CreateDebate


Debate Info

2
4
Yes, its stealing No, digital media is free
Debate Score:6
Arguments:6
Total Votes:6
More Stats

Argument Ratio

side graph
 
 Yes, its stealing (2)
 
 No, digital media is free (4)

Debate Creator

bwind3(73) pic



Is downloading digital files wrong?

Hasn't everyone?

Yes, its stealing

Side Score: 2
VS.

No, digital media is free

Side Score: 4
1 point

It really depends.

When I download some songs of a band that I don't REALLY like, no. I wouldn't buy the CD anyway.

However, I have the Pink Floyd's, Iron Maiden's and Simphony X's discographies in the PC, that I illegally downloaded, and I'm pretty sure that without Emule or Bittorrent, I would have bought at least one album by each one of them.

So in certain circumstances like mine, yes. It's stealing.

The band worked hard and invested a lot of money into making their album, and people're getting it for free instead of paying for it like most people should do.

However, until they make some reasonable prices, and I get into a better economic position, I'm going to keep downloading their music and supporting the band by buying T-shirts of them and going to their shows.

Side: Yes, its stealing
1 point

Being a musician, if I were to be relying on CD sales to make ends meet, I wouldn't appreciate people downloading my art that I spend much time and money recording and mastering and publishing, without paying a small fee for the album or CD. Granted, I'm not in that position right now (because I'd probably be bankrupt by now), but still... whatever happened to supporting artists?

Side: Yes, its stealing
1 point

I had this discussion (again) with a friend the other weekend. They say its stealing and so its wrong. I say its akin to leaving a candy dish out on Halloween and say take one, but you take a handful...basically. and add that people who have problems with downloading and say they won't because its stealing won't have an issue with speeding when that can easily cause more harm. He says its two different things. I say if you are going to pass moral judgment on an action then it should apply to all action in your life.

I don't mind being called a thief for it and don't think its wrong. I believe a new paradigm is called for. Such as giving out CDs for free and add adverts to the liner notes. I obviously don't have all the answers here but am curious to what others think.

Side: No, digital media is free
1 point

An artist who digitizes their work must understand the following rules: copies will be worth just as much as the original and making further copies is costless.

So one must ask, why did the artist digitize their art to begin with? Why imbue your product with such capabilities only to wish to restrict them as if they were in a previous format?

Any artist who allows their work to enter the digital domain must understand that they have decided to remove the particular ownership benefits of analogue from their work and now must play by the digital world's rules.

And then the next debate would be, should the digital world be forced to play by the rules of the analogue world?

Side: No, digital media is free
1 point

Artists can make a living easily enough by playing gigs. If people like what they do, they are gonna go see them live. Why do people think that just because artists are used to sitting on their ass and collecting money from their cd sales and royalties, thats the way things should be. I say let them work 5-6 days a week like everyone else.

Side: No, digital media is free
1 point

In stealing you take the original, in downloading you only copy, any album that I have downloaded and loved I have bought.

Side: No, digital media is free