From: dingebre@imp.sim.es.com (David Ingebretsen)
Subject: Re: PIRACY
Followup-To: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Keywords: semprini, spam, ni, naughty bits
Reply-To: dingebre@imp.sim.es.com (David Ingebretsen)
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp., Salt Lake City, UT
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 22:20:19 GMT

WHOLE ARTICLE INCLUDED FOR VARIOUS REASONS...
My comments are at the end...............

In article <BxM58K.Fu4@news.cso.uiuc.edu>, saj31052@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Scotty A Johnson) writes:
> I have read many good arguments for and against piracy on this
> news group.  Among the good ones for piracy:
> 
> 	Software is too expensive to simply purchase it before
> 	testing.  Piracy enables the user to fully test the
> 	software before committing money.
> 	
>        	Also, the comparison between pirating music is a valid point.
> 
> Among the good arguments against piracy:
> 
> 	(The obvious)  It is illegal, and there are many disadvantages
> 	to not purchasing the original, such as no manual, no upgrades,
> 	and eventually if enough people pirate, no software.
> 
> Among the BAD arguments for piracy:
> 
> 	It is expensive, and therefore stupid to buy it.
> 	This is the same as the "I need it, so I have to steal
> 	it" argument.
> 
> Among the BAD arguments against piracy:
> 
> 	The assertion that because pirated music is degraded in
> 	quality, it is "okay" to steal.
> 
> 
> This has led me to some simple and logical conclusions:
> 
> For one, most people steal copywritten material, be it music,
> software, text, etc.  Therefore, most anti-pirate beings are 
> hypocritical.
> 	
> Also, the pirate people do not, in general, respect any system
> based upon capitalism, and will take it upon themselves to 
> determine that they either superior to the non-pirate people in
> intellect, or the are inferior in funds.
> 
> For myself, I see most of the champions of the pirating and
> non-pirating as self righteous pigs.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         What is legal does not
> have anything to do with what is moral, and indeed is often
> opposed to what is moral.  Society dictates what is moral as
> it establishes certain norms.  In the music industry, it is 
> quickly becoming the case that cd's are outselling other media
> becuase they are not totally reproducable.  This coupled with
> the fact tham most everyone has an illegal copy of copy written
> music indicates that it is moral to steal music, so long as
> you are not *phyically* depriving anyone of their goods.
> 
> The same is becoming true in software.  I don't know the statistics,
> but in my little sampling, 95% (19/20) "own" pirated software
> material.  Is it wrong?  Perhaps to your unique values it is, 
> but do not spout off about what is moral, when there is no
> obligation under my state or any other that I must worship your
> god, or share in your beliefs.
> 
> I don't *need* software, yet I have have pirated software in my
> collection.  I even use it.  Is it worth buying?  Of course!  I
> use it, so it is worth buying.  Can I afford to buy it right now?
> Sadly no.  Will I buy it when I have more funds?  I often wonder
> what the answer to this question is.  I wonder if, no matter, *what*
> my disposable income is, I will ever think that I can *afford* 
> such things.  I suppose only time will tell.
> 
> In the mean time, I hurt nobody, nor do I deprive anyone of
> their possessions, nor do I act against any apparant societal
> morality.

Scotty,

  This sounds pretty self righteous to me...
  "No man is an island". Your actions do affect others like it or not.
   You can't know that you "hurt nobody, nor do I deprive anyone of their
   possesions...". You deprive the software authors of income they have
   earned by stealing their software thereby depriving them of possesions.
   You hurt me by discouraging support for software that I have purchased.

   For your survey, I do not now nor have I ever had pirated software
   in my possesion.

   Your numbers are now 90% (19/21).

> 
> I am your normal, average, every day pirate.

  congratulations.

> 
> Scotty AJ
> -- 
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Scotty A. Johnson     "The beast with the four foot tail."     Iguana@uiuc.edu
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-- 
	David

	Disclaimer: The content of this message in no way reflects the
	            opinions of my employer, nor are my actions
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