My good buddy S'Perry has a bit of a rant here about why writers need to be paid for their work, and why book piracy is bad. I have a bone to pick with him, though
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I wonder if the people who pay you to go on-site to create something for them think they're paying for your time and travel, and your skills are just a free bonus or something.
I agree with everything you said. However, I stated it my way because I don't think people are as altruistic as you seem to. I think they're more mercenary.
I would say that buy now the majority of people know that illegal downloading is stealing--they just don't care. They really don't care if I can afford to eat, either.
They might care that there may not be any more of what they want if they don't pay for it.
I'd guess that it's less that they don't care if you can afford to eat, as that they do care if they can't afford to eat, and feel entitled to their entertainments regardless.
I don't know (or know that I know) any book piraters, but the general response I get from my peers when I bring up that downloading movies is piracy is that they can't afford the price of movie tickets, or something along those lines.
Also, I think there's a disconnect between knowledge and belief: they know that it's piracy, but they don't really believe that something you do in the privacy of your own living room is wrong. It might be recognized, but it's not internalized. Which is not a defense, but I think the cognitive dissonance of engaging in wrong behaviors and being chided for it will in most cases lead to people being more defensive than to people admitting they were wrong and ceasing their behavior. I don't know what the answer is.
Want to hear a sad thing: I've been telling my children, who know I am a writer trying to sell my work, not to download without paying for it, that they are stealing from the people who create these things, and I get a lot of the same excuses from them: I can't afford it, they don't need the money, etc. Even pointing out a lot of those people are like me, unable to support themselves on their creative work, did little to dent the mentality.
It's disappointing on a personal level; it's appalling when you realize it's become a part of the now strongly individualistic culture they are a part of and helping to create: nothing matters except what they want, and they feel entitled to get it regardless of who it hurts.
All of which is why I would think (hope) the "You are getting something of value" trope would make it more clear that it's thievery.
Most people don't consider it stealing if they taste a grape in the grocery store--it's of such small intrinsic value that they don't feel they're doing any damage. But they're much less inclined to stand there and eat a whole bunch, because the value is more obvious.
I couldn't agree more, and like you say it goes both ways, and this comes up again and again in the artists' world, both with "customers" asking for free work, and with newbies working for free because they for some reason don't feel comfortable for charging for their work.
I've found that what usually helps is to first point out how many years of practise it takes to advance from a-b-c or stick-figures to art or craftmanship level, which is often longer, or at least as long, as it takes to get a university degree. And then count how many hours it actually takes from idea to finished product. That tends to put things into perspective. ;)
I'm less twitchy about newbies working for free, as "art" is one of the few endeavors where one has to prove one's worth by actually doing the job
( ... )
...that said, newbies giving away their work at some point when they've demonstrated their competence is just foolish. Step up to the game, kids.
It's fair to accept payment in modes other than money, but people shouldn't overestimate the value of "exposure." Exposure without at least token payment is no different than standing on the street corner and displaying your work. The act of someone paying you demonstrates your work's value.
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I wonder if the people who pay you to go on-site to create something for them think they're paying for your time and travel, and your skills are just a free bonus or something.
Reply
I would say that buy now the majority of people know that illegal downloading is stealing--they just don't care. They really don't care if I can afford to eat, either.
They might care that there may not be any more of what they want if they don't pay for it.
Reply
I don't know (or know that I know) any book piraters, but the general response I get from my peers when I bring up that downloading movies is piracy is that they can't afford the price of movie tickets, or something along those lines.
Also, I think there's a disconnect between knowledge and belief: they know that it's piracy, but they don't really believe that something you do in the privacy of your own living room is wrong. It might be recognized, but it's not internalized. Which is not a defense, but I think the cognitive dissonance of engaging in wrong behaviors and being chided for it will in most cases lead to people being more defensive than to people admitting they were wrong and ceasing their behavior. I don't know what the answer is.
Reply
It's disappointing on a personal level; it's appalling when you realize it's become a part of the now strongly individualistic culture they are a part of and helping to create: nothing matters except what they want, and they feel entitled to get it regardless of who it hurts.
Reply
Most people don't consider it stealing if they taste a grape in the grocery store--it's of such small intrinsic value that they don't feel they're doing any damage. But they're much less inclined to stand there and eat a whole bunch, because the value is more obvious.
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Reply
I've found that what usually helps is to first point out how many years of practise it takes to advance from a-b-c or stick-figures to art or craftmanship level, which is often longer, or at least as long, as it takes to get a university degree. And then count how many hours it actually takes from idea to finished product. That tends to put things into perspective. ;)
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Reply
It's fair to accept payment in modes other than money, but people shouldn't overestimate the value of "exposure." Exposure without at least token payment is no different than standing on the street corner and displaying your work. The act of someone paying you demonstrates your work's value.
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