Downloading music, is it stealing?

Member Since

03/02/2004 08:41 AM (UTC)

I just feel like a good civil discussion....just a light one.

I don't think downloading music is a) wrong or b) stealing. Here are my reasons.

1. Stealing is the act of taking something AWAY from someone, and they don't have it anymore after you've stolen it. I hate people who steal, I HATE STEALING, but downloading music is just COPYING. You aren't actually taking anything away from anyone.

2. In my situation, I would never actually ever pay for music. I won't buy CD's.

3. Downloading music A) helps spreads a band/artists reputation if his music is good. Free publicity...so if he isn't famous it'll actually help him by word of mouth. B) won't hurt musicians who are already rich. Maybe they'll just get knocked down to a level where the only LIGHTLY don't deserve the money they make. Metallica is a buncha whiners

Born-Again-Vampire

@Born-Again-Vampire

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Anything war can do, peace can do better.

•09/12/2004 05:47 AM (UTC) •

Hi, I just did a thread about this yesterday: http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/forum/showmessage.cds?name=main&message;=64661
But it's no big deal

blueoakleyz Wrote:
I just feel like a good civil discussion....just a light one.

I don't think downloading music is a) wrong or b) stealing. Here are my reasons.

1. Stealing is the act of taking something AWAY from someone, and they don't have it anymore after you've stolen it. I hate people who steal, I HATE STEALING, but downloading music is just COPYING. You aren't actually taking anything away from anyone.

2. In my situation, I would never actually ever pay for music. I won't buy CD's.

3. Downloading music A) helps spreads a band/artists reputation if his music is good. Free publicity...so if he isn't famous it'll actually help him by word of mouth. B) won't hurt musicians who are already rich. Maybe they'll just get knocked down to a level where the only LIGHTLY don't deserve the money they make. Metallica is a buncha whiners

•09/12/2004 05:50 AM (UTC) •

Ya I didnt write nearly as good a post as yours but two points (from what i read lol) were that CD's are shit. They have one song and the rest are crap and they think they can get away with it. And two, they screw up songs just to try and punish downloaders when they're just committing a crime too

•09/12/2004 05:51 AM (UTC) •

I think your definition of stealing is flawed. Just because one does not remove from the person's possession what is there's does not mean it does not count as stealing

ex. 1 - I can take a photograph of a girl sunbathing and put it on the internet as porn. I never took anyhting AWAY from her, but I stole her privacy and dignity

ex. 2 - I can get someone's debit card number and PIN without actually taking it AWAY from them and sell and/or give it to someone else.

Essentially in the case of downloading music you are doing a similar action as ex.2 you are obtaining something that someone else has made availible for you to obtain without actually purchasing it.

And because you know it was made for purchasing and not to be obtained freely then its obtained dishonestly which by definition is stealing.

•09/12/2004 05:53 AM (UTC) •

No logan you came up with examples where you're stealing something,
I'm not stealing anyones privacy or dignity by downloading their song am i?

•09/12/2004 05:58 AM (UTC) •

Shooting a photograph is not taking anything away from an individual, therefore scutiny against my examples is false since nothing is physically taking away as your example of stealing limits itself to. oh, and I like how you ignore my 2nd example. Thats ok, if you will not acknowledge my imputs to a topic YOU choose to create because it makes your point of view look bad then I have nothing left to say. Take care bub

•09/12/2004 06:01 AM (UTC) •

Ummmmmmm no?
You take someone's credit card # and pin #...that isn't stealing
you're acquiring knowledge
if you use their credit card and buy stuff you're obviously stealing money

•09/12/2004 06:03 AM (UTC) •

please don't edit in extra stuff into your posts.. just make a new post

TheTinMan2005

@TheTinMan2005

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Stay classy, MKO.

•09/12/2004 06:04 AM (UTC) •

I don't give a crap if it is considered stealing. Ok then, I'm a THIEF

I don't care, I am not paying for CD's. Because 1)Music sucks today so bad, most CD's have one or two songs so they aren't worth it and 2)I listen mainly to classic rock, and so most of these bands have already made their money off of these songs, so it doesn't really hurt them, and 3)a lot of older stuff is hard to find.

•09/12/2004 06:04 AM (UTC) •

blueoakleyz Wrote:
Ummmmmmm no?
You take someone's credit card # and pin #...that isn't stealing
you're acquiring knowledge
if you use their credit card and buy stuff you're obviously stealing money

My example never including ME using the information.

in addition just because I aquire knowledge doesn't mean I am taking anything away from them, possession is still theirs.

My point is you say I'm aquiring knowledge....you are aquiring music, both are in dishonest ways which by definition is stealing.

Second point your definition of stealing is incorrect, therefore your point of view on downloading music has to be incorrect as well.

•09/12/2004 06:08 AM (UTC) •

And finally, before someone gets a misconception I am NOT passing judgement, I could really care less if or if not you download or buy music.

The topic was presented, I decided to play. While I still considering downloading music stealing, again I say, I don't really care if you or anyone else does it, but its stealing nonetheless

•09/12/2004 06:10 AM (UTC) •

My definition of stealing is taking something AWAY from someone. That is always what it will be to me, clearcut and simple.

•09/12/2004 06:17 AM (UTC) •

blueoakleyz Wrote:
My definition of stealing is taking something AWAY from someone. That is always what it will be to me, clearcut and simple.

Translation: "Dang it, he completely out debated me on this one."

kidding.....well not really, but its all in good fun.

Anyway, subjective relativisim (post Modernism) really cannot stand up to what a culture considers an absolute (cultural relativisim). Meaning the definition of stealing according to the dictionary is more accepted by our culture than what you think stealing means and entails

In lamens terms, your opinion for stealing doesn't mean crap compared to society and law makers.

Candyman1014

@Candyman1014

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•09/12/2004 06:18 AM (UTC) •

Downloading music, is it stealing?

Hell No!!!

TheTinMan2005

@TheTinMan2005

About Me

Stay classy, MKO.

•09/12/2004 06:19 AM (UTC) •

LoganMK Wrote:

blueoakleyz Wrote:
My definition of stealing is taking something AWAY from someone. That is always what it will be to me, clearcut and simple.

Translation: "Dang it, he completely out debated me on this one."

kidding.....well not really, but its all in good fun.

Anyway, subjective relativisim (post Modernisim) really cannot stand up to what a culture considers an absolute (cultural relativisim). Meaning the definition of stealing according to the dictionary is more accepted by our culture than what you think stealing means and entails

In lamens terms, your opinion for stealing doesn't mean crap compared to society and law makers.

I completely understand the difference between, subjective relativism and cultural relativism.

I just don't give a shit.

•09/12/2004 06:20 AM (UTC) •

logan when i first read that reply it was completely different PLEASE STOP EDITING IN COMPLETELY NEW RESPONSES just use a new reply

you wouldnt use the same TP to wipe your ass 3 times would you?

•09/12/2004 06:21 AM (UTC) •

TheTinMan2005 Wrote:
I completely understand the difference between, subjective relativism and cultural relativism.

I just don't give a shit.

Thats great, but...

1) that comment was not directed at you, but I do welcome your input

2) if you choose "not to give a shit" then feel free to not

•09/12/2004 06:23 AM (UTC) •

blueoakleyz Wrote:
logan when i first read that reply it was completely different PLEASE STOP EDITING IN COMPLETELY NEW RESPONSES just use a new reply

you wouldnt use the same TP to wipe your ass 3 times would you?

Sorry pal, accidents happen. I was in "edit mode" and forgot I was, so when I typed the other part of my message it erased the first part, so I just did the whole thing over again.

You'll be ok though

•09/12/2004 06:25 AM (UTC) •

lol

•09/12/2004 06:28 AM (UTC) •

Here's a question I think might help me understand or whatever i donno lol:

When/if I download a song

A) From a new album, that came out in 2004 very recently: What am I stealing?

B) From an old album that came out 20 years ago, what am I stealing?

C) From an album over 40 years old, where the artist is now dead, what am I stealing?

•09/12/2004 06:35 AM (UTC) •

blueoakleyz Wrote:
Here's a question I think might help me understand or whatever i donno lol:

When/if I download a song

A) From a new album, that came out in 2004 very recently: What am I stealing?

B) From an old album that came out 20 years ago, what am I stealing?

C) From an album over 40 years old, where the artist is now dead, what am I stealing?

Well I am usually a person who will claim there's always an "exception to the rule" So here's my opinion

A) Much the same as we've already discussed, you obtained something that was meant to be purchase, which would mean you obtained it dishonestly. The exception I would claim would be when the band's own website makes it availible to download

Ex. Seether has songs availible to download of their own website along with Evanesence

B) Depends on copy write laws really. An exception I would claim to this is if the album is out of print.

C) See B, in addition I tend to think people care less when the artist is dead, unless they were an icon and demand they be respected.

•09/12/2004 06:46 AM (UTC) •

Ok so you argue that downloading music is dishonest and a matter of respect etc.....

but as far as stealing do you really see anything?