You have to keep saying it because it’s not true. I’ve known artists who have seen their work stolen. Until then I never truly understood the hurt it causes them. I watched a normally jovial friend spiral into anger and depression. Sure, pirating some garbage Marvel movie isn’t going to impact much. But you take that same mindset and scale it down, and now you are hurting real people.

“The only thing that would be necessary for them to create things prolifically would be to ensure their ability to live …” We can already do this. It’s called paying them. Your entire argument is people would make things for free as long as they could get money. Do you realize how nonsensical that sounds?