I think it’s easier for a person to say “piracy is bad” than “sharing files is bad”. Because why would sharing be wrong? But if you give it a bad name, a lot of people will automatically assume that it is something bad. It’s a simple trick, but it works. If we want to change the way people think about copyright, we shouldn’t let anyone imply that sharing information is the same as stealing ships and murdering people on them.
if you give it a bad name, a lot of people will automatically assume that it is something bad. It’s a simple trick, but it works.
Only on easily manipulated and shallow idiots. Especially when the term is used neutrally and positively too. I’ll grant that there’s a lot of those, but not enough that we should let them dictate what words we use.
If we want to change the way people think about copyright, we shouldn’t let anyone imply that sharing information is the same as stealing ships and murdering people on them
Again, only total morons think that the two are connected or similar. We should never let morons dictate our words and actions.
While I agree about reclaiming the word, what OP is talking about is not what a reclaimed word accomplishes. A reclaimed word is about empowerment within the group. OP is talking about selling the concept to the public at large. I think if people in the filesharing community want to use the reclaimed word “piracy” in private then they should go right ahead. But if someone has the goal of viewing this as a justified act, then calling it “piracy” in public spaces undermines that.
We’ve long since reclaimed the word, though. It’s not called The Sharing Bay, after all.
That’s my Care Bears only private tracker.
I think it’s easier for a person to say “piracy is bad” than “sharing files is bad”. Because why would sharing be wrong? But if you give it a bad name, a lot of people will automatically assume that it is something bad. It’s a simple trick, but it works. If we want to change the way people think about copyright, we shouldn’t let anyone imply that sharing information is the same as stealing ships and murdering people on them.
Only on easily manipulated and shallow idiots. Especially when the term is used neutrally and positively too. I’ll grant that there’s a lot of those, but not enough that we should let them dictate what words we use.
Again, only total morons think that the two are connected or similar. We should never let morons dictate our words and actions.
While I agree about reclaiming the word, what OP is talking about is not what a reclaimed word accomplishes. A reclaimed word is about empowerment within the group. OP is talking about selling the concept to the public at large. I think if people in the filesharing community want to use the reclaimed word “piracy” in private then they should go right ahead. But if someone has the goal of viewing this as a justified act, then calling it “piracy” in public spaces undermines that.