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Author Topic: When is Pirating a Good Thing? Kyle McEachern Expert Film Handler Posts: 165 From: San Francisco, CA Registered: Feb 2004 posted 07-03-2004 12:33 PM                 If you just use the standard (QUOTE) and (/QUOTE) (Replacing ( with [ and ) with ]), then the script will look through the thread to see if anyone has posted exactly what you typed, letter for letter. If it does, it'll make it "Quote: Phil Hill" if Phil was the one who posted it. If it's been posted 2 or more times, it will see who the last person to post it was, and will give "Quote: Phil Hill was the last to post" -- so yes, it's the "default programming" of it. It has to be an exact match, letter for letter, and that's how it was designed to work. Yes, it's possible to change what the Quote: has after it by editing a post, but those two things (Automatically adding the name and adding 'was the last to post') are how it's been written. In the end, it can cause SOME confusion, but if it's quoting something that's been said 10 times in a thread, it's better than listing off each and every name, and it still shows that it's been in the thread. As to the piracy issue, I think that it's a grey area that will have people defending both sides regardless of how convincing an argument either side gives. Joe would be allowed to see the movie for free at any point when he was not on duty and at the theatre, so if he had the desire to see it at any point when it was out he could do so without paying, so it's not lost revenue for anyone by downloading it, watching it, and deleting it. However, it's supporting the piracy of movies and encourages others to continue to do it, a practice which DOES take revenue from the filmmakers and everyone involved from start to finish (Including the theatres themselves). So what it comes down to is what each person's personal moral standpoint is on the issue, but neither side really has a "better" argument, just different ways of looking at it.  |  IP: Logged Dan Lyons Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 698 From: Seal Beach, CA Registered: Sep 2002 posted 07-03-2004 01:42 PM                     Back to the subject of "when is bootlegging a good thing" I have an example that I support. For example, say there is a cult film with a large following, but the studio for some reason refuses to let it out on DVD; if someone were to make their own tranfers from a laserdisk to DVD on their home comp and distribute them to friends I'm all for it. These people would go to the store and buy the official release in a heartbeat if it ever became available, but are being forced to be involved in questionable activity because someone at the studio hates the film and doens't want the public to see it. Off the top of my head I can think of 2 titles this applies to... as well as some broadway shows. danny  |  IP: Logged Mike Olpin Chop Chop! Posts: 1852 From: Dallas, TX Registered: Jan 2002 posted 07-03-2004 02:47 PM                     I've got the Star Wars Trilogy, unedited & unenhanced, on DVD directly ripped from the LazerDiscs! I can comfortably say that if George were to relese the unenhanced versions on DVD, I'd gladly buy them. But he won't, so it's a moot point.  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 07-03-2004 03:11 PM                        OK... back to Joe's original question, since he's actually looking for any lame reasoning for his thought process... here's one: In the theatre, Joe is an "environmental functionary". The presentation of the movie requires his presence and involvement. The fact that he might be looking at a movie for personal entertainment purposes rather than professional monitoring is not considered, since it is the latter that is assumed. If fact, his personal interest in a specific title potentially enhances the chance that the film in question will be shown without error. However, if Joe desires to view a new film during his gut replacement operation, he is no different than the average theatre patron. His presence in the operating room has nothing to do with the functions necessary to show a movie to anyone at that moment, which disqualifies him for free viewing... his creative rationale notwithstanding. So there!  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 07-03-2004 05:44 PM                        BZZZZZZT! WRONG! ANY employee can screen free movies. Let's change the argument to where I am a box office employee.  |  IP: Logged Brian Michael Weidemann Expert cat molester Posts: 944 From: Costa Mesa, CA United States Registered: Feb 2004 posted 07-03-2004 06:32 PM                        Employees getting to see movies without being charged is a PRIVILEGE, not a right. You're not ENTITLED to free movies! Complain about this example all you like, but I think it is the exact same principle: Having a driver's license is a privilege and not a right. One must show aptitude and skill, and demonstrate it before a state employee before one is issued a license. But if someone, perhaps a great driver, is hospitalized (in non-driving related activities, for instance) and cannot make his/her appointment to take the driver's test, there is a severe delay between setting up a subsequent appointment, passing, etc. That doesn't mean that the person is ENTITLED to drive in the meantime. It's a bummer, yes. Just take the loss and move on. You'll grow from it. If people are unable to enjoy a privilege for some reason or another, where do they then get the idea that they're all-of-a-sudden ENTITLED to something? Do you go to a store two weeks after a sale ends to DEMAND the sale price? If you are late for your plane at the airport because you missed the privilege of a traffic-free freeway, are you ENTITLED to the airport management doing something about it? HECK NO! Now, as for breaking copyright laws or policies ... I've always been one to support fully understanding the spirit and principle of rules and policies, following them accordingly. If the principle itself and following the policy "to the letter" start to clash, then an issue can be made. But copyright law in general is something I respect and it bugs me when people not only break it, but don't even comprehend that there's anything wrong with it! Now, Joe, to deal with your initial post. What is wrong with your example is that you pre-suppose the existence of a place on the internet where you can download a movie. Now, whereas these places do exist in reality, they are existing illegally. You may (and debating this is its own argument) have fully moral and justified reasons for downloading it, and then deleting it like a true law-abiding, ethically-secure individual. But say, hypothetically, there are people who are not like you. These people have the same access you have and get away with not buying tickets which they otherwise would have paid. Making these illegal copies available is the crime, regardless of the good-natured "oh, well I wasn't going to pay for it anyway, so I might as well just see it because I can" attitude of the public.  |  IP: Logged William Hooper Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1879 From: Mobile, AL USA Registered: Jun 99 posted 07-04-2004 11:20 PM                        "It's not the same thing! It's a different thing entirely! It's a whole nother thing! The Volkswagen Thing! The Thing From Another World!" When you work at a theatre, seeing the shows there at that there theatre is a fringe benifit. You don't get a "Congratulations! You are now a member of the Film Community, & never have to pay to see a movie again!" card. If you're there when it runs, whoopee! Otherwise, you got to get in line like everybody else.  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 07-05-2004 02:46 AM                  Thank you Kyle for bringing some common sense to these jerks that think they know what's going on with the "quoting" thingie! BTW: Your pic is really hot! LUV yur hair! >>> Phil  |  IP: Logged Christian Appelt Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 505 From: Frankfurt, Germany Registered: Dec 2001 posted 07-05-2004 01:30 PM                     I think there is just one good reason for pirating a movie, and that is in the case of a movie being banned for political, racial or similar reasons. In some countries, the government can put pressure on distributors to withdraw a film they don#t like. So if there had been DVDs or video cassettes in 1958 when the French government prohibited Kubrick's PATHS OF GLORY and the Swiss government refused to let it into their country, there would be a morally valid reason to pirate it. In the futore, there may be more cases of studios locking up existing films because they do remakes. I remember from talks with filmmakers that US major studios wanted them to pay for shelving the original film forever, not even bringing it out on DVD/VHS. That's censorship, and it must be fought. Joe's story is heartbreaking, but it's about as good as the old story "Hey, half the seats of your theatre are empty, why don't you let me see the movie for free, I wouldn't buy a ticket anyway."  |  IP: Logged Richard Hamilton Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1341 From: Evansville, Indiana Registered: Jan 2000 posted 07-13-2004 07:47 AM                     I am curious about how other people feel about this. I am in China for a couple of months, and my only source of "movie entertainment" is reruns on 1 channel of HBO. Should I feel guilty about buying current releases on DVD here and watching them in my room? When I get back to the states, most of these films will be finished at the theaters, and not out on DVD yet. I spend maybe 50 bucks a month at Blockbuster when I am home(mostly Disney flicks for the kids) and rarely spend any money at Theaters. I would not buy these titles in the states and the film companies would not make the money from me any way. Rick  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 07-13-2004 01:00 PM                        With such a long stay in China, can't you get copies through legitimate channels? Better yet, enjoy touring China and making friends, rather than staying in your room watching videos. When I was in China in 1987 for ISO/TC36 and teaching, there was lots to do, and the Chinese were gracious hosts, proud of their heritage and cultural sights.  |  IP: Logged Richard Hamilton Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1341 From: Evansville, Indiana Registered: Jan 2000 posted 07-13-2004 10:28 PM                     John, What kind of legitimate channels? Here, the DVD stores are on every other corner. I don't think they have originals here. I have made many friends here so far and on my days off, have been to museums, parks, flown kites, rented four wheelers, rode horses, and have eaten who knows what. When I get back to my room after work, evening consists of going out for dinner, then just wanting to sit back and relax. Unfortunately, I can only watch "Blade II" on HBO so many times, so thats where the DVDs come in. Rick  |  IP: Logged

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