For decades, I was a captive consumer. When I was very young, living in a small town, we had ONE television channel and the programming was very, very boring. It was TV, radio, reading, or playing outside (unless the weather sucked). We had only one department store. As I grew up, and eventually moved away from home to larger cities, we had more channels, more stores, in short, more choices.

But, even with more choices, I was still a consumer at the mercy of the major suppliers.
My music came from the big labels, my news came from the big three networks (prior to CNN and Fox).

Then, I got a computer, and got connected to the Internet, and suddenly, I felt like I had REAL choices, not faux choices. I could shop for, and order specialty coffees, custom clothes, or whatever, from around the world.

But, even better, my information and entertainment horizons expanded drastically. Not only could I get music and information freely from independent sources, but I could also, publish my own thoughts and opinions, and even connect with likeminded individuals around the world.

This finally, was indeed a liberating event. I felt empowered, exhilarated, and, not only was I finding this new freedom, but many others were too. But, in dark rooms, there were people who did NOT think this was a great thing. To hear that people were freely exchanging files of all kinds without selling them, was horrible to them. It had to be stopped at all costs. SUE 'EM ALL..."BLANKET EVERY JURISDICTION" they cried. Other darkened hearts like Orrin Hatch wanted companies to be able to hack in to my computer and yours with impugnity and cause damage under the false banner of "protecting copyrights".

Those who want to put the Genie of freedom of choice back into the bottle are pulling out all stops...lawsuits, criminal charges, stings, etc.. Big media would love to put a lock on the freedom of speech on the internet.

People are turning off their televisions in record numbers, and turning to their computer to get entertainment and information of all kinds. This frustrates the heck out of those who would love nothing better than to control public discourse. They want to be able to turn us into simply consumers, mindless, choiceless, visionless consumers who buy it all, and never make a sound as we get exploited and lied to.

I have become an Independent Consumer. I do not slavishly gobble up the party line of "managed news" oozing from the major media sources. I no longer go to Wal*Mart of BestBuy and plunk down good money to purchase RIAA "slave music".

Freedom is ABOUT the ability to choose, or NOT to choose if we wish. As more options become open to us about using the internet as a pipeline to different products, different ideas, and less censorship of radical ideas, I feel our freedom grows.

And, it is just that last idea that seems to drive the actions of groups like the RIAA, MPAA, and BSA who can't stand to see themselves losing the death grip on the public's choices.

The Independent Consumer...I hope it causes a mass "gnashing of teeth" to the Copyright Cartel, because, WE ARE NOT GOING AWAY !

I really agree with this viewpoint in many ways. In bits and pieces I and others have been saying the same things.

When I was much younger, glitter, glamour, and eye candy worked far better than it does today. What The Joneses was doing mattered more than it does now.

I have a choice, I can turn on the idiot box and watch mindless shows that are a result of saving money at the cost of quality. This pinching the penny has gone on so long it is a way of business and now seems to be accepted that better can't be produced so cutting costs is an acceptable replacement. Throw in a bit of sex or some little tid bit about a false chacacter on the tv the audience is supposed to care about and you have next weeks audience waiting eagerly for it to happen.

Add to it the deluge of commercials, all trying to get your attention in a 30 second time span, and the mix isn't acceptable to me. Pay tv is now lining itself up to go the same way as public tv. Such an accepted practice that those paying for the service aren't even bitching about it. Since the media corporations think they got a capative audience heck, why not rake from both ends, no one is telling them don't. No one is cancelling their suscription in any record numbers, must be alright.

It has gotten so bad that they are now taking it to new levels. Go to the theater and pay to watch a show and instead be bombarded by commericals on your dime yet again. Where does it end? When the "show" is but one commercial from start to end? It is almost at that point now. Watch a movie, the actors drive a car that the corporation paid to have appear instead of their rivals. When the actor picks up a soda in the movie, ever notice that just by chance you can read what brand soda it is? Or if the corporation didn't want to pay, the brand is either something you have never heard of before or the brand is no longer visable. It isn't by chance that happened. It was carefully scripted and designed for you to see what you see.

These are the same corporations that are driving for these insane patents and copywrites and extending them to unheard of protections, never before even considered as sane by our lawmakers. I guess enough money and glamour can change anyones viewpoint...

...in the right mix.

Any one know if ares is under the gun yet

THis is a GOOD article.

With some revision it could be labeled the "declaration of consumer independence"

I agree with awehr...this is a good article. Choices = Freedom

Right on Track Code

All your articles are good Code, but this one is among your very best as far as boycott-riaa relevance. Thanks a bunch for posting it!

Shmoo

Well said!

~Fluffy~ was here...

You are so right, Code. The internet changed everything.
Instead of running from store to store, or spending time looking through pages and pages of ads in the Sunday paper, I shop online. Then I either order online or go to a store directly for the item.

I really think that downloading music and clips from tv shows renewed people's interest in music and old tv shows. I heard music that I had forgotten about because I didn't have it in my collection or it wasn't played on the radio.
As a result, compilations on cd and dvd have abounded.
My daughter started watching a series called the OC. She asked me to buy the dvd of the entire season because she hadn't seen several beginning episodes. I didn't see it at the store where I was shopping, but I saw a ton of other tv shows available on dvd for $70! Are they commercial free? Are people unhappy with the VHS quality? Are they too lazy to tape the shows?
I told her to watch the reruns in the spring or summer...

Quote from my favorite game, Sid Meier's Alpha Centuri

"Free flow of information is the only safeguard against tyranny. The free nation gradually constricting its grip on public discourse has begun its rapid slide into despotism. Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he dreams himself
your master."

I love the quote, godless-heathen!!