Morality and downloading

[One Above All]

For example, what happens if the majority of people download music?

Slippery-slope fallacy.
What happens if the majority of people buy music, no matter how much the artists jack up the prices? They'll start selling their children just to get a new CD! The horror!
Try again.

[bennyboy]

For example, what happens if the majority of people download music?

Slippery-slope fallacy.
What happens if the majority of people buy music, no matter how much the artists jack up the prices? They'll start selling their children just to get a new CD! The horror!
Try again.

Bullshit.  It's a question of how morality is founded.  Is there an absolute "truth" or is morality a consensus of those who live together in a community?

All along, I've been asking for some moral basis.  Not what do individuals think is moral or immoral, but on what basis we should found a moral system about this new technology?

[One Above All]

Slippery-slope fallacy.
What happens if the majority of people buy music, no matter how much the artists jack up the prices? They'll start selling their children just to get a new CD! The horror!
Try again.

Bullshit.

Really? Did you not just try to argue that it's wrong because it could lead to bad things happening?

All along, I've been asking for some moral basis. Not what do individuals think is moral or immoral, but on what basis we should found a moral system about this new technology?

I don't understand this question. Technology isn't good or evil, and morality is basically an average of behaviors individuals consider moral and immoral.

FYI: I justify piracy with the fact that game developers intentionally inflate their prices for no reason other than to maximize profits, and I find it hard to give even half a fuck whether they make slightly less money than they were hoping for, the latter of which is still in the millions.

[Cephus]

I never signed a social contract.

Irrelevant.  If you live in a social system, you agree, by default, to follow their laws or suffer the consequences thereof.  You don't have to like it, you don't have to enjoy it, but like it or not, you're going to live under it.  It's childish to pretned otherwise.

[Silver]

Irrelevant.  If you live in a social system, you agree, by default, to follow their laws or suffer the consequences thereof.  You don't have to like it, you don't have to enjoy it, but like it or not, you're going to live under it.  It's childish to pretned otherwise.

Is that not the same argument theists use in relation to god and how we are going to hell if we do not obey?

[bennyboy]

FYI: I justify piracy with the fact that game developers intentionally inflate their prices for no reason other than to maximize profits, and I find it hard to give even half a fuck whether they make slightly less money than they were hoping for, the latter of which is still in the millions.

So morality is a process, by which a thief determines whether the party being robbed deserves the stolen resources? I can steal, for example, Windows, because "Micro$oft" is big and evil, but I can't steal from an Indie game developer?

[Cephus]

Then it is the job of the game manufacturer to produce games that people want to buy at prices that they are willing to pay.  If developers do not succeed in both of those goals, they have failed.  The idea of "I made a game and can charge whatever I want and people owe me their money" is absurd.  It's got to be earned.

---

Irrelevant.  If you live in a social system, you agree, by default, to follow their laws or suffer the consequences thereof.  You don't have to like it, you don't have to enjoy it, but like it or not, you're going to live under it.  It's childish to pretned otherwise.

Is that not the same argument theists use in relation to god and how we are going to hell if we do not obey?

Yes, but they can't prove their gods are real, we absolutely can prove that society is real.

[Thumpalumpacus]

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.

[Silver]

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.

You fucking dumbass, honestly?

I am a writer by trade, so I consider myself quite creative.  However, being a creative writer trying to make a mark in society does not guarantee success in writing.  

The part that really gets to me is that you make it seem as though having a job where one works and makes money means one has more time to spend on one's talents or hobbies.  You are a dumbass.  I work forty hours a week and I have no time to work on anything outside of work.  I work and sleep, that's about it.

I know what being an artist entails, you piece of shit.  You should apologize.  Please do.

[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.