5 ms·

I see people often saying to vote with your wallet and then go illegally download whatever movie, TV show, videogame or piece of software—which I find kind of f

I see people often saying to vote with your wallet and then go illegally download whatever movie, TV show, videogame or piece of software—which I find kind of funny. Why don't people vote with their time? Don't watch something, for example. I suppose the main thing I find funny is how outrageous people become when something isn't provided which seems trivial to life. I live in Australia where it seems we are one of the nations the pirates the most. People here, and elsewhere, act as if having a TV show is a basic human right and necessity. Who cares if you can't watch a TV show? I think both sides are in the wrong. Another thing with the horse-riders yelling at some large fat cats is that they often pretend to speak for the masses; the non-hackers, -geeks, or whatever labels are necessary to delineate these two groups. They say they would buy everything if it was available in a way that jives with them and postulate that the masses will run out and buy everything.. and maybe they will, but as one of the 'computer guys' when most people ask about how to use torrents and you ask them why they want to know usually they just want to get something without paying for it. This goes back to Napster too. This isn't so much directed at you, jobu, these thoughts just came to mind again after looking at the image you posted. I do agree with what's presented in the image in that it is a horrible user-experience.

icebraining 13y ago
Why don't people vote with their time? Don't watch something, for example. I'm not quite sure you understand the idea of voting. It's about making your preference known, and it doesn't quite work when your action has no impact on anyone else.
- belorn 13y ago
  100% Correct. The only way a boycott works is by people taking a stand, and then letting everyone know about it. Same goes for canceling subscriptions, vegetarians boycotting MC-donalds, people staying home and not voting in elections, or hunger striking in a prison. So the alternative to pay for an movie, TV show or videogame is to organize a movement to let people know about the issue. This happens. Remember people voting down Simcity on Amazon? Remember people producing jailbreaks? Remember people picketing outside studios or shops? All those are the alternatives to buying and supporting a broken businesses model. Pressing or not pressing a download button in silence has in contrast zero impact.
- dorian-graph 13y ago
  Well, perhaps I don't. The reasoning was similar to that of money. People have indicated that if you stop paying for things (DRM-laded goods and services, for example) the companies will notice the lack of sales and change their behaviour accordingly. Now, for not watching, perhaps if they noticed that torrents that previously had tens of thousands of people downloading only had a handful—or better yet, the different warez groups/whatever stopped their releases—the companies would notice that people are making a stand by not even watching. Popularity of TV show x would go down and what happens when TV shows aren't popular? They're killed. Also, supposedly people pirate things, come to like them, and then buy them so limiting watching also leads to making your preference known. I think that not watching could be even more powerful than not voting with your wallet. It shows greater self-control, dedication, etc. It says "Screw you guys, we won't even watch it!" Though, as mentioned in my previous post, I doubt many people would do that as they simply want something for free nor are they so invested in the whole anti-DRM thing. Even if I don't understand voting, I would still love to hear why the hell people are so up in arms about not being able to watch a TV show especially so when their complaint is that it's released a week later. It would be fantastic to see the pirates look at themselves and what they're doing wrong. A last thing I would like too is an answer to a question: If I create something and will only sell it for $1000 and it is not a human right/basic necessity, if I ask or tell you to not acquire it and use it without paying, would you follow what I've said or ignore it? -- you here isn't meaning you, icebraining.
- Moto7451 13y ago
  I disagree. If you don't like the policies of a studio, boycott their content. This is not a new concept by any means[1][2]. If a content provider lacks an audience, it's going to hurt them financially. It doesn't matter if its paid media like a movie or ad based media like a TV show. [1]http://betanews.com/2008/07/08/angry-youtube-users-boycott-viacom-seems-to-respond/ http://betanews.com/2008/07/08/angry-youtube-users-boycott-v... [2]https://www.google.com/search?q=movie+studio+boycott https://www.google.com/search?q=movie+studio+boycott
  - charltones 13y ago
    Even better - make your own content and distribute it freely without any DRM. Surely that would be a more constructive approach - and more fun!
lmm 13y ago
>People here, and elsewhere, act as if having a TV show is a basic human right and necessity. Who cares if you can't watch a TV show? Maybe your friendships and interests are such that you don't feel you need to. Good for you. But that's not true for everyone, and flippant solutions like "get better friends" aren't always practical or desirable. >They say they would buy everything if it was available in a way that jives with them and postulate that the masses will run out and buy everything.. and maybe they will, but as one of the 'computer guys' when most people ask about how to use torrents and you ask them why they want to know usually they just want to get something without paying for it. So your anecdote disagrees with other people's anecdotes. That happens. Is there any actual evidence in either direction?

icebraining 13y ago

Why don't people vote with their time? Don't watch something, for example. I'm not quite sure you understand the idea of voting. It's about making your preference known, and it doesn't quite work when your action has no impact on anyone else.

belorn 13y ago
100% Correct. The only way a boycott works is by people taking a stand, and then letting everyone know about it. Same goes for canceling subscriptions, vegetarians boycotting MC-donalds, people staying home and not voting in elections, or hunger striking in a prison. So the alternative to pay for an movie, TV show or videogame is to organize a movement to let people know about the issue. This happens. Remember people voting down Simcity on Amazon? Remember people producing jailbreaks? Remember people picketing outside studios or shops? All those are the alternatives to buying and supporting a broken businesses model. Pressing or not pressing a download button in silence has in contrast zero impact.
dorian-graph 13y ago
Well, perhaps I don't. The reasoning was similar to that of money. People have indicated that if you stop paying for things (DRM-laded goods and services, for example) the companies will notice the lack of sales and change their behaviour accordingly. Now, for not watching, perhaps if they noticed that torrents that previously had tens of thousands of people downloading only had a handful—or better yet, the different warez groups/whatever stopped their releases—the companies would notice that people are making a stand by not even watching. Popularity of TV show x would go down and what happens when TV shows aren't popular? They're killed. Also, supposedly people pirate things, come to like them, and then buy them so limiting watching also leads to making your preference known. I think that not watching could be even more powerful than not voting with your wallet. It shows greater self-control, dedication, etc. It says "Screw you guys, we won't even watch it!" Though, as mentioned in my previous post, I doubt many people would do that as they simply want something for free nor are they so invested in the whole anti-DRM thing. Even if I don't understand voting, I would still love to hear why the hell people are so up in arms about not being able to watch a TV show especially so when their complaint is that it's released a week later. It would be fantastic to see the pirates look at themselves and what they're doing wrong. A last thing I would like too is an answer to a question: If I create something and will only sell it for $1000 and it is not a human right/basic necessity, if I ask or tell you to not acquire it and use it without paying, would you follow what I've said or ignore it? -- you here isn't meaning you, icebraining.
Moto7451 13y ago
I disagree. If you don't like the policies of a studio, boycott their content. This is not a new concept by any means[1][2]. If a content provider lacks an audience, it's going to hurt them financially. It doesn't matter if its paid media like a movie or ad based media like a TV show. [1]http://betanews.com/2008/07/08/angry-youtube-users-boycott-viacom-seems-to-respond/ http://betanews.com/2008/07/08/angry-youtube-users-boycott-v... [2]https://www.google.com/search?q=movie+studio+boycott https://www.google.com/search?q=movie+studio+boycott
- charltones 13y ago
  Even better - make your own content and distribute it freely without any DRM. Surely that would be a more constructive approach - and more fun!

lmm 13y ago

>People here, and elsewhere, act as if having a TV show is a basic human right and necessity. Who cares if you can't watch a TV show? Maybe your friendships and interests are such that you don't feel you need to. Good for you. But that's not true for everyone, and flippant solutions like "get better friends" aren't always practical or desirable. >They say they would buy everything if it was available in a way that jives with them and postulate that the masses will run out and buy everything.. and maybe they will, but as one of the 'computer guys' when most people ask about how to use torrents and you ask them why they want to know usually they just want to get something without paying for it. So your anecdote disagrees with other people's anecdotes. That happens. Is there any actual evidence in either direction?