Originally posted by Robtard
For not being gay?
Of course not! That would be ridiculous! I reported you for not thinking Elton kicks ass in a gay way.
Originally posted by chithappens
... It's like that now? Guess I won't be using any sarcasm anymore
And I'm reporting you because you used the word "any" too many times in one sentence.
I don't understand, why everyone has to come up with an excuse, as to why they're downloading it. I download it because I want it, for free, I know full well that it's technically stealing and I don't care.
Anyone who wouldn't rob a bank if they knew they'd get away with it, is a saint, and either deserves a hand shake, or a punch in the face. I can't decide which.
Originally posted by chillmeistergen
I don't understand, why everyone has to come up with an excuse, as to why they're downloading it. I download it because I want it, for free, I know full well that it's technically stealing and I don't care.
I actually have more respect for people who actually come out and admit it straight than the people who have already made the leap to deciding they'll steal, then try to make excuses.
Like people who like The Killers but also say "I know they're shit.". You don't, if you like them.
-AC
Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
I actually have more respect for people who actually come out and admit it straight than the people who have already made the leap to deciding they'll steal, then try to make excuses.Like people who like The Killers but also say "I know they're shit.". You don't, if you like them.
-AC
I have more respect for people who just straight up admit it as well. However, that doesn't mean I don't respect others; there are a whole worse of things out there other than illegal downloads that I would lose respect for people over.
If it's individuals or individual companies, i can see how downloading is a bad thing. But when it comes to illegal cartels like the MPAA and RIAA that practice in price fixing, exploitation, intimidation, bribery, and extortion to keep themselves afloat, i think it would be a hoot if everyone who has ever downloaded anything cause the album was too horrible, or been threatened with a lawsuit, or payed 12 bucks for popcorn and a 14 dollar movie ticket to see a piece of shit simply got together and pressed RICO charges against them, forcing the Justice department to hold a grand jury resulting in a class action lawsuit, and then laughed our asses as these crooks who exploit both consumer and artist had their assets frozen and their asses thrown into a prison for 15-30 years.
The only problem is that these rich bastards stuff so much money into dirty deals and political campaigns that very few people are aware that most of their actions are illegal and that they aren't trade groups but cartels categorized as racketeering influenced and corrupt organizations.
I think it's pretty stupid to not pay for music or movies, some of which does go to the people who deserve it, just because you have a grudge against the MPAA or the RIAA.
Because then not only are they depriving the artist, so are you.
Also, if you download an album to listen to under the premise of "It's not good enough to buy.", then you're part of the problem, not the solution. If it's good enough to own illegally, it's good enough to own legally.
-AC
i generally don't download things illegally and if i like them i buy them but i can see why other people would. I'm just disgusted with industry's behavior specifically and this country's move towards corporate fascism in general and think genuine mobsters should be prosecuted and then punished to the full extent of the law, be that fines, repossesion, reparations, incarceration, or execution, especially when their behavior involves extortion, exploitation, and subversion of democracy.
If I were you AC, I'd me more pissed about English artists becoming successful in the States and their back catalouge being butchered so it can be digested by the American consumer.
A small time English artist has three albums, gets noticed for a single on their fourth, and their back catalouge is chopped up and re-released as a single album. That's ****ing sad.
The only artist I've ever really notice that happen with, at least so rabidly and fairly recently, is Muse.
They were more or less a cult band, from '98 onward, then they were just viewed as a really good English band. Their third album was released in '03 I think, but then it got put out in the States and they just skyrocketed.
Fair enough in some cases you can't find music from abroad due to distribution or popularity or whatever, but some people were just crazy over it.
That said, I don't think any of the US releases were that chopped up.
I know Japan usually get two bonus tracks or different ones, UK usually get a couple, and the standard release is what the country of origin gets.
It's weird, I always thought if they aren't good enough to be on an album, just leave em off. Though some are good in some cases.
I realise I've gone somewhat off your point, but yeah.
I don't care really, I'm not patriotic about artists by any means. Artists generally have the ability to make me proud I chose music as my main interest, but it's never really about nationality. Most of the British acts that seem to succeed over there are ones I hate anyway, haha.
-AC
Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
Once more, with relevant info.Unless you're genuinely suggesting the RIAA and MPAA are now mobsters.
-AC
My charges against the music and film industry, evidence of which you can find on many sites and from many sources such as public citizen is that they are a consortium of companies which conspire to influence and set prices on their products in order to destroy market competition. They are involved in drug trafficking to their employees in order to keep them obedient and on the principle that a dead artist is always more valuable than a live one. They keep their front as legitimate organization through activities that can best be described as bribery as evidenced by the Fair Use music controversy in 1999, and they threaten anyone who crosses them through extortion by threat of exhorbitant lawsuits which imply that EVERY download is a lost sale and usually equal to 10,000% of the actual financial loss. They knowingly and willfully conspire with their lawyers and legal council to fabricate charges and occasionally argue cases on behalf of property they don't own against many in the population, including students, children, the deceased, and the innocent and have even set up a website and a program to extort money from students they suspect of downloads.
Now, how RICO works. There are are series of laws, about 36 i believe which include racketeering, extortion, murder, bribery, etc. which if a company is guilty of any two, are considered to be a part of organized crime. Rico charges may also be brought up against any company using malicious lawsuits in order to stifle legal activity. Under this definition both the RIAA and MPAA can be considered Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations, therefore, mobsters.