I’ve begun discontinuing many US services in favor of EU ones. However, I’ve noticed that some individuals, instead of simply ceasing to use American products, resorted to illegally downloading everything. While it’s true that the money goes to the US when you pay, it can’t justify disrespecting others’ hard work and effort while still consuming or using their products, and it is also illegal. This is especially true considering that they likely don’t have any direct connection to MAGA. This applies to actors, directors, YouTubers, and many others. We should simply cease using their products without giving them any further consideration.

Edit: adding to the last line, we should give instead more attention to locally and European made creations and products

  • namingthingsiseasy@programming.dev
    14·
    21 hours ago

    Don’t forget that the EU Commission funded a report to document the impact of file sharing and then buried it when they found out that it was actually beneficial to the creators. So if you want to engage in file sharing, you’re actually helping them.

    Do what you will with that information. If you really want to boycott, then boycott the content altogether. If you can’t hold back, then download them, but you’re helping them out anyway by doing that.

    The best thing you can do is support your local art scene and find better alternatives.

      • namingthingsiseasy@programming.dev
        5·
        20 hours ago

        Right, but I don’t think it’s explicitly clear - today, the US is dominant in movies for example. Supporting alternative industries could start to chip away at that dominance, and if a day comes when nobody outside the USA cares about their movies anymore because they have their own industries, that would do a lot more damage.

        I think we’re in agreement, but I just want to point it out in case anyone missed that point. By promoting alternatives, getting to the point where nobody cares about US media anymore is really the ultimate goal if you’re trying to do maximum damage.

        (And to be honest, American movies are really not that good. They’re very formulaic and predictable. That’s why I wouldn’t bother watching them, even if I wanted to download them for free.)