murlocker@water.UUCP (M. Urlocker) (08/14/85)
> WHY WILL SO FEW NET PEOPLE ADMIT TO OWNING PIRATED SOFTWARE? Why not ask how many people still beat their wife? :-) Software piracy is unethical and illegal. Its usually hard for someone who considers themselves to be a reasonably honest person to admit to thievery. > For the pirates, how do YOU justify your theft to yourself? > For the preachers, this is a great chance in studying how to convert > people, and teach them not to steal. What are the best ways to convince > people to stop stealing? > > I think my reasons (read: rationalizations) for having stolen software > are similar to his. I'm in college, and my budget keeps most packages > out of reach. In my view all of this rationalization is a poor excuse for weak morals. What's the difference between stealing software and stealing cars or robbing banks? Well its basically the lower risk and relative isolation from the victims. When I "preach" I bring it down to a fundamental level. Its a question of ethics. If you aint got the bucks for a software package, do without it. Or buy a cheaper product or write your own. But anyways, we've been through all these arguments before... If software pirates would consider the effects of their crime then software piracy would be a lot less rampant. And if wishes were horses, beggars would ride... mark