Christian teens stealing music

Denton Record-Chronicle ^ | 17 April 2004 | The Associated Press

[MegaSilver]

All this proves is that Christian Teenagers are teenagers with all the lack of forethought that comes with age.

Oh, I agree with you. Unfortunately, the media is determined to ensure that others don't.

[TheBattman]

It's not? You mean a song that has lyrics that are 100% praising God and Jesus, imploring the listener to accept the Gospels and the Saving Grace of Jesus Christ is not Christian?

Songs relating personal testimony of Salvation are not Christian?

Record Labels that only deal with artists that portray a positive and wholesome Christ/God centered focus are non Christian?

The fact that the Christian Music industry has chosen to call this a moral issue, thus not pursuing the illegal downloads (copyright violation - whatever), unlike the very UN-Chirstian music industry is not a "Christlike" thing to do?

[sinkspur]

The truth will win out eventually, and it's not on the side of the "downloading is theft" side.

Downloading IS theft.

Is downloading someone else's term paper plaigarism?

[Skooz]

Show 'em who's boss, Battman!

[Snuffington]

Downloading IS theft. Is downloading someone else's term paper plaigarism?

Confused as usual.

Is there a difference between plagarism and theft?

Common sense says yes. Sinkspur says....

Incidentally... is quoting someone you accredit plagarism?

[sinkspur]

Stealing someone's property is theft.

Stealing someone's written work is plaigarism.

They seem to be the same thing to me.

[Snuffington]

They seem to be the same thing to me.

Oops. I stole your property by quoting you above.

Or (nimbler minds might note), I didn't.

[PurVirgo]

not trying to start a ruckus, but have you ever made a tape of a CD for yourself?

Or a copy of a CD for yourself?

What's the difference?

Christianity not withstanding, what's so morally wrong with downloading mp3s?

[No Fool]

LET'S LOOK AT THIS FROM A RAT'S POINT OF VIEW:

It's all Bush's fault. He's a Christian. He should be able to control all Christians everywhere. One could assume that because he didn't stop this he supports it. Therefore, because Bush supports activity by minors which he knows to be illegal, I believe we have grounds for impeachment.

[MegaSilver]

not trying to start a ruckus, but have you ever made a tape of a CD for yourself? Or a copy of a CD for yourself?

Yes and yes, and in retrospect, I think doing so was morally questionable.

[sinkspur]

Your condescension is duly noted, as is your lack of any cogent rebuttal.

[PurVirgo]

why?

[Snuffington]

Your condescension is duly noted, as is your lack of any cogent rebuttal.

My rebuttal is not only cogent, it's reality.

While you whine and moan about the "theft" of downloading, millions of "thieves" will perform the act you consider ... what exactly? Is downloading music a fellony to you? ... tonight. What punishment do you proscribe for them?

You attempt to retreat into philisophical abstractions, but don't seem to want to discuss them. How curious. I'm listening to a song right now. What media am I allowed to transmit it on? My own voice? A cassette tape? A CD? All or none? And on what basis?

[liberallarry]

Oops. I stole your property by quoting you above. Or (nimbler minds might note), I didn't

If you want to claim the moral high ground you've got to do better than splitting hairs and pathetic legalisms.

Not impressive

[Doctor Stochastic]

There's always somebody ready to defend theft.

[Choose Ye This Day]

"Christian Music" isn't really Christian.

Christian rock music isn't really music. :o)

[MegaSilver]

why?

Well, because the artists, mixers, technicians, promoters, etc. all labored to make those songs. The CD is a fruit of their labor, and they have a right to ask that I pay money for it.

[rwfromkansas]

Here we go again.

I see things in black and white morally.

But there is nothing in Scripture that condemns file-sharing. There is nothing in Scripture that shows it to be immoral.

Nothing.

And this includes the Ten Commandments. Why? Because it ISN'T STEALING!

[rwfromkansas]

It is not morally wrong. I have considered the Ten Commandments. I have considered my Christian responsibility to respect property and do the right thing, to show the light of Christ instead of using Satan's logic and perpetuating his evil darkness. But, I do not believe file sharing (when you are downloading only a FEW songs like 3 or 4, not the entire album) to be immoral.

It is morally wrong if you download an entire album or something like that, but it is not morally wrong to download a copied, watered-down, imperfect version of a song when you can't buy a single in stores and you want to preview the song prior to purchasing the album. If you copy a purchased CD onto another CD that is morally wrong. Using a couple lesser quality mp3's is not.

Perhaps if the folks at Wal-Mart etc. would give us more than an opening 25 seconds of a song to preview in the stores on their machines, people would not feel the need to download an entire song so they actually get a feel about whether it is worth it or not. The previews in stores often start at the beginning so you don't get to hear the real part of the song for 10 seconds as it is, already cutting the singing part of the store preview to maybe 15 seconds at best.

If it is wrong to copy a CD for non-commercial, private use, it is wrong to photocopy 20 pages out of a 200-page book. Granted, you can't purchase those 20 pages individually like you can purchase many mp3's online now individually....a good thing and a service I am starting to use a lot (even though the RIAA will get the money instead of the artist since they are money-grubbing bastards, it still feels good to pay for it).... However, the principle is the same....if copying one thing is wrong, copying another is as well. And photocopying....within limits of course....is not a violation of copyright. Therefore, it must be concluded that despite some differences, neither is downloading an mp3 when the downloaded number is equivalent to a fair use photocopying of a publication.

[MegaSilver]

If you are fooling anyone, it is only yourself. Best stop now.