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Originally Posted by Penelope420  Very few musicians are actually represented by record labels. Stop talking about the very, very small percentage of artists who are making millions of dollars, and start focusing on small, independent artists (which the vast majority of artists are). Those are the people who are getting hurt the most from piracy. I don't give a shit about Metallica and their lost profits. I give a shit about the guy who's making music in his basement, but can't make a living at it because his work has been so devalued by people who think they are entitled to enjoy other people's work for free.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with an artist making a profit. Art isn't some divine gift bestowed upon us by god. It's a skill and a trade. Artists invest time, money and effort into their work, and they deserve a return on their investment. It's no different then a carpenter investing in the proper tools of the trade and using his skills to earn a living. You would never suggest that a carpenter should work for you for free, so why do you believe artists should?
I'm not a whore because I found a skill that I'm good at and decided to make a living at it.  |
I feel that art is a gift bestowed upon us. Maybe your art is a skill... but as far as I'm concererned, no one can learn Dark Side of the Moon. If art really was a skill and a trade, why should anyone pay
you for your art? They could just find someone else to do it, maybe for cheaper. Because obviously the art itself isn't what's valuable... only the time and energy.
"We are all whores in our own way"... only most of us don't call ourselves artists.
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Art has been a trade for almost as long as there have been humans. It's hard work that takes a lot of skill. To say that any artist who has made a profit on their work isn't a "true artist" is probably one of the most ignorant comments I've ever read.
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I'm not saying you can't make a profit or that anyone who makes a living off their art isn't a "true artist," but to punish people who download music or experience it free by fining them hundreds of thousands of dollars or imprisoning them is not "artistic integrity," that's tyrannical greed. You've got to think about how laws are applied in the real world.
An unenforcable law is usually a bad one.
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It takes a very entitled attitude to believe that others should work for you, for free.
Will you come mow my lawn this weekend? I won't pay you... the sheer joy of doing the work should be enough!
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No one forced you to be an artist. You're the one who chose to turn something as beautiful and pure as art into a "trade."
Fuckit- let's put an end to this argument right now:
I've downloaded approximately 3,000 songs in my life... how long should I go to prison for?