I'm afraid that my default plan is to make lots and lots of money from a job that pays one of the best salaries in the world, Kintaro. It isn't even because I love money - a tonne of people are in my course for that reason (this is interesting, and I think that money is an okay motivator in this case - but a poor selector i.e. it is only motivating the below average students, and most of them won't make it to actuary (it's likely that none of them will get what they think they'll get) - one of my best college friends hates the work we do, but when it comes down to it he'll spend 9-12 hours everyday in the library for weeks before important exams. Unfortunately, I don't think that he'll be continuing in his preferred course next year. There is actually an on-topic point in this, but I'll just point that out if you get it and I won't focus my post on an outlier).
This is just a little bit about me, but if I get married and divorced with no prenup, then trust that I won't mind fulfilling the law wrt marriage - not only is this a world apart from copyright law, I don't want to live in a big house. I'm your favorite thing in the whole wide world, and you don't even know this about me. Disappointed. Surprised too that you brought up divorce suits and not even copyright suits, but then again I am speed-reading your posts and I don't care about this point (this was not the case with Calums posts, mind you). In any case, really don't worry yourself about me will you?
Notice that above is what I said my default plan is. An alternative is that at some point - either in the distant future established in some job (isn't that an idea!!) or in the not so distant future, some of my mathsy-programmy endeavors could bring me fame and fortune (or, more appropriately - a living). I'll tell you what, though, if this occurs I won't be depending on people following an instruction not to share. If my users want to, sharing is their right. They are not stealing when they do this with digital information and that is the greatest advancement ever - seriously, yes it is. If I have any faith in our species then I know that one day we will tap out of one awesome power (think media cartels, the "representatives" of artists) and into another awesome power - the power of free sharing. This will be a good thing. You may know this too.
I feel like I've made these points a hundred times here and there, but here's a summary. It may well be my last elaborate post on the topic here, ever. So I'll just spell it so that hopefully I won't come back again and read a post that I've already read.
- I believe that good artists will get the ball rolling (bonus challenge: try to figure out which 'good' I mean), someday very strongly, on the free culture movement, and that the concept will grow and grow*. In the mean time in any case
- it is not my belief that artists terms should be allowed to extend to limiting sharing of digital copies
- the reactions I am picking up already are as though artists are going to STARVE NOW, but
- I do not believe that a good artist will starve. Any artist who finds yourself in this position, please seek employment! Will we really need information leaflets about this? For tried artists who are unsuccessful at making an income and unsuccessful at getting a job, please sign on for unemployment benefits! We can't do anything else for you!
- You can say that the above sounds cruel - I've made no effort to make it sound like anything else, but here's the sticker: PEOPLE WILL STILL GIVE MONEY TO KEEP ARTISTS WHOSE WORK THEY ENJOY IN BUSINESS!! Shock. Horror.
Which point is the difficult one Kintaro? and if we can have a focused discussion, it could be worthwhile. Go off the plot and back to your usual bullshit self if you want me to fuck off - then I'll be happy to. I feel like I've explained myself clearly enough.
* aside: Most likely this will be majorly helped by media cartels who are bigger bastards than pirates at sea, shooting themselves in the foot by not shutting the fuck up and pissing people off.
