Quote:
Originally Posted by pimenta
Honestly, I feel about the FC content being shared pretty much the same as I feel about all the media that is shared. Artists release CDs or DVDs and a few buy it while the majority will just download it for free and have access to the same content (and some even get mad if the content doesn't leak fast)... Is it fair for the one who bought the media to see the content being shared for free? Maybe not, but people don't usually complain about it...
Some may argue those are two different things, but I personally see both situations the exact same way, maybe it's just me, but that's how I feel about it, and that's pretty much why I don't mind sharing... In my case, I pay to be a member of the FC just because I like the feeling being a member of my favorite artist's FC, and not for the exclusivity, it just makes me happy to be a member. The same as I buy the CDs because I like to collect what my favorite artists release, and not really because I want the media in them (I don't even play my CDs because I don't want to risk damaging them, I just love collecting). But that's me, and I respect who has a different opinion, so if more people in the forum don't want to see the posts being shared I'll just stop sharing them here, I don't mean to disrespect anyone...
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Apologies for the wall of text here. You can scroll down for a tl;dr if you want.
Some of us ARE paying for the exclusivity. The exclusivity is part of the product we're buying, which is what makes it more worth paying for, and what makes it different than CDs & DVDs that are mass produced and intended for both fans and more casual listeners.
Part of what makes it special is that only the big fans - who have put money and work into the viewing of these things - are seeing it. It's called a fan CLUB for a reason. We're not passing, temporary "fans" who enjoy Ayu for a few songs and then move on. We're people for whom Ayu is a security blanket, people who have been deeply affected by Ayu or her music, people whose life soundtrack includes Ayu for all our major life events. I was an ayu fan for YEARS and YEARS before finally joining TA. In that time I went through romances, breakups, college, having a child, getting my career started, getting mental health issues diagnosed, and finding my "ibasho" as Ayu was able to finally find hers. Ayumi Hamasaki's music has been the soundtrack of my life for nearly half my life. That, to me, means giving her a little extra tip every year in the form of my fan club dues - and that, to her & her staff, means letting me read her feelings & what she's up to in her blog, among other things.
It doesn't upset me that the BIG ayu fans here are seeing these blog entries. They absolutely deserve to see them if they really are big fans. What bothers me is that minor, fairweather, probably-won't-be-here-next-week fans are seeing it too. Ayu posted those messages for the die-hards, not for the casuals. And she personally has made that clear to us.
When Ayu's blog entry about Ayumi Ogata's death a few years back was shared through mass media, Ayu was REALLY upset about it - she'd perceived her relationship with her fans as trusting, and that trust she had for us was breached. Maybe you guys don't remember that, but I do. I kept translating her TA entries for awhile after that, but eventually I grew to feel bad. Pretty soon it was easy to cut it out of my life as a priority and I gradually stopped. Misa took over - and I certainly do not begrudge her that, it made it easier for TA members who don't speak Japanese to get the full benefits of their membership - but now, there's no reason to share them. Those of us who've put the money and work into joining can now get this benefit. If you don't pay for it, you don't get it.
Now, that said...
There are plenty of things that even TA members STILL do not have. If you guys really want to translate and post things, no one translates the blurbs in TA magazine. Why not do that? Ayu's blog wasn't always translated - why not translate old entries that no one's done yet? THAT I would not have a problem with. Uploading photos, wallpapers, screensavers, and other benefits that are no longer available would be a great service to members and non-members alike. Some of that stuff is still floating around the internet.
I understand the spirit and intent behind sharing - I was a sharer once, you guys know that, and I have NO issue uploading things that are especially difficult to get, or are not possible to get anymore through legitimate means.
But those of you who are HUGE fans, who love Ayu as much as I do, you should just join TA. You'd like it. The stuff you get in the mail is really cool. Actually holding an issue of TA magazine in your hands is awesome. Knowing you're supporting Ayu financially just a little more is gonna make you feel better about the stuff you've downloaded over the years. The mu-mo and TA shop bonuses for pre-ordering CDs & DVDs are kinda awesome. Even if you can't (as a foreign fan) get concert tickets, you still get a shot at the TA exclusive merchandise. Sure, you get those TA magazine scans here, the TA merchandise goes on sale at Yahoo! Auctions and eBay or gets sold by members here... but if you're not willing to use Tenso and join TA properly, then... you're not a big enough fan to deserve this stuff.
If you can't afford to join now, join later. Play catch-up buying the TA goods & magazines you've missed from YAJ which is what I've been doing for the last few years. I'm making up for lost time, but I couldn't afford to join until now so I didn't. And I lived! Imagine that!
Anyway. Ending my rant here. Yes, I feel that some people genuinely deserve to see these blog entries more than others do, and the ones I feel deserve it are the ones FOR WHOM THE ENTRIES ARE INTENDED. I'm out.
tl;dr:
1. Exclusivity is part of the product.
2. Ayu only intends these blog entries for big fans.
3. If you're not WILLING to pay, you're not a big enough fan.
4. If you're not ABLE to pay, join when you can & play catch up - you'll live.
5. If you really wanna share TA stuff, why not help us play catch up & translate old entries & TA mag issues?