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Path: utzoo!watmath!watnot!water!murlocker
From: murlocker@water.UUCP (M. Urlocker)
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: More on software copying and protection
Message-ID: <769@water.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 13-Aug-85 22:43:47 EDT
Article-I.D.: water.769
Posted: Tue Aug 13 22:43:47 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 17-Aug-85 13:41:01 EDT
References: <428@gumby.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 29

> 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...
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