Don't Steal

Harlan's first exclusive YouTube Channel commentary, on a subject near and not so dear to his heart. The conversation he's discussing took place on Facebook.

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[cameronjames]

I'm so disgusted that I only stumbled onto this great man THIS year. I've been inspired to listen to every word he has written and every word that has been recorded if only to figure out of way of having an OUNCE of his prowess. Since finding out about him my entire life has been altered to attempt to become a better person, reader and thinker.

[urpleurple]

My true HE story (one of many): I first encountered "'Repent, Harlequin'" in the Alex Nino comic book version in the late 70s. It hit me hard. I searched out Thoreau, and that led me to Gandhi, MLK, the Berrigans, and anti-war activism. I refused to register for the draft in 1982; years later my college financial aid was cut off as a result and I had to drop out.

Harlan, you taught me, a frightened, emotionally-damaged kid, that it's worth taking risks for truth. Thanks.

[lincava]

I miss this man - and Susan, as it was my privilege to have met them and spent some time with them. It's sad that they're both gone, Susan passed when she was 60; only a short time (to my way of thinking, as I'm older than she) after we lost Harlan. He lived a full life and passed at the age of 84. Susan was 60 when her time came. In sound mind, I'll never forget either of them. I miss them both.

[shalrema]

It is sadly hilarious to me that people would give Harlan Ellison crap for not wanting people to steal his work (or anyone else's). It doesn't matter if he has a dollar or ten million dollars, Doesn't EVERYONE deserve to be paid for their work? Last I checked, there is no rule or law that says once you've earned a certain amount of money or fame, you no longer deserve to be compensated for your time, sweat and effort. Come on guys.

Harlan, thanks for putting yourself out here on the internet and sharing your thoughts. I've always been a fan, and always swill be.

[hummens]

Well that was a warm welcome to the channel.

[IvanMtl]

I am a huge fan of Mr. Ellison's work, and had the very good fortune of meeting him many years ago at a comic book convention.  I love his passion for writing,  as well as his no-holds-barred rants and commentaries on subjects that interest him (or not).  The literary world is a far more interesting place with him in it, so I wish him the best of health in the years to come. 

[DeviantDespot]

Wow, I cannot get A.M. from the I have no mouth game out of my head when you talk lol.

[NinjaGrrrl]

Miss you, buddy. I'm old now, and I discovered you when I was in my early teens. Blew my mind wide open and taught me that my savage desire for truth above all was not my downfall but my redemption.

[marx]

t was not without a healthy dose of amazement that I am most gladly seeing Harlan repeatedly on YouTube. For decades Harlan repeatedly spoke of his soured feelings
about computers (even though he wrote a particular story about people trapped in a computer that has been reprinted a quad zillion times) and now his elfish image is now viewed on computers all over the world...and is voice, which is not to be missed.

[paulmdickey]

I am so happy. I loved these when they originally aired.

[MrRemorseless]

Oh Harlan, I always disable adblock for you :)

[KarlKrogmann]

God bless Harlan Ellison, for he has been my literary North Star and cultural high water mark since I first read a dog-eared paperback copy of APPROACHING OBLIVION in 1978.

There are things, events, in your life you never forget. Births, deaths, marriage(s) cataclysmic world events, the first time you hear The Beatles... and Encountering Harlan. In print, in person, on the big or small screen... it doesn't matter...

May he be a hybrid flamethrower, and cranial saw for years to come.

[carahiggs]

Honesty is right and this man refuses to lie to you, you lucky ingrates. Everyone has a right to be honest and the same right to disagree or agree.

[TheStockwell]

Good analogy. A friend of mine in the music biz says it's pretty scary. On one hand, the companies don't know what to do, so they genuinely do something that antagonizes the public. As for the artist, it's back to the age of Mozart where the only money you'll see will be from performing live, not from royalties. It's one thing to not make a living from your work. It's another to see the very idea of OWNING your work seem "charming and quaint."

That's why we have Harlan - to say these things.

[TheStockwell]

I am thrilled by anyone who is willing to call theft what it is.

Artists are entitled to own what they create - and even earn a living from their work; that's blasphemy in the iPhone age. Just because it can be downloaded from the internet doesn't mean it's yours - and free. It's like going into a restaurant, seeing someone eating pizza, then taking it because you want it. The rational is, "I saw it, so I get to have it. Paying money for things is for chumps - and stolen pizza tastes better."

[MattCGL]

This is great. Mr. Ellison, you are the one person whom I know for a fact will always speak the truth and never sugarcoat anything. Welcome to YouTube!

[brandeks]

I only wish Harlan Ellison had been on YouTube from the beginning. Glad to have you here, Mr. Ellison!

[bryanrussell]

I agree. Even though I copywork, I firmly agree. If you copy someone's writing because you are learning the tools: vocabulary, grammar, and style, that's understandable. If you're copying someone's work and replacing their names with yours, THAT'S STEALING.

For me, I'm copyworking on Harlan's work to fix my grammar (my tenses are horrible). But I am NOT taking his work and making it my own. I'm just doing what Hunter S. Thompson did while working for Time Magazine. Copying Fitzgerald and Hemingway word-for-word. And disposing it.

So yes. Do NOT STEAL. If you're copyworking to improve your writing, more power to you! Great video, Harlan! RIP.

[distantlands]

You are a true inspiration to my 15 year writer daughter. I’ve forced her to watch every video interview if you. And by the way I met you at Shabbas at Sid Caesar’s house years ago!

[BladeBlackheart]

You're absolutely right, sir. Respect.