torrenting/downloading books

[Mr Keshy]

Torrenting games and books can be morally questionable, but is mostly harmless. And while I don't download TV shows, I don't see any problem at all with torrenting them, couldn't that be seen as just some form of time-shifting? They're free on TV...

The way I see it, it's the same as if I recorded the tv show as it aired, onto my computer. So in one way, you're paying for the special features.

[peterpan101]

which site do you use ?

[pi]

which site do you use ?

This is a discussion on torrenting books and other files, not a discussion on sources for doing so

Thanks

[Art Vandelay]

which site do you use ?

hahaha

edit: you guys can use project gutenberg for texts not under copyright laws, and Itunes U for brilliant lectures. MIT and Khan Academy are also pretty good...

[ldee]

The way I see it, it's the same as if I recorded the tv show as it aired, onto my computer. So in one way, you're paying for the special features.

Exactly. Plus everything airs so much later in Australia, without torrenting it would be impossible to stay up to date with discussions about my favourite shows.

[JellyDonut]

If everyone obtained books illegally nobody would write books!

that is, if everyone was motivated solely by monetary gain

if the flipside is to not buy the books at all (1.5k is a ridiculous price), just download it. also, if this is really bothering your conscience, just email the writers, explain how you can't afford 200 bucks a book as a high school kid and ask for permission. chances are, they'd be happy that someone took time out to read their material. a guy i knew bypassed paying ridiculous fees to journal databases by asking the researchers directly. most just sent him the journals straight up

[paulsterio]

^ Wrong name in the quote

However, no matter which way you look at it, regardless of whether book writers write books for monetary gain or not, they have put time and effort into it and that should be respected. They could have gone out and done other work in the time it took them to write the book, it's their intellectual property and we should respect that.

And either way, in high school, you won't need any books which are $200 anyways. Even in Uni, I have never bought a book that is more than $100. So it's pretty reasonable for what it gives you. I don't understand why some kids splash thousands of dollars on UMAT preparation courses, tutoring and VCE lectures but can't afford to buy a book that's like $50 (which is what an average VCE book costs). It's not that much, people pirate not because they need to, but because they can and that's what's wrong about it.

I have no issues if they actually were struggling to make ends meet and hence HAD to pirate. If they don't think sneaking into a VCE lecture is OK, they shouldn't think pirating books is OK either.