Can you be more of a bro than this? The gratitude this man receives is overwhelming. I have mixed feelings about the matter of the piracy itself, but if it's possible to be doing it right when it comes to bootlegging DVDs, he is. The MPAA is going to have a rough time handling this one.
I don't see why people think soldiers deserve such special treatment. They get paid over there, they aren't saints or something. And being a WWII veteran doesn't really give him leave to break the law.
He knows a heck of a lot more about computers than my grandfather does. This is a man who can't add more than a select number of people on facebook because he doesn't want to get all cluttered up.
On topic, I think the MPAA going after this guy would be PR suicide. Plain and simple. So of course, they're going to do it.
Fappy: How did he make that many DVDs??? What a boss.
Apparently he's spent 30 grand on the venture, and bought a computer with 7 or 8 DVDRW drives. He doesn't have a lot to live for with his wife dead, and loves the gratitude and thankfulness from the soldiers. Plus, as the article said, it gives him camaraderie and identification with the soldiers out there that he hasn't felt since WWII.
Mortai Gravesend: I don't see why people think soldiers deserve such special treatment. They get paid over there, they aren't saints or something. And being a WWII veteran doesn't really give him leave to break the law.
Because they have one of the worse jobs in the world and are horribly underpaid for it? Sure it doesn't give him a legal excuse to break the law, but he's 92 years old and has brought a lot of joy to a lot of people far away from their homes and family.
Mortai Gravesend: I don't see why people think soldiers deserve such special treatment. They get paid over there, they aren't saints or something. And being a WWII veteran doesn't really give him leave to break the law.
Because they have one of the worse jobs in the world and are horribly underpaid for it? Sure it doesn't give him a legal excuse to break the law, but he's 92 years old and has brought a lot of joy to a lot of people far away from their homes and family.
I'd say its more down to not being able to buy DVDs in Afghanistan.
Mortai Gravesend: I don't see why people think soldiers deserve such special treatment. They get paid over there, they aren't saints or something. And being a WWII veteran doesn't really give him leave to break the law.
I have to agree here, I hope he gets fined. That's a lot of DVDs and if people get busted for copying a few then this guy is either getting fined massively or thrown in jail for the rest of his life.
Mortai Gravesend: I don't see why people think soldiers deserve such special treatment. They get paid over there, they aren't saints or something. And being a WWII veteran doesn't really give him leave to break the law.
Because they have one of the worse jobs in the world and are horribly underpaid for it? Sure it doesn't give him a legal excuse to break the law, but he's 92 years old and has brought a lot of joy to a lot of people far away from their homes and family.
They chose to do that job and I doubt it was mostly for saintly reasons. It certainly isn't the kind of job that I think does the most benefit in the world anyway.
And I don't think his age excuses it, unless he isn't mentally fit.
They chose to do that job and I doubt it was mostly for saintly reasons. It certainly isn't the kind of job that I think does the most benefit in the world anyway.
And I don't think his age excuses it, unless he isn't mentally fit.
Well, on one hand, you're an ignorant prick who really has it out for anything which is remotely "honorable." On the other, I am too... Except for the fact that I don't see military men and women as just doing any job. The job is hard, yes, but it's also something you wouldn't have the stomach to do. They may have joined up out of desperation, but they're also a hell of a lot more human than you ever will be. You sicken me... Or maybe that's what I ate earlier... I don't know.
On topic, however, this guy is awesome. And, while questionably legal, rather moral about it, destroying the master discs and not keeping any films for himself.
Mortai Gravesend: I don't see why people think soldiers deserve such special treatment. They get paid over there, they aren't saints or something. And being a WWII veteran doesn't really give him leave to break the law.
I have to agree here, I hope he gets fined. That's a lot of DVDs and if people get busted for copying a few then this guy is either getting fined massively or thrown in jail for the rest of his life.
The rest of his life is likely to be very short, since he's, you know, 92 years old. Most people are in nursing homes at that age, I think jail is a little extreme.
Mortai Gravesend: I don't see why people think soldiers deserve such special treatment. They get paid over there, they aren't saints or something. And being a WWII veteran doesn't really give him leave to break the law.
Because they have one of the worse jobs in the world and are horribly underpaid for it? Sure it doesn't give him a legal excuse to break the law, but he's 92 years old and has brought a lot of joy to a lot of people far away from their homes and family.
They chose to do that job and I doubt it was mostly for saintly reasons. It certainly isn't the kind of job that I think does the most benefit in the world anyway.
And I don't think his age excuses it, unless he isn't mentally fit.
For saintly reasons? No, they chose it because they believed that it was the right thing to do. Considering the terrible cost it could come at, they have my respect. I wouldn't have the balls to go into a combat situation like that. That's why I feel they deserve my respect, even if I totally disagree with what they're doing.
As for Big Hy, his age doesn't excuse his actions, but I doubt he'll be jailed for it. And if he's sued, it'll look terrible for the MPAA, especially with media attention on him.
It's not like he's making money off it, he's just shipping it to soldiers who otherwise wouldn't get to enjoy it, regardless of being able to afford it.
Plus, he's 92 years old. It would be an absolutely field day if they go after him and sue him for millions and millions of dollars or put him in jail.
They chose to do that job and I doubt it was mostly for saintly reasons. It certainly isn't the kind of job that I think does the most benefit in the world anyway.
And I don't think his age excuses it, unless he isn't mentally fit.
Well, on one hand, you're an ignorant prick who really has it out for anything which is remotely "honorable."
No, not really. I'm just don't buy into that crap.
On the other, I am too...
Whatever.
Except for the fact that I don't see military men and women as just doing any job. The job is hard, yes, but it's also something you wouldn't have the stomach to do.
I don't have the stomach to clean sewers. Praise the sewer cleaners. Or maybe that's a bad criteria for praise.
They may have joined up out of desperation, but they're also a hell of a lot more human than you ever will be. You sicken me... Or maybe that's what I ate earlier... I don't know.
Because they have one of the worse jobs in the world and are horribly underpaid for it? Sure it doesn't give him a legal excuse to break the law, but he's 92 years old and has brought a lot of joy to a lot of people far away from their homes and family.
They chose to do that job and I doubt it was mostly for saintly reasons. It certainly isn't the kind of job that I think does the most benefit in the world anyway.
And I don't think his age excuses it, unless he isn't mentally fit.
For saintly reasons? No, they chose it because they believed that it was the right thing to do. Considering the terrible cost it could come at, they have my respect. I wouldn't have the balls to go into a combat situation like that. That's why I feel they deserve my respect, even if I totally disagree with what they're doing. [/quot]e
Hah. Yeah, glorify them. As if that nonsense doesn't happen enough already. They don't deserve respect if they have the guts to do the wrong thing, they deserve respect if they actually do the right thing.
[quote] As for Big Hy, his age doesn't excuse his actions, but I doubt he'll be jailed for it. And if he's sued, it'll look terrible for the MPAA, especially with media attention on him.
He probably will get away with it. Doesn't mean I approve.
This guy is just awesome. Even if the companies wanted to go after them, I don't think any prosecutor would be dumb enough to take the case. They'd be annihilated in the press.
Well, on one hand, you're an ignorant prick who really has it out for anything which is remotely "honorable." On the other, I am too... Except for the fact that I don't see military men and women as just doing any job. The job is hard, yes, but it's also something you wouldn't have the stomach to do. They may have joined up out of desperation, but they're also a hell of a lot more human than you ever will be. You sicken me... Or maybe that's what I ate earlier... I don't know.
On topic, however, this guy is awesome. And, while questionably legal, rather moral about it, destroying the master discs and not keeping any films for himself.
There is no need to be so rude, I agree with Mordecai on this matter.
Using ad hominem doesn't discredit his point one bit. Also, people in the military aren't saints. Why don't you respect the people who give you the quality of life you enjoy like engineers, scientists, hell even bin men.
Everyone does their bit to make society what it is, just because soldiers kill people it doesn't make them "better" than anyone else.
I say fair deuce to the guy. He's not profiting from his actions or spoiling anything financially. Clearly he has a strong personal connection with the military and his bootlegging has allowed him to maintain and grow that in his old age. He's made the soldiers time in Afghanistan more pleasant and in doing so has given himself a sense of purpose and human connection. Lovely article!
There is no need to be so rude, I agree with Mordecai on this matter.
Using ad hominem doesn't discredit his point one bit. Also, people in the military aren't saints. Why don't you respect the people who give you the quality of life you enjoy like engineers, scientists, hell even bin men.
Everyone does their bit to make society what it is, just because soldiers kill people it doesn't make them "better" than anyone else.
Don't think I don't respect them. They just don't die for their job. Often.
Mortai Gravesend: I don't see why people think soldiers deserve such special treatment. They get paid over there, they aren't saints or something. And being a WWII veteran doesn't really give him leave to break the law.
To hell with the fuckn law. the man is awesome.
Simply put if I was the one he stole from i may just match his ehr... "donation" myself.
Mortai Gravesend: I don't see why people think soldiers deserve such special treatment. They get paid over there, they aren't saints or something. And being a WWII veteran doesn't really give him leave to break the law.
To hell with the fuckn law. the man is awesome.
Simply put if I was the one he stole from i may just match his ehr... "donation" myself.
Okay and I still disapprove because I don't think we need to be even more praiseworthy of our military.
I respect the military, my entire family is military and I spent 17 years of my life "serving" as a dependent of a Navy sailor. Do I think they are saints? No. Do I think they are evil? No. Some join for good reasons, others don't. To simplify this to black and white is silly. The military was good for my father but not so good for his family. But now I'm getting off topic.
As for the individual in the article, I think he walks a fine line. I like his support of troops stationed overseas but the method by which he does it is borderline. The soldiers are often capable of getting the movies (granted it is often a good while after the movies are out). I've sent a good number of packages with movies to my friends stationed in Afgan and I know they have also ordered lots themselves. I do somewhat understand the joy of being able to see a movie shortly after it comes out in the States, as I have spent time away and missed that sort of normalcy. The law is not always solid nor right, it is created by imperfect humans for an imperfect system.
So yeah, I'm rather conflicted by this case especially since the man reminds me an awful lot of my own grandfather (who I am very close to). However, the MPAA would not even dream of legally pursuing this man. That is a PR nightmare, one I would want to stay as far away from as possible.
Chairman Miaow: I love the hypocrisy up in this thread. Almost everybody has just advocated piracy.
Exactly! They should just drop by the local Afghani DVD store like everyone else. Who would let a little thing like bullets stand in the way of entertainment?
"we've found a pirate who has copied 300,000 of our movies" "great lets go after him, throw the book at him, destroy him as an example" "he's 92 and ships them to soldiers on active duty in warzones" "oh crap"
frankly it wouldnt hurt the companies to do this themselves, if nothing else it would be worth amazing PR for them
Mostly on the matter that soldiers aren't saints and don't deserve special treatment really... Scientists, engineers, etc deserve more credit. wasting 8 extra years of their life, in the very beginning mind you, where you're most physicially fit and able to enjoy life in such a way, they sit in fucking desks and write bullshit just to convince someone (who might be a complete prick and fail him for shits n giggles) that he knows his shit.
Then their jobs take extreme mental excercising on a regular basis, very little time to actually enjoy all that money they make...
Soldiers deserve just as much respect as anybody else.
Though I don't see the point in punishing the old man, because seriously... It ain't gonna happen for one and two just keep him under watch until he dies. It'll prolly be soon anyways.
SmegInThePants: I like this guy, if I practiced law in his area and he got in trouble I'd represent him for free (or for a few dvd's perhaps).
Actually that would probably get you disbarred, accepting pirated goods for representation. Or maybe not disbarred. But in some trouble. Lawyers having their defendants commit the crime they're defending them from as a form of payment is um... yeah...
Mostly on the matter that soldiers aren't saints and don't deserve special treatment really... Scientists, engineers, etc deserve more credit. wasting 8 extra years of their life, in the very beginning mind you, where you're most physicially fit and able to enjoy life in such a way, they sit in fucking desks and write bullshit just to convince someone (who might be a complete prick and fail him for shits n giggles) that he knows his shit.
Then their jobs take extreme mental excercising on a regular basis, very little time to actually enjoy all that money they make...
Soldiers deserve just as much respect as anybody else.
Though I don't see the point in punishing the old man, because seriously... It ain't gonna happen for one and two just keep him under watch until he dies. It'll prolly be soon anyways.
Just a note, but in case I gave the wrong impression I'm not particularly set on punishing him. I just disapprove of what he did.
Can you be more of a bro than this? The gratitude this man receives is overwhelming. I have mixed feelings about the matter of the piracy itself, but if it's possible to be doing it right when it comes to bootlegging DVDs, he is. The MPAA is going to have a rough time handling this one.
New York Times article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/27/nyregion/at-92-movie-bootlegger-is-soldiers-hero.html?_r=1
Thoughts? Discussion?