It`s the end of the world as we know it

[ladyoneill]

I don't usually go for boycotts but I'm tempted (though I would think illegally downloading would make the point even more, but, whatever.) It's basketball season then, anyway.

Anyone know when Game of Thrones and Borgias return?

Originally posted by kj_svala at It`s the end of the world as we know it
Originally posted by

Comments

[lonelywalker]

Game of Thrones is back April 1st, I believe.

I'll be boycotting entertainment through cunningly not having any money to buy anything anyway.

[ladyoneill]

Oh good! I haven't actually watched last year's Borgias.

Yeah, that works too! I have that problem often myself which is my Amazon wishlist has six pages. lolol

OOOOH, Tyrion (yes I love him!)

[spikewriter]

Sorry for saying this, but this...is a dumb idea. It's too broad -- and you're going to be hurting creators as well.

I say, focus those purchases. Don't go to see the blockbuster -- but find the independent art house and patronize them for some small film that wouldn't otherwise get noticed.

Don't buy from iTunes or music sponsored by the big companies, but buy music from independents who are web-friendly.

Buy books from small cooperative presses, folks who are putting out the unique and unusual.

In short, don't buy from the big guys -- but give your money to the independents. They're the ones whom the big guys would like see run out of business.

That's my .02 -- and I have friends who have books coming out in March, so I'm buying those because it's important to them. They don't make sales, they might not get that next contract.

[ladyoneill]

Yeah, those are good ideas. I doubt many people will completely boycott but if it gets them thinking about limiting their purchases, that will help too.

[spikewriter]

I was ranting a bit to the husband about this on the way to work and I found myself saying that we should encourage people to share links to those independents, give people those suggestions.

Jenny Crusie once said in a workshop that goals for your main character should be framed as a positive rather than a negative because positive goals are easier to connect with.

I've got to think about this more and fortunately the office is empty today. But I think it would be great if for the month of March, we celebrate the independents, encourage people to buy direct from the creator whenever possible.

[ladyoneill]

Sadly I always head for the negative first. Bad habit!

[delphipsmith]

So far as I can tell the case against MegaUpload is VERY strong. They were in fact enabling copyvio pretty much left right and center, and anyone who uploaded or downloaded copyrighted material there was helping them do it. If the vast majority of data on a site is copyvio, and everyone knows that's what they're doing (MU actually advertised themselves as storage for movies and music) then shutdown is a legitimate option. The problem with PIPA and SOPA is that they would not have required evidence for shutdown, just allegations, and would have allowed site shutdown based on a single user's activity. The Megaupload case has been under investigation for two years. Honestly, I don't have a problem with it...

On the other hand, I'm a huge fan of supporting small local music and book shop. But we should do it all the time :)

[ladyoneill]

Well, yeah, everyone knows these services have illegal uploading and downloading. It's not going to stop by shutting down one or all of them; there are dozens out there and they'll just keep coming. But people do use these services legitimately, too, like Ellie, for storing and transferring large files that aren't in violation of anything. Those people on MU lost both money and documents etc if they didn't have backups. I always have backups on my harddrive