This morning an email was sent around the office with a link to Gizmodo’s coverage of a leaked RIAA Training video–and after watching it, all I can say is the RIAA should probably be stopped before they become a threat to national security. The clip is two minutes of the more outrageous claims made during an interview of Deborah Robinson and Frank Walters of the RIAA by Jim Dedman of the National District Attorneys Association.
At one point, Walters claims the piracy/drug connection is so bad that “When you buy a [pirated] CD, would you like it with or without–the with is enclosing a piece of crack or whatever the case may be.”
When was the last time your crack dealer offered you a bootleg copy of “Finding Nemo?” Did he/she offer you the latest Britney Spears album, too? In fact, I’m sure your highly ambitious crack dealer also happens to run a terrorist organization that maintains a torrents site to pay for their ammunition and prostitution costs.
Robinson’s face says it all–she can’t even believe the completely, unadulterated crap spewing from her mouth. The RIAA lost its mind a long time ago, and training people to believe pirating leads to drug-induced homicides for the sake of terrorist interests is laughable.
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While this video does seem ridiculous, I think we’re looking at it from the wrong perspective.
If drug dealers are also dealing in trafficking CDs, which they most likely are, to which 50 Cent, and the like rap about so proudly, these “strategies” might not be that bad.
However, as with all things, isolated cases can be used to overblow a situation and create a “national epidemic,” where people for some reason think that busting kids for downloading illegally might help curb drug usage.
Remember, the Feds busted the Mafia for tax evasion; perhaps the 21st century tax evasion will be illegal trafficking of CDs?
Andrew Wise
unbelievable video.
Justine Wack