From: trent@mailhost.hsas.washington.edu (Eric Seablade)
Subject: Re: copywright & Piracy
Followup-To: comp.sys.mac.games
Organization: Academic Services, UW
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1992 18:42:13 GMT

> 
> Hopefully you'll grow up someday and realize what you're doing.
> 
> You copy without remorse, and give away your ill gotten software without
> remorse.  You don't even make an effort to stop or reduce the scale of your
> activities.  And (this is the crux of the matter) you don't even give a
> $#!T about the games you're ripping off!  You stockpile games like someone
> stockpiles books or wines, with little intention of ever enjoying them!
> You just keep consuming and consuming games, and getting some ego-masturbation
> from the idea that you have the largest pirated software collection in the
> school/town/county.  You, sir, are a morally corrupt creep.
> 
> And can't spell worth a damn either.
> 
> P.S.  Yes, I've pirated games, and I still do.  If I get a game and don't
> like it, I delete it.  If I like it, I go ahead and buy the original.
> -- 

Well, I'm sorry to disapoint you but I am not concidered a creep bu people
I
know, and no they are not the scum of the earth as well.  Perhaps in
regards
to pirating software I am corrupt, but I am at peace with my conceonce
in that regard.  If I had remorse I wouldent coppy software.  I dont
collect
software for Ego-masterbation.  I collect it for several reasons.  One, is
that I do some programing myself and I like to see what others have
written.
Also I supose I am greedy for a wealth of information.  I also collect
artwork
and text files as well.  (what i dont suport in the software field I
certinly
do in the disk manufacturing field)  Not that that is an excuse.  I don't
spell well because I am to some extent dyslexic.  The reason I own a
computer
is so that I can spell check my college papers and manuscripts.  And yes, 
I did by the software that allows me to do those things.  As I said, I try
to
purchace the software that I feel I realy want and need so that more of its
like will be made in the future.  The stuff I pirate is usualy stuff that
I find more interesting than needed.  Again I don't claim this as an excuse
fo my action.

Ideas are indeed property and software fits in that cattagory.  But people
must realize that the nature of the medium is condusive to theft.  Its a
sort
of soft theft however.  The lines can grow verry fuzzy.  ones and zeros can
be
coppied and modified to make very different things happen on the screen. 
Is
it the actual electronic pulses that are coppy right or is it the result of
those impulses.  Or is it both?  

Soon this world will be infested with computers and networks as this very 
network is evidence of.  It will be a data rich society, with more
information
available to those who can acces it than ever before.  And who will own it?
And who will pay?  These are important questions.  My hunger for knowledge
often brings me to collect what others concider theirs, yet I do not take
it away from them.  I tend to be a generous person.  I have created my own
games and sent them to various BBS's and such.  I always put them out as 
freeware, with an adress where people can send money or their own creations
on a purely volintary basis.  I would like to see as many people as
possible
use these games to their enjoyment but I would not want others to make a
profit
from my labors (despite that being the case whenever I work for someone
other than myself).  Perhaps it is my attitude that causes me to pirate
software.  I like to fancy myself as a philosopher.  As such I feel that
the
only thing you can truly know is what you feel with regards to what you
observe.
With that in mind I feel that the so called golden rule is a very good one.
 
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  And that is basicly
what I do.  It would be nice if everyone paid for their software and every
other idea
that was ever thought up, but that is not the case and furthermore that is
not
what I expect or even want from other people.  Generosity is important to
me.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games