OK, I retracted my illegal posts. I hope y'all are happy.
Now, scubadon, I was ready to rip you a new snorkel hole about your righteous post... but instead here's something to think about. Let's use good old Apple as an example.
Apple has sold to date 22.4 million iPods. If a conservative estimate of 10% of those customers had 'illegal' copies of songs of them, that would be over 2 million iPods... care to guess how much revenue 10% of iPod sales would generate? Also, I know that a year ago 37% of Apple's revenues were generated by the iPod. I don't know about this year, but I'll bet it's closer to 50% if not more (anyone know?).
Do you think Apple would gladly give up those sales knowing that the iPods had illegally copied music on them? Don't think too hard on that one. If they made damn sure those units didn't work and thus didn't sell, Uncle Stevie would have some asses, their stock would drop like a fiber-laced turd and they'd be putting one of those 2 filthy feet back in the grave where it's had a warm and cozy spot over the majority of the last 20 years until some single crazy-ass product bails their asses out for another few years. (I've got a right to this opinion as I worked there in for a brief spell in the 80's!
)
So instead, they give us their holier than thou shit "don't steal music" *AND* at the same time they SELL music! Do you think they do it to promote up and coming bands? Do you think they do it because they want to make sure no illegal music is out there on the streets? They would say
yes. I say
bullshit! They do it to make more money! It's a win-win! They make themselves look like good guys all the while making tens of millions off hardware with illegal music on them! Brilliant!
Like Nathan said... look the other way. Big business is the best at doing that.
So, my righteous friends... if you really are righteous you must STOP supporting these companies, for what they are doing is wrong! You are killing the industry and squashing the poor record labels helpless to defend themselves! Garth Brooks warned you about this 10 years ago and look at him now. He has resorted to selling warmed over box set exclusives to Wal-Mart to survive. You had a hand in that! Give up your iPods, your CD-R drives and your Tivo's. Don't be so selfish as to give yourself credit for keeping your own stinky little kitchen clean. Think of the bigger picture... the greater good. If you're going to preach righteousness, be RIGHTEOUS!
Randog
PS: I like Apple products... I really do... to a point. They are a little full of themselves and put design awards over practicality much of the time (like a shiny -scratcheseasierthanchromesoitcan'tbethereforewe'lljustcallitchinesechromeforlackofabettername- case for a bound-to-be abused product), but they keep a dull industry entertaining.
