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These types are what irritate me, the ones that have a job but refuse to buy at all because "they have no money" and what money they do have absolutely has to go to other things (IE, other means of entertainment). That's honestly no excuse. It sounds harsh, yes, but breaking the law is breaking the law, there's no gray area. I'm not saying you have to go out and buy everything you've ever watched or read, but not all of that money HAS to go to other entertainment, of course.

Take me instance, I don't even have a job, but look on my bookcase, you'll see almost a full shelf of DVDs, and about 4 full of manga. I don't even have a job, yet somehow, I've managed to collect all of this, while others that do have jobs, complain about how impossible it is to buy just a single manga.

It's like the first paragraph said, it's really cheap compared to what it used to be! I remember those days (only barely, mind you xD; ) when the VHS were priced so sky-high for only 2 episodes, I can't understand why people can't get the fact that it's no where near as exspensive as it used to be, they claim that the DVDs and boxed sets are really exspensive, in all honesty, they aren't. Like, an average boxed set costs around $45 these days (there are exceptions, of course), now, that's a little over the price of two brand new released DVDs, yet somehow, buying those two new DVDs is somehow cheaper, yet, if you went with that boxed set you wished you could have, you'd be getting a full TV series, instead of just two movies. It doesn't add up, in so many ways =/
And if you're going to say "I don't have $45!!!!" Well save it, it's not a huge amount to save to! If I can manage to have what I do and never touched foot in a work place, you could too (It's called gift money, and knowing how to look for deals :3 )

It bothers me how so many people know it's illegal, have the money to buy, and know good and well that the industry isn't doing well, yet they continue to download, because it's "not their problem". I find that a ridiculous excuse to cling to, especially when they love it so much, yet they won't even attempt to buy anything at all, just because someone put it on the net somewhere so they're going to watch it.

w00t!!! GO CHER!!! GO CHERR!!!!! -gets out pompoms and dances-

Yeah, I quote this entire thing for truth, but the hilighted parts are the ones that really kick-a**.

As much as I would love to bash on down loaders, it wouldn't be the least bit fair for me to do so, seeing as how I've downloaded a bit myself.
Now, before I start getting ripped on, allow me to explain my reasoning.
I am employed and I bring home around $700/paycheck. But I still don't have enough money because I'm forking out all my money for myself and my girlfriend because she was forced to quit her job and now doesn't have any money to pay for her bills that she could easily afford when she was working. I only have enough money to pay bills, buy gas to get to and from work, and to get me enough food to barely last me through the two weeks until my next payday.
However, whenever I do manage to have some spare money to use, more often then not, I'm splurging it on mangas. My collection is rather pathetic, but I'm still proud of the fact that I've been able to support the artists in even the small amount I'm able to.
Basically, I'm a down loader, but as soon as I have money, I'm out there buying and putting money back into the system.
I don't know if you still consider me to be horrible, but currently whenever I download, it's the newer series that haven't even been released on DVD in Japan, so there'd be no way to buy it even if I had the money to.
-runs away- >.>

Wow, that's a pretty heated opinion. I happen to be one of those jobless students, but whenever I have money, I always try to do my part. I had seen Fullmetal Alchemist online and on TV, yet I still went out and bought the DVDs. The manga I read online isn't licensed in the US, but when it is, I'll be scrounging for pennies to purchase it. As for the series I deem unworthy of my cash? To tell the truth, I'm a little selfish about that. I'd rather check something out to make sure I like it, rather than buy it and decide that it's crap. I was taught to be tight with my money, and as much as I love the anime industry, I'm a little more concerned with my own pocketbook. Call me selfish. Call me a leech on the industry. But when it comes down to something like a blind purchase, count me out.

Well, I'm one of the try before you buy people. However, I fully plan on buying the shows I like - I just haven't een able to because until now, I haven't had a job. No, it doesn't really balance out, and trust me, it nags me all the time, which is one reason I'm loathe to be shown things. At this point and time, I really need to save money, so I can't go out and buy something I think looks promising - ask any of my friends, I refuse to buy an anime/manga unless I know how it ends. Because I can't afford to buy something unless I really, really like it. If I can I will borrow willy-nilly from my friends (sometimes I steal about a third of their manga collections at a time). But for me, my main issue is money. I don't like watching things online, and I prefer not to. The copyright industry really needs to crack down on it, but it would be nice if there was an official site where you could 'preview' manga/anime before you bought it - just like the first chapter/episode. But I can't see that happening any time soon, unfortunately.

Indeed it is, and I admire you muchly for that.

I'm not going to justify my reading/watching anime/manga online, I'm just going to say I literally never have a cent to my name - I don't even get allowance. Though if Meggie is annoyed she could choose to be mean and yell at me to stop buying soda and save it for manga. >>;
Which is true, but a single dollar is so far few and in between for me that it's ridiculous. In addition to the fact that I most often acquire them by mooching off my sister or my friends, specifically for the purpose because if I don't get caffine I'll fall asleep in class and get kicked out.
Meggie dear frequently gets $100 dollars from her family - or well, moreso than most. I'm lucky if I get $5 every two months. So. When I get money, I will buy, but the fact of the matter is I am penniless the large majority of the time. I do admire you all and your money saving skills, but I was born without that particular gene. . .But I happen to have $10 atm, so I'm visiting the bookstore this week. : D

Now, now there's no reason to run away xD. We may not agree with you downloading but we're not going to kill you <3
Besides, at least you're willing to admit that you know the truth, and that you're willing to buy it when you can! =] You have the right to be proud of supporting what you can.