a2f2a

The previous post by Robert outlined a possible impediment to the goals of a2f2a, which to recap are:

• Help each community better understand the other;
• Help find a practical and workable system which offers artists fair remuneration in exchange for access to material by fans; and
• Help set the agenda for discussions about the role P2P can play within the emergent digital record industry.

Robert feels that some of our discussions are becoming too “heated” and full of demeaning language that can only be counter-productive to our root cause.  He also observes correctly that the brunt of these passionate exchanges are between Billy Bragg (artist and co-founder of a2f2a), and various people who (seemingly always) are not artists.

Robert says >>>

“Pretty much only Billy Bragg is responding to Crosbie/Dredd/Bill/Bjoern/Jon Barron/etc…”

Of course he’s right.

How many times have I been trying to say Billy has, without a doubt, personified the “overworked piece” (for all you chess players out there), and that it would be a lot more constructive (and beneficial to Billy’s health and sanity!) if he wasn’t trying to hold the entire artist fort down all by himself??

This is a GIVEN in our current stage, and the reason for this is quite simple…

There are hordes of filesharers and interested individuals on the “user/consumer side” who, for the longest time have been talking about all this stuff amongst (mostly) themselves, as their very livelyhoods and enjoyment of music and the Internet have been drastically affected by everything we’ve been talking about.  Being a community formed by the very medium that is under fire in all of this, the networking and consensus mechanism for filesharers was already in place for them.   Under no certain terms, they’ve had enough of the industry, its vicious propaganda, and the the effect it’s all having on arts and culture.

Naturally, P2Pers are eager to throw themselves into this whole artist-fan discussion project to try and inject any sanity they can back into the scene.  They do this, without reservation, and without misgivings, no matter how “heated” things might become occasionally, as this is a golden opportunity to not only try to extend their voice further toward those that should be hearing it, but to also repair their relationship with their beloved artists, who they know have also found themselves between a rock and a hard place under the present rules.

Unfortunately at the present, Billy isn’t visibly accompanied by a massive community of artists itching to jump into this.  The majority of the ones that may or may not be “gazing over Billy’s shoulder” and watching what transpires must not be in full support of what he’s doing, or they’d chime in.

Let’s get a few things straight…
P2Pers wouldn’t be doing this if they didn’t love their artists and want to show them how they’re not the enemy, and want to be part of the solution (rather than part of them problem).

When I first came to this site, I EXPECTED there would be some heated debates, and I was prepared to have them and still move forward.  I think many “here” are of the same mindset.  These exchanges are, unfortunately, necessary in order to get to the heart of the matter and establish who everyone’s friends really are.

Sure, I’m just a guilty as anyone else of letting some emotion out during a few conversations.  Still, I’m sure Billy is quite aware that what is being said by me or others is not pointed directly at him personally, and would best be addressed by more artists than just himself.  He knows from his own personal experience, if nothing more, that much of this discord represents frustration from CARING.  After all, if you don’t care about something, you won’t get upset about what happens to it.

Herein lies the problem…

In order to achieve a voice and repair the relationship (of which filesharers make up only half) and discuss what makes EVERYBODY happy, the P2P community must hear artists speak for themselves as well – not just “through Billy”, but to us.  P2Pers need to know the others in the FAC are at least listening and open to some of the logic we can offer them.  And, P2Pers need to know if Billy actually has support from his fellow artists as well.

I’m all for giving Billy a break.  He should be commended for trying to be all things to everybody throughout this.  (The many fans/consumers aren’t the ones who are gonna “crack” from the pressure of trying to follow and participate in these very numerous and overwhelming discussions.)  But if, after a break, it’s just going to be “Part 2″ of “Billy Bragg Against the Rest of the World”, not much more will be accomplished, and Billy, with all his admirable determination to make it work, will eventually need hard medication.

Nobody will get any argument from me that cooler heads are more effective in all cases, but I don’t think the “negative demeanor” in these discussions is the actual problem.  More likely, it’s the result of the despair felt when necessary support for anything is not apparent.

The best “break” Billy could use right now is participation from his fellow artists here at a2f2a.  Without them, we all might as well just have continued talking on p2pnet.

The question is, “Are they out there?”
And, do any of them support any part of what either Billy or the rest of “us” have to say?
I sincerely hope so, on both counts!

Devil’s Advocate – a2f2a digest editor