Morality and downloading

[bennyboy]

My need to have to spend all my money on groceries, leaving nothing for entertainment unless I want to watch paint dry, does necessitate me pirating.  Perhaps if we were all rich, we could all be entertained equally.  

Perhaps you could learn to play guitar to entertain yourself?

Oh, wait. That takes time, talent and creativity.  Who does that kind of shit unless there's a paycheck?

What cracks me up about the whole thing is that the same people who refuse to compensate artists for their labors complain about the quality of the output. If art is so easy, go make it yourself; entertain yourself for free.  

You'll see exactly why it should be compensated. It takes a hell of a lot of work, not to mention talent.

I don't see anybody illegally downloading small struggling Indie bands.  It's the Metallicas and the Britney Spears that get downloaded.  The small bands are doing gigs.  They draw bigger crowds so a pub can sell more beers.  And if they're lucky, they get laid once in a while.  I know plenty of good bands who would have standing orgasms if more than about 1000 people ever listened to anything they ever produced.