[Groop] Groo... What pirates? (File Sharing)

[Ashwan]

Groo <grinningdemon at comcast.net> wrote:
> I was on the emule/edonkey network and for the heck of it decided to
> look up "Groo". There were several groo comics being shared in PDF
> format.
>
> I don't know what the Groop's views are on file sharing and was just
> curious what you all thought.

I have to admit... I do indulge in file sharing and my views are quite fuzzy
on it. I want to buy all the stuff I like because I think that's only fair.
But most times I can't afford everything. I know that's no justification for
downloading... but... well...

Anyway, instead of hemming and hawing about my views on file sharing, let me
just tell you about how I found Groo comics in the first place.

I've always liked Sergio's work in MAD and never really followed up and
found out what other stuff he's done. Not until I found scanned JPEGs of a
few issues of Groo. Since the name Sergio Aragones was attached to it, I my
curiosity was piqued and I decided to take a look. I fell in love
immediately. The end result... as I posted a couple of months ago... I spent
most of last summer and the months after that glued to eBay auctions of Groo
comics. Today... I own all the issues save for about 6 Epic issues which I
still can't find (Thanks to John T from the Groop for sending me a few
missing issues!) and I bought Mighty Magnor, Space Circus, Louder than Words
and Actions Speak. And I have my eyes open for the next Groo series and for
issues of Fanboy if I can find them.... and I found the Groop too by
searching for Groo stuff on the 'Net.

So what I'm saying is... that if it weren't for file sharing of some kind...
I would never have found Groo comics. Unlike music or movies or software for
that matter, which you will have to play on electronic equiment of some kind
and so a digital version on your hard disk is as good as the "real thing,"
comics and books are not the same. Most of the comic fans I know (and who
have downloaded scans) also buy up the "dead tree" versions of the comics
too because the experience of owning the comic and holding it your hands is
completely different from holding your notebook or Tablet PC or PDA (or
sitting in front of your desktop screen)

Like someone else has already pointed out in this thread, file sharing does
seem to benefit the "good" stuff, since most people want to own something
they really like. For me that works with music too. While I love mp3s for
their convenience, I love owning the CDs too because I'm a completist... I
want the liner notes... I want to know who wrote the song... the music...I
want pictures of the artist, the cover art of the CD and the best and
easiest way to get this is to own the CD.

Others may have different opinions for sure... But for what it's worth...
this is my 0,1 (two bits

Ashwan
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