Too many chiefs, too few indians... the iPod craze

Like tattoos of white boxes, iPod owners run the mill from those that are shy of confessing the social retardation bouncing in their pockets, to those best described as 6-year old girls "accessorizing" their new dolls. On a few situations, I have noticed many of these enthusiastic music junkies almost fighting for the chance to play some new "up and coming" band, a classic old tune they "re-discovered" or some other melody, nostalgic or not. And I will confess, I scoffed. To me, people fell into a couple of categories regarding music. First you have those who are musicians, those I believe have rightful claim to amplified waves, those who's music I would actually like to hear. Then you have students and other junkies who's cluttered libraries (largely pirated) would cause the most veteran Sno-Isle staff to, dare I say, want to cuss. A third category, and that is all I will delve into, would be the industrious folk, those content with their few favorite tunes because when they are mowing lawns, grinding granite, preparing sermons or crunching numbers, it's the nostalgic and pounding beats that ultimately get the day done faster.
The perpetrators, in my mind then, tended to fall more into the student category, and I marveled at the dog-eat-dog empire of those squabbling at getting their tunes heard. AND HERE IS WHERE I RECANT. I was zealous after one evening of witnessing this micro chasm of cut throat "pirates" and thought that I would put them all the shame, show them the foolishness of their ways, attempt to prove that music "rights" belonged though those "musically proven." I was tipped off. I was warned, that had I jumped in so carelessly, I would have been ambushed, like, dare I say, a pack of dogs on a three legged cat. I did not want to be put to shame, so I held back, and attempted to search my motive on this issue. Therefore, here I am to say, I RECANT.
Why did I scoff at people who just want to have their music played? Am I really that different? Truly, I can well identify with the experience of hearing a song that so powerfully drives a bass line and has a melody that cuts so crisply straight to the emotions that everything sweet explodes in your veins and everything bitter resolves itself in your mouth, leaving you in a euphoria known as "music." That is what art is about. Art is the essence of having some past emotion ripped from you and displayed in front of you, or a past thought tickled by some play on words. As a fellow artist, can I really become offended by some person wanting to share another's art with the world?
While I believe that some people could do well to learn the finesse of sharing music, the etiquette and reserve that everyone could do well to learn, I no longer hold it against them. I can appreciate the desire to let everyone hear "the best song ever written" no matter how many times or how many different artists it may be, I can appreciate that. For those who still push and shove, fight and argue about who gets to play their favorite tune, you will learn. You will learn that a great song is a great song for the sheer fact that the musician has made it all the way to being on a record and has won someone's undying support. I say, let the music play on.