Silly heading aside, yeah, I’m feeling a little pensive and tentative about posting this, since I pretty sure I am in the minority on this, and well, that never gives one an optimistic feeling.
Also, I’m not one to get on bandwagons, not that I’m too hip for the mainstream, but because I’m so slow and ponderous that the bandwagon’s usually already over the hill and through the woods before I lumber my way towards it.
But I have been thinking about SOPA, PIPA, and ACTA, and to be honest, feeling really uncomfortable about it.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t in any way, shape, or manner support SOPA, PIPA or ACTA. I don’t think anyone with working frontal lobes supports SOPA, PIPA, or ACTA. I don’t think paramecium support it. The impact on civil liberties is staggering and it undoes some of the basic fundamentals of many democratic nations: trial by jury and the fact that we should be presumed innocent until proved guilty. The proposals infringe on free speech and the right to communicate freely and to criticize and to parody. Embedded in it are such nasty new regulations on how you’ll register new domain names in ARIN, and such. The more I read on the subjects, the more snarly it makes me.
DEFINITELY DO NOT WANT.
But it’s not as simple as BIG MEDIA COMPANIES WANT MORE MONEY! Certainly, it’s a part of it, but that’s not the whole issue. And nope, I don’t like big business and don’t really trust them to look out for the best interests or fundamentals of the country they come from.
But, as many people have pointed out to the media giants— to no avail — a lot of the problems stems from the businesses using old models of business. The old model of business was EXPENSIVE. The only reason we get to watch TV for free in the past (before cable) was we had to sit through ads. We still have to sit through ads. But that’s important … that’s where money comes from, to pay for the show that in turns generates the fandom I come to the internet for.
So there is the fact that yes, there’s a LOT of money and jobs tied up in the business, from the makeup artists, to the guy that designs the DVD (or in today’s terms, the icon) that goes on the product once they try to sell it.
Pirating is a problem. When I hear “BIG COMPANIES!” I find it hard to care about their CEOs’ profit margin, but bundled in there are the writers, set designers, actors, makeup artists that I love.
SOPA, PIPA, and ACTA aren’t solutions though.
Thing is, I, as a consumer, … well, I don’t think just calling my “representative” (I use that word loosely … I voted for their opposition, and well, they vote for things that totally don’t represent me but oh well) is enough.
There’s the other thing. The harder thing. The thing I’m going to have to actually do something about …. because the thing that’s making me feel uncomfortable? How can I protest PIPA, SOPA, and ACTA … and at the same time engage in acts that don’t support the artists that these bills claim to “protect?”
Yeah, actually, I’m pretty boring nowadays when it comes to online activity since I don’t have anything I really need to pirate in order to watch or listen to. (It’s not because I think I’m morally great or anything. Truth is, I don’t have time because of my #!$!%$ job keeps me so busy.)
And yes, kinda pisses me off that PIPA SOPA and ACTA still would affect me, EVEN IF I DID NOT DO ANYTHING THAT THEY WERE DESIGNED TO PROTECT AGAINST. Using a parody meme picture on my blog isn’t the same as dling a show or music illegally, I don’t think.
At the moment, where I’m being hypocritical is … well … I’m thinking about some the manga I’m reading, though I do try to buy and support the artists I love when I can … but I know I have a few titles I don’t buy but read off the scanlation sites. I guess I’m going to have to find some way to buy at least one volume of Toriko, even if it is in Japanese. (I do have the entire collection of KnGB, HNG, and some volumes of MSS and FMA though. :))
I do watch Toriko on Hulu though, even if they have annoying ads. And I try to be patient and watch the shows I like through the legal means. I like Person of Interest, so I sit through CBS’s VERY BORING CRAP ADS on their site to get the latest online episode … because hey, I can wait a day (I can’t watch it normally on its show day either). So hey, big businesses, you don’t need to worry about me pirating … just cater to my very human and basic whims … remember that I’m just a big glob of lazy …. and not a big glob of lazy made of money….. make it easy for me to get your programs legally, make it affordable, and within a reasonable time frame from when it was originally sent out to be adored by the public.
I don’t want to break the laws. I just want to pay something that’s fair and reasonable and in a form that is accessible to me. (For your sake, businesses, I won’t even go on too long in my rant about EBOOKs and why in the hell do they cause as much as a kill-a-tree book! You don’t have to pay for anything after coding — there’s nothing to ship, no brick and mortar store to bargain with …. so why the hell are you charging me $11 dollars for an ebook when I can get the kill-a-tree on a discount from my local bookstore for $10?! WTF! That’s why I’m still buying kill-a-tree books. -_-)
I feel … if I really want future bills like SOPA and current bills like PIPA and ACTA to die, I need to show that there ARE viable alternatives that WILL make the businesses money so they can pay all the underlings (that I actually do respect, like the writers, artists, etc) that fall under their umbrella. I also will support small companies more; competition is good! It works in ways that are much better than straight out strict regulation or stupid laws.
I kinda feel that as a consumer, boycotting something for a day, a week, a month is not going to help if I’m going to return to the SAME practices that make make asshole ass … assine … the big media companies froth at the mouth and fire their underlings for because “they can’t afford them anymore”. There has to be give on my end too, and that includes showing what does work in our new digital age.
That includes showing how businesses such as Netflix is the way to go … (and start suggestion that the companies release things simultaneously on Netflix when they do in other countries — stop trying to reinforce a border that cannot exist anymore, and just go ahead and charge me for the data I want).
It means supporting shows when I can on the TV. I’m going to watch Sherlock on Masterpiece Theater when it comes here (for me, it’s on a public television station, so I have no commercials and no excuses). It means, since I have limited funds, waiting for the blockbusters to hit my community dollar theater … since I DO have a dollar theater to go to. Ugh, really wanting to support this stuff means I’m going to have to work on my patience. -_-
The insidious thing about SOPA, PIPA, and ACTA is they ARE running around as if they are knights in shining armor defending the jobs! patents! copyright! of the artists, but what they really are doing is making a play for power.
To take the wind out of their sails, I will support artists WITHOUT these laws. WE can help make new jobs that will be only possible in the free and unfettered internet. We will show how a free and open internet is a viable and lucrative business opportunity … but only if it stays free and open.
So yeah. I really do have to re-evaluate my own behaviors. So. Uncomfortable. But it’s hard not to be uncomfortable when I’m looking at twitters, Ljs, and so on and see “I HATORZ! PIPA! SOPA! ACTA” and on the very next post “Whahaha! DL the AWESOME-MC-AWESOME SHOW here on MEGAUPLOAD! SO GOOD!” on the next post. Especially when the shows in question can be seen legally (though annoyingly with ads or on the Netflix, which requires subscription).
It’s not going to be easy. I love Toriko and the handful of other manga I read. There’s no translation available for the ones I read on line. I can’t netflix/hulu/pay for a service.
An idea is for the manga companies to release it for free on their sites with ADS, MORE ADS, and EVEN MORE ADS, though that will be annoying, I can feel better about supporting their artists. I would rather go to a legal site than go to the scanlation sites that also hit us with ads, more ads, and even more ads.
I don’t know what to do. Honestly, I don’t.
Businesses … you gotta make it easier on us too. You want money? Make it reasonable and make it available and I will buy. Make it so that no one will support the pirates because it’s easier and makes us feel good to support you. Don’t kill free speech. Don’t kill my rights. Because between entertainment and my basic democratic rights? I won’t choose you, businesses, if you choose SOPA, PIPA, or ACTA.
Besides, you’re not using the internets effectively. I generally only try shows recommended through people online (since my IRL friends and family don’t always share my tastes. I don’t buy into fancy glam commercials (and I don’t have the time or inclination to sift through dreck nowadays).
I WILL NOT KNOW THAT AN AWESOME SHOW YOU SPENT SO MUCH MONEY ON IS OUT THERE FOR PURCHASE SINCE YOU CENSORED ALL MENTIONS OF IT.
ADDITIONALLY, I WILL NOT KEEP ON ENJOYING ANY SHOW THAT I DO MANAGE TO FIND NOR WILL I BUILD ANY LOYALTY TO IT BECAUSE YOU’VE TAKEN THE FANDOM AWAY. I think it’s built into the bones of any entertainment industry now … the internet has become a PART of the show. If I love something, my first reaction is to go onto the internets and look for fanfic, art, gifs, and memes associated with the show. You cut that off, it’s equivalent to cutting off your beginning and end credits — the work and love and passion that goes into the show and into loving the show (as fans) won’t be acknowledged. THAT’S THE REALITY NOW. START GETTING REAL WITH IT.
On my end, this is my internet, and I need to pick up SOME responsibility for it too. I must help the people who create the stuff I like to create even more stuff … and help them survive and thrive. *Sigh*
Oh well. I’m still turning it about it my head, but this is what I feel so far. Man, I spooged everywhere. *Facepalm* I’ll regret this in the morning, I just know it.
