Blogging is different for everyone, some bloggers are really opinionated, some humorous, and others just give the facts. I like to think I fall somewhere in between...
Today I am going to look at a couple posts on a blog that has a topic similar to my own, but in a different kind of voice. The blog I have chosen is blog maverick: the mark cuban weblog. Mark blogs on a variety of topics, most of them having to do with technology. The posts I picked out from his blog have to do with piracy, one is about the music industry and CD’s, and the other about the MPAA and DVD piracy.
Mark’s blog is very plain to look at, there are virtually no pictures on any of the posts, few links, and little information about the blog other than links to other blog sites on the sidebar. But after "googling" his name I found out that he is a billionaire entrepreneur, owns the Dallas Mavericks, heads up HD Net, and was even on Dancing With The Stars! Imagine how dumb I felt for not knowing who he was before I found the blog!
Getting back to his blog...
Mark’s voice is apparent throughout these posts, especially in the one about CD piracy, “the definition of insanity.. The Music Industry”. Mark uses sarcasm and repetition so that the reader is sure of his stance on the issue. Almost every single paragraph in the post begins with the phrase, “Insanity is…”, Mark uses this sort of repetition to point out everything the Music Industry is doing wrong in its efforts to try and stop music piracy, and in doing this, Mark makes the reader also think that the Industry is acting “insane” too.
His simplistic reasoning and use of metaphor makes it seem as though anyone who disagrees with him is “insane” as well:
Insanity is ignoring year after year, the demographics with more money than time. Those who aren’t willing, or don’t have the time to troll through the net to figure out which network has the most music to download, searching for songs, picking out which peers to try to download from and then hoping it all worked out right. Those who would prefer to just buy music in the easiest way possible so they can get on with enjoying their music and their lives. Isn’t that why we buy bottled water? It’s easy and convenient?
I have to say, after reading the post, I agreed with Mark’s stance. DRM or any future similar technology will not stop people from “finding ways to get music for free.” And the industry is way behind the times in terms of technology; subscription services are becoming the way to go, the cheaper they are the more successful they become. For example, almost everyone I know, and myself, use Netflix because it’s cheap, has great customer service, and has a great interface. I don’t have a need to download movies anymore, but I still download music.
In his other post, "A Note to the MPAA = Promotion works better than prevention", Mark takes a stance on movie piracy, similar to the one he took on music piracy, which, I must say, is a little surprising since he claims to have “more than 1 billion dollars invested in the entertainment industry.” In this post, his voice is less apparent (not as much repetition), but he still takes on that same sarcastic tone and uses the simple reasoning seen in the "definition of insanity..." post:
Invest in a positive message that can get people more excited about their member products and the unique experience offered in theaters, or send a message that your customers are crooks and pirates. Invest in a message that could generate more revenues for your members, or invest in the cost of trying to close the “analog hole” which costs taxpayers money as you waste legislative time, consumers money, as you waste the time and money of cable, satellites and telcos who will fight this effort or spend millions having to adopt it, and of course drive up the cost of the movie going experience because of all the above.
He’s all for making money, but doesn’t see the point in fighting this losing battle. Why give up on everything and just go after the pirates? Why not invest more money in making the movie watching experience more enjoyable in theaters?
The theatrical exhibition industry just experienced a phenomenal several weeks with The Dark Knight setting record after record. People by the 10s of millions went to the theater, many multiple time to enjoy the unique experience of going to a movie. Could you please, please, please use the money you are going to spend fighting the unfightable and instead spend it on promoting the fun of going to the movies ? More people going to the movies is more people getting excited about movies. More people getting excited about movies means more people watching movies on TV, which is good for revenues, and more people buying DVDs or legal downloads of the movies. Again, good for revenues.
I especially liked and appreciated that paragraph. I have worked in the movie theater industry (as a box office cashier!) and have seen first hand how excited people get about some movies, and the movie experience in general. But I do believe that some things need to be changed, and the industry needs to focus some attention on changing the theatrical experience.
I never thought I would be agreeing with a billionaire entrepreneur on the topic of piracy! I actually enjoyed Mark’s posts, his humor kept me reading, and he embraced technology rather than fearing the evils of it!
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