Are People Resentful Of Content Creators?
from the not-that-I-can-see dept
Martin Bosworth has written up a longish post discussing what he calls "The Creative Class War." It's an interesting read that hits on a lot of different points, many of which I agree with, and a few I don't agree with, but it's worth reading anyway, if only to be horrified by the news of a novel that apparently spends a few chapters following an "intellectual-property enforcer who literally tortures and dissects copyright infringers to death." Yikes.There's too much in the post to respond to each of the points -- either the ones I agree with or disagree with -- but there was one concept that is part of the root of the argument which I simply don't believe is true, even though I've heard others say it as well. It's the idea that the views held by many people criticizing rights holders for being overly aggressive in enforcing their rights comes from some sort of "resentment" of content creators. Bosworth notes:
There's a long-simmering resentment of people that actually make art, and the Internet has brought it to the surface in a way we've never seen before.I have to say that I just don't see this. It's an argument we've seen thrown out by various people who disagree with us at times ("you just say that because you've never created anything of value in your life!") but it doesn't ring true at all. First of all, many of us who fall on the side of often being critical of overly aggressive copyright enforcement are critical because we think that it will backfire and harm those that the law is supposed to "protect." The point of highlighting why it's a bad idea isn't that we resent those who did something creative, but because we want to see them succeed and making an anti-fan, anti-consumer decision will make that more difficult. It's not resentment at all.
Coming at the same question from the other direction, again, I have trouble seeing "resentment" as the issue at all. When we look at the success stories, the one thing that comes through loud and clear is that respecting fans results in those fans becoming incredibly loyal. They're loyal to a fault, in fact. There's no resentment there at all. If anything, at times, it seems to border on hero worship.
I'm not denying that there is some resentment out there of successful people. There are always some people who are resentful of others, but I just don't see that as a driving force in the criticism of content creators who choose a path that is anti-fan.
Update: Wow. So it turns out that Martin, who wrote the post above and sent it to me on Tuesday (and promised to write more on the subject) actually passed away on Wednesday. I'm really sorry to hear that. Very tragic.
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Filed Under: content, creators, fans, resentment
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I make a good living creating content and despite that (well, because of it,) I strongly criticize content creators who abuse copyright law.
I suppose that I resent myself, then.
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Re: Resentment.
; P
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Re: copyright laws/Intellectual property
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Re: Re: copyright laws/Intellectual property
Note:to add..The story re: the mid-80's sitcom.."It's A Living" was a sudden shock,but right after he printed "Just Tip Me Mister!"by Cecilia Sacco Fusco..he took her book to the very same place..NBC!"Where did you get the idea"was asked when author called them,,first,he was "out-of-town" until she made her reason clear..he suddenly answered[Thomas,Witt&Harris]accepted an idea re:this book's contents..they didn't ask questions? The characters were the exact counterparts,depicting their positions,one inparticular,the hostess,who was made to look and sound exactly the same as the book's character,what was insulting,were the waitresses dressed in..well,dresses!high heels,holding bar trays,not lifting heavy trays..the lawyer told author to monitor the dialog,,it wasn't until after her call,did the producers finally conclude the friendly printer friend was pitching an already copywritten source! Her call alerted them..the sitcom never aired,their dirty laundry,as the silliness ended,soon after..was the dialog all ready to be aired???Afterall the printer WAS going to L.A.[it was clear it was him,& we didn't sue,rather he was told return all books,& they'd not press charges..that's because our[daughter&mother] lawyer wasn't man enough,rather somewhwhat of a coward,like the att'y who dismissed the cover-design?[There are more literary atty's,his word wasn't the end all..This book doesn't fall into the "pay for your own book to be published catagory"It has already been around,stolen idea's noe the cover??
To end,allow me to educate those on "Gone With The Wind's" history,we met the little old lady who said "yes" to Margaret Mitchell..after 38X..the publishers,saying "it's so long,so huge!"[really,well wasn't the civil war huge,long too,fool] Miss Annie Laurie Williams was the woman who made "GWTW" the classic it is today!Few know that bit of info! So,to continue the 500 copies are available for anyone who wants to read it,if by chance a bonified publisher,agent who will do the work to introduce this "Sleeper",,will[by law] be rewarded a "FindersFee",I'm just sayin',if & or when we make websight,it will sell out,then what,there will be none left? So the heading will read "NEED PUBLISHER"[an agent,no,it's past agents!You will [as they say]not want to put it down]..Perhaps "O" win[free who got LUCKY,in life would be exhausted by the time she finished the book!she bever worked one day,manual labor that is! Why do "idle" women seek out people devoid of any intellectual depth? If "O" is their "idol",must have the same in common,because if a woman worked hard to make it,struggled for something,how can they ever relate to thiose who it tough? Someday I will tell the world[Media] that she ignored a simple request..I wanted her to read about a woman who "struggled",seems miss "O" is inferior to that subject! Go to letters.mobile.salon.com..thank you tech dirt I gave you the literary dirt,& even you did nothing,noit even an acknowledgement..
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Re: Re: Re: copyright laws/Intellectual property
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Re: Re: Re: copyright laws/Intellectual property
Line breaks. Use them.
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I wonder who plants these seeds of panic?
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hate the middlemen
i think that the resentment isn't directed at content creators, but at the business people who surround creators.
i my self have fallen for the "i'm a musician and you don't know what being a musician is like" line of thinking. the counter point make is pretty much always, "i'm the consumer, i'm the one with the money. if you want it sell something i want to buy." that's not really a constructive conversation.
the resentment content creators have over the perceived greed of their fans, and the resentment fans have over the perceived greed of content creators should be directed at the weasels in the middle, the ones who screw artists over, treat customers like criminals, and bribe politicians to pass laws that threaten our civil liberties.
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Re: hate the middlemen
I don't have any problem with that conversation, as written. It is the simple truth. If you've decided to become a musician to make money, then you have to produce something that I, the consumer, want, and sell it at a price I'm willing it pay. There is no getting around this. Even making up ridiculous laws saying I have to buy it at $0.99 because you say so doesn't stop the fact, as piracy shows. Since the trend is clear that more and more people are seeing "$0" as the acceptable price point, musicians (and other creative types) have to find a new way to survive in the market, or starve. That's life.
PS- When I type "you" in this little rant, I don't mean you personally, I mean "you" in the more general sense. :)
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Re: Re: hate the middlemen
oh, i'm not a musician. my point should have been clearer. i meant that when a musician trots out the "i am a musician" line, my response has always "if you want my money..." the point is that creators and fans should not be arguing with each other. they should unite against the middlemen.
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We fans/consumers/clients also should have rights to the content we pay for. But, apparently, we only have the right to be extorted again and again and again for the same content. We can't even return it if in the end it doesn't please us.
So, yeah, there's loads of reasons to be resentful, but, not at the creators. They are our suppliers, we need them, we cherish them, we (sometimes) love them. What we don't like is the "middle-man" that is actualy leeching both sides.
Thank you.
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Re:
It's consumer resentment borne out of market and tech shifts that legacy industries refuse to accept.
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This sounds like...
Get over yourself.
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Arrogance
It is a matter of personal attitude. Last year I spent a weekend learning to improve my singing at a course run by a well known folk singer.
Apart from the wonderful singing I was struck by the humility of the person concerned. I felt that I had experienced the reality of the saying in the Gospel "He who is greatest amongst you shall be the servant of all".
No one could possibly resent such a person.
If you feel that your fans/audience/customers resent you then look to your own behaviour and attitude - that is where you will find the reason.
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Re: Arrogance
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resentment of the creative minded
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I know what I think anyway!
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It's not the content creators, stupid!
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Stop the Emo Train
For my own part, I have two simple, personal beliefs at play in the copyright wars, which I will list in order of personal priority. Unfortunately, number one made the list a few years back.
1) People deserve to be free and to express freely
2) Artists deserve to get paid for their work.
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Re: Stop the Emo Train
Really? Who says? Shouldn't that be up to the market? Should people be guaranteed an income for whatever "work" they may do? If so, then I've been ripped off because I know I've invested work into several things that didn't pay off in the end.
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Re: Re: Stop the Emo Train
Of course I also did not write, "artists deserve to get paid, and those who refuse to pay should be held liable in civil and criminal court"... which just might be your real issue here.
As far as consumers in the market, I'm afraid I need to redirect you Wikipedia: Caveat Emptor
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Re: Re: Re: Stop the Emo Train
Including myself. Straw man much?
which just might be your real issue here.
No, my point was that you made the unequivocal statement that "Artists deserve to get paid for their work", and I think that should be up to the market. I don't see anything that makes artists so "special" that they "deserve" special treatment.
You have an odd perspective for someone using "Free Capitalist" as a moniker.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Stop the Emo Train
You "deserve" to get paid for your work just as much as Bill Gates "deserves" to get paid for his work. However, I doubt you get paid as much as Bill Gates. This does not make you any less worthy.
Getting paid for your work in this society is survival, at least *money is survival. (If you do not have to get paid any more to survive, whether by the fruits of your own efforts or through free rent and board in your parents' basement, more power to you, same goes).
Survival is not guaranteed, but everyone is deserving of life.
That is what I mean by deserving. That is the difference between "deserving" and "entitled" that you seem to miss.
None of these ethical views precludes the existence, understanding or practice of free market principles, even in our not-so-free market.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Stop the Emo Train
It really never is.
but everyone is deserving of life.
Perhaps you should tell that to some insurance companies.
That is the difference between "deserving" and "entitled" that you seem to miss.
No, you don't seem to understand the difference between deserving the *opportunity* to try to make money and deserving to be just paid whether you are successful or not. That's not how free markets work.
None of these ethical views precludes the existence, understanding or practice of free market principles,
To the contrary, the idea that people "deserve" to be paid regardless of their success in the market is the very antithesis of free market principles.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Stop the Emo Train
Well, that pretty much sums up the personal view I am sharing, only you seem to think "deserve" without "an opportunity" after the word changes the meaning of "deserves" to "entitled".
We're done here young AC.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Stop the Emo Train
There's a huge difference between saying that someone deserves money and saying that they deserve the opportunity to earn money. The former is what you originally said, and the latter is what you didn't. I don't much see how you can deny that.
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Twisted Value System
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Re: Twisted Value System
Wow...
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Almost right...
There's a long-simmering resentment of people that distribute art, and the Internet has brought to the surface, in a way we've never seen before, that they are no longer necessary.
There, I fixed it.
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Re: Almost right...
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Wil Wheaton
Joss Wheedon
Bruce Campbell
Nathan Fillion
Michael Jackson
Moby
Pistol Shot Gypsy (Okay you've never heard of them but hey are highly under rated)
Kevin Smith
Grateful Dead
Phish
Groups resented by the public
Metallica
Lily Allen
Anyone who acts like their fans owe them something
The difference between the two groups is that one knows how to cultivate a relationship and the others don't. Perhaps some more people need to read "How to win friends and influence people" by Dale Carnegie and they might persuade more people to see their side.
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There may be among the greedy bastids in the music industry, but not from me. I have no problem with the artist. I do have a problem with the middlemen who raise prices, siphon off the profits, and do absolutely nothing for it.
Bosworth is simply a revisionist. Or stupid.
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more like revulsion
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Yes.
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if it were not for content creators, movies TV internet and books would be quite boring.
what i resent is being treated like i am a criminal by content creators, being told that what I want as a customer is not what i really want and im just confused, that the government insists on agreeing with anything that those who represent the content creators simply because they bribe them in the form of legal campaign contributions and other such 'spiffs'.
THAT is what i represent.
thanks for making the content however, some of it is even pretty good!
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interesting topic
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Re: Unpublished but not "rejected" expose'{
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Best Waterproof Mascara
http://www.twilash.com/
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