My Rant On P2P

Don’t know where to start on this, but I don’t understand why P2P file sharing is starting to actually replace buying the product, “product” being anything from CDs and movies to software and games. I can understand temporarily downloading a CD because your local media stores are out of stock. But once your media shops have that CD again, you get off your ass and go buy it. At least, this is what people SHOULD be doing.

I’m not completely down on P2P. I believe P2P is a good way to sample music. In fact, it’s how I got into AFI. Up until the end of 2006, AFI didn’t exist to me. I had heard stuff about them of course, eventually watched an AFI video without knowing it, and finally, saw some kid at school wearing a Despair Faction-exclusive shirt. I was then curious and sampled about 5 or 6 songs using Limewire. Some of the songs were The Interview, Miss Murder (I now hate this song), and Bleed Black. I was hooked. Through this file sharing, I got into other bands like VNV nation, HIM, ect.

But I supported the bands by actually hauling my ass to HMV and buying their albums. What happened to the feeling of ownership? That feeling like you owned just a tiny bit of your favourite band. Even without that feeling, how can you call yourself your band’s biggest fan if you won’t support them financially? I’m not telling you to buy the merch, I’m telling you to buy the CDs and enjoy the art and liner notes put into the package made specially for the true fans.