[I decided not to send this one to the list....for
obvious reasons. It may seem written in places as
though it is speaking to everyone, but I decided to
just respond to you. I love this topic and the length
is getting a bit absurd. ;) ]
quoted 4 lines P2p a tool. It is not an intrinsic good or evil.
> >P2p a tool. It is not an intrinsic good or evil.
>
> Nobody said it was.
> ---------
Actually the above was a....thesis, if you will. ;)
A statement not refuting anyone in particular. I used
it to simply warm up my primary point - it takes an
understanding of the motivations behind downloading
before one can write them off as freeloaders.
quoted 9 lines I would tell anyone that I downloaded their music.
> >I would tell anyone that I downloaded their music.
> >Small or large artist alike.. If they have a
> problem
> >with it, I certainly can think of greater
> misfortunes.
>
> How glib. So much for giving a rip about what anyone
> else thinks.
> --------
I'm writing a fairly involved post on the subject. Of
course I care about what everyone else thinks of the
subject...except people who keep saying "NOT THIS
SUBJECT AGAIN!" Christ, I don't read about 75% of the
idm list either, but I happen to be interested in this
topic and have not seriously explored it before on
this list. (See, Donna S.'s previous post for
additional instruction.) If you want I'll drive to
your town and hit the fucking delete button for you.
Anyway, I write this in the *context of idm* as the
community has somewhat different standards from the
major labels, and the sharing of music could have a
different meaning for us. Actually indy music in
general.
I do not care, as stated at the end of my initial
post, what the artist would feel about me personally
prior to understanding my motivations *for*
downloading.
I refer to the person who posted "Who would be stupid
enough to tell someone they downloaded someone's
album?"
I would.
quoted 7 lines That's fine. But some people (as is obvious from the
> That's fine. But some people (as is obvious from the
> post to which we both
> allude) who make music do not feel that way.
> All I am suggesting is that it's a bit selfish to
> write how they feel off
> as if it's insignificant - in fact, I'm not
> suggesting it...I'm stating it.
Okay, so sould we make a list of people who care and
people who do not care? The reason I think many people
who do voice this opinion are simply being realistic -
it is not going to go away, so I might as well seek
something positive and appeal to my fan's sense of
fairness. This, as opposed to saying nothing.
I notice, and this of course is mere speculation, that
most semi-major to major artists avoid this topic all
together because there is no essential good/bad to it.
It is just how it is used.
The only time I will "write off" an artists opinion is
when I learn that their opinion involves a blanket
generalization of file sharers as wicked people -
those who would judge simply by the statement "I
downloaded your album" period. Not why it was
downloaded, or how it was dealt with after listening
to it. They have this right to feel this way of
course, but it is not at all practical in our culture.
Don't miss his point
quoted 5 lines though; if the IDM
> though; if the IDM
> community (and I use the term loosely) dips from the
> well until it's dry,
> they only have themselves to blame when there's a
> drought.
Certainly there is potential that many many parties
involved will lose capital over the abuses we write
of, and that would be very unfortunate.
The whole argument of the well drying up, though? I
can think of few who sequence with dollar signs in
their eyes to begin with. Perhaps I only speak for
myself, but I write music for music's sake as first
priority. I'm no Nautilis, but I'm proud of what I do.
If I can raise capitol from it, great, but as far as
I'm concerned this is not the motivation behind a good
bit of music out there. I would send cdrs out to
anyone asking me for one, for no profit whatever.
Postage, etc. Just as long as they tell me what they
think. It is not good that the industry will hurt to
some degree, but the idea of a "well drying up" is
just impossible for me to fathom. If I did profit it
would be nice to offset my cost of production, but I
don't use a studio for anything. I just have a good
bit invested in home equipment. Some of my favorite
releases have been done in bedrooms across the world.
People shouldn't have to resort to this technique, and
they deserve a return on their investments, studio or
home alike - this is just simply the reality of why
the well will never really "dry up" as it may in terms
of pop music - music explicitly for profit.
quoted 9 lines And don't miss my point. Other people - who make the
> And don't miss my point. Other people - who make the
> music and have a right
> to feel infringed upon IF indeed they do - see
> things differently...and I
> would argue that as the artists in question (re: the
> person who posted),
> probably have more warrant in feeling what they feel
> about it than those
> who "don't give a shit" what anybody else thinks.
We have an equal stake in the methods of understanding
what we are to invest in - production and support of
that production. The reality (and I stress reality)
of file sharing provides an enviornment for anyone,
artist and consumer alike, to make value judgements. I
do not have to "give a shit" about one's personal
opinion of my actions, prior to seeking a positive or
negative justification, to maintain an explicit
opinion of the subject as a whole.
I will concede that there is something unfair about
the artist not having a choice to begin with
concerning the sharing of their intellectual property.
This unfairness, however, is simply not large enough
to offset the potential good that file sharing does
for me - and many other artists that seem to have a
positive outlook on it.
quoted 4 lines Once again, I don't think
> Once again, I don't think
> the poster was referring to people who download,
> like it and then support
> the artist. 'Nuff said.
And I agree with that entirely.
Thank you for taking the time to respond.
Brandon Smith
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