eclectica
2003-12-29, 03:23
Filesharing has been likened to stealing, or has been compared to even more serious crimes. While the laws of some governments may deem filesharing illegal, there is nothing morally wrong with it. Such laws have as much moral weight as laws against jaywalking or laws banning alcohol. At the worse filesharing could be called a vice, but that assessment ignores the positive social impacts that filesharing has.
Peer-to-peer filesharing brings people together who have similar interests. It creates online communities that are not based on geography but on culture. The internet has created a social revolution because it has allowed different people to feel that they too have a place no matter how strange they are. It gives hope to those who would in previous times not have fit a certain mold and were different. Many lonely hearts have found solace in online communities. Online communities have allowed for diversity and exploration of the human spirit. These online communities are no less legitimate than the traditional communities of the past. The people who participate in them do so passionately. Peer-to-peer filesharers willingly share their music with others, and it gives them a warm feeling inside to share the things they find beautiful with others. No laws or business interests should be allowed to destroy their community. Peer-to-peer filesharing communities ought to be given the same respect and accomodations as religious communities have been given.
Peer-to-peer filesharing keeps kids off the streets, and safe at home under the watchful eyes of their parents. While the big record companies would rather see a kid sitting on the street corner drinking 40 ounce beers, socially it is more beneficial if the kids stay home and download tunes off the internet. We can't allow the business interests of corporations to destroy our youth.
Peer-to-peer filesharing is about the free exchange of ideas and information. Society will always benefit from the free flow of information. The idea that innovation will cease and people will stop being creative due to the open exchange of information is plain wrong. Actually the bottling of knowledge into the hands of the few has reduced and stifled innovation and creativity for the rest of society.
The ultimate driving force behind peer-to-peer filesharing is generosity. The fact that people leave their computers on at their own expense of resources and time speaks of the culture. We've been taught ever since we've been youngsters that it's good to share with others. We get a feeling of satisfaction when people upload music that we like from us. Peer-to-peer filesharing involves random acts of kindness to strangers we've never met, and we are bound together by the love of music.
The big record companies don't understand this. They only understand greed, and so to them rather than seeing the positive social impacts of filesharing, they only see it as a loss of business control.
Peer-to-peer filesharing brings people together who have similar interests. It creates online communities that are not based on geography but on culture. The internet has created a social revolution because it has allowed different people to feel that they too have a place no matter how strange they are. It gives hope to those who would in previous times not have fit a certain mold and were different. Many lonely hearts have found solace in online communities. Online communities have allowed for diversity and exploration of the human spirit. These online communities are no less legitimate than the traditional communities of the past. The people who participate in them do so passionately. Peer-to-peer filesharers willingly share their music with others, and it gives them a warm feeling inside to share the things they find beautiful with others. No laws or business interests should be allowed to destroy their community. Peer-to-peer filesharing communities ought to be given the same respect and accomodations as religious communities have been given.
Peer-to-peer filesharing keeps kids off the streets, and safe at home under the watchful eyes of their parents. While the big record companies would rather see a kid sitting on the street corner drinking 40 ounce beers, socially it is more beneficial if the kids stay home and download tunes off the internet. We can't allow the business interests of corporations to destroy our youth.
Peer-to-peer filesharing is about the free exchange of ideas and information. Society will always benefit from the free flow of information. The idea that innovation will cease and people will stop being creative due to the open exchange of information is plain wrong. Actually the bottling of knowledge into the hands of the few has reduced and stifled innovation and creativity for the rest of society.
The ultimate driving force behind peer-to-peer filesharing is generosity. The fact that people leave their computers on at their own expense of resources and time speaks of the culture. We've been taught ever since we've been youngsters that it's good to share with others. We get a feeling of satisfaction when people upload music that we like from us. Peer-to-peer filesharing involves random acts of kindness to strangers we've never met, and we are bound together by the love of music.
The big record companies don't understand this. They only understand greed, and so to them rather than seeing the positive social impacts of filesharing, they only see it as a loss of business control.