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Comment by femto | Hacker News Reader

I presume by "One download at a time" the author is referring to the downloading of his own films? Downloading Hollywood films won't kill Hollywood, as it only spreads Hollywood's influence and makes the problem worse.

The way to kill Hollywood is to ignore it. That's got to be more terrifying to a studio than being pirated. Paul Graham had it right in his "Kill Hollywood" piece: it's not pirating that will kill Hollywood, but irrelevance. Startups, new ways to entertain people and new ways to make movies.

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People with money have influence. If we give them less money, they'll have less influence.

By downloading a film, even if you don't pay for it, you are contributing capital to that film. You'll cache the the plot, characters, actors in your mind and likely talk about it with your friends & collegues --in social situations re-enforce the film's value and reify the investment others have made by paying for the film.

If you don't see the film, and one of your friends has a film reference you don't recognize, you're actively not helping the film monopoly since the time your friend invested in the film has no value to you. In this way, you're denying the network effect.

The films don't need everyone to pay for it, only a fraction. By pirating a film, you contribute the most important thing you have: your mind and social attention.

> By downloading a film, even if you don't pay for it, you are contributing capital to that film. You'll cache the the plot, characters, actors in your mind and likely talk about it with your friends & collegues --in social situations re-enforce the film's value and reify the investment others have made by paying for the film.

That and $8 will get you a Starbucks.

You convinced me.

I got more time than money, and I am willing to spend that capital in exchange for a movie. A fair exchange (unless the movie sucks, in which case i want my time back, or in lieu of time, i am willing to get payed by the MPAA to watch crap movies.

Now that i realize I am actually giving the movie industry my most valuable assets, re my mind and attention, I feel Compelled not to give them my money, enough is enough.

But at the end of the day, you share your time on earth for only a brief moment with the rest of us. Is it possible that you derive more value sharing the film consumption experience and discourse with your friends and peers than some crusade against Hollywood? At what point would you rather see a movie with a girl, your family, or your friends after work rather than reject the opportunity to feel like you're contributing to Hollywood's demise.

I can do both at the same time. A win win scenario. I get the movie for free and save money for my friends to.

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