My friend the pirate

In this age of information abundance, everyone is a criminal. We all hunger for information & the fact that it is so easily accessible makes it so much easier to get 'full' (although many people have a hunger that is insatiable). Lets approach a question of ethics - Is it wrong to download music? Heres my theory....

Big or small, stealing is stealing.

If you got a year for every song you've downloaded I'd probably do a ballpark figure of around about 76.29 life sentences. A friend of mine would probably serve over 300 life sentences... But lets be serious for a moment, a song can't possibly equate to a year in prison (or can it).

The question on everyone's mind has to be is downloading a song stealing? Well lets see, an artist slaves over the pad and a pen for days, weeks, months or years to rat out a rhyme. Then comes the instrumental, then the promotion & so on until the CD hits the shelf (or BitTorrent).

Shouldn't these artists be commended for their efforts? Shouldn't they be rewarded for their contribution to society's mental integrity? My answer is complex, yet, hopefully intriguing.

Centuries ago, kings & queens ruled the world, anyone who spoke their mind would've met the chopping board or the noose. Now who has the power? President Bush & entertainers. Bush aside, entertainers are paid higher than any other occupation on the face of this planet! If you ask me, they have been rewarded way too much for their 'contribution' to society in the first place. Artists should get off their horses & realise that what they do isn't worth the amount they are paid. What about esteemed scholars? What about those MENSA worthy candidates who probably get a miniscule wage for their impact on the people they teach or those who they inspire?! Ultimately, these are the people who need to be rewarded. What ever happened to relativity? Shouldnt what you do be relative to how much you are paid? I guess not.

Its all about supply & demand. People no longer have a thirst for knowledge, but rather something to fill their minds with, so they no longer have to contemplate the real issues they face in life. I mean, ignorance is bliss! I would love to sit in front of a TV screen or be blocked off to the world by headphones for days on end, without facing responisibilities or the world in general! i mean who wouldnt?!


I have probably digressed from the topic line a little too much, however, i would like bring back the notion that downloading music is not wrong (at least not in my eyes). Entertainers are paid far too much for the corruption they bring to society, sure they make us happy, but if we relied solely on them for knowledge, I dont think we would ever progress as a race of human beings who supposedly have 'free will'. I say download what you want when you want it and satisfy your hunger! To hell with stealing, it was their fault for expecting so much for their efforts in the first place! They should be happy they are getting paid regardless of how much. Its time that pay become relative to your impact on a generation.

I know many people will argue that artists present their own view of the world - but the fact is, i dont give a shit! They can sing about '40s, bitches & blunts' all they like, but it aint makin my life any better!

So music piracy is ok in my books! Garrrr!

Thats all.