- Joined
- 25 June 2009
- Messages
- 13,745
- Reaction score
- 2,930
Not to condone piracy in any way, but I always figured that the proportion of people who actually ruled out forever buying stuff and go for copies alone have got to be a minority. When we had cassette tapes, I would go borrow many albums from the library and copy them... I had hundreds of tapes, but it never stopped me from buying the stuff I REALLY wanted. When I loved an aviation book, I used to photocopy the best parts, but if I really loved the book I eventually bought it. As for DVDs, copies do not bring the same enjoyment as the real thing and its packaging. And when we talk about scanned books, forget it. I don't like to read a book on a screen, and I think I'm not the only one. Those who really like books will continue to buy some, no matter what.
Just like the music I used to tape from the library, I believe that peer-to-peer done in a reasonable and discerning way is a way to expand one's knowledge in a cheap and space-friendly way. I DO have some aviation books in so-called "pirated" form that I would never have purchased otherwise, but it's easier to have them on my hard disk for reference than to call every aviation buff I know when I look for information (aviation libraries do not exist...). But I also have a couple of bookcases packed with aviation books and magazines which I purchased and treasured. Similarly I do have so-called "pirated" music that I would never have purchased anyway, but at this point in my life I don't have the time or the energy to continue browsing libraries and music shops for hours listening to a lot of stuff, so I guess it makes up for it. I still purchase CDs when I really like something, because I always prefer the real thing.
Finally, even before peer-to-peer existed, I have always refused to tape albums done by emerging artists trying to make a living off their music, and refered my friends to the nearest outlet instead. I have a lot of musicians among my friends and I think it is a moral responsibility to buy their stuff and never copy it. I would not have such hang-ups if someone asked me to do a copy of, say, the latest Mariah Carey album. Similarly, I believe it is a responsible attitude to systematically purchase and never copy the books done by our forum members. These will never be mainstream books with high circulation, and copying their work can be very damaging.
At the end of the day, it is just a case of adopting a reasonable, responsible behaviour. There will always be leeches and profiteers who never want to buy anything and live off everybody else. But most of us will buy some and swap some. I know I do. Let he who never used a P2P software send me the first stone.
Just like the music I used to tape from the library, I believe that peer-to-peer done in a reasonable and discerning way is a way to expand one's knowledge in a cheap and space-friendly way. I DO have some aviation books in so-called "pirated" form that I would never have purchased otherwise, but it's easier to have them on my hard disk for reference than to call every aviation buff I know when I look for information (aviation libraries do not exist...). But I also have a couple of bookcases packed with aviation books and magazines which I purchased and treasured. Similarly I do have so-called "pirated" music that I would never have purchased anyway, but at this point in my life I don't have the time or the energy to continue browsing libraries and music shops for hours listening to a lot of stuff, so I guess it makes up for it. I still purchase CDs when I really like something, because I always prefer the real thing.
Finally, even before peer-to-peer existed, I have always refused to tape albums done by emerging artists trying to make a living off their music, and refered my friends to the nearest outlet instead. I have a lot of musicians among my friends and I think it is a moral responsibility to buy their stuff and never copy it. I would not have such hang-ups if someone asked me to do a copy of, say, the latest Mariah Carey album. Similarly, I believe it is a responsible attitude to systematically purchase and never copy the books done by our forum members. These will never be mainstream books with high circulation, and copying their work can be very damaging.
At the end of the day, it is just a case of adopting a reasonable, responsible behaviour. There will always be leeches and profiteers who never want to buy anything and live off everybody else. But most of us will buy some and swap some. I know I do. Let he who never used a P2P software send me the first stone.
