Is Fraud Good For the Economy?

[The Comrade]

[OGPhilly]

Since the topic of this thread now seems to be how we categorize music piracy (and considering it's a stratego OP that's more substantive than what we could have expected) I'll add my two cents.

There are obviously forces at work who would like to think of illegal music downloading as theft, just like any other kind of theft. But society is never going to view it this way and it's pretty laughable to see their ridiculous pr campaigns. Remember the commercial that shows the guy mugging old people and jacking cars and then tries to tie that downloading songs?

In our society we can't see downloading an album as the same as shoplifting a copy of that album from the store. The difference is, when you shoplift you aren't just getting the product without paying for it. You're also depleting the stores inventory. The store now has one less copy of that album than they had before you lifted it. Downloading does no such thing and while it may be illegal there certainly isn't the same kind of taboo as real stealing.

[dontworrybehappy]

But "not buying things" and "copying things" is different. Yes, strictly speaking, not buying things hurts your revenue. But, if I wasn't going to buy it anyway, how has it hurt your revenue? Music is so unique in that I CAN obtain your product without your consent or knowledge, but I can also do it without costing you a penny. Without your consent or knowledge is of course one thing, but without costing you a penny is another. I cannot possibly take your lawnmower without it costing you money. I stole a tangible product that took resources to produce. But if I steal music......it doesn't cost George Strait a dime if I download one of his songs if I wouldn't have bought his music anyway. It's just the world of digital music.

[Sazari]

[The Comrade]

[OGPhilly]

[Spider]

[Sazari]

[dontworrybehappy]

[John Galt]

in 2011, 8.6 million people were receiving disability in this country. half of them were receiving it for "mood disorders" and back pain - things you really can't disprove

in 1960, there were 134 people working for every person on disability
today, there are 16 people working for every person on disability

actually, there are more people on disability here per worker than in europe. EUROPE. what the hell is wrong with americans? 27% of adult men are not working -- no, not looking for a job, not looking at all, they are too busy existing as parasitic entities

no, fraud is not good for the economy