Post by Afgncaap5 on Dec 26, 2003 1:47:04 GMT -5
Hey, I've got a bit of a moral MST3K dillemma.
From early on, a MSTie call to arms has been "Keep Circulating The Tapes", "Keep Trading The Tapes", etc., base, of course, on the show's own suggestion as frequently seen during the credits in some earlier eps. This was only natural as is would help to increase the fanbase.
However, it's also a bit of a "code of honor" thing to only trade episodes that came from a televised broadcast. We want to continue to support BBI in every way possible while still keeping the free market, so most of the time traders will actively work against trading Rhino/Info Club episodes for other episodes when trading with other MSTies.
However, here's the dillemma: a close relative of mine wants me to copy every single MST3K episode that I have because he enjoys them, his wife enjoys them, and he considers them to be appropriate for his children to view.
Now, I have a lot of stuff that I can trade with no problem. I've got nearly all of seasons 7, 8, and 10, for instance, along with various episodes from Season 1, K, 2, 3, 9, etc.
However, I've got a lot of episodes that are Rhino releases.
Now, I really want this person and his family to have the entire spectrum of MST3K available (since he's providing the blank tapes and I don't have to constantly watch them myself, I don't mind the recording). But how far should I go?
I should definitely include my recorded-from-broadcast Season K and 1 episodes, but those have lousy picture quality. I do have The Crawling Hand from Rhino, however, and while it's against the "code of honor" to trade it it is certainly of a watchable quality.
Then there' Season 2. Again, my main problem is getting watchable episodes as the ones I have are pretty grainy by now. The same thing for season 3.
In Season 4 I own Manos. This is as important to MSTie tradition as politics are to Rush Limbaugh's career. Whether you love or hate this episode, there's no denying the fact that Manos is one of the most frequently discussed and referenced MST3K episodes among our little community here.
Seasons 5 and 6 are similarly plagued by a majority of Rhino appearances.
Now then, how should I do this? What's the moral way to do this? I'm not really gaining anything from this (theoretically I'll be out both time *AND* money), so one could argue that I'm actually helping BBI. But then again, why should these people ever purchase Rhino episodes when they have a huge collection at their fingertips?
Should I just copy everything and forget the whole thing?
Should I copy all of my broadcast episodes while including a few "essentials" such as "Manos", "The Crawling Hand", and "Space Mutiny" (it's essential because it's part of the "Roman Times" story arc.. Gotta keep story arcs intact, and all that).
Should I copy only broadcast episodes?
I think that my mind's already made up, really, so this isn't an "influence Affy" poll. This is more of a "public morals barrometer", if you will.
From early on, a MSTie call to arms has been "Keep Circulating The Tapes", "Keep Trading The Tapes", etc., base, of course, on the show's own suggestion as frequently seen during the credits in some earlier eps. This was only natural as is would help to increase the fanbase.
However, it's also a bit of a "code of honor" thing to only trade episodes that came from a televised broadcast. We want to continue to support BBI in every way possible while still keeping the free market, so most of the time traders will actively work against trading Rhino/Info Club episodes for other episodes when trading with other MSTies.
However, here's the dillemma: a close relative of mine wants me to copy every single MST3K episode that I have because he enjoys them, his wife enjoys them, and he considers them to be appropriate for his children to view.
Now, I have a lot of stuff that I can trade with no problem. I've got nearly all of seasons 7, 8, and 10, for instance, along with various episodes from Season 1, K, 2, 3, 9, etc.
However, I've got a lot of episodes that are Rhino releases.
Now, I really want this person and his family to have the entire spectrum of MST3K available (since he's providing the blank tapes and I don't have to constantly watch them myself, I don't mind the recording). But how far should I go?
I should definitely include my recorded-from-broadcast Season K and 1 episodes, but those have lousy picture quality. I do have The Crawling Hand from Rhino, however, and while it's against the "code of honor" to trade it it is certainly of a watchable quality.
Then there' Season 2. Again, my main problem is getting watchable episodes as the ones I have are pretty grainy by now. The same thing for season 3.
In Season 4 I own Manos. This is as important to MSTie tradition as politics are to Rush Limbaugh's career. Whether you love or hate this episode, there's no denying the fact that Manos is one of the most frequently discussed and referenced MST3K episodes among our little community here.
Seasons 5 and 6 are similarly plagued by a majority of Rhino appearances.
Now then, how should I do this? What's the moral way to do this? I'm not really gaining anything from this (theoretically I'll be out both time *AND* money), so one could argue that I'm actually helping BBI. But then again, why should these people ever purchase Rhino episodes when they have a huge collection at their fingertips?
Should I just copy everything and forget the whole thing?
Should I copy all of my broadcast episodes while including a few "essentials" such as "Manos", "The Crawling Hand", and "Space Mutiny" (it's essential because it's part of the "Roman Times" story arc.. Gotta keep story arcs intact, and all that).
Should I copy only broadcast episodes?
I think that my mind's already made up, really, so this isn't an "influence Affy" poll. This is more of a "public morals barrometer", if you will.
