The Writers are right.

"This is a decent point. However you can't argue with the importance of the writers. Nobody who has watched telivision lately would deny that. Look at the late night shows. A big portion of the content is jokes about the writers strike and how the shows have nothing to talk about. "The Office" is shut down. So is "Lost"." I honestly can't stay awake late enough to watch those, so I have no idea about any of that. I also don't watch The Office nor Lost, so again, know nothing of that. "Musicians can also get royalties because it's their work, and theirs alone." "While we are on that topic MANY musicians do not write their own songs. In the music industry, song-writers are rewarded handsomely with royalties. Is it too much to ask for the same with writers." The fact is, in the music industry, there is much more revenue generated because of concerts, signings, cds, and other huge deals. Opportunities not gained as much in the movie industry, especially for the writers. If you have a good song, someone may listen to that for the longest time. If someone writes something that someone else says in a script, someone might remember the quote, but isn't going to walk down the street humming it. Take for example Pirates of the Caribbean. Someone might hear the song Drink up me hearties yo ho! However, one's not going to go down the streets and say one of the random lines over and over again. Another fact is the fact that people have Ipods or mp3 players in which they can listen to music everywhere they go. Not so easy with tv shows. It doesn't work as well. It's also a lot better to be listening to music while doing homework, instead of watching the TV. People just do it more. On my debate team, our room has 2 tvs, as well as all the tables to work at. However, most people listen to their ipods while they do the work. "Like I said TV shows and movies are being halted because of the writer's strike. If the writers weren't so important, the networks would have come up with a way to keep airing new shows. Not to mention the fact that, just as many musicians don't write their own music, many writers DO ACT in their own shows. Seth Macfarland does probably half the voices on family guy, same for trey parker and matt stone of South Park. Steve Correll from The Office is also on strike, as he is a union member as well. In addition many actors write some of the movies they star in. They are paid for both." I don't get this point. You talk about how Seth Mcfarland does half of the voices on Family Guy and the other examples. If they're being paid for both, then I don't see what the point of the argument there is. "This is precicely what is happening with the writers as I type. Again, the 2 industries share many similairities and the creators of the content should be compensated in similar fashions." However, it's more severe in the music industry then in the movie making industry, with heavy consequences. "You have to remember that MANY times the writers of these shows are also the creators. It's not like the network comes up with all the ideas and then goes and hires a staff. Most of the time it is the creators that bring the ideas to the networks and the networks decide whether or not to go with it." If it's the network's choice, then they can simply try and figure something else out. If the writer's are causing such a big deal, they should just drop those writers and let them write elsewhere. I honestly don't see the point. The fact is, if the writer's aren't happy with where they are, and their contract has expired as you say, let them find another place to work. This was an interesting debate. ^^ Glad to have done it!