UnixRevolution's Journal: Scalable Behavior

An excerpt from an AIM conversation with a friend. I dunno if i should take this seriously or not.

Me (3:24:55 AM): what do you think of scalable behavior?
Gabi (3:25:14 AM): Eh?
Me (3:25:22 AM): to decide if something is bad, you surmise "what if everybody did ______?"
Me (3:25:29 AM): if the result of that question is negative, said behavior is worng
Me (3:25:31 AM): wrong
Me (3:25:43 AM): if result of that question is either indifferent or positive, said behavior is acceptable
Me (3:25:48 AM): for instance
Me (3:26:00 AM): what if everyone looted?
Me (3:26:30 AM): obviously, if everyone looted shops wouldn't be able to stay open. commerce would crumble and nobody would be able to buy what they need. Result is negative, so looting is not a scalable behavior...
Gabi (3:27:04 AM): That's a good way to think about it, I guess.
Me (3:27:16 AM): now let's take it further
Me (3:27:50 AM): "what if everyone drank milk?" all assumptions about lactose inolerance/allergies aside, everyone would be healthier, have stronger bones, and the dairy industry would make more money and the economy would benefit
Me (3:28:07 AM): so drinking milk IS a scalable behavoir, as the result is positive.
Me (3:28:09 AM): Now...what about pirating music?
Me (3:28:16 AM): "what if everyone pirated music..."
Me (3:28:19 AM): heh heh heh
Gabi (3:28:50 AM): Well that's one of those "I say it's good" things.
Gabi (3:29:10 AM): Because I don't have enough money to buy all the music I want.
Gabi (3:29:17 AM): BUT
Gabi (3:29:36 AM): If/when I DO have money, and I like a certain music thing, I will buy it.
Gabi (3:29:59 AM): Just because I want the original thing.
Me (3:30:02 AM): we were talking about scalable behavior, not self interest. bear with me.
Me (3:30:12 AM): What if everone pirated music?
Me (3:30:23 AM): well, first, record companies would make NO money at all
Me (3:30:31 AM): so that means the RIAA would crumble...
Me (3:30:44 AM): the RIAA is responsible for most DRM and the evaporation of fair use rights, so this is actually a good thing
Me (3:31:42 AM): No longer plagued with pandering to the mass market, musicians would create real art instead of the drivel they usually make. Subsequently, such good music would create huge turnouts at concerts and sales of the individual artists' swag, cds, and what have you...causing the artists to produce good, real artist's music, and still make enough to live comfortably.
Me (3:31:54 AM): therefore, pirating music IS a scalable behavior, and is acceptible.
Gabi (3:32:08 AM): Yay!

Funny? a Troll? Flamebait? Insightful? I really dunno. Post a comment and let me know what you think.