Even criminals hate gimmes

[Chimerix]

Stumbling around the internet, looking for goodies, I came across a site in Russia that has copyrighted scenes for free download. (I think it's in Russia. There's a lot of what looks like Cryllic writing.) I assume that the producers here are aware it exists*, but aren't able to do anything about it due to international legalities.

I am also assuming the downloads are free, as stated on the site, but downloads require membership, and membership requires a cell phone number. They enforce this by texting your registration info to you. I wasn't willing to go that far for an experiment!

Setting aside, for the moment, the impropriety, illegality, and unethical nature of this website, I read some of the user posts. They have a forum, of sorts, or at least a comment-style blog. And one of the current discussions is on the subject of gimmes.

That's right... people who are actively pirating quicksand content are bitching about the fact they have gimmes on their board! My jaw literally hung open as I read through this discussion and proposed solutions. It would almost be worth compromising my privacy to become a member just to ask them "Who, exactly, do you think is the target audience for a website that gives away pirated scenes?"





*Producers, if I'm mistaken, feel free to PM me. I don't want to promote the site publicly, but will happily rat them out in private!

[Lomax]

There are a distressing number of people for whom, "It's only wrong if somebody ELSE is doing it.!

[Green Heart]

Look out we got a white knight over here!

[dlodoski]

Look out we got a white knight over here!

'White Knights' * are not the problem.

* classic straw man term, in this context.

[Chimerix]

Really, does no one else see the irony of this? I know, you have to look past the obvious and egregious to do so, but no one?

Ok, so maybe I'm trying to start a discussion about Hitler's manicure. Just not going to happen?

[QuicksandMania]

I see the irony of it.

Perhaps an analogy will help so I will attempt one.

A gang of petty thieves successfully shoplifts lunch from a local deli. Back at their hideout, one of them says to another, "Gimme a French fry." This upsets the latter who bellows, "Stop doing a 'gimme' with my fries!"

I will not get into a long philosophical discussion about digital property rights but I hope everyone realizes that producers will cease to produce when moochers steal the property they produced to the point where the producers cannot even recover their costs of production.

[Mynock]

Ironic but not the least bit surprising. The vultures hate having their free lunch taken away.

[QuicksandMania]

Ironic but not the least bit surprising. The vultures hate having their free lunch taken away.

These are more like the pigs stealing the eggs of the angry birds and then fighting over them.

Bad move for the pigs ... never get between a mother and her young.