Crimsane said:
Pirates are thieves. Someone steals your shit, you're not happy. Tada. Hate for pirates.
I think this answers the question right here. The problem is that it is such an unsatisfactory answer, because most people who pirate understand that there is a difference between piracy and stealing. Pirates are the biggest consumers [http://www.brandrepublic.com/news/488096/music-pirates-biggest-spenders-legal-downloads/] out there, but no one seems to ever look at the fact that they are still consuming by purchasing the things they want to own. Most pirates are just using the internet as a full, unlimited demo of whatever they want to sample. Demonizing them as "thieves" is just wrong, because they are the ones that are actually spending their money on the stuff they "steal."
Let me use a recent example: Just last night, for the first time, I saw the new Indiana Jones movie. I finished it, feeling that it was the
worst blockbuster movie I had ever seen, topping even Battlefield Earth. Now pretend rewinding back in time a year and a half; as an Indiana Jones fan, I may see that the new movie is hitting the theaters, and I have some time to stand in line at the theater opening night and see the long-awaited sequel for a popular franchise. After watching the movie, I would find myself cheated out of my admission. But it would be too late, my money would have gone to the people who made that abortion, and all I could do about it is whine on the internet that the movie sucked. There was a reason why Spielberg and Lucas were so tight-lipped about the plot. They knew they were literally conning audiences out of their money by crapping on a film-reel, and once they people saw it, they would have the audience's money forever. Piracy would have prevented that. People could watch a Cam* on the net, see it as a pile of trash, and never buy it. Conversely, if some one did the same for say, The Dark Knight, Wall-e, or maybe Hellboy II (two of which I did see, and all three do I own) they may be enticed to spend their money to reward the effort put into those movies.
People are smart. The "fool me twice" line really works well in the entertainment industry. Why get ripped off again and again if you don't have to? Is being called a thief worth the hundreds and thousands of dollars you can save by not buying piles of crap? Most pirates say "yes." And as much as my post targets movies, it fully applies to all forms of media. Games, Music, Movies, Software, or even books.
That's another point: If piracy was SOOOOO bad, then how do authors still make money when the government is effectively condoning piracy with the public library system? There is little incentive to buy a good book if you can read it for free there. Yet I've still bought books I've read from there.
*Disclaimer: I've never watched a cam online, nor do I condone their use. Just effing wait for the DVDs guys!
" Protecting your product yes, at the expense of your customers no. You wouldnt open a store but only allow people in who wore ankle monitors?
