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I always laugh at the people that say they have to download. It always makes me want to say "Wait?! It's essential to life?! Then how come there's so many people out there that don't care about it or don't even know it exists?! How are they surviving?" Of course, they're usually the ones that are overly rude to others and the ones screaming that english dubs suck no matter what and if you like them you must be a noob, because nothing is better than a youtube fansub, y'know?

Those are the people that sadly, I think there's no hope for. ;; And even worse, there's more of them than the ones that are actually out there to support the industry.

^people like that make me want to stab my eyes with a spork.

I know, I know. But I've never had $100 all to my own - well, actually, one time I had $165, but I was in mexico and it had to be used for travel purposes, then my parents stole the rest and bought me an mp3 player for my birthday. Basically, when I get large amounts of money I'm not allowed to touch it. So you get them far more often than I.
Now, what shall I buy tomorrow? =D

and I know, I know. . .darn you high fructose corn syrup!

and of course I do! Why else would I hang around? ^^
I've found that it's rather hard for me to be friends with people I don't admire. <3

This is sorta @ skribbelgrl, Shezni and King Progdor just to cover the similar points you raised:

I really must protest when you attempt to justify "sampling" anime/manga online. There are two sides to my argument really. Firstly, there is a habit that it's likely most of us have, which is reading fanlations and watching fansubs of current series we already collect ahead of their English release. I have absoluely no problem with the concept of viewing unlicensed material with intent to buy once it has been released. Of course, we could just wait, but if a series is good enough for you to part with your cash, who wants to wait? XD I don't reckon it counts as a sampling, unless you "forget" to purchase it later.

Secondly, there's the argument that gets to me. Sure, you might "sample" something online to test whether or not you enjoy it, but what if you don't enjoy it? Basically, you're stealing all the series you decide aren't for you. I simply cannot see ethical reason in doing that. It isn't illegal to flick through manga in shops if you want to sample something. It isn't illegal to borrow from your friends to get a feel for a series. It isn't illegal to do your research by reading plot summaries, reviews and ratings. It isn't illegal to join forums (such as Gaia) to ask people for detailed opinions on series you're interested in. If you want to sample something, I've just listed four ways you can do it legally, so seriously try harder to persuade yourself that what you're doing is ethical.

I know several people that apparently "need" anime ._.

I wanted to smack them. Ugh. Not only is it immature, but it's rather a pathetic excuse for doing it.

I've decided also I 4srsly hate fansubs, and I already thought I had it bad. I also dislike the whole sub-purist thing. They make me want to do some serious smacking (yes, I had a little argument xDD shall I share? :3 )

I honestly don't see free downloading as unethical. I used to, but getting cable internet definitely changed my tune.

Sure, I'll be getting everything that I possibly can. Hell, I even have a list of items to get once I have a more steady income. For me, downloading anime is a way to broaden horizons. Just like I would download an album by a band before shelling out money for it, to see if I like it, with no reservations about it.

The thing is, music is different for me, from anime. First of all, bands don't get their biggest sales from CDs, but from concerts and merchandise. It's the record labels that get the cash, and I really don't mind ******** over the record labels. Most of 'em suck anyways, but I digress.

The second thing is, I'm incredibly open to music, as opposed to anime. Blind purchases for music are also less expensive, mainly because I buy used. I have no problem with picking up a CD for 3 bucks even if I've never listened to the band. With anime, I'm a little more cautious because most DVDs aren't 3 bucks.

I understand that anime creators rely on DVD and manga sales to get money. However, downloading is a quick and easy way to broaden one's horizons in a flash, then making a list of items to get once they've been spotted. I have no problem supporting the creators, don't get me wrong. I buy manga on a somewhat regular basis.

And once I DO get something, like I've explained many times before, I delete the files on my computer to free up space, as well as force myself to make use of the DVDs that I shelled out the cash to acquire.

For me, it's a balance of both. I download to try new things, but I also have the bargain hunter/collector mentality that causes me to want to get things. Situations differ from person to person. Like, I can't participate in online transactions. Why? I prefer not to. Identity theft is too real a threat for me to be messing with that. I also have no friends closeby who are into anime, so that's out. And the libraries around here don't carry DVDs, to my knowledge at least.

In a nutshell, I try to buy what I can WHEN I can. In between, though, I find new things to keep me occupied.

You can broaden your horizons without downloading, so it's not as though you're using downloads as a last resort, just the cheapest resort. As much as I admire fans who are eagar to watch a variety of anime, they lose their "fan" status when they steal from the industry. Obviously it's different when you download unlicenced material, because there's no way to pay for it until imports become available or the material is licenced in your country (again, it does count if you fail to purchase the material once it does become available.)

When you "try new things" but don't like them, how are you supporting the industry? I'm assuming you haven't bought anything you "tried" and didn't like, right? I'm sorry that you feel that way about online shopping, but it doesn't give you any right over others to steal. If you don't know about libraries that contain anime, do more research perhaps? There are always other options, so it doesn't help to dismiss the options given to you without exploring your own. The Blackwells in Leicester Square had a 3 for 2 offer recently (that I sadly missed T___T) and there are always shops doing deals and sales, you'll always find a bargain if you get off your arse and search for one, trust me. Hehe. I'll never exploit the industry just because there are people with access to more anime/manga than me, that's selfish, illogicical and immoral.

It's not that I'd let you off for admitting what you're doing is wrong, but it does make things worse that you rip things off and lie about the criminality of it. At least admit what you're doing is wrong.

I'm just getting sick of having to explain myself. I personally have no problem with free downloading. You may, but that's you. It's not me. The technology is there, I think it should be used. As long as I buy it, seriously, what harm is there?