I download everything. Occasionally, if its a movie or a manga I really like, I'll buy it. But I am not going to waste my money on something I am not sure i will be able to enjoy over and over again.

I mean, it took me two years to convince myself to buy Battle Royale. I guess I am just really cheap.

[img]http://s4.tinypic.com/23jr85h.jpg[/img]

Well, for me, downloading is like previewing. I want to make sure that I really like something before I buy it. (After all, there are those bums at the bookstore who sit in the manga aisle, touching everything with their grubby lil paws and reading it in the store, getting in people's way. (They annoy me. As if you couldn't tell 😛 ) As long as that's allowed, I don't think you can legitimately criminalize reading scanslations, even if it is licensed in your own country.)
That being said, I think it's very important to buy the manga that you like, to support the mangaka. If they made something you really like, then you owe it to them to give them your money; they earned it.
Oh, and also, I think it's best to make sure you delete manga you download after you're done reading it if it's licensed in your country.
As for the issue of lack of funds... I don't usually run into that problem, since I buy in the original language. Manga straight from Japan is so much cheaper than the translation released in the U.S., even with shipping. And also I buy in bulk (like, whole series sets at a time), so I get a discount. I can buy so much more for the same amount of money 😃

Manga Cover Database

My stance is simple: If I would have bought it were it not available for free, I do not download it. If I were to download it in that circumstance, I would be taking money out of some one's pocket.

If I would not have bought it... It really does not make a difference to the creators and distributors if I download it.

There are numerous factors that can determine whether or not I would have bought it, but it ultimately boils down to that.

I think that my stance on this is pretty contradictory. Even though I think it isn't right to download manga/anime, I still do... Which is a problem. I suppose, at least I've gone and bought merchandise, which makes me feel less guilty, but it still isn't so good.
I still do feel that it is important to support the mangaka/animators, and it is something that I think I personally could improve on.

Right now, I don't have money to buy manga, I do the next best thing: downloading the scans. Most of the titles I've read aren't licensed in the US yet, so I download the ones that aren't licensed and once it's being it, I'll delete the files.

But like afatcow said, it's still important to support the mangaka and the animators.

I read so much mangas, I'm too lazy to watch anime! 😛 😛 😛

Manga I'm loving ATM: Heart no Kuni no Alice

Mangas I would consider reading more than once are very seldom. Therefore I vote for the third option. On top of that, I would rather read them online than actually download any of them. I sometimes donate to scanlators though.

I dont usually download, but the few times i have i kinda felt bad about it. but did it anyway. i dont know, i know you have to support the author and all, but its convenient sometimes. maybe when i have money i will buy manga, but until then, I will not.

I know downloading anime/manga is piracy, but i'm already a pirate anyway. I buy the manga I like, I got anime channel at home. But I cant afford all the manga I like (many), and I dont have much time to stick with the TV. Thus downloading/piracy is inevitable. Support the authors as much as we can, that's all we can do.

Quote from astroasis

I download freely and I don't feel bad about it. People say that downloading will destroy the industry and/or it's doing a dis-service to the manga creators.

But what about checking a volume out from the library? What about reading it in the bookstore? What about buying a used copy online or at a used bookstore? The original creators don't see any revenue from those actions, either - and no one complains about those things destroying the manga industry as we know it.

I DO buy a lot of manga (as much as my broke self can afford), but it's almost entirely bought second-hand. So does it really matter if I buy it second-hand or download it? Nah. Either way, the industry isn't making any money off of me.

I completely agree. Of course, if there are series I really like (like Mars) or others that aren't scanslated (Tokimeki Tonight, Lady Georgie, Ai Shite Knight,...), then yes, I will buy them, and new, too - it's so nice to get an actual copy in your hands!

But, really, I don't see all the fuss about downloading better-quality material when so many people (me included) read manga at Barnes & Nobles or at a library without ever paying for it? What good does that do to the mangaka?

if i cant find it to read online or i like a certain manga, i download it. if it liscened and the manga is really good, i will buy it. same withe anime. 😃

I download if the manga isn't licensed in English or if the series is so popular that the creators get tons of money anyway. Vampire Knight and Bleach, for example.

I probably have spent thousands on manga volumes, almost all of them firsthand. Lately, I've been buying light novels, too.

It's important to preorder and buy manga so that more will be made. Like it or not, we live in a capitalist society, and money speaks. If you like something, support the goddamned mangaka. D:

This here article is really informative about the whole publisher-> distributor-> consumer cycle and it's problems. >< Note: This is on a GL blog, Okazu. For GL-phobes, though, there isn't anything particularly lezzy about this article, nor are there GL images. Completely sfw.

i only read the ones that arent for sale in my direct neighberhood but thats every manga out there, there is littrally no manga where i live well at least in a 50 km radius we only have like 3-4 bookstores in the neighberhood

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ppl hav the rite to put download links on the internet and pp hav the choice to download it...i downloaded mangas b4 but not anymore cuz now i jus read them online.

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I download everything I can get my hands on with a smile on my face, I'm not one for morals in this way.

However, if I find something REALLY good I'll buy it to support the creator(s). Thats assuming I actually find a way to buy it (quite rare) =)

I only buy manga, or books in general if I have a bookstore gift certificate. Other than that, any book I want to read is checked out from the library, and any manga I want to read is found online (I check out manga at the library too). I rarely read things twice, so the books just take up shelf space.

Mainly, if I can't do it for free, I find something else to do that is free. I can't read/dowload manga for free online anymore, I go back to reading webcomics. I can't watch anime for free, I go back to watching TV. shrugs