File sharing - good or bad?

[adios 717]

Gyppos. If I want to download music then I pay the 79p a song that it costs.  I still buy CDs as well like, I just don't download for free.

38069[/snapback]

 

Plenty of artists on this side of the fence, why do you think that is? This is just pent up aggression over people who steal pens from your office isn't it?

38072[/snapback]

 

What is? My aversion to thievery?

38073[/snapback]

 

Ooh, I can feel the pent up aggression! You're just sitting in your cubicle, twitching and muttering about impact of "pen-wastage". I bet you've even got a spreadsheet somewhere for it!

[Gemmill 46027]

Gyppos. If I want to download music then I pay the 79p a song that it costs.  I still buy CDs as well like, I just don't download for free.

38069[/snapback]

 

Plenty of artists on this side of the fence, why do you think that is? This is just pent up aggression over people who steal pens from your office isn't it?

38072[/snapback]

 

What is? My aversion to thievery?

38073[/snapback]

 

Ooh, I can feel the pent up aggression! You're just sitting in your cubicle, twitching and muttering about impact of "pen-wastage". I bet you've even got a spreadsheet somewhere for it!

38074[/snapback]

 

Nobody nicks my pens man. I learnt from the H Dog. They get the Letter Opener of Death.

[sweetleftpeg 0]

Enter Tha Office

By Herbert Kornfeld

Accounts Receivable Supervisor

 

January 28, 2004 | Issue 40•04

 

Check it out, G's: Lotta shit in this column ain't foe tha eyes a' amateurs. If you a pussy, you best skip ovah this thang an' tune in tha ladiez' channel or somethin', because what I about 2 lay down deserve its own parental-advisory stickah, know what I'm sayin'? This straight-up, non-stop, hardcore shit, y'all, an' tol' wit' mad suspense, too, tha kind that make yo' shit evacuate, know what I'm sayin'? It like a haiku a' violence.

 

On Monday, Gerald Luckenbill, tha office comptrolla, aksed 2 see me in his office end a' bidness day.

 

Sure enuf, come punchout, Luckenbill wuz chillin' at his desk. His office wuz all dark, 'cept foe tha light from his desk lamp. I peep a check on his desktop an' recognize it as a payment that come in wit' today's mail, from a client called SPJ Communications. They one a' them Internet-service-providin' an' web-hostin' firms, an' they always buyin' they office supplies wit' us an' never gettin' they payments in 'til right befoe tha 25-day grace period expire. They think they tha King Shit, disrespectin' tha H-Dog like that.

 

"I just happened to notice the check in the Cash Room was about to go into the daily deposit," Luckenbill say. "I know that you hate how they get their payments in just under the wire. On a hunch, I took this check and phoned the issuing bank. Good thing I acted on that hunch, Herbert, because that check would have been returned NSF."

 

Damn.

 

Luckenbill peeped tha murder in my eye. He know me too long 2 think I let shit like this slide. "Now, Herbert," he say. "I let you go about your business without asking questions. I know you save us the expense of hiring a collections staff. But, in this case, I must ask you to keep a calm head. The holidays just ended, and maybe SPJ had more expenses than it counted on. Maybe it was a simple accounting error. Midstate wants its money, but it wants an honest, peaceful solution to the problem. We have the law on our side, Herbert. Keep that in mind."

 

Luckenbill barely done speakin' when I out tha doe an' in tha Nite Rida, headin' straight 2 tha bidness park where SPJ's office at. Luckenbill wanted 2 keep tha peace, an' I respected that, but I knew shit he didn't. I knew them muhfukkahs wuz straight-up trouble an' would fuck us ova more if we played it soft. I could smell it. I didn't spend aftahourz scopin' out SPJ HQ foe nothin'. I be bidin' my time foe months. Finally, tha mission had arrived. It zero hour. Those muhfukkahs wuz goin' down.

 

The lights wuz still on in SPJ's office, so I chilled in some law firm's parkin' lot next doe, meditatin', swappin' my officin' gear foe ninja black, flashin' back on tha wise words a' my mentor, CPA-ONE (R.I.P.): "Honor above all, Dog. Honor ain't cost-effective, but y'all must do yo' utmost 2 preserve it, because in tha end, it have tha most value."

 

Finally, 'round seven, tha lights went off. A big-hair receptionist exited an' drove away. She didn't peep me lyin' in wait. Wit' mad stealth, I tossed up a grapplin' hook 2 a third-flo' window an' hauled my ass up. Tha window wuz unlocked an' led into a hallway. Sidlin' up tight against tha wall, I made my way 2 SPJ's front doe. I jimmied tha lock, crouched down, an' entered. Sure enuf, there be a motion-detectah alarm beside tha doe. Huh. Child's play. I busted out a penlight an' my needle-nose pliahs, reached up, got into tha gap 'tween tha keypad's plastic casin' an' tha wall, an' snipped tha wirez. Tha lights on tha alarm went dark. Without missin' a beat, I snapped off tha penlight an' crab-walked my way 2 tha boss' office, where tha wall safe at.

 

Now, G's, as I made my way thru tha moonlit office, I peeped box afta unopened box bearin' tha Midstate logo. I aksed myself, "Why they ain't open they boxes? They got that shipment days ago. 'Sides, no office this size need that many ballpointz an' bindah clips. What be they game?" That got my blood up, but I force myself 2 chill an' attend 2 tha task at hand.

 

I reached tha bossman's office, removed some bullshit pheasant paintin', an' uncovered tha wall safe. I started crackin' it like a pro. In less than a minute, it opened an' revealed jus' what I expected: shitloads a' benjamins. Huh. A "simple accountin' error," my ass. Mo' like tha Big Willie muhfukkas be skimmin' from tha company profitz, like one a' them wack Fo'tune 500 CEOs. Not that I give a shit 'bout SPJ's finances, long as they don't fuck wit' Midstate, but I could use it against 'em if they got wise 2 tha H-Dog bum-rushin' they HQ an' thirsted foe retaliation.

 

Tha retaliation would come wit' a greater quickness than I anticipated.

 

"Greeting, H-Dog."

 

I whipped around. Five huge muhfukkahs wuz standin' right behind me. I peeped what they wuz wearin' an' knew immediately who they be.

 

Blueshirts.

 

Yeah, Blueshirts. Y'all peeps 'em on tha train or tha bus or drivin' in tha rush hour. Dudes wearin' them sissy blue dress shirts, sometimes wit' black dress pants, sometimes chinos. They looks like average suckahs, readin' tha WSJ or talkin' at clients on tha phone or gettin' coffee. But tha fact they everywhere an' don't hide theyselves like ninjas do be what make 'em so menacin'. because don't hardly no one know they tha deadliest office enforcement gang on tha planet. Every one be trained in four kinds a' martial arts. Minimum. An' now five a' these punks about 2 come down on me, hard.

 

One of 'em sent a flyin' kick 2 my chest. I reeled back onto a credenza, then grabbed tha sidez wit' my hands behind my head, put mah knees 2 my head, and kicked out, knockin' two Blueshirts cold wit' my two feets.

 

Then anotha one came at me with tha Lo Han Fist. It vex me wild 2 see tha purely defensive artz a' tha peace-lovin' Shaolin bruthahood used foe corrupt ends, y'all. I blocked his fist wit' an iron fo'earm, windmilled my arms, an' connected a Shadowless Kick straight upside his bitch head. Then I gave him a Super Press-Down 'til I heard his ribs snap 2 my satisfaction.

 

That left two. Foe some reason, durin' tha kung-fu fightin', opponents only come atchu one atta time. I dodged tha fourth punk's Wind An' Thundah Fist wit' a triple somersault ova tha CEO's desk an' smashed through his office's window into tha main room. He hurled shards a' tha busted glass at me like throwin' stars, but I deflected 'em by pitchin' a loose corkboard at 'em, an' launchin' a hard kick 2 his throat. He flew away, but y'all could tell tha muhfukkah be usin' wires. I cornered him in a cubicle, an' we traded furious blows wit' a quickness. Tha first punk I knocked cold came to an' snuck up behind me, but I dispatched him again with a punch from tha back a' my fist without turnin' around. I aim a kick under tha fourth punk's chin, an' he go somersaultin' ova tha cubicle an' through tha window 2 tha outside.

 

Tha last muhfukkah be tha most hardcore, but inna psycho way. He laughed like a hyena, then he assumed a stance I didn't recognize foe a second. Then he came at me. Holy fuckin' shit: Tha muhfukkah be a mastah a' tha Deadly Super Wondah Palm. That certain death. I vaulted ovah him an' kicked tha back a' his head on tha descent. We whipped aroun' 2 face one anothah. He came at me again. I grabbed a stapler, said a prayer, an' popped a whole cartridge a' staples at his face. Tha muhfukkah in agony.

 

"That kung-fu is not of mainstream!" he screamed, pickin' staples outta his face. "Who is teach you such perfidy?"

 

"My kung-fu incorporate office supplies," I hissed. "That be my Magic Staple-Gun Punch."

 

I riled tha crazy bitch up good. Furious, he launched anotha Wondah Palm at me. Its touch brand a burnin' palm mark fulla poison, an' suckas don't live too long aftaward. But wit' a blood-chillin' scream, he ended up through tha same window I sent tha last punk through, an' foe some reason, there wuz a big explosion. I jes' singlehandedly fucked up five Blueshirts, but I wuz too cashed 2 gloat. Wit' my last ounce a' strength, I turned ova on my back an' lay motionless.

 

All quiet foe a while. Then, a piece-a paypa fluttahed down an' landed on my chest. It a cashier's check foe tha full amount SPJ owe us: $91.46. Then, outta nowhere, I heard this freaky laugh. Tha first two punks already split. I thought it might be tha crazy Blueshirt bitch, but his laugh sounded a li'l different. Finally, this kinda sissy voice spoke up.

 

"Excellent work, Herbert Kornfeld," tha voice say. "Here is your payment in full, for services rendered. As you can see, it's guaranteed. Your fighting skills are superlative. You dispatched five of the toughest Blueshirts in the entire state. Hmm. Five. Isn't that the same age at which your sister disappeared? Your sister, Herbert? Or do the mists of time obscure her memory? It is a pity you couldn't use your Office-Fu then to save her."

 

My throat went dry. My pupils dwindled 2 pinpoints.

 

"Goddamn you," I screamed. "What do y'all know 'bout my sistah, you muhfukka? Don't nobody talk about my sistah, not evah. Dammit, who you be? An' what do y'all know'bout my sistah? Answer me!"

 

But tha voice didn't speak no more.

 

If that story didn't make y'all shit yo' Underoos, then you must be wearin' a muhfukkin' toe tag. By tha way, any a' y'all evah aks me about my sistah, I crease yo' head wit' a three-hole punch.

 

Wurd.

[Wiley 0]

why not just buy them for like 10p from tesco gemmil,its like you WANT to pay more!

[sweetleftpeg 0]

why not just buy them for like 10p from tesco gemmil,its like you WANT to pay more!

38093[/snapback]

 

Yeah Gemmill, you love it you bitch.

[Kid Dynamite 7169]

i dont think im alone in saying that id rather spend half an hour downloading an album for free off the net than walking to the shops and paying £15 for it. until the record companies come up with some sort of compromise or start letting me pay £5-7 for a CD im not going to stop. i know its a bit different with indie bands but then how many indie bands actually sell any records these days?

 

indie as in independent, not as in look at my shaggy hairdo

[Wiley 0]

spot on IMO j69

[Elric 0]

I'd happily pay if I knew the artist was receiving 90% of the sale, rather than a money-grabbing institution that sees fit to sue some of it's biggest customers (way to promote empathy to your cause! ).

[Rob W 0]

I'd happily pay if I knew the artist was receiving 90% of the sale, rather than a money-grabbing institution that sees fit to sue some of it's biggest customers (way to promote empathy to your cause!  ).

38105[/snapback]

 

 

I can see that one standing up in court......................

[Asprilla 96]

I have no love for the profits the music industry make, but I don't encourage stealing music as it devalues it.

 

Of course U2 won't miss the 79p, but if people stop getting used to paying for their music, ultimately it's harder for smaller acts to breakthrough.

[Kid Dynamite 7169]

or maybe smaller acts could legally give away their music on the internet for free to gather a bit of a following? ive got nothing against itunes etc charging 79p a song, i think its quite reasonable. its the price of cds that gets me!

[Asprilla 96]

or maybe smaller acts could legally give away their music on the internet for free to gather a bit of a following? ive got nothing against itunes etc charging 79p a song, i think its quite reasonable. its the price of cds that gets me!

38131[/snapback]

 

You can't just say that you think the price is too high so you're just going to steal it!

 

Besides, CDs are only about £8 since Amazon arrived on the scene. That's about the same as what you'd pay to download the album anyway.

[adios 717]

or maybe smaller acts could legally give away their music on the internet for free to gather a bit of a following? ive got nothing against itunes etc charging 79p a song, i think its quite reasonable. its the price of cds that gets me!

38131[/snapback]

 

So why don't you buy your music from iTunes then?

 

AF - Your argument makes no sense, people are both downloading and buying, how does that get them into a 'free music' mind set?

[Kid Dynamite 7169]

or maybe smaller acts could legally give away their music on the internet for free to gather a bit of a following? ive got nothing against itunes etc charging 79p a song, i think its quite reasonable. its the price of cds that gets me!

38131[/snapback]

 

You can't just say that you think the price is too high so you're just going to steal it!

Besides, CDs are only about £8 since Amazon arrived on the scene. That's about the same as what you'd pay to download the album anyway.

38135[/snapback]

 

i think thats what pretty much everybody says. thats why bitcomet, kazaa, limewire etc. have about 10million people using them.

[Asprilla 96]

or maybe smaller acts could legally give away their music on the internet for free to gather a bit of a following? ive got nothing against itunes etc charging 79p a song, i think its quite reasonable. its the price of cds that gets me!

38131[/snapback]

 

So why don't you buy your music from iTunes then?

 

AF - Your argument makes no sense, people are both downloading and buying, how does that get them into a 'free music' mind set?

38136[/snapback]

 

If you don't pay for something, your perception of it's value goes down.

 

People who still buy music aren't to blame.

Not paying for music is theft.

 

What's not to understand?

[Asprilla 96]

or maybe smaller acts could legally give away their music on the internet for free to gather a bit of a following? ive got nothing against itunes etc charging 79p a song, i think its quite reasonable. its the price of cds that gets me!

38131[/snapback]

 

You can't just say that you think the price is too high so you're just going to steal it!

Besides, CDs are only about £8 since Amazon arrived on the scene. That's about the same as what you'd pay to download the album anyway.

38135[/snapback]

 

i think thats what pretty much everybody says. thats why bitcomet, kazaa, limewire etc. have about 10million people using them.

38140[/snapback]

 

Which is a criminal act that affects my industry.

 

It's not hard to understand why I have a problem with it is it?

[Kid Dynamite 7169]

i dont pay for sex and i value it very much! probably more so than if i did have to pay for it!

 

so ha!

[Asprilla 96]

i dont pay for sex and i value it very much! probably more so than if i did have to pay for it!

 

so ha!

38147[/snapback]

 

 

Anything that affects your livelihood's going to piss you off.

 

If I worked in a call centre I'd be pissed off with outsourcing jobs to India. I don't so I'm not. You dig?

[Kid Dynamite 7169]

not really

[Rob W 0]

i dont pay for sex and i value it very much! probably more so than if i did have to pay for it!

 

so ha!

38147[/snapback]

 

 

of course you don't get any without paying... no wonder you're frustrated...........

[Craig 6700]

Are you saying you've never downloaded, listened to or installed a single piece of software AF that you should have paid for??

[Elric 0]

I'd happily pay if I knew the artist was receiving 90% of the sale, rather than a money-grabbing institution that sees fit to sue some of it's biggest customers (way to promote empathy to your cause!  ).

38105[/snapback]

 

 

I can see that one standing up in court......................

38122[/snapback]

 

Really? I can't. Mainly because - so as not to attract the unwanted attention that usually entails dragging Mr. Joe Public (who also purchases no small amount of CDs) through the courts, for downloading/uploading an album he never would have bought anyway - these cases are generally settled out of court. Now when's the new <insert name of generic, nailed on #1 spot grabbing, girl/boyband here> CD out?

[Rob W 0]

I'll add you to my list..................

 

They'll start over here soon - just as they have in the States- be certain of that

 

I'll try and get you on first

 

HMV v Elric - a landmark case that saw the re-introduction of the red hot brand to English law

[Asprilla 96]

not really

38150[/snapback]

 

It's very straightforward.

 

I don't agree with people taking something for free that they should be paying for.

 

Any clearer?

[adios 717]

If you don't pay for something, your perception of it's value goes down.

 

People who still buy music aren't to blame.

Not paying for music is theft.

 

What's not to understand?

38144[/snapback]

 

So you don't have a problem with people who both download and pay for music?