Filesharing?

[Astronomer]

I don't know if i'd be considered a communist, maybe socialist. So I don't really talk with many Communists and i'm curious - do you see filesharing as a positive or negative? I mean, on the one hand workers in companies don't get any of the money from torrents created. Yet, at the same time it is a good equalizer that allows those in the lower and middle classes live the kind of life the free market claims should only be lived by the wealthy.

I mean, I know people who make less than 12k a year & thanks to the power of the internet they are able to load games, music & movies that they would never be able to afford otherwise.

So i'm curious - how do you, personally, feel about filesharing? And how do you think Communists as a whole feel about it?

[ComradeRed]

I mean, on the one hand workers in companies don't get any of the money from torrents created. What, you mean the "artists"? They'd get screwed over by the contracts anyways :lol:

The "poor workers behind the music" are technical engineers (in my eyes, petit bourgeoisie). Marx always did point out that the petit bourgeoisie are a class in "constant decay"...either becoming bourgeois or, more likely, workers.

I don't have a problem with filesharing; "intellectual property" is the biggest load of metaphysical bullshit since dialectics :lol:

[Dooga Aetrus Blackrazor]

Music and video should be avaliable to everyone free of charge. The companies are rich because of the wage slaves working under them. Being against the estabilishment includes realizes that attacking certain corrupt institutions hurts the working class. It is a clever scheme designed by capitalists to maintain their power.

However, we have to disregard and limit the power of corrupt organizations, and filesharing helps do that. It is a great thing. The people suffering under the companies loses will end up suffering because of the company, which will choose to cut employees rather than personal salaries. In fact, one might argue that the working class will have to suffer to a great extent before the conditions for revolution arrive, anyway. Capitalism is a system designed to trick leftists into demanding a short-term solution, through reformism, than advocate something like filesharing that hurts the working class temporarily (but is neccessary to achieve freedom).

The toughest choices are often those that limit personal benefit now to create the greatest result later. Capitalism tempts the weak into folding under the shroud of reformist policies, which only perpetuate the time a revolution occurs. Reformism and things like not filesharing may help the working class now, and you may be willing to sacrifice future generations (or even your own future) to do the right-thing for workers now, but it will not provide a long-term solution. It will delay one.

[anomaly]

I am a very strong supporter of filesharing (one would need only to look at my music library to see this :P ). I mean, what's wrong with it? And I completely agree with ComradeRed...intellectual 'property' is bullshit.

[Janus]

I see nothing wrong with file-sharing though I myself don't engage in it (don't have the proper programs).


"intellectual property" is the biggest load of metaphysical bullshit
I've gotta agree with you there, comrade.

[which doctor]

I'm really big into file-sharing. Another way I look at it is that I only download CD's that I wouldn't buy, therefore I am only improving my life without by downloading music that I would ordinarily not have.

[anomaly]

Originally posted by fist of blood
Another way I look at it is that I only download CD's that I wouldn't buy, therefore I am only improving my life without by downloading music that I would ordinarily not have.
Myself, I look at it as saving some friggin' money! :lol:

[which doctor]

I can't wait for allpeers to come out. It will be the shit!

[anomaly]

What's that?

[which doctor]

Originally posted by [email protected] 11 2006, 07:24 PM
What's that?
http://www.allpeers.com/index_nf.htm

It's a new p2p program. It's a firefox extension too. I am all signed up for beta and I got some other cool people with nice music collections to form a group with me.

[anomaly]

Oh. Basically a filesharing program, eh?

I have limewire.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/8445/communism6jy.jpg

Basically...

[CCCPneubauten]

I don't do it, but I don't care if others do. I am a sucker for packaging I guess.

[LSD]

I've always downloaded music, but now that it's legal I can do it with civic pride! :P

[piet11111]

im entirely for filesharing.
under communism i will do my best to create gigantic databanks that gather all forms of data (movies games music books you name it) and make them available to everyone.

i always download a game to play through it and decide its worth buying because i consider it important to support the poeple that produce good games these days.
but there are hardly any games out there worth buying oblivion was the last game i bought before that i did not get a legal copy for over 8 months.
did i hurt sales ? hell no i would not have bought any of the games i downloaded anyway.
if anything warez are aiding sales of games as the good games will be spread to much more people and they will keep an eye out for future games from the creators.

[Comrada J]

Originally posted by [email protected] 12 2006, 12:21 PM
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/8445/communism6jy.jpg

Basically...
Beat me to it. :lol:

Why does the man look like satan?

[piet11111]

Originally posted by Komrad J+Apr 14 2006, 02:24 PM--> (Komrad J @ Apr 14 2006, 02:24 PM)
[email protected] 12 2006, 12:21 PM
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/8445/communism6jy.jpg

Basically...
Beat me to it. :lol:

Why does the man look like satan? [/b]
that is the "suggestive" aproach of capitalism.
:lol:

[Vageli]

I would rather "download Communism" than pay the already rich companies just so they could produce more crappy games, movies, etc on the backs of the mistreated workers under them. If downloading pirated mp3s is wrong, I don't want to be right.

[piet11111]

Originally posted by [email protected] 14 2006, 04:32 PM
I would rather "download Communism" than pay the already rich companies just so they could produce more crappy games, movies, etc on the backs of the mistreated workers under them. If downloading pirated mp3s is wrong, I don't want to be right.
right on :)

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

Originally posted by Komrad J+Apr 14 2006, 02:24 PM--> (Komrad J @ Apr 14 2006, 02:24 PM)
[email protected] 12 2006, 12:21 PM
[snip image]

Basically...
Beat me to it. :lol:

Why does the man look like satan? [/b]
Because communists do not discriminate based on skin colour, even if that colour is red :P

[Cheung Mo]

Why should I blow $40 importing a CD from a band that like 20 people from outside of its native country have heard of...

[Sacha]

I pirate CDs from the big music corporation but I will always buy CDs from independant musicians and record labels.

The fact remains that musicians need money to fund their art, as does any artist. They need instruments and upkeep for them, money to make their CDs and booklets, money to travel and play their music, etc.

My music, I provide for free because I am not using it as a source to live off of. It is an enjoyable hobby which I would never imagine charging someone to listen to it. But people who choose the path of music as their contribution to society need to be supported the best we can support them.

There is plenty of music which doesn't contribute to society, like ghetto hate rap and other forms of unintellectual crap produced from people who have no sense of self-awareness or enlightenment.

Musicians who produce music which promotes pure thoughts and ideas for their individual person is music I am willing to pay for, if I enjoy it. If they put in the work then it is our responsibility as listeners of their work to support them the best we can.

Same goes for games, literature, programs, etc. Most of the software on my computer is open source. The games are mostly pirated. I play one online pay-to-play game from an independant developer and I use private servers for the other mainstream games. I have plenty of movies, ebooks and other useful programs on my computer which I use at my leisure without paying for them.

It may be very judgemental of me but I feel that I can and have to be to set the order of the world straight. Being outright object to purchasing doesn't help anyone but yourself and I don't believe in being selfish.

The reason there is such a battle between companies and individuals when it comes to pirating of material is that both parties are being extremely selfish which leaves a large gap, a no-mans land, to battle on. Many people can't afford the products to begin with and those aren't the people who are downloading and pirating material in excess - they aren't the people in question.

Filesharing is great - it allows for massive access to other cultures, ideas, entertainment and people without converging everything into one global culture - it allows for the uniqueness of the material to stay true. If used appropriately, filesharing can be integrated into online culture without the friction is experiences today.