No Matter How You Spin It, It's Illegal

[Rohan Kohli]

The RIAA is still coming after your file-sharing ass (http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/newsPage.cgi?news06031).

[eclipse]

and no matter what they do, i'm still not scared.

[backstagebethy]

anybody wanna post the text to that so i don't have to register for yet another lame website?

[Katie Schmitz]

hmmm

[Goodbye Forever]

Sure...

HERE THEY GO AGAIN: RIAA BACK ON THE OFFENSIVE
Org Files 750 More Individual Copyright Infringement Lawsuits

January 31, 2006

Illegal file-sharers beware. The RIAA is still after your copyright-infringing butt.

The trade org, representing the major labels, announced a new round of lawsuits against 750 more individuals who allegedly took the tags off their mattresses.

The new “John Doe” suits filed today cite individuals for "illegally distributing copyrighted music on the Internet via unauthorized peer-to-peer services such as LimeWire and Kazaa and for "downloading shlock from Air Supply and Englebert Humperdinck." In addition to these litigations, the major music companies filed lawsuits earlier this month against 112 named defendants in California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin.

RIAA President Cary Sherman, before announcing he'd be sending troops into the affected areas to secure order, commented: “While the music companies continue to innovate and develop new digital ways to offer music to fans, we will do our part to hold illegal downloaders accountable. Prosecuting songlifting is integral to helping protect the ability of record companies to invest in the up-and-coming bands of tomorrow and level the playing field for legal online services. The illegal downloading of music is just as wrong as shoplifting from a local store. It's against the law, and breaking the law must carry consequences. And no, I don't give a damn what Lefsetz says.”

Lawsuits were filed in Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose, California; Fort Lauderdale, Fort Pierce, Miami, and Pensacola, Florida; Atlanta and Newnan, Georgia; Council Bluffs, Des Moines, and Rock Island, Iowa; Evansville, Indianapolis, and Terre Haute, Indiana; Boston and Worchester, Massachusetts; Baltimore and Greenbelt, Maryland; Ann Arbor, Bay City, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Marquette, Michigan; Brooklyn, Central Islip, New York, and White Plains, New York; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Columbia, Florence, Greenville, and Spartanburg, South Carolina; Abilene, Corpus Christi, Fort Worth, Galveston, Houston, Midland, San Angelo, San Antonio, and Waco, Texas; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

[Spicoli hey bud]

but my mom always told me to share

[silverloydstein]

hey let's file share.. hurry.

[thehighwaysend]

ooooo the riaa. me so scared.

[aolsux]

anyone ysi??

[The Fix]

wah wah wah wah wah go fuck yourself RIAA

[nateisawesome]

what a bunch of douchebags

[HelpSaveSteve]

I'm a junior at Columbia University who was threatened with a lawsuit by the RIAA. I've set up a site to recoup some of the $3750 settlement that I have to pay them.

Please check it out at http://HelpSaveSteve.blogspot.com (http://helpsavesteve.blogspot.com/) and donate if you can.

Thanks for your support!
Steve

[DroppedUrPocket]

anybody wanna post the text to that so i don't have to register for yet another lame website?
www.bugmenot.com

Your new best friend.

[backstagebethy]

Bless you, child.

[DroppedUrPocket]

Bless you, child.
*bows*

You're welcome.

[The Revisionist]

So after reading the article and seeing the comments about "troops" and "shlock", I am somewhat skeptical that this is a real article.

[Rohan Kohli]

So after reading the article and seeing the comments about "troops" and "shlock", I am somewhat skeptical that this is a real article.

HitsDailyDouble likes to joke around in their articles, but they don't make stuff up like that. They're pretty much the AP.net for people who work at major labels.

[Grybo]

spartenburg sc, phewwww. jk but seriously,
how much do these bitches get charged

[TommyGunn]

i think it is great that the RIAA continues to push this. It is amazing how many people are fine with stealing music from artists and the companies that they are signed too. There are a lot of things that I think should be legal (cocaine, heroin, pot, prostitution, gambling, etc.) but the fact is they are illegal. At least with those things they are victimless crimes. Stealing music is (a) wrong and (b) a sign that you really need to get a fucking job. If you can't even afford to buy a CD, then you should not have a computer to download music with. You need your money for other things, trust me.

And don't pull out the whole "oh I want to make sure I like the CD before I buy it"...there are plenty of places to hear the music before buying (AP.net, Purevolume, headphones at the stores, etc.).

And REALLY don't pull out the "but I'll buy tickets to the show and a t-shirt". who cares.

Cheap bastards.

[DroppedUrPocket]

And REALLY don't pull out the "but I'll buy tickets to the show and a t-shirt". who cares.

I prefer my money goes directly to the band, thanks.

[TommyGunn]

I prefer my money goes directly to the band, thanks.

I told you not to, and you did it anyway. you pathetic idiot.

If bands CDs do not sell in the stores, the label will not give the band tour support. Which means they won't tour. If a band is not selling records, other bands wont take that band out on tour.

Educate yourself my friend. Someday you will understand.

[jeweltosparkle]

i think it is great that the RIAA continues to push this. It is amazing how many people are fine with stealing music from artists and the companies that they are signed too. There are a lot of things that I think should be legal (cocaine, heroin, pot, prostitution, gambling, etc.) but the fact is they are illegal. At least with those things they are victimless crimes. Stealing music is (a) wrong and (b) a sign that you really need to get a fucking job. If you can't even afford to buy a CD, then you should not have a computer to download music with. You need your money for other things, trust me.

And don't pull out the whole "oh I want to make sure I like the CD before I buy it"...there are plenty of places to hear the music before buying (AP.net, Purevolume, headphones at the stores, etc.).

And REALLY don't pull out the "but I'll buy tickets to the show and a t-shirt". who cares.

Cheap bastards.

Sorry not all of us can be as rich as you and buy every cd that comes out. Maybe it's less about being "cheap bastards" as it is about not having the money. I'd much rather spend the limited money I have on a concert to see the band live then go get ripped off at Tower Records, and pay $20 for 10 tracks. Yay for being a pretentious asshole!

[DroppedUrPocket]

I told you not to, and you did it anyway. you pathetic idiot.

If bands CDs do not sell in the stores, the label will not give the band tour support. Which means they won't tour. If a band is not selling records, other bands wont take that band out on tour.

Educate yourself my friend. Someday you will understand.
Hey now. I didn't fucking insult you. There's no need for that kind of shit.

Bands are still selling records. Apparently bands are selling enough records to go on tours. Bands who are UNSIGNED are still going out on tours. And bands who are signed to small labels are still going out on tours.

I feel I'm doing my part by going to shows, tipping the merch people, and buying a shirt or a hoodie and a CD. I'm pretty sure a lot of bands are plenty happy with that.

[TommyGunn]

Hey now. I didn't fucking insult you. There's no need for that kind of shit.

Bands are still selling records. Apparently bands are selling enough records to go on tours. Bands who are UNSIGNED are still going out on tours. And bands who are signed to small labels are still going out on tours.

I feel I'm doing my part by going to shows, tipping the merch people, and buying a shirt or a hoodie and a CD. I'm pretty sure a lot of bands are plenty happy with that.

There is a lot of need for that kind of shit. You are so clueless.

I can tell you for a fact that no band is happy with people illegally downloading their music. And the ones that say they are fine with it are only saying it to be cool. And they are not cool at all. For the most part they suck, which is why no one will actually pay for their music.

If you are buying a CD as you say above, then you are not quite as big of an idiot as I may have thought. Still an idiot, just not as big a one.

[DroppedUrPocket]

There is a lot of need for that kind of shit. You are so clueless.

I can tell you for a fact that no band is happy with people illegally downloading their music. And the ones that say they are fine with it are only saying it to be cool. And they are not cool at all. For the most part they suck, which is why no one will actually pay for their music.

If you are buying a CD as you say above, then you are not quite as big of an idiot as I may have thought. Still an idiot, just not as big a one.
So basically what you're saying is that no one is going to listen to you because you're continuing to insult people like a prick.

Nice one. :thumbsup: You're really baiting people to actually go buy CDs.

[TommyGunn]

So basically what you're saying is that no one is going to listen to you because you're continuing to insult people like a prick.

Nice one. :thumbsup: You're really baiting people to actually go buy CDs.

no that is not what I am saying. That may be the RESULT of what I am saying, but I did not say anything like that. What I did say is that you are an idiot. And you are doing a fine job of proving my point.

Let me make it real simple for you...illegal dowloading and file sharing has the word "illegal" in front of it for a reason.

Now you can argue that it should not be illegal if you want. But you cannot argue against the fact that you are STEALING from hard working bands. That is just a fact and there is no argument against it. It would be like if you walked out of a 7-11 with a candy bar that you did not pay for and tried to say it was not stealing.

Again, I think doing massive amounts of blow should be legal, and I partake in it as often as possible. But I admit that I am doing something illegal and don't try to put some moral twist on it to convince myself that I am not really breaking the law.

[leftcoastposer]

There is a lot of need for that kind of shit. You are so clueless.

I can tell you for a fact that no band is happy with people illegally downloading their music. And the ones that say they are fine with it are only saying it to be cool. And they are not cool at all. For the most part they suck, which is why no one will actually pay for their music.

If you are buying a CD as you say above, then you are not quite as big of an idiot as I may have thought. Still an idiot, just not as big a one.


That's sort of presumptuous to say that no band is happy with people illegally downloading their music. i'm glad you put illegally in and all, but some bands would prefer to grow in popularity and have their music heard. in fact, some bands voice their opinions for more reasons than to just "be cool". and also, they don't all suck.

some bands (i can't go out of my way and say that all bands do) are about the music. yes, they are also about making some money too. i'm not ignoring that fact. but if a band says to download some old track or even their whole album, i'm going to take what they say as fact, even if you do apparently know their true intentions and secret agendas to fit in with the in crowd.

you are not the end-all source on this issue. just wanted to make sure you are aware of it. and maybe i'm also sort of an asshole in a bad mood right now.

[TommyGunn]

That's sort of presumptuous to say that no band is happy with people illegally downloading their music. i'm glad you put illegally in and all, but some bands would prefer to grow in popularity and have their music heard. in fact, some bands voice their opinions for more reasons than to just "be cool". and also, they don't all suck.

some bands (i can't go out of my way and say that all bands do) are about the music. yes, they are also about making some money too. i'm not ignoring that fact. but if a band says to download some old track or even their whole album, i'm going to take what they say as fact, even if you do apparently know their true intentions and secret agendas to fit in with the in crowd.

you are not the end-all source on this issue. just wanted to make sure you are aware of it. and maybe i'm also sort of an asshole in a bad mood right now.

good points. but I cant think of any band off hand that has said "yeah, you should check out our two old CDs, they are really good. Just illegally download them or burn them from your friend".

But your point is well thought out and point taken.

[Rohan Kohli]

good points. but I cant think of any band off hand that has said "yeah, you should check out our two old CDs, they are really good. Just illegally download them or burn them from your friend".

But your point is well thought out and point taken.

Ian MacKaye from Minor Threat/Fugazi ;)

[TommyGunn]

Ian MacKaye from Minor Threat/Fugazi ;)

damn you Rohan. OK, but that is the exception to the rule.

[leftcoastposer]

good points. but I cant think of any band off hand that has said "yeah, you should check out our two old CDs, they are really good. Just illegally download them or burn them from your friend".

But your point is well thought out and point taken.


Thanks for responding and giving some thought to what i said.

Bands definitely don't commonly say that and almost certainly would not use the word illegally. I know when i've heard it, it was either partially due to problems with their label (i think Thursday at Warped Tour told the crowd to download Five Stories Falling, but that was because of their resentment towards Victory Records if i remember correctly) or because of lack of availability (Something Corporate said that Ready...Set...Break wasn' available in stores, it might be re-released, but that fans should just download it off the internet).

But you are right that it is called illegal for a reason and that artists do need to get paid. I think it hurts the bands in the middle a lot (like Thrice, for instance) because they are sort of popular but they don't really get much radio play and they don't sell a HUGE amount of CDs. A lot of people who listen to their music download it. However, to contemplate how much money a big star like Britney Spears loses to downloading seems like a lost cause to me. In principle, it's still wrong, but she's not sleeping in her tour van or missing a meal.

[robsmith]

those hippies in bands should get real jobs and stop making music I enjoy!

[Sureshot182]

first off, RIAA...i'll say i don't dl music, so suck it. if it weren't for burnt cd's, files, etc in the past i would have never gotten into MANY bands i am into now. further seems forever for example. i got moon is down on a burnt cd, and now i own shirts, sticker, pins, etc... i'm sure that inital cd just bothers the shit out of them and they hate me now. i do not feel sorry for kelly clarkston or mettalica. i am sorry, they can suck a testicle. the bands that are hurt by file sharing are the ones in the middle. ie, saves the day, say anything, bad religion, etc... however, file sharing is networking. networking = success. a band makes money of touring. most bands get under 30 cents per cd sold, a shirt on tour..they get 10-12 dollars minus the 3 is costs to make the shirt.

[Kram41]

There are lots of other things/people that go into making a record than just the band playing their instruments. They need to be compensated too. Bands usually take a couple of months at the least to record a full-length and someone has to be paying for their cost of living at that time. Lots of the money bands make on tour go towards gas and food and a vehicle. Buy CDs if you do have any sort of ability to do so (including going out and getting a job if you have to).

If you already have a job and are stuggling to pay for rent and food each month, I'm not talking to you. If you are a lazy ass, start supporting the music you love.

[ShallowDepths]

You know.. I think about the "what if's" of the RIAA lawsuits affecting myself personally....
I cant help but wonder what they'd say to someone who actually owned EVERYTHING they were accused of "illegally" downloading?

[A picasso blue]

I must say, CDs arent really that expensive and if they are, then youre going to the wrong places.


"Californication" was $20 at FYE but

only $13 at Circuit City


and if they were any cheaper, the artists would get even less than the meager check hes handed from the crecord companies anyway

[birdman]

Downloading music is stealing, abortion is killing a baby. However, I have no problem with either.

[ETesdall]

You know.. I think about the "what if's" of the RIAA lawsuits affecting myself personally....
I cant help but wonder what they'd say to someone who actually owned EVERYTHING they were accused of "illegally" downloading?


Actually just so you know, people are getting in trouble for illegally sharing files and not downloading. Its a funny topic because most of the mass public thinks you get in trouble for the actual downloading part, maybe you can if they could catch you, but that would be a lot harder. So they catch the ones that download it, rip, ect. and then turn around and share it on these networks.

[ETesdall]

i think it is great that the RIAA continues to push this. It is amazing how many people are fine with stealing music from artists and the companies that they are signed too. There are a lot of things that I think should be legal (cocaine, heroin, pot, prostitution, gambling, etc.) but the fact is they are illegal. At least with those things they are victimless crimes. Stealing music is (a) wrong and (b) a sign that you really need to get a fucking job. If you can't even afford to buy a CD, then you should not have a computer to download music with. You need your money for other things, trust me.

And don't pull out the whole "oh I want to make sure I like the CD before I buy it"...there are plenty of places to hear the music before buying (AP.net, Purevolume, headphones at the stores, etc.).

And REALLY don't pull out the "but I'll buy tickets to the show and a t-shirt". who cares.

Cheap bastards.


What is your stance on people who download but buy every album when they can afford it. Its one thing to buy one cd, but when there are soooooo many bands these days that are good its hard to drop 50-100 dollars everytime you want to purchase music.

Also what about mainstream music like rap cds that contain one tollerable song. not saying any of its right, but you mainly were focusing on BANDS, what about the others that didnt work hard at all and are pampered and have people write thier songs for them? thats all

[jeweltosparkle]

Fuck while they're at it why don't they sue all the companies that sell blank cds. Obviously the only reason 75% of blank cds are bought is to illegally make copies of bands albums. I bet most of the high and mighty people who "refuse to download illegally" have burned a copy of their favorite cd for a friend or atleast have one or two burned copies in their collection

[wastedspacejm]

good points. but I cant think of any band off hand that has said "yeah, you should check out our two old CDs, they are really good. Just illegally download them or burn them from your friend".

But your point is well thought out and point taken.

thursday and say anything. i've heard thursday say it live, and...

Anyways, I’m excited for you guys to hear Say Anything’..was a Real Boy, and if you already have it, give your friends a listen, even burn it for them.

[NonOperational]

no that is not what I am saying. That may be the RESULT of what I am saying, but I did not say anything like that. What I did say is that you are an idiot. And you are doing a fine job of proving my point.

Let me make it real simple for you...illegal dowloading and file sharing has the word "illegal" in front of it for a reason.

Now you can argue that it should not be illegal if you want. But you cannot argue against the fact that you are STEALING from hard working bands. That is just a fact and there is no argument against it. It would be like if you walked out of a 7-11 with a candy bar that you did not pay for and tried to say it was not stealing.

Again, I think doing massive amounts of blow should be legal, and I partake in it as often as possible. But I admit that I am doing something illegal and don't try to put some moral twist on it to convince myself that I am not really breaking the law.
wow that is a really fucking stupid thing to say. Shut up you fucking coke head. Go suck dick for crack

[postpaintboy]

I told you not to, and you did it anyway. you pathetic idiot.

If bands CDs do not sell in the stores, the label will not give the band tour support. Which means they won't tour. If a band is not selling records, other bands wont take that band out on tour.

Educate yourself my friend. Someday you will understand.

the guy who thinks the majority of bands get tour support from their label is calling someone else an idiot? im not saying people should download their favorite band's albums, but i also believe its not a horrible arguement to say that youll go see the band live and buy a t-shirt. a good movie that deals with this issue is 'dreaming in america', the lucero documentary. they sold thousands of their first two albums and only got four tiny royalty checks, two of which bounced. they make their living on the road with none of this "label support" your talking about. and they are not in the minority, they are in the majority. ive been booking shows and working with bands for 5 years now, believe me. and maybe tone it down a bit, you sound like a prick.

[TommyGunn]

What is your stance on people who download but buy every album when they can afford it. Its one thing to buy one cd, but when there are soooooo many bands these days that are good its hard to drop 50-100 dollars everytime you want to purchase music.

Also what about mainstream music like rap cds that contain one tollerable song. not saying any of its right, but you mainly were focusing on BANDS, what about the others that didnt work hard at all and are pampered and have people write thier songs for them? thats all

Good questions. Yes, there are a lot of bands. And maybe you can afford every one. But there are also tons of really cool cars on the market and i cant afford to own them all. It does not mean I should steal the ones I cant afford.

I hate to say this and sound all high and might, but anyone over the age of 18 should be able to afford 10-20 CDs per week. And if that is not enough to keep you happy for a while well than you are just damn addicted son! ha

And if you only want ONE song...that is what places like iTunes are for. Buy the song you want for 99 cents.

[kissbangkill]

i can't afford cds. and when i can, i buy them. in the meantime, i'm not going to deny myself music that i love and you can all kiss my ass. :) .

[TommyGunn]

the guy who thinks the majority of bands get tour support from their label is calling someone else an idiot? im not saying people should download their favorite band's albums, but i also believe its not a horrible arguement to say that youll go see the band live and buy a t-shirt. a good movie that deals with this issue is 'dreaming in america', the lucero documentary. they sold thousands of their first two albums and only got four tiny royalty checks, two of which bounced. they make their living on the road with none of this "label support" your talking about. and they are not in the minority, they are in the majority. ive been booking shows and working with bands for 5 years now, believe me. and maybe tone it down a bit, you sound like a prick.

WOW! 5 years? You really must be an expert then. Call me when you have half the experience I do and we'll talk (which, for the record, will be about 10 years from now).

[TommyGunn]

i can't afford cds. and when i can, i buy them. in the meantime, i'm not going to deny myself music that i love and you can all kiss my ass. :) .

time for a job my helpless little friend.

[kissbangkill]

time for a job my helpless little friend.

i've got one. i've also got living expenses and not much of a support system. should i be denied music? no. but when i can afford the 13 bucks, i spend it. i love supporting the bands i care about and whose music is important to me. plus, cd layouts make it worth the cost. but like i said, i'm not going to deny myself the music that i love just because i'm broke.

[Adeniz19]

Good questions. Yes, there are a lot of bands. And maybe you can afford every one. But there are also tons of really cool cars on the market and i cant afford to own them all. It does not mean I should steal the ones I cant afford.

I hate to say this and sound all high and might, but anyone over the age of 18 should be able to afford 10-20 CDs per week. And if that is not enough to keep you happy for a while well than you are just damn addicted son! ha

And if you only want ONE song...that is what places like iTunes are for. Buy the song you want for 99 cents.i am 21 and theres no way i can spend $200 dollars per week on CDs. that is 2/3 of my pay check.

[ThatGirl]

i can't afford cds. and when i can, i buy them. in the meantime, i'm not going to deny myself music that i love and you can all kiss my ass. :) .
cds are always cheaper at shows too. buy them there. besides. then you get to tell the guys hey thanks for being so fucking awesome and coming to play my lame ass home town venue.

[clevernapkins]

"everyone over the age of 18 should be able to buy 10-20 cd's per week."

i'm not even going to consider that statement as a real opinion. god, you're a fucking idiot.

[Adeniz19]

i always wondered that if you bought cd's at shows if the bands get a bigger cut because there is no middle man

[thegreatescape1]

i always wondered that if you bought cd's at shows if the bands get a bigger cut because there is no middle man
i think that they wouldnt because the band would have to buy the cds directly from the label because the label usually pays for the funds to print it and all

[Adeniz19]

i think that they wouldnt because the band would have to buy the cds directly from the label because the label usually pays for the funds to print it and allya but if the band buys cds in bulk you would think they get them at a cheaper price so then they would make a greater profit from it.

[thegreatescape1]

ya but if the band buys cds in bulk you would think they get them at a cheaper price so then they would make a greater profit from it.
yeah i agree with you now

[Adeniz19]

yeah i agree with you nowya i always wondered how it works. this seems like the logical way.

[JunkBondTrader]

damn you Rohan. OK, but that is the exception to the rule.
im gonna go download a cd right now just because you are a jackass......so i guess you havent done any good whatsoever except make yourself sound like a prick and force me to download a cd.

[TommyGunn]

"everyone over the age of 18 should be able to buy 10-20 cd's per week."

i'm not even going to consider that statement as a real opinion. god, you're a fucking idiot.

are you kidding me? have you looked at the EMPLOYMENT section of a fucking newspaper lately? There are more jobs than there are people in my town.

Some people are so pathetic. Here is a hot tip for anyone complaining that they cant afford CDs. If you are not making at least $1k per week then you have a shitty job. I paid my own way through college working 2 jobs. Even when in college I made at least $1k per week.

PM me and I will FIND you a job...how is that for an offer?

[TommyGunn]

im gonna go download a cd right now just because you are a jackass......so i guess you havent done any good whatsoever except make yourself sound like a prick and force me to download a cd.

Come on dude. You already have to carry that fat chick around on your back in your profile picture. You dont also want to carry around the guilt of stealing money from starving artists, do you?

[kissbangkill]

are you kidding me? have you looked at the EMPLOYMENT section of a fucking newspaper lately? There are more jobs than there are people in my town.

Some people are so pathetic. Here is a hot tip for anyone complaining that they cant afford CDs. If you are not making at least $1k per week then you have a shitty job. I paid my own way through college working 2 jobs. Even when in college I made at least $1k per week.

PM me and I will FIND you a job...how is that for an offer?

you've seriously got to be kidding me with this shit. SOME people have families to support. yes, even 18, 19, 20, etc. year olds. SOME people have bills to pay. SOME people don't have families paying their bills for them. SOME people work 2, even 3 jobs, and still can't afford to buy a cd on pay day. SOME people aren't qualified for jobs that pay 1K a week. yes, SOME people have shitty jobs, but guess what, not everyone is as brilliant and wealthy as you and have to keep their shitty jobs so they can afford to live. not everyone is presented with the opportunities that others are presented with. seriously, i don't know if you're ignorant, or just plain retarded. please let me know, because i swear, that was easily the dumbest thing i've ever read in my entire life.

[Adeniz19]

are you kidding me? have you looked at the EMPLOYMENT section of a fucking newspaper lately? There are more jobs than there are people in my town.

Some people are so pathetic. Here is a hot tip for anyone complaining that they cant afford CDs. If you are not making at least $1k per week then you have a shitty job. I paid my own way through college working 2 jobs. Even when in college I made at least $1k per week.

PM me and I will FIND you a job...how is that for an offer?are you fucking kidding me. to make 1k per week you would have to be making $25 an hour and working a 40 hr. week. Not much jobs pay that. You are so full of shit.

[Suchasucker]

are you kidding me? have you looked at the EMPLOYMENT section of a fucking newspaper lately? There are more jobs than there are people in my town.

Some people are so pathetic. Here is a hot tip for anyone complaining that they cant afford CDs. If you are not making at least $1k per week then you have a shitty job. I paid my own way through college working 2 jobs. Even when in college I made at least $1k per week.

PM me and I will FIND you a job...how is that for an offer?
I'd like to know how it's possible for 18 year olds to get (legal) jobs that pay $1k a week, when they obviously don't have the college degrees that would warrant getting paid that much.

On a side note, you are most pompous asshole I've seen in my entire life.

[Mercy Medical]

Evansville, Indianapolis, and Terre Haute, Indiana

Woo! I'm safe!

[Elijscott]

I don't want to come off like a jerk... but I think the main point of all of this is... arrogance and pompous aside: It is illegal to steal music.

You can argue semantics like "the artist doesn't see the money" or "I wouldn't buy this CD anyway" or "I'll go to the show", or whatever justification you choose, it is still just that, justifying, because it is illegal and it is not yours to steal.

I realize that this isn't going to stop anyone from doing it, but you should be able to admit that to yourself.

It is, at it's core, the same difference as going into a store and stealing a CD. If you want to "preview it".. there are plenty of streaming sites (ap.net for one), where you don't actually possess the stated property.

[TommyGunn]

I don't want to come off like a jerk... but I think the main point of all of this is... arrogance and pompous aside: It is illegal to steal music.

You can argue semantics like "the artist doesn't see the money" or "I wouldn't buy this CD anyway" or "I'll go to the show", or whatever justification you choose, it is still just that, justifying, because it is illegal and it is not yours to steal.

I realize that this isn't going to stop anyone from doing it, but you should be able to admit that to yourself.

It is, at it's core, the same difference as going into a store and stealing a CD. If you want to "preview it".. there are plenty of streaming sites (ap.net for one), where you don't actually possess the stated property.

amen

[jeweltosparkle]

get ready for a long ass post lol (sorry I had to vent)

Downloading's illegal. I'm pretty sure peeing on the wall outside of a bar is too, but I've still done it. Let's post about how it's ok to do because I'm still supporting the bar by buying drinks there. That should justify what I'm doing illegally and make me feel good about myself and morally in the right. OR I can just admit that what I'm doing isn't right but I do it anyways (because I dont want to wait in line) and go have another beer. People need to stop justifying their actions and just admit whether they think it's right or wrong it's still illegal. If you want to download, go ahead. If you get caught, sucks to be you but it's not like you didn't know what you were doing was illegal. On the other hand I don't blame the people who do get caught for making a big deal about it and claiming "Oh I didnt know what I was doing was wrong" I would do the same thing. If I got caught peeing on the wall by a cop and was given a ticket, I wouldnt be like "Yeah I know it's illegal thanks for the ticket" Fuck no I would try and justify my actions all night to the cop.

Get off your moral high horses and call it what it is. People just look petty when they come up with excuses for downloading "blah blah blah I support the band by buying merch and going to shows" or "Bands dont even make money off of cd sales blah blah blah" No you're downloading because there's free music that you don't even have to leave the house for and you'd rather spend $20 on a stack of blank cds than buy the actual cd. and you don't care that it's illegal. I doubt anyone can honestly say when they download songs that they don't know what they're doing is wrong.

I might not agree with how the RIAA/record labels are going about things. Running around like the damn music gestapo, taking 14 yr. olds to court. But fuck if someone was stealing money from me I wouldnt take them to court I would get my friends and go find that fucker. So it's not like they aren't justified in doing what they're doing. They're pissed. I'm sure if they thought it through there would be a much better way of handling it but they don't. So if anything don't bitch about WHAT they're doing, bitch about HOW they're doing it.

so basically


my anti drug: downloading

[clevernapkins]

dear tommygunn

a lot of people with college degrees don't even make 50k a year. downloading music is illegal, but your comments are just fucking retarded.

according to your math, you say that anyone over the age of 18 can buy 10-20 cds per week, which translates into 520 - 1040 cds per year, which translates into 6240 to 12480 bucks a year (at 12 bucks a cd).

Now sit back and just think for one second. Forget about how angry you are. Can the average 18 year old afford to spend somewhere between 6 - 12 grand a year on CDs?

the answer is no. i don't hate your point, i hate your argument because you appear to be the dumbest fucking person who has ever tried to have an opinion

[jeweltosparkle]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/merrynewyears/379862172_l.jpg

[AlreadyReady86]

I'm a junior at Columbia University who was threatened with a lawsuit by the RIAA. I've set up a site to recoup some of the $3750 settlement that I have to pay them.

Please check it out at http://HelpSaveSteve.blogspot.com (http://helpsavesteve.blogspot.com/) and donate if you can.

Thanks for your support!
Steve


i'm sorry man but that's ridiculous

if you didn't want to get caught file sharing you shouldn't have done it, simple as that. the fact that not everyone gets in trouble for it is irrelevant.


EDIT: my bad, i didn't notice this was already a 5-pager. i'm sure this has been addressed already so... yeah.

[Mercy Medical]

dear tommygunn

a lot of people with college degrees don't even make 50k a year. downloading music is illegal, but your comments are just fucking retarded.

according to your math, you say that anyone over the age of 18 can buy 10-20 cds per week, which translates into 520 - 1040 cds per year, which translates into 6240 to 12480 bucks a year (at 12 bucks a cd).

Now sit back and just think for one second. Forget about how angry you are. Can the average 18 year old afford to spend somewhere between 6 - 12 grand a year on CDs?

the answer is no. i don't hate your point, i hate your argument because you appear to be the dumbest fucking person who has ever tried to have an opinion
Hahahahahahaha

[MattMarsh]

Kenny from the Starting Line said he was fine with me (and anyone listening), to download Based on a True Story. He said he just wants people singing the songs.

[ETesdall]

dear tommygunn

a lot of people with college degrees don't even make 50k a year. downloading music is illegal, but your comments are just fucking retarded.

according to your math, you say that anyone over the age of 18 can buy 10-20 cds per week, which translates into 520 - 1040 cds per year, which translates into 6240 to 12480 bucks a year (at 12 bucks a cd).

Now sit back and just think for one second. Forget about how angry you are. Can the average 18 year old afford to spend somewhere between 6 - 12 grand a year on CDs?

the answer is no. i don't hate your point, i hate your argument because you appear to be the dumbest fucking person who has ever tried to have an opinion

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA and it all ends right there, I love it.

[jeweltosparkle]

i'm sorry man but that's ridiculous

if you didn't want to get caught file sharing you shouldn't have done it, simple as that. the fact that not everyone gets in trouble for it is irrelevant.


EDIT: my bad, i didn't notice this was already a 5-pager. i'm sure this has been addressed already so... yeah.

It hasn't been covered and I agree with you

[Suchasucker]

I don't want to come off like a jerk... but I think the main point of all of this is... arrogance and pompous aside: It is illegal to steal music.

You can argue semantics like "the artist doesn't see the money" or "I wouldn't buy this CD anyway" or "I'll go to the show", or whatever justification you choose, it is still just that, justifying, because it is illegal and it is not yours to steal.

I realize that this isn't going to stop anyone from doing it, but you should be able to admit that to yourself.

It is, at it's core, the same difference as going into a store and stealing a CD. If you want to "preview it".. there are plenty of streaming sites (ap.net for one), where you don't actually possess the stated property.
The thing I don't understand is how it is considered illegal, when I've had band members themselves tell me to go and download their material.

If I've got the band's permission, I don't see what the problem is.

And NO, that's not me trying to "justify" my actions... I genuinely want to know the logic behind your stance.

[clevernapkins]

yeah i totally owned that guy

math rulez