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Re: Translate A Moronic Argument?

jmorris84 — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 23:04:28 GMT

Willy Truth:

So since property arises to allocate scarce resources--things that can be used by only one actor at a time, digital music does not qualify as property because it can be copied?

So what on my hard drive qualifies as property?

The entire hard drive is your property, unless you've entered into a contract that says otherwise about the use of the data contained within it; Diablo 3 for example.

Re: Translate A Moronic Argument?

Willy Truth — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 17:58:27 GMT

So since property arises to allocate scarce resources--things that can be used by only one actor at a time, digital music does not qualify as property because it can be copied?

So what on my hard drive qualifies as property?

Re: Translate A Moronic Argument?

jmorris84 — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 01:15:19 GMT

Willy Truth:

Haha, Munsters...

What do y'all think the easiest way to explain to a non-libertarian why "pirating" music is not immoral/should not be illegal?

By getting them to understand that it isn't stealing.

When you download a song, you aren't taking a song away from anyone else. Everyone who had that song before still has their song and if anyone else wants to download that song, they still can. If you go to a store and take a pair of sneakers without paying, you are removing 1 less pair of shoes from the market and you are doing so illigitimately because you've aggressed against someone else's property.

Re: Translate A Moronic Argument?

Willy Truth — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 23:32:34 GMT

Haha, Munsters...

What do y'all think the easiest way to explain to a non-libertarian why "pirating" music is not immoral/should not be illegal?

Re: Translate A Moronic Argument?

Blargg — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 06:21:15 GMT

It's funny that in both cases it's government claiming other people's property: other people's money, and other people's computer storage.

Re: Translate A Moronic Argument?

shackleford — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 06:07:21 GMT

I would say it's a non sequitur. However, he's trying to imply that the people who complain about the government stealing their money through taxes and such also "steal" through copyright infringement, etc.

Re: Translate A Moronic Argument?

SkepticalMetal — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 05:58:59 GMT

The way I look at it, what this guy is saying is the equivelant to:

"If my welfare checks stop coming in and I have to go get a real job...who will be there to watch re-runs of The Munsters!? I provide a valuable service to the television industry!"

Re: Translate A Moronic Argument?

EmbraceLiberty — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 05:19:11 GMT

Excellent translation Kelvin!

Re: Translate A Moronic Argument?

Kelvin Silva — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 05:15:50 GMT

He is basically saying that if governmennt taxation is stealing, then why do people who believe in this also "steal" music by downloading it (because we libertarians hate the RIAA MPAA copyrights and love piratebay).

Im a damn good communicator with trolls.

Re: Translate A Moronic Argument?

Neodoxy — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 05:05:38 GMT

Hahaha, that's awesome

Tell him that it's funny that people who buy music don't ask the government to take their money away.

Re: Translate A Moronic Argument?

ricarpe — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 04:47:52 GMT

This statement probably has a similar logical thought process as people who say things such as: "I use (insert service/company name) so often, I should get a discount/something for free!"

It's a poor understanding of economics at its most basic level.

Translate A Moronic Argument?

Willy Truth — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 04:35:58 GMT

I...I don't...What?