyRoger]

If a girl charges you for sex so she get a sample of your skills and then starts giving it to you for free, should she be busted for prostitution?

 

[Atlas14]

If a girl charges you for sex so she get a sample of your skills and then starts giving it to you for free, should she be busted for prostitution?

I would say no, but thats merely my opinion

 

[GinandTonic]

The music industry lost any possible high ground a long time ago. Them asking as to play nice now is hypocritical and abserd.

 

[Kozmos]

I have no excuse. I'm simply a cheap lazy thief who steals music. But pirates are cool. YAAARRR!

 

[Atlas14]

Lets like saying robbing the grocery store makes more money off you beacause you shop there the rest of the year.

But the grocery store spends money to stock the shelves with the item I stole, and would have to keep spending money to re-stock. Once a digital song is produced, it can be copied and "stocked" without cost. Thus when I "steal" songs, if it is crappy, it means I wouldn't have even thought to have bought it anyways. But if it is good, I would never have known it was good without stealing it, but now I am going to go spend money and actually buy it on cd now that I know it is something worth buying.

 

[JollyRoger]

The music industry lost any possible high ground a long time ago. Them asking as to play nice now is hypocritical and abserd.

So now nobody has the moral high ground?

 

[JollyRoger]

But the grocery store spends money to stock the shelves with the item I stole, and would have to keep spending money to re-stock. Once a digital song is produced, it can be copied and "stocked" without cost. Thus when I "steal" songs, if it is crappy, it means I wouldn't have even thought to have bought it anyways. But if it is good, I would never have known it was good without stealing it, but now I am going to go spend money and actually buy it on cd now that I know it is something worth buying.

Do you get to eat from a box of cereal before you decide to buy it? Like it or not, music comes with property rights.

 

[Godwynn]

Yarr!

 

[Atlas14]

Do you get to eat from a box of cereal before you decide to buy it? Like it or not, music comes with property rights.

Well you do have a point.

And with this as well

You can also legally listen to cuts of songs for free without illegally downloading.

I have a question though. Is it just me, or do you all have friends that will scorn you for illegally downloading songs while they borrow each others' legally purchased cds to put on their computer? Is there not a difference? You are probably right that it is theft in my situation anyway you look at it, but isn't what my friends do just as criminal?

 

[downtown]

But the grocery store spends money to stock the shelves with the item I stole, and would have to keep spending money to re-stock. .

The largest digital music retailers, such as itunes and CDbaby, keep and warehouse physical copies of all the CDs they sell.

 

[downtown]

Well you do have a point.

And with this as well



I have a question though. Is it just me, or do you all have friends that will scorn you for illegally downloading songs while they borrow each others' legally purchased cds to put on their computer? Is there not a difference? You are probably right that it is theft in my situation anyway you look at it, but isn't what my friends do just as criminal?

Its also illegal...but it doesn't seem to be as bad, because its more small scale....you can't transfer nearly as many songs at once, you have to pay for blank CDs..and chances are, your friend bought the CD. Who knows how far removed that song you downloaded was from a legit copy.

 

[puglover]

Of course the law wont bend to people like you. There are legal ways to try before you buy. What you're doing may not be immoral, but its still illegal.

How can breaking the law for personal gain like that not be immoral?

Pirates are selfish, plain and simple. Especially considering that music is dirt cheap nowadays, pirates are getting lamer and lamer.

 

[downtown]

How can breaking the law for personal gain like that not be immoral?

Pirates are selfish, plain and simple. Especially considering that music is dirt cheap nowadays, pirates are getting lamer and lamer.

Well, you can certainly break the law, but not necisarrily be acting immorally. I think in the case, we ought to look at motivation. Almost everybody (including myself, possibily the most pro-music industry CFCer,) has some sort of music-downloading ethos.

Is it wrong to download music "to try a band out"? Well, if you delete the music if you dont purchase it, I'm not sure it is. If you don't delete it, than it is. Its less wrong than some college kid who's just wholesaling ripping off hundreds of songs off of his university high-speed internet because he can't be arsed to pay 99 cents a song, or less, if he walks to the local used CD shop.

There is still a legal way to go about trying out music, such as using itunes, or even better, internet radio. Music buyers should use those options, instead of a program like limewire.

 

[Nobody]

So now nobody has the moral high ground?

Yes i do