Bono has put his foot in it again: Internet policing idea draws fire

MrStuffins wrote: »

You wouldn't like to pay less tax?

Have you gone to the tax office and requested they up your tax rate?

MrStuffins - there is no correlation between your average Joe Soap who wouldn't mind paying less tax but still pays his tax anyway and the completely mega rich man who has too much money, who pontificates to the ordinary Joe Sop as to how well off he is and he should really be thinking more about the poor artists who's songs are being downloaded illegally and the starving people in Africa.

CreepingDeath wrote: »

Don't worry, I'm quite sure the EU will implement some laws that will force ISP's to reduce piracy.

Some such laws have been discussed but will find it hard to get passed in parliament as no one can agree. Especially with a Pirate Party in there

MrStuffins wrote: »

I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm just making the point that people who give out about Bono not paying tax would jump at the chance to pay less tax themselves!

Of course, but Bono is not in the same realm of wealth as most people. Him taking his taxes (or his company, U2 LTD) away to gain from tax breaks elsewhere is plain hypocritical. My argument to him would be that me downloading his back catalogue is me benefiting from the availability of free music to make a monetary gain.

It's also worth noting that this kind of ranting didn't exactly work for Metallica, so how his loud mouth thinks he can make any ounce of difference is hilarious. At least Metallica didn't move their money to Holland.

3DataModem wrote: »

I'm moving to the Isle of Man next month where they plan on sticking a £1 per month levy on broadband users which will allow users to download whatever music they want from wherever they want.

Interesting idea but on a wide-scale idea it may go south. Unless handy deals are done with labels, of course. The issue is that while piracy is a huge issue, most people online still don't download illegally... certainly not on the scale that would require a €1 levy for every user per bill or whatever. Sticking that levy on will mean more people will download, because they think that buying the CD on iTunes or in HMV means they're paying stealth tax or something.

dolliemix wrote: »

MrStuffins - there is no correlation between your average Joe Soap who wouldn't mind paying less tax but still pays his tax anyway and the completely mega rich man who has too much money, who pontificates to the ordinary Joe Sop as to how well off he is and he should really be thinking more about the poor artists who's songs are being downloaded illegally and the starving people in Africa.

Of course there is.

Answer me truthfully, if you were given the chance tomorrow to pay less tax, would you take it?

And just answer the question, don't give me another long waffle about his pontificating, i know all about it, i AM alive you know?

MrStuffins wrote: »

Of course there is.

Answer me truthfully, if you were given the chance tomorrow to pay less tax, would you take it?

And just answer the question, don't give me another long waffle about his pontificating, i know all about it, i AM alive you know?

1. Yes I'd love to have more money

2. I don't expect other people to pay for all the services that I use so I will continue to pay my taxes

3. I don't go around trying to make people feel guilty all the time

4. Is this thread not about Bono being a**hole who talks too much?

So why are you asking me would I prefer to pay less taxes?

This has nothing to do with me. I've done nothing wrong. Leave me alone!

You're doing a Bono on it now!

Are you really Bono???:eek::eek::eek:

I'd say Bono is sound. I wouldn't mind going for a pint with the lad

Bono pays taxes in Ireland.
U2 LTD pays taxes in the Netherlands.

Bono =/= U2.
Bono = 1/4 of U2.

Do I need to simplyify this more?

Ok, I'll try.
Bono (aka Paul Hewson) pays taxes in Ireland.
Bono part-owns a company named U2 LTD. This company no longer pays taxes in Ireland.

MrStuffins wrote: »

I was replying to someone who gave out about his taxes, you then replied to me. Try to keep up.

All this "Bono is an asshole" business is ridiculous. The man, believe it or not, is trying to do GOOD! He has done alot for people who are not in a position to do anything for themselves. He has a hand in pressuring the US Government in adding an extra $5bn worth of aid in 2002.

You said: "Why doesn't he just enjoy his earnings, donate to charity quietly and leave the rest of us alone?". The reason he doesnt do this is because he realises this is not enough.

The man is trying to save lives. His actions have saved 1000s of lives and you sit at your computer and tell him to stop?

How completely ridiculous!

I realise all of what i'm saying is futile as it's fashionable to hate Bono, so people like you will just be sheep and repeat the "Bono is an idiot" rubbish, so i'm out of here.

Ok you're deluded if you think Bono single-handedly saved 1000s of lives through his actions.

For every word that Bono utters there are 1000s of volunteers, aid workers, politicians etc working on the ground trying 'actively' to save lives. He is no hero.

There are 1000s of organisations and anonymous people working for Third World Debt resolution. Its a complicated issue - and not as simplistic as Bono likes to let on. ANd infact Bono's need to speed everything up causes problems for economists trying to find a long-term solution to this problem. He doesn't look at the whole picture and upsets the aims of a lot of people who are genuinely taking Third World issues to task.

My opinion isn't 'fashionable' it's my opinion based on observing Bono over the last twenty years and at the same time studying Sustainable Management in Third World countries.

He wrecks my head. He is an idiot.

Jakkass wrote: »

MrStuffins: I don't hate Bono, he clearly has a good heart in him somewhere, but I don't think he should be glorified.

His latest step in policing the internet is a bit extreme though, and that warrants criticism.

I agree

MrStuffins wrote: »

I was replying to someone who gave out about his taxes, you then replied to me. Try to keep up.

All this "Bono is an asshole" business is ridiculous. The man, believe it or not, is trying to do GOOD! He has done alot for people who are not in a position to do anything for themselves. He has a hand in pressuring the US Government in adding an extra $5bn worth of aid in 2002.

You said: "Why doesn't he just enjoy his earnings, donate to charity quietly and leave the rest of us alone?". The reason he doesnt do this is because he realises this is not enough.

The man is trying to save lives. His actions have saved 1000s of lives and you sit at your computer and tell him to stop?

How completely ridiculous!

I realise all of what i'm saying is futile as it's fashionable to hate Bono, so people like you will just be sheep and repeat the "Bono is an idiot" rubbish, so i'm out of here.

Terry wrote: »

Here's the thing.
You (and most people in Ireland) do not like Bono.

What you are missing is that he is loved around the world.
His words inspire others to take action (not me. I'm too lazy and really couldn't give a flying **** about the third world in all honesty), and those people go and help others in the third world.

That's a win for poor people.

Fair enough Terry.

There's a bit of a difference to how you put your point of view across and how MrStuffins did. And my post was a reaction to MrStuffins post. I have an informed point of view and I'm told I'm trying to be fashionable and that I'm a sheep:rolleyes:

At the same time, it is still the case though, that his aim of erradicating Third World Dept altogether, is messing up longterm sustainablity ventures in Third World countries and in some cases, where there are corrupt Governments, its fuelling the problem. So at the end of the day - the saving 1000s of lives right now, is probably going to cause worse problems in the next generation or two.

Dragan wrote: »

And he manages to do all this while shaking hands and being friends with effective war criminals.

Clearly, he can multitask better than any woman.

The war criminals are the ones with the big bucks.
The U.S. and U.K. are two of the world's biggest economies.

Dragan wrote: »

LoL, i love your view of the world Terry.

Well I can't think of any other war criminals he has shaken hands with.

He did shake hands with JP II, whose organisation oversaw some of the sickest abuses of human rights ever committed. I don't recall any recent wars the Vatican have been involved in though.

BluesBerry wrote: »

When Bono starts paying his taxes in this country then maybe ill listen to what he has to say

You can bitch at bono when you start paying taxes you don't legally have to pay

ps i hate bono