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Digital Packrats
meganthom writes "According to the BBC, Britons have been hoarding digital data, with many carrying the equivalent of 10 trucks of paper "weight" with them at all times. A survey by Toshiba found that 60% of Brits keep 1000-2000 music files on their portable electronic devices. Do increases in storage capacity appeal to some basic pack-rat nature?"
Do you feel silly for paying thousands of dollars for what other people get for free?
How about when you take into account that most of your money is gong to the worst kind of rich people who want nothing more than to LIMIT what you (or anyone else) can do with your music?
Hi. You're an idiot.
That out of the way, lemme tell you some good news: in a few short years, when society deems you mature enough to stray from the primly manicured paths and quadrangles of Academe, you will wake up one morning and realize "Damn! There are people in the world born before 1987 who are not my teachers! Wow!!" Once that epiphany hits, whole new vistas of inquiry will be opened to you, like: "I wonder what kind of music these older people listen to?" and "How did they obtain this music before the Internet?" and, perhaps most salient, "Why does every single one of them view me as a self-centered callow punk with a lot to learn?"
You've an exciting life ahead of you, Bucko, full of fascinating surprises! If you are truly favored by the gods, then maybe you'll find yourself trying to make a living from some artistic pursuit, during which time you can daily contemplate the irony of the prejudice and stupidity which prompted your "rich people" remark today.
One of the greatest advantages of living in a digital age is that digital storage is cheap enough that you can be a "pack rat".
If I could legally have searchable access to every book ever written, why wouldn't I want to? If I could listen to every piece of music I was aware of (and some that I wasn't) why wouldn't I want that?
What next, suggest the demolition of public libraries because they cost money and contain books that are seldom or never read?
Prosperity requires certain things should be available in abundance. Information is one of these things. (Air, water, food, education and medical care are others. But what's the bet I get called a socialist for this view.)
This kind of moronic bullshit is brought to you by same people who want us to stop using air conditioners in summer because it wastes electricity, given us abominable public transport that's backwards compared to 10 years ago and have killed our ability to play in the back yard under a garden sprinkler due to water restrictions. (I live in Australia and in Sydney you can't even hose a car or hard surface without worrying about being issued a fine). Organizations are just looking for an excuse not to provide services.
These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer