Texsox

I'm confused by the I'd buy more if it were cheaper comments. Are y'all suggesting pirating is less of a crime because the prices are too high? I'd have a Mercedes G Series in my driveway if the price was cheap enough. I'd have Dish and Direct if the prices were cheaper. I'm not certain what y'all are driving at.

Nice bump. Dammit, don't you know there are old people around here who get confused? I too am in the shopping for a vehicle game. My problem is the vehicle doesn't exist. I want one for unimproved roads in west Texas, something that I won't mind pin stripping on cactus or mesquite, and when the inevitable limestone dent occurs, I will judge it mainly for it's artistic beauty and the story to tell. It will also need to tow around 3,000 pounds and be reliable. I don't want to be broke down on vacation. So how to balance the knock around qualities of a cheap, high mileage, used car with the reliability of a new car. A buddy just told me his 1997 GMC Yukon beast may be available. We've had it up and down beaches in Mexico, I know the four wheel drive is stout and the engine was rebuilt in 2008. Currently it is missing reverse, but at my age, why back up?

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Jan 20, 2012 -> 06:35 PM) apparently, i am the only person left that still pays for music. i'm kinda surprised. I pay for it also.

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Jan 20, 2012 -> 06:35 PM) apparently, i am the only person left that still pays for music. i'm kinda surprised. I pay for it also.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 20, 2012 -> 04:50 PM) I haven't said piracy isn't wrong. I have said that it isn't that big of a problem. Agreed.

QUOTE (Iwritecode @ Jan 20, 2012 -> 01:54 PM) Not true for ebooks. The publishers charge per edition that is being borrowed. Usually it is a license fee.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 20, 2012 -> 10:43 AM) But they still lend out books and movies and cd's. That represents lost possible sales. Why does anyone pay for books when they can go to the library for free? They are lending a bought and paid for item. Again, I am fine if someone loans someone a download as long as only one paid copy exists. The problem becomes when one paid copy is then copied and now there are 1 paid copy and hundreds or thousands of unpaid copies out there. It seems like an obvious difference. People buy because they want ownership and being able to use something when they want to. If the library has the item checked out they would have to wait. Plus libraries sometimes trim their collections and the item is no longer available.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 20, 2012 -> 10:36 AM) Nope. I've said in this thread I don't see a problem with the mega upload bust. Why? If piracy isn't wrong, and doesn't hurt anyone, why support the law?

She was an outstanding singer.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 20, 2012 -> 08:58 AM) Quite a few people. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2008/BATM2-DVD.php http://thepiratebay.org/search/The%20dark%20knight/0/99/0 Should libraries be illegal? They buy one copy of a book and thousands read it. Many even offer digital books now, as well. They lend each paid copy once at a time. I'm ok with that for music downloads as long as only one paid copy is being listened to at a time. Libraries do not buy one copy and then make 50 copies for their borrowers. btw No book last through 1,000 borrowers. Libraries are buying multiple copies both on first release and later when their copy wears out. How many copies of cds does Mediafire purchase?

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 20, 2012 -> 08:54 AM) The compelling counter example is current reality--these things are readily available for free, yet they still generate billions. I also have zero sympathy for industries who fight vehemently against innovation and do everything they can to stop it in order to protect their current positions. Goods are stolen from retail stores frequently. Is the appropriate response security checkpoints and strip searches at mall entry points? Or do we instead go with much less intrusive measures? Again, appropriate responses in scale with the problems. So should we stop prosecuting or stopping piracy?

QUOTE (FlaSoxxJim @ Jan 20, 2012 -> 06:48 AM) What he said. Maybe one of these years this dinosaur will actually get around to hearing more than a handful of new albums. Tell me about it. It is a low priority for me. Now I have to trip over a new artist or album.

Rox in the Box is the tune that always catches my ear. In fact next week I am using it for my tutoring class to unpack the lyrics. I thought the album was too country for many people here to like it.

QUOTE (flippedoutpunk @ Jan 19, 2012 -> 10:55 PM) but in my case i wouldn't be stealing the mercedes G series, id be receiving a copy of a mercedes G series and leaving the original to its rightful owner. Agreed. But if exact copies were available, who would actually pay for one? And are there any "owners" when it is free?

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 20, 2012 -> 04:54 AM) Digital copies don't actually cost someone money directly. Stolen physical product does. Breaking the internet and draconian copyright laws aren't the solution to outdated business models. When the free item is readily available, why buy an original? Of course it costs them money. It may not be 100% of all the downloads, but it certainly costs them some. At least some of the people would have purchased the music. How will a new business model work where only one person has to pay for the product? Why should anyone buy an original? It is easy to say it is an outdated business model, but allowing your product or service to be stolen isn't outdated.

The same people who never would have considered walking into a store and shoplifting a CD will easily accept or download a pirated copy. It is virtually anonymous. Yes, there are thefts in every business, would you expect a store to just roll over and say, here take what you want? Why do we treat a digital download different than say a car? Imagine if a car thief said he would have bought that Mercedes G series but Mercedes was trying to make too much profit so he stole it instead? The business model may be flawed based on today's technology, but simply allowing people to steal your product isn't the answer.

This list had me listening to The King is Dead on my drives to and from work for the past couple days. I was a little surprised it was so high. Rex, thank you for putting this list together. They are so much work, but so much fun.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 19, 2012 -> 05:01 PM) I'd have to dig but I believe impact studies have been done that show an increase in overall sales. Either way, my point (which I completely failed to actually make!) was that their gripe in relation to their desired solution is laughable. from the Cato article: They b****ed and moaned with the advent of VCR's. It would destroy the industry. Instead, it boasted sales and spurred an entirely new one (home video). They need to adapt with technology, not severely alter its fundamental structure because they want more profits. How can they make profits and allow piracy? I have yet to figure out a business model that allows for a company to make money while allowing someone to pirate their work.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 19, 2012 -> 04:52 PM) It's very possible that you have this backwards--that people do not want to pay $20 for an album but would gladly pay, say, $5 or $10. The same for new movies. If the RIAA and MPAA hadn't been such dinosaurs and completely resisted digital supply going back to Napster, they wouldn't be in these positions. I agree. However, you could keep rolling this back all the way to free so I'm not that certain it is relevant. It's very possible that you have this backwards--that people do not want to pay $20 for an album but would gladly pay, say, $5 or $10. The same for new movies. It's very possible that you have this backwards--that people do not want to pay $10 for an album but would gladly pay, say, $3 or $5. The same for new movies. It's very possible that you have this backwards--that people do not want to pay $5 for an album but would gladly pay, say, $1 or $2. The same for new movies. It's very possible that you have this backwards--that people do not want to pay $1 for an album but would gladly pay, say, $.5 or $.25. The same for new movies. It's very possible that you have this backwards--that people do not want a pirate download for an album but would gladly download a free copy from the official source. The same for new movies. Someone check me on this but iirc I was paying $10 to $15 for 8-Tracks and albums in the 1970s. Adjusted for inflation, that makes music, even at $20 a CD, cheaper today than 40 years ago.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 19, 2012 -> 04:42 PM) You can find the indictment here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/78786408/Mega-Indictment The logic they lay out makes sense but legally I have zero idea if they have a case. Also, you gotta laugh at the way things like "$500,000,000 in damages" are calculated. Yeah, you're really losing out on full retail price for every download! I'm not certain how to calculate the loses. I think it is a fact that a lot of people would do without if they couldn't pirate a copy.

Something should be done about piracy, it is unfair to content producers and will ultimately hurt consumers who value quality new content. Technology will move too fast for any solution to work for more than a very short time. As far as elected leaders needing to be experts, that is impossible. We have to hope they hire the best experts they can and follow sound advice.

Wow, the onion is blocked from my school computer. R rated.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 19, 2012 -> 09:57 AM) Oh for the love of... Tex, you really want that combination of two specific political beliefs so badly you would want someone like Perry to be the President? A guy who is so obviously overmatched by even the rest of this clown car, let alone the world stage? Do I really want someone with the leadership and savvy to undo the stuff that Obama has accomplished that I like? Do you? Do I want someone whose immigration policy will not cripple the economy where I live? Seems like a very easy question. I find it interesting that anyone would think I would prefer a different GOP candidate. Someone suggest one and I will look, but it is slim pickings for a liberal.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 19, 2012 -> 09:57 AM) Oh for the love of... Tex, you really want that combination of two specific political beliefs so badly you would want someone like Perry to be the President? A guy who is so obviously overmatched by even the rest of this clown car, let alone the world stage? If there must be a GOP President, I would rather have one that I matched with two deeply held beliefs. Anyone that has been reading this for the past few years knows how I feel about balanced budgets and immigration. Name two political issues I have argued more than those two? I match up with almost nothing of the other candidates. I believe Newt and Mitt seem more Presidential, but for basic policy issues of stuff I really care about, Perry was as good as it gets ON THE GOP side. Now I really pray Obama is reelected.

First chance to respond. Does it really matter when he drops? I'm disappointed his immigration stance and fiscal restraint did not catch fire with the GOP base. Even if it had not caught on enough to have him be a serious contender, I would have liked to see his supporters sway the party platform in that direction.