Quote:
Originally Posted by Ankh
We (the people), unfortunately do not act as a "society" when it comes to our petty interests.
Especially in front of our screens, in seclusion of our homes, rooms, basements, offices. The fragmentation of our age, down to the single individual and his access to the Net. Wast as the Net is, it can provide a playground tailored to whatever one wants. One can engage in civilized discussion with his equals, and then turn around and download a pirated material with a couple of clicks. Be a virtual rogue, be a part of the mob.
The sense of common interests, of belonging to the group, all of the sudden loses any attached obligation. What one gives to the group is one's choice. One can switch his allegations on a whim. Or disengage from the Net altogether.
All to say that our virtual identity, the things that we do when we are connected to this new and strange entity, does not necessarily follow our patterns of behaviour in the real world. Where we have a posture to maintain, neigbours to scandalize, bosses to please, kids' expectations to live up to.
Why wouldn't we do the right thing? Because we are, statistically, greedy and fallible, ready to save a couple of bucks when we can, consequences be damned. 
Corner ANY decent individual with those questions, and you will get the answers you expect. "Darn statistics" are something completely different. |
Ok let me rephrase.
We, as individuals that make up the society we live in, could perhaps try living up to our stated ideals and thereby change the "reality".
I find it interesting that the prevailing idea, within this thread, is that the answer to this reality is that creators should hand over their works for free in the hopes that the audience will decide to throw them a bone and pay something after they have enjoyed the work. Would not the reality you describe above seem to suggest that "we the people" will simply take the work, enjoy it, then scamper away to take the next offering without any thought for payment to the creator?
Cheers,
PKFFW