From: jnagarya@888.nu

Subject: Why Not Post My Whole Napster Email?

The snippet of my Napster email you post eliminates context.  We live
in a society, not merely a transaction between thief and stolen from.

And yet again you side with the theif against the victim: if technology existed
by means of which to reach into a bacnk _and steal the money there_,
it's the fault of the bank; no responsiblity or fault falls on the thief,
despite the fact the thief is taking that which doesn't belong to her/him.

So, if no one's looking, a little rape wouldn't hurt--the rapist.

Certainly we shouldn't blame the rapist: it's the victim's own damn
fault for having a vagina.  Having a vagina is "asking for it".

Having money is "asking for it" to be stolen.
Having copyrighted work is "asking for it" to be stolen.

Napster is clearly an accessory to copyrigt infringement.
Copyright infringement is illegal.
Yet the fault lies with the copyright owner--not with the deadbeat thieves.

Aime Mann worked gigs, and as a waitress, to save up enough money to
make her most recent album.  But to the pro-Napster liars/thieves, she's
"a millionaire," so _deserves_ to be ripped.  Is "asking for it" because
the recording companies from which she cannot get a contract overprice CDs.

Theft is acceptable when it's from someone else, and it's something we want.
Theft is wrong when its from _us_.

I am a nice guy.  Over 40 years of civil rights advocacy, with a special
focus on disability rights.  But I do get snippy when I see the same
rationalizations of injustice popping up in any number of other contexts.
Stealing from artists who are fucked over by record companies because
the record companies are also fucking over the record buyer is screwy
"logic" to those whose lives have been committed to justice for all,
not only for those who can cut corners for advantage and "fuck you!"
to those victimized by such vermin.

I am a nice guy.  But even my friends can rely on me to never let either
myself or them off the hook as concerns ethics and truth.  My first
loyalty is to truth.  Those who consider truth "inferior" to personal
gain cannot be trusted.  And that includes the assholes who perceive
and assert all musicians (as example) as "millionaires" who deserve
to be ripped off because most musicians--non-millionaires--are fucked
over by the recording companies.

But boy does those thieves hate to be stolen from!  Then they make no
excuses!  _Then_ they demand all sorts of draconian punishments for
those who are mirror images of themselves.

Let's punish Bush for stealing the election.  But remain silent when "we"
gain by voter fraud.  It's only the other guys' rationalizations and
thefts which need be punished; ours are "justifiable".

Joe N.
Boston, MA
 
 

 Joe, how do you keep missing the point?
 If I typed "stealing is wrong," 10,000 times, you'd reply, "But stealing is wrong."

 Don't you have the ability to understand?

 If people can get the songs free - they will.
 You can send 10,000 e-mails and be outraged 10,000 times, but nothing will change, will it?

 Nothing, repeat NOTHING can stop Napster.

 Why don't you show this to a friend and have him explain I'm not the enemy.
 I'm the guy pointing out that NOTHING can stop Napster.

 If a Frenchman yelled, "The German tanks are coming, and we can't stop them,"
 would you e-mail him that "stealing countries is wrong?"
 How would that help France?

 You're so far inside the argument you can't see straight.

 And that comparison to rape was extra stupid.
 I'm pro-rape because I say Napster can't be stopped?
 

 What changed you?
 bc
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

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