An Uploader's Thoughts on Sharing

[Stainless Steel Rat]

Though this may be better served on the movie forum I'm posting it here for discussion value. As with my previous post the purpose is to encourage free and open discussion without resorting to simple "name calling"

This seems to be the month for posts about controversy. One of the current debates going on right now over on the movie forum concerns the age old question of "link stealing" vs. "file sharing". So I am going to take a few minutes to try and clarify the situation for any who have questions or don't fully understand why it is such a hot button issue.

Firstly, one needs to understand what exactly is being talked about here, "link stealing" is specifically when someone posts the ACTUAL links which were uploaded by another user and represents them as their own {occasionally with the lame tag of "credit to original uploader"}. This is different from someone who sees a file they like, downloads it then REUPLOADS it to their own filesharing account and posts it for all to enjoy.

The arguments always seem to center around "well you don't own the video/movie/clip rights anyway, what do you care?" That misses the point about the uploading completely. The uploader invests time {sometimes quite a bit} in preparing the file, uploading it, making a preview and creating the post. Usually the ultimate end is simply the satisfaction of having shared something with others {as for most folks this isn't about trying to make money - but that's another thread!}

In a nutshell it boils down to a very simple situation. The folks who do nothing but steal links aren't actually helping anything. If they think a file is so great that it should be shared on another forum then they should ASK the original poster if they can post the links elsewhere. Or they can download the file and upload their own version to share elsewhere. This forum is a prime example of why that is so important. For those who don't remember or never knew, this forum was a graveyard for RS links for a period of time, it got so bad that some uploaders wouldn't post their links here because they knew full well they would die in hours.

So along comes the link thief who steals the links and posts them here anyway and poof! The links die in a matter of hours as expected. The link thief doesn't care since he can just steal another set of links which takes a minute or so. The uploader on the other hand may have to spend hours restoring lost links if they don't get discouraged and simply give up. And if you think this is overly melodramatic? You haven't been on the forums very long, many of the more prolific uploaders have ceased to post files publically {or at all in some cases} due to the rampant theft of links. For those that are familiar with SAFF, it has the reputation as one of the worst havens for link thieves among most "extreme" forums out there {think I'm kidding? - I can name at least a dozen posters there who have never uploaded a link in their life!}

In the end if enough of the prolific posters cease their contributions you will see a decline in the appearance of new material as many of the link thieves are either clueless or too lazy to upload their own links. Even now there are poachers on the movie forum using other persons previews as their own. They might get away with it if they were clever enough to remove the headers in the previews

Just a few thoughts for folks to mull over.

Cheers all from the Stainless Steel Rat

[HRH1948]

Absolutely brilliant!! It should be required reading prior to making a post here!

[Shadowy Figure]

I agree with what your saying Stainless but I will ad this. All of the videos I put links for except the last 1 are from my computer, of which I paid TOP DOLLAR for half. There have been some situations where a link has been posted that has been dead for awile at times. My next line of action is to take the name from the img link and see what that turns up torrent/warezwise. Sometimes when that doesn't work I'll take the name from the descrption and see what that turns up. I cited Misterdex as the user who's broen link i was updating. I diddn't feel the need to explain that I got it from that warez site since i got the video myself and if that link went down i would absolutely re upload it.

[trina-crys]

Personally I don't care if someone used my links to post else where. I'm not getting anything I share cause I want to and enjoy it. I guess it's like a hobby of mine.

I know a lot of people on other boards I post on don't care if their links get spread around, as they just want the downloads so their RS point counts can go up. RS points = free premium membership lol.

I can understand why some people don't want their links shared though. The more they're spread around the better the chance of them being deleted if their hosted somewhere that doesn't allow porn and such.

[Flesh4Fantasy]

Originally Posted by Stainless Steel Rat

The uploader invests time {sometimes quite a bit} in preparing the file, uploading it, making a preview and creating the post. Usually the ultimate end is simply the satisfaction of having shared something with others

Well said. That hits the motivational nail right on the head...

I just started uploading and have quickly learned the frustration of having to reupload material 2 or more times because my files get deleted from the file sharing service (for whatever reason)...

However, I've been leeching far longer and I can state from that perspective that the proper care and feeding of a thread as you've outlined above will allow for the growth of some truly stupendous sized leeches.

[snarkopo]

You're probably preaching to the choir for the most part SSR but I'm glad you took the time to post this anyway.

[sparks]

hmm

If I post something and ask that is not posted elsewhere then its stealing

If I up a post from something only I have then its my post

If I edit a post do something to make it better than its my post

not sure I understand your intent mate

cheers

[theDarkOne]

I see what you are saying Sparks..

I post on a board that is bigger than this one and has way more contributors.Posting found links is the norm there.I personally have no problem with it(it's a great fucking board)It only becomes a problem for me when someone takes links that are on RB and puts them in their own thread.

That's just stupid...

[sparks]

If link stealing is posting a post with your links then so be it unless we all say no or protect our links then it is what it is

It sucks especially when your work is wasted or burnt by sharing at other forums

but it is what it is

HRH and others share a common way around this which I do not but its a thought mate

cheers

[HRH1948]

On the internet, stealing links and reposting them is nothing less than malicious plagiarism.

However, did you know that if you are on Windows platform, have no objections to Rapidshare.com, Rapidshare.de, Megaupload.com, Netload.in or Filer.net, any plagiaristic twit can publish your ccf files on the front page of the New York Times and you won't be upset and even concerned?

I apologize for shamelessly exploiting this thread to expand the use of my method.

[theDarkOne]

Originally Posted by HRH1948

On the internet, stealing links and reposting them is nothing less than malicious plagiarism.

Wow then you would not want to go to most of the great boards i go to.

Got to say i personally disagree with your statment...

[HRH1948]

Originally Posted by theDarkOne

Wow then you would not want to go to most of the great boards i go to.

Got to say i personally disagree with your statment...

With respect (and I truly mean that remark) we must agree to disagree. Posting someone else's links (short of CCF files)on the Internet is malicious! But, I respect you intelligence and views.

I am very involved in my business. I am unable to frequent any other boards beyond this board! Alas, I am still a novice. My very earliest training dictated that plagiarism was unacceptible. That was forty years ago and maybe standards have changed!

That was not intended to minimize your comment in any way! It is a simple statement of historical fact.

Cheers,

HJRH

[theDarkOne]

Originally Posted by HRH1948

With respect (and I truly mean that remark) we must agree to disagree. Posting someone else's links (short of CCF files)on the Internet is malicious! But, I respect you intelligence and views.

I am very involved in my business. I am unable to frequent any other boards beyond this board! Alas, I am still a novice. My very earliest training dictated that plagiarism was unacceptible. That was forty years ago and maybe standards have changed!

That was not intended to minimize your comment in any way! It is a simple statement of historical fact.

Cheers,

HJRH

Oh thats cool manWe all have our own views on different things.
but it is not a simple statement of historical fact.

We are not writing poetry or some sort of story that is being stolen.These are movies that we did not make and we are sharing them.It's not plagiarism in the dictionary definition of the word.On these boards i go to it's not like people are pretending that those are their links.It's just about getting the movie or music posted.All one has to do to find other peoples links is to Google the movies name and Rapidshare at the same time and you will find it.

In the end it's about sharing....

Let me be clear though.On this board if you find a link here and then post it as your own at RB that's fucked up.

Also i do a lot of up loading.I never use other peoples links anywhere.If i post it then you know it is safe because it came from me.

[batffink]

Originally Posted by HRH1948

With respect (and I truly mean that remark) we must agree to disagree. Posting someone else's links (short of CCF files)on the Internet is malicious! But, I respect you intelligence and views.

I am very involved in my business. I am unable to frequent any other boards beyond this board! Alas, I am still a novice. My very earliest training dictated that plagiarism was unacceptible. That was forty years ago and maybe standards have changed!

That was not intended to minimize your comment in any way! It is a simple statement of historical fact.

Cheers,

HJRH

I agree with you HRH, the old standards, in my opinion, are still the best and most acceptable standards. Follow them and you rarely go wrong.

[theDarkOne]

Originally Posted by batffink

I agree with you HRH, the old standards, in my opinion, are still the best and most acceptable standards. Follow them and you rarely go wrong.

Or you can realize that every board is different.With different sets of standards.In the end we are all a bunch of thieves.We are all (in your guys sense of the word)plagiarizing other peoples work because we did not produce/Direct these movies.

[trina-crys]

theDarkOne is right on most boards (and I post on a lot of warez boards) it's fine to post others links. I've seen people post and tell the other to please spread these links around(they want RS or whatever points). The only time I would say it's wrong is when someone says don't share my links. Which of course I respect

[Stainless Steel Rat]

To add some additional thoughts here now that folks have expressed some views. TDO is correct when he states that many forums don't give a second thought to link stealing/sharing/relocating {whatever one wants to call it}. And many uploaders really don't mind. To be honest if my links wind up on a forum that I know nothing about and aren't deleted because of it I really am not concerned about it {I don't know so how can it bother me?}. However different forums have different rules concerning the use of others links and posters should always respect whatever rules the forum they are posting on happens to adopt. Ironically when I first became a poster/uploader myself it was THIS very forum that I didn't want my files from other forums being brought over to! And several times my links were brought here and immediately lost because of it!

Furthermore I find it in very poor taste to take links which you didn't upload, post them on a forum and then beg for rep/karma/thanks as if you had personally coded each and every bit in the video you post using only a chisel and a stone tablet {when in fact the are merely link-relocaters}! Those kinds of folks will always get under my skin as they are the true leeches of the forums. Another interesting note is that most {myself included} are even less concerned about sharing mainstream movie files as opposed to the more fetish oriented clips. Probably because mainstream movie files and clips are so pervasive on the web the are very easy to find. Conversely it is harder to locate good fetish clips and if you take the time and effort to seek one out it's natural to feel a bit of proprietary "ownership" {if you will} when you post it. Even now here on the forum we have "new' posters who are little more than "harvesters" pulling clips from other folks and reposting them here. This is most obvious when they use an odd assortment of filehosts and picture hosts, you can be almost assured that they probably didn't upload the file themselves originally.

Just a few more thoughts

Cheers all from the Stainless Steel Rat

[theDarkOne]

Damn good post SSRI could not agree more

[HRH1948]

Originally Posted by theDarkOne

Damn good post SSRI could not agree more

Alas, we end up in total agreement again!

[MARADONA]

I think exactly like you my friend! You Kick Ass Stainless!!!