How do I deal with friends who want me to load their Ipods?

Question

I have 13,000 songs in my computer which have taken years to buy and aquire (CD's) and download (legally), rip and organize. Now I have some very good friends who are getting interested in Ipods and are expecting me to load up their new Ipods with my full library that has taken years to put together. These are my best friends, and I need to be very careful about how I deal with this. It is not so much the legal/ethical concerns, but the fact that I am simply protective of all the money and work I have spent preparing my digital music library, and now they expect it all for free in one afternoon. Need some advice in how to deal?

Answer 1

That is such a valid thing to be irritated by. People will take advantage of whatever they can from people. What I would do is tell people that they can get like 30 songs from you and that's it. Something like: "I'm not a huge fan of doing this, but you're my friend so I guess you can download a few songs.(big smile) Maybe 30, I just don't wanna get stuck doing this all the time. If you want, I can give you some help downloading your own music."

I would say yes with a scrunched up face, so they can tell you're not stoked about the idea. And if they ask why you don't seem happy about it, be honest in a lighthearted way.

Also, I have to deal with this issue all the time with being the only one with money in my circle and sometimes it's just the right thing to do to just suck it up and share what ya got. But I definitely don't think that applies to them taking every song they want from you.... just a little compromise.

Answer 2

Very simple: Gather as many of them together as you can and 'give a make-shift class". Tell them in a friendly way the same thing you have told us - it has taken me years to develop my library and to establish all the components and organization that is involved in this process. Tell them you want to help, but they would be better off and more productive if they learned to do it themselves. Show them how once or twice - and then -let'er rip....They are on their own! Be prepared to answer questions periodically, but today's young people are more advanced in this process. Even I, a teacher, have 100 students - and each one of them has more knowledge about iPODS, and the like than I ever will.....

Besides, if they are your friends, they should not want to impose on you in that way - let them download their own personal lists...

Answer 3

Tell them how much it costs to buy the music and recommend that they buy HD radios instead of getting IPods.
Look for new friends who have their own library already.
Life is like that.

Answer 4

Tell them that you can't because your Mom is cooking soup...when they ask you what your Mom cooking soup has to do with uploading their IPOD tell them "Nothing, but if I don't want to do it then it's as good as any reason for not doing it"

Answer 5

Start charging them.

Answer 6

easy...

five across the eyes!!!