I actually have a pretty bad confession, and I want to share it because I never thought about how I might be contributing to something immoral.
We live in a building that is super close. Our floor leaves doors open and we treat it like an open community. After the TIME cover came out we were welcomed back to a supportive and protective group of people.
We also share our technology.
We all share the same internet, have synced iPods, a communal iPad, and any other technological device is a free for all. I thought nothing of it.
Then I realized, if we are all sharing music we would have bought on our own someone is losing money. They probably don’t need the money, but on the same note if everyone was doing it the entire industry would go in the toilet. I felt like a pirate.
Conviction came over me pretty strong. Starting tomorrow we are going to be taking steps to buy all the music we felt like we had stolen.
I had told someone else about it and they go, “Oh, everyone does that!” Well, that still does not make it right.
Do you do anything wrong that is considered acceptable by our society? Confess here, no judgment. (It is therapeutic, I promise!)
First off…I love the idea that your floor has an open community feel. Reminds me of the days where neighborhoods were a community and your neighbors were friends as well as people you just lived by.
Second–The only stuff I’ve pirated are a few tv shows, usually ones from England or Canada (or ones from pay channels that I don’t get), and maybe a movie or two. Now I will admit that I’ve pirated some e-books for my Kindle but here’s where I’m a little odd (or more odd than usual, depending on your viewpoint)…I’ve only pirated books which are best sellers. I make a point of buying any e-books that I come across from small independent authors. It’s a weird thing I know, but I feel the best selling authors have made their money many times over but the independents really need it. In fact, I’ve got a few independent authors who I’ve actually corresponded with on twitter, which probably would never happen with some of the best selling authors.
LOL Your reasoning is hilarious Jeff! THe only problem is if everyone did it then the big authors would go broke.;-) Your comments always make me smile!
I pirated music in college (When Napster was big). I occasionally movie jump (pay for movie #1 and then go see another movie after). Generally movie two is something that I wouldn’t pay to see anyway (cough, Twilight, cough), but still. It’s amazing how good we get at self justification.
LOL it is true!! Humans are amazing at justifying immoral and hurtful behavior. I wonder the psychological reasoning behind that.
I love that you live in a community like that!
I pirated music in college as well! Mostly because I started seeing the documentaries where the artists were saying how they only get 20 and 30 cents for each cd sold… I figured if they weren’t getting the money why bother right? Of course now I see how that was my way to justify stealing. And on occasion I burned netflix dvds. Now I pay for what I want. Its better this way because we don’t end up with a bunch of cds or dvds just because. Its all stuff we really enjoy watching or listening to!
I really enjoy your site.
Your family is beautiful! Those boys are so cute!
Hey Renise! Thanks for coming over here! I am glad to know other people are confessing they have done it, too!
Thanks! My boys are spitfires (I think almost all boys are) and so sweet. I would love to have a little girl one day, but I am thoroughly enjoying being a mom to two boys right now. I couldn’t imagine kids more suited to be a part of our family. God knows.
IF I pirate anything I’d never tell!
I just noticed that you changed your menus. I like it! The other way you had it setup was fun, but now they’re easier to navigate.
LOL!!! You must! It is a confession comment!
Thanks! They aren’t all organized with posts in there yet, but once they are I hope it will make it easier to navigate!
I wish everyone thought this way! I thought I was the only person who bought music still. I even still collect CD’s. Now it’s like a scavenger hunt since there are not any music stores hardly anymore.
LOL I have CDs, too!!! Bring them to Ethiopia.
I think you can clear your conscience on this one. You are allowed to share music you purchased with your friends/”roommates.” Would you feel the same way if it were still 1994 and everyone put their cds in a big pile for the group to borrow/play at will? That’s essentially what you’re doing and it’s fine!
Really? LOL Yes I totally remember, oh gosh I still own some mix tapes. One has ‘Baby Got Back’ on it. I’ll never get rid of it. Remember those 1cent CDs people bought and scammed the company? That was stealing….
Hi Jamie, I thought you might like this blog post.
http://usthreebirds.blogspot.com/2012/08/today.html
Love it!
Yay, other people pay for music too! Haha…I haven’t bought CDs in forever, but I still have my stash of them around here somewhere…
I am pretty old school, I dont use an e-reader because I love the smell of books (Is that weird?) I also still like my CDs… With that said, my son & I go to the library a few times a week and I borrow CDS… I burn some, but if it is a CD I reeeaaallly enjoy (like the new John Mayer CD) I will buy it because I really love the whole thing- not just one or two songs.
I think just about everyone has “pirated” music from one iPod to another. I do agree that it is not right to do and it is certainly not something I typically do. I purchase my own music on iTunes. However, last year I was visiting a friend in Arizona and we spent an entire afternoon “sharing music.”
As for books, I don’t have an e-reader but as I understand you can “borrow” a book from a friend. Currently I do practice the art of sharing books. If I’m reading a series I love I will let my friends borrow them to read rather than buy their own copies. I don’t know if that is part of what you’re discussing but that is a practice I have continued.
Its no different than hearing a song on the radio!
I don’t steal music anymore, because karma got me in the form of a bad virus once. So instead…I get the songs I like from my local library’s digital lending site???? Haha, its some sort of legalized pirating institution, but it’s okay “because I’m supporting the local library”. I’m still not entirely certain how this works…but karma is still happy with me…for now.
LOL I think that sounds totally legitimate.
I’m embarrassed to say this – but I speed when I’m late to things and justify it as I NEED to be somewhere! God forbid I should actually take reponsibility for my lateness (usually too much time on facebook). But the worst worst part of my crime – I totally totally outwardly scold and judge others who do the same! Oh I feel so bad saying that out loud.
And on the note of communal sharing of music etc. I agree with Kate – its just the same and sharing a CD or the latest best seller with your neighbour. As long as someone in the complex has purchased it then that is morally ok in my book. But then again I speed so who am I to talk about morals!? Ops!