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I'm personally seeing an explosion of people embracing piracy. People that were previously vehemently opposed to it (like my in-laws) are now pirating large amo

I'm personally seeing an explosion of people embracing piracy. People that were previously vehemently opposed to it (like my in-laws) are now pirating large amounts of content. The rise in streaming service costs while simultaneously reducing catalog content is pushing a lot of these folks over. What we have now is almost worse than cable TV, so it makes sense.

add-sub-mul-div 6mo ago
Almost worse? Cable doesn't have unskippable commercials, we've had the DVR since 1999. In 1999 it was still possible for a new tech product to be user friendly. Streaming was designed from the ground up to be user hostile with surveillance and reduced control over the video stream. People hold onto old specious ideas and don't update them.
- pjmlp 6mo ago
  Which is why my parents record they favourite shows on cable, and watch them later, fast forwarding over ads.
- dylan604 6mo ago
  If you're under the notion that your digital cable box wasn't surveilling you, then you just weren't paying attention. Of course that box knew what channel you were watching and what time meaning they knew what you watched since your name and address and phone number and email address were all linked to that box.
hdgvhicv 6mo ago
When Amazon introduced adverts, I Cancelled. Went from near $1k a year on Amazon as a whole to nearly zero. I still pay for Netflix, Disney, Apple, Spotify and bbc. I’m happy to pay for my entertainment, I refuse adverts. When Clarkson farm came back I looked at re subscribing to Amazon, there were three choices, all with adverts. I’m sure it makes money, but for me you get greedy and you lose money.
- integralid 6mo ago
  >I still pay for Netflix, Disney, Apple, Spotify and bbc I have to admit that's a lot of subscriptions. Most people here are relatively rich, but no wonder people are priced out.
  - hdgvhicv 6mo ago
    My total entertainment budget is 5% of my net income.
  - raw_anon_1111 6mo ago
    That is still cheaper than the average cable bill even a decade ago
righthand 6mo ago
That’s because Walmart is also selling Android piracy site streaming boxes. So boomers/technologically out of the loop think it’s legitimate. https://www.walmart.com/ip/S6-Elite-Ultra-2024-SuperBox-TV-2024-Fully-Loaded-Wireless-Voice-Remote-Included-1000M-Ethernet-Port-Super-Box-Voice-Remote-4G-RAM-128G-ROM-6K-Easy-S/9360168365 https://www.walmart.com/ip/S6-Elite-Ultra-2024-SuperBox-TV-2...
- c420 6mo ago
  Tbf, that's a third party selling that box. But Walmart themselves do sell the Onn 4k stick/box which is the current every level pirates HW of choice to replace the firestick.
  - righthand 6mo ago
    I have family members that have bought the Superbox in a Walmart physical store. In fact here’s the conversation transcript of me asking about it: Me: What was that piracy streaming box Uncle Gary got from Walmart? Superbox? Them: Yeah Me: Thanks Them: I have it and I literally get everything for free. Like it already has the new super smash Brothers on it. Them: Has every series and everything. I can give you the apps I have Me: I dont need it haha just was showing people how illegal streaming is being sold in stores.
amelius 6mo ago
On top of that, as long as big companies don't take the protection of my personal information seriously, why should I worry about violations of copyright laws? It works both ways.
integralid 6mo ago
Most of my life I was strongly opposed to piracy for moral reasons. Now I... intentionally try to own (download/pirate) content I consume and I also do this for ideological reasons. So yeah, this effect is real.
surgical_fire 6mo ago
Best investment I made this year was an old refurbished PC to use as a home server. Having my personal streaming services is actually pretty amazing. There was a point in time, around 10-12 years ago, that I thought that piracy would eventually die, as the streaming services were pretty cheap and offered good quality/quantity. How wrong I was. But it is refreshing to be sailing the high seas after such a long time. Brings back memories. Contrary to paid services, piracy actually got much better and convenient. Better quality audio/video, etc

add-sub-mul-div 6mo ago

Almost worse? Cable doesn't have unskippable commercials, we've had the DVR since 1999. In 1999 it was still possible for a new tech product to be user friendly. Streaming was designed from the ground up to be user hostile with surveillance and reduced control over the video stream. People hold onto old specious ideas and don't update them.

pjmlp 6mo ago
Which is why my parents record they favourite shows on cable, and watch them later, fast forwarding over ads.
dylan604 6mo ago
If you're under the notion that your digital cable box wasn't surveilling you, then you just weren't paying attention. Of course that box knew what channel you were watching and what time meaning they knew what you watched since your name and address and phone number and email address were all linked to that box.

hdgvhicv 6mo ago

When Amazon introduced adverts, I Cancelled. Went from near $1k a year on Amazon as a whole to nearly zero. I still pay for Netflix, Disney, Apple, Spotify and bbc. I’m happy to pay for my entertainment, I refuse adverts. When Clarkson farm came back I looked at re subscribing to Amazon, there were three choices, all with adverts. I’m sure it makes money, but for me you get greedy and you lose money.

integralid 6mo ago
>I still pay for Netflix, Disney, Apple, Spotify and bbc I have to admit that's a lot of subscriptions. Most people here are relatively rich, but no wonder people are priced out.
- hdgvhicv 6mo ago
  My total entertainment budget is 5% of my net income.
- raw_anon_1111 6mo ago
  That is still cheaper than the average cable bill even a decade ago

righthand 6mo ago

That’s because Walmart is also selling Android piracy site streaming boxes. So boomers/technologically out of the loop think it’s legitimate. https://www.walmart.com/ip/S6-Elite-Ultra-2024-SuperBox-TV-2024-Fully-Loaded-Wireless-Voice-Remote-Included-1000M-Ethernet-Port-Super-Box-Voice-Remote-4G-RAM-128G-ROM-6K-Easy-S/9360168365 https://www.walmart.com/ip/S6-Elite-Ultra-2024-SuperBox-TV-2...

c420 6mo ago
Tbf, that's a third party selling that box. But Walmart themselves do sell the Onn 4k stick/box which is the current every level pirates HW of choice to replace the firestick.
- righthand 6mo ago
  I have family members that have bought the Superbox in a Walmart physical store. In fact here’s the conversation transcript of me asking about it: Me: What was that piracy streaming box Uncle Gary got from Walmart? Superbox? Them: Yeah Me: Thanks Them: I have it and I literally get everything for free. Like it already has the new super smash Brothers on it. Them: Has every series and everything. I can give you the apps I have Me: I dont need it haha just was showing people how illegal streaming is being sold in stores.

amelius 6mo ago

On top of that, as long as big companies don't take the protection of my personal information seriously, why should I worry about violations of copyright laws? It works both ways.

integralid 6mo ago

Most of my life I was strongly opposed to piracy for moral reasons. Now I... intentionally try to own (download/pirate) content I consume and I also do this for ideological reasons. So yeah, this effect is real.

surgical_fire 6mo ago

Best investment I made this year was an old refurbished PC to use as a home server. Having my personal streaming services is actually pretty amazing. There was a point in time, around 10-12 years ago, that I thought that piracy would eventually die, as the streaming services were pretty cheap and offered good quality/quantity. How wrong I was. But it is refreshing to be sailing the high seas after such a long time. Brings back memories. Contrary to paid services, piracy actually got much better and convenient. Better quality audio/video, etc