So I've been ripping my DVDs to a media server as well as going to used book stores and adding to the collection just so I can stop funding all this woke nonsense. From a technical standpoint its all cool and fun and I've been sharing my story with various friends (omitting the 'woke' part because many of these guys are all part of the facebook consciousness 'Landru, save us')
From 3 separate people at 3 separate times now - my talking about just using my own library for streaming purposes rather than pay the fee has led to them responding, exactly word for word, "I subscribe to Disney+ because I can't afford to buy all those Disney movies" like it's some sort of hypnotic suggestion. (and I don't even bring up Disney+, just streaming services in general)
Certainly that's true if you buy the discs new - but if you get them off of EBay or a used book store you can pick up most Disney movies on bluray for under $10 and DVD for usually $5! So, yeah, you've got some costs up front if you're a BIG Disney fan of yore but the media is YOURS, can't be edited for content behind your back and you'll always have access to it (and will eventually recoup the cost)
I had a friend last night (that spurred on this rant) then go on to say that he watched "The Black Hole" and "The Apple Dumpling Gang" which he would've never seen if he didn't have D+ - As if he's justifying the $90/year price tag to himself by saying he's watching movies he couldn't be bothered to watch without it? Don't get me wrong - I'm a spend your money as you see fit kinda guy. But none of my friends were touting how GREAT D+ was... they were all grudgingly defending their monthly tithes to the mouse (I have it because it'd be more expensive to not have it) and, more importantly, using the same verbiage...
Just an odd Sunday morning note...
This is one of the worst arguments I’ve ever seen on the topic.
To whit: if you were copy-pasting the entirety of a published book, effectively disseminating it without permission, then yes, most people would accuse you of stealing.
In reality, the value of a digital product is a very complex thing that cannot be “solved” by trite little gotchas. This probably goes double for any moral considerations that arise from such “theft”.
Certainly, if no one pays for content, there will be very limited content; volunteer artists and coders aren’t going to create Elden Ring (or whatever example floats your boat).
Similarly, the value of content is not wholly determined by the labor involved; thousands of people worked overtime to make some of the greatest turds in history.
Ok, here's a better one: are archive.today and wayback machine stealing?
Don't worry. Your original point was spot on as well.
EntertainersClowns think they should get paid in perpetuity for their 5 seconds of bathroom inspiration. If they had to really work without cashing in on past glories, we wouldn't have the problem of their idles asses virtue signaling ever more depraved activities, to a massive group of the anonymous & idle.