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From: scheer@cit-vax.Caltech.Edu (Wonko the Sane)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Software thieves (was Re: Software theives)
Message-ID: <11682@cit-vax.Caltech.Edu>
Date: 22 Aug 89 16:32:11 GMT
References: <30706@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> <6846@rpi.edu> <2361@raspail.cdcnet.cdc.com> <6865@rpi.edu> <58013@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu> <6876@rpi.edu> <1160@sas.UUCP>
Reply-To: scheer@cit-vax.UUCP (Wonko the Sane)
Distribution: usa
Organization: California Institute of Technology
Lines: 50

In article <1160@sas.UUCP> walker@sas.UUCP (Doug Walker) writes:
>I can't believe we're having this discussion AGAIN.  Nobody ever convinces
>these assholes that they are stealing, guys, so don't bother trying.  It's not
>even worth discussing.  Please, let's raise the signal-to-noise ratio and drop
>the whole thing.
>
>--Doug

Of COURSE you can't convince anyone of the correctness of the respective
viewpoints.  This is essentially a religious discussion.  On the one hand,
the pirates are arguing that information should be inexpensive if not free,
whereas the non-pirates believe in following the laws that society has set
down for them.  The pirates are not breaking their own moral codes because
they believe that they have a right to information, and shouldn't be kept
from it because they are poor, or to extract it a step further, some will
continue to pirate and distribute software even if they can afford it because
they are a node in a loose international network of people who also believe
information should be free, and they want to help their cause.

The non-pirate side, exemplified by those who make a living by producing
products, is also correct by the non-pirates moral codes.  These people claim
that their source of income is being taken away by pirates.  On this side
of the argument lies rightness in the respect of laws, so they feel justified
because "society is on their side".  I put that phrase in quotes because I
don't believe that just because there is a law, it is right.  There are a
number of laws I do NOT agree with, and will willingly break.  For instance,
a law against oral sex is just plain stupid.

To conclude, pirates will by their moral code NEVER pay for a program, and
non-pirates will always do so.  These are the black and whites.  There are
a number or grey people inbetween.  These a generally people who can be
swayed one way or another, because their moral code may not be completely
decided upon.  I personally believe in freeware.  Perhaps this is because
I do not make a living by programming (I am still a student).  Freeware allows
full distribution of the information, and those that believe they should pay
for the effort I have put into a program WILL pay for it (it is against their
moral codes not to).  Those that are pirates WILL NOT pay for it, but at
least my program wouldn't be covered with pirate messages (nothing needs to
be cracked, that that is the spot where the messages are most likely.)  The
only people who may or may not send me money are the grey people, and they
most likely wouldn't pay because of apathy (a non-mover of moutains).  So
yes, this discussion will get us absolutely nowhere, because the two sides
of the argument have different beliefs.  This is why it is a religious
argument.   Oh well, enough said.

-- 

					Wonko the Sane

Disclaimer:  I am totally irresponsible.  So shoot me then!