Downloading Days

[Stephen]

*laughs* It has come to my notice...from of all places, the words of a troll...That I have some issues I need to address. When I was 18 years old...I posted a lot on the old boards about being a self proclaimed "Pirate" It created some issues with other Christians...and rightfully so. An Admin of a Christian site advocating stealing music. I boastfully declared having 2500 mp3s, etc. I feel it only right...while not justifying my wrongful arrogance at the time...to set things right now. The Bible states that we are to obey mans law. Downloading copyrighted music is against the law. Thus, it is wrong. *laughs* These days I buy CDs from old walmart. My CD burner has been busted for a while...only thing its good for is burning data disks to backup my Hard drive. So yeah, while this may sound like some cheap bullcrap explanation...I felt I should be real about it. If we have trolls running around posting things I wrote nearly 3 years ago...there should be explanation for it. Anywho...feel free to comment and such...but no debating on the whole topic k? Thanks.

[Mithrandir]

Thanks for being real, man!

[Zilch]

Indeed. I, too, was once a pirate...*sigh*...so many MP3s..so much money I wish I had to buy them all...and yes, they've been deleted. So don't worry. The RIAA isn't coming to lynch me...yet...

[nightblade]

Yeah, I've been a bit convicted myself, so here's my solution. With the advent of being in high school and having a 15 hour a week job, I started buying at least two CDs out of the money I was allowed to spend replacing my mp3s with actual CDs. I have six or seven more to go, but its worth it for sure. The only ones I don't have to buy is stuff you can't buy. Like some Anime OSTs and some music my dad had me download (Like Blue Oyster Cult and The Band)

[xCAFx]

Yeah i get the sold out thing. Certain CDs like Cries Of The Past and stuff are no longer in print. Where are the Die-hard Underoath fans going to get it? Anyway thats why i just get some MP3s from Purevolume and Hxcmp3 and stuff to see what they sound like.

[beau99]

I usually download hard to get stuff.

For newer stuff, I download a few tracks to see if I'll like it.

If I do, I usually end up buying the CD. If I don't, I delete the files and I won't get the CD.

[LorentzForce]

Myself, I either:
1) Buy the albums then rip them to .flac so I can listen to quality while keeping the albums safe from outside harm, or
2) Download MP3 of songs that artists released onto the net themselves for free download. You might have noticed most songs I linked in "what are you listening to now" thread are linked as such... OC Remix goes here as well.

I too got rid of hundreds of pirated songs long ago, and changed over entirely. Glad to see we're in the same boat. And here I sit now, around 160 hours of music, all completely legit.

[edit] And apparently I was right when I thought "hey, I saw this thread sometime ago, but when..."

[Sonic_13]

and some music my dad had me download (Like Blue Oyster Cult and The Band)

wow you're dad must really rock! GO ROBBIE ROBERTSON!

Ya I guess I can't see good in either side of the issue. Its just something people do. I personally buy cds because it feels so much more authentic, but unfortunately the music I like is quite outdated.... becuase nothing good seems to be coming out, so buying the albums isnt helping the artists much. (I do anyway though...) gah where am i going with this? I have no idea...

this has been mike r reporting... this is roxnews.

[Mave]

Most of the stuff I still download are albums that are no longer in print/production (don't you just hate that?), imported/hard to get or are for sampling purposes. I've invested quite an amount of money in hard CD copies (all loaded into my car) including imported ones so I suppose that's why I don't feel as convicted.

I always prefer buying my fav. artists' CD albums to show them my support and I do that with pride. *nods* There's no point having so many mp3s and not being able to thoroughly appreciate each one of them.

[righteous_slave]

I saw what the troll posted. It would be interesting to see his opinion on non-Christians who have recanted old evil ways. The world often is willing to forgive all sorts of shortcomings, unless you're saved, then your bad deeds are always held against you.

For me, there are plenty of underground, legal tracks up all over the place, and most mainstream stuff is boring or offensive, so I'm content (there are a few ripped old game soundtracks and stuff I borrowed from my brother in my playlist, so I can't claim to be perfect on the issue )

[Steeltemplar]

I have been guilty before but now I obey the laws. However, I do think that it is a pity that artists are so stingy with their music. It's art. Personally, if I were an artist, I would want my expression to be experienced by as many as possible and then, if they wanted to support me, they could do so.

This is one reason I like the trance music scene. They are more free about the music. There are tons of live DJ sets and mixes that are available for download free and very much legal. Not just small stuff, but big names like Armin van Buuren, Tiesto, Paul Oakenfold, Cor Fijneman, and Paul van Dyk.

[Saint Kevin]

Nice to see another that has come around. I once was a pirate myself, and thought nothing of downloading every episode of Family Guy, or every Megadeth song ever written, or hundreds of roms for old school gaming consoles. Yep, I've been there and done that, and I'm pretty sure I dragged Christ's name in the mud while doing so. Yep, I'm so glad that is my past, and even though it would be nice to have loads of free music/anime/software, I think a clean conscience and better witness is worth the sacrifice. Kudos Steve, thanks for being real bro.

[beau99]

However, I do think that it is a pity that artists are so stingy with their music. It's art. Personally, if I were an artist, I would want my expression to be experienced by as many as possible and then, if they wanted to support me, they could do so.

In reality, the majority of the artists agree with you. It's just that they can't do whatever they want because it's a downside of signing a recording contract.

[Steeltemplar]

In reality, the majority of the artists agree with you. It's just that they can't do whatever they want because it's a downside of signing a recording contract.

You make a good point. Perhaps the problem is with the system, then.

[ShiroiHikari]

I usually download for preview purposes. If I like it...then I go buy it. If not, I delete the files, no harm no foul. I still download j-rock, but I'd rather do that than pay money for illegal bootlegs :[

[righteous_slave]

You make a good point. Perhaps the problem is with the system, then.

On both sides of the issue. If an artist doesn't mind thier stuff being traded, then why not? If the artist has an issue with it, then the traders should respect that and pull that artist's stuff out. Some bands need to remember how enourmously the (illegal) tape trading and bootlegging scenes helped them out in thier early days coughcoughmetallicacough, and the current traders need to learn about how those fans with boots and copies bought copies when they became available to support the bands they liked.