The above image is from a really important blog post by Shaun Groves……..
The last time I blogged about illegally downloading music, it attracted plenty of conversation……..honest conversation……but frustrating conversation……because we seem to acknowledge quite readily that we should not steal…….while at the same time doing it……or at best, we will try to redefine what “stealing” is to exclude the kind of “stealing” that we want to enjoy!
It’s pathetic….
And, it makes me sad that Shaun may have to stop making music………..really sad…….how many other musicians are suffering like this? I think we know the answer to that……
And Christians………especially Christians………….should be paying for their music!! Full Stop!
Can. Of. Worms.
You could expand this to a conversation about torrenting TV shows and… actually, no, don’t do that. There’s not enough time in the world.
It’s only in the last year, I would say, that I have managed to completely stop downloading music illegally, even if it had previously trickled to a low volume (compared to ‘back in the day’ with Napster/Kazaa.)
Throughout, I always wanted the hard copy CDs (I still don’t like buying mp3s) of bands and artists that I really like, or of local artists; I’ve struggled whilst in Niger this year, as there’s been a few albums that I really want the physical version of, and so will wait until next year to buy in the flesh!
The tracks I tended to steal were either from musicians I had never heard before (and I guess didn’t want to risk my cash on) or stuff I didn’t really care much about. A while back, I went through a phase of raiding charity shops and eBay to replace a loads of the ones I liked on CD, ridiculously cheaply. I’ll admit that felt really, really good.
A bit of a turning point was about five years ago, at uni, when a friend confessed they had downloaded a record I had played on – because they couldn’t be bothered waiting to ask me for one. I was surprised how annoyed I was, despite the fact that I can’t imagine many people did, and it was hardly a profit-making endeavour to start with.
A possible tangent-starter: at least half of all the mp3s I have were neither bought or directly stolen – but were given by friends (either in a “you must hear this” situation, or a “here, have some stuff” mixtape-esque tradition.) If we can clearly work out the theological ramifications of that one, we’ll be doing well.
I got very frustrated with a friend who actually runs a Christian drop-in centre type place where there is a myriad of illegally downloaded and burned CDs lying around getting regular air-time. I When challenged he just refuses to acknowledge there was a problem. If you say it’s illegal he would just contradict you. If you say it’s stealing he would do the same. If you say “how would you like someone to do it to you he responds by saying that his band always gives their music away for free and everyone else should be doing the same. If you say music is a product they should be buying he would say they’re on a tight budget and can’t afford it and it’s necessary for “The work of the Kingdom” or whatever for them to be playing all the latest stuff.
It was like that episode of the Simpsons where Homer got free cable. “If I could afford to pay for it I would, but I can’t so I’m not going to”.
Moral. Should we even bother debating with irrational people?
PS. This may very well be one of Rick Hill’s “things that society gets wrong” because you’d be surprised how much appears in the newspapers and in general opinion about how music should just be free.
It baffles me.
Well in fairness those weren’t his words, but that was his main point..