Punished for sharing
Posted by Abel on 06 Jul 2008 at 07:59 am | Tagged as: Perverting Reality
According to the BBC:
Virgin Media has sent about 800 letters to customers warning them that they should not be downloading illegal music files via file-sharing sites.
It is part of a 10-week campaign it is running in conjunction with the BPI to “educate” users about downloads. The BPI, the body which represents the UK record industry, told the BBC that “thousands more letters” would be sent.
One can imagine the consequences…
The letter in its crisp envelope, opened by their father.
The summons, calling the three of them down to his office. “Which of you girls has been breaking the rules we agreed about using the internet?”
The ever-so-innocent looks on their faces.
The correspondence from their hosting company, read aloud. Slowly, purposefully.
The nervous glances between the sisters. The eldest stepping forward, to take the blame despite the shared responsibility. Her reluctant confession. His dismissal of his other two daughters.
The belt, being drawn purposefully from the loops of his trousers. Doubled. “It’s been a long time since I had to do this, Elizabeth. But I’m sure that you remember the position.”
Over the side of his armchair. Outstretched. Jeans down.
The stinging strokes. Only four. (Only?) Delivered slowly. Hard. Counted aloud.
And the hugs after, and the reassurance that he loved her. Before she was sent to bed, where her sisters would come to cuddle and offer their thanks for her bravery and her protection.
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Ahhh, but the kindly letter from the wonderful people at Virgin is only warning against such wrong doings, not speicifically outlining that the recipient HAS actually been breaking the law, right? If only the girls’ father hadn’t have jumped to conclusions and unreasonably suspected them of breaking the rules…
(I’m just relieved that my internet is provided by my University and so any act that could possibly be unlawful can also be jusitified as ‘research’, if need be!)
I think it’s a stupid rule- just the record companies wanting to make more money. Bring on the artists who are by-passing it by making their music downloadable themselves!
I think something else could be added to this. Imagine if the father was a musical snob, and wanted to know the the details of the tracks downloaded. Imagine if he took issue with a certain artist whose name began with M, and was four letters long, but was somewhat more impressed with her Elbow tunes.
The dilemma of course is should the girl be really be punished for downloading the M-horror, thus depriving said artist from royalties and hopefully dissuading them from releasing any more tat, or should she be punished for having good taste as regards Elbow, but depriving Guy Garvey et al of much-deserved royalties?
The M that I am referring to is, of course, Muse. I mean, who else could it possibly be?
Mmmm that sounds fantabulous…!
But wouldn’t their father of course know his girls well enough to realize that the eldest was in fact covering for her dear younger sisters, and so need to call the other two down to receive their just rewards - ahem, *consequences*, as well…?? I mean, since the sisters seem to share so nicely *anyway*…
Ahhhh, I thought for a second there that the M-artist you were referring to was Moby! In which case, there would be no punishment at all because he is so great!
Others seem to be concerned about the pros and cons of the downloading. I got to the sound of the belt coming out of the trousers and forgot everything else! What a soul-shuddering sound - almost delicious! Thank you.