the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology | iPod

Generals, senators, great leaders of men, all of them fearless and resolute, tremble at the thought of facing The Counter Guy.

It can be daunting, but it is human. It is that moment when you know that you are in this together, that this thing you are about to purchase and listen to and care about is something that matters. It’s not just a product. It’s not even just a matter of taste. It is your place in the tribe. Even science says so. According to a recent article in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, your choice of music reveals your character. Like blues? You’re “reflective and complex.” General pop? “Upbeat and conventional.”

The bad thing about downloading music is that nobody actually sees it. It’s not in a public place, like your living room. It’s in your computer or iPod. As a result, the moment of peer assessment is lost.

Who are you if nobody can laud or deride your music collection?

And that’s why they ought to outlaw music downloading.

And I don’t just say that because my computer crashes every time.