Piracy is not theft

[rambo919]

That's your perception, but it's far from the truth. People buy that which has worth and value. Not just random sht spewed left and right. If the ebook was property marketed, advertised and has worth and value, it will be bought. Otherwise it won't. The same for flicks, software, games and the list goes on.
I find greater worth in a Spotify subscription than I did downloading albums 2 decades ago.

And then there is the fact that especially now that there is this mountain of poop with a few gems inside.... people literally cannot afford to vote with their wallet unless they pirate..... the alternative is to buy everything and then throw away what they don't want which is the opposite to voting with your wallet.

I'm calling bujlshit because I know from my own firsthand pirating experience that the books I downloaded were things I wanted but didn't want to pay for (because I knew I could pirate them). They were good books that might even have been bestsellers at some point. I don't think I'm the outlier here.

Just because you lack a sense of honour does not mean everyone else does as well.

 

[konfab]

That's an article about self-publishing etc. How does that apply to piracy?

Have you ever sung the song: "Happy birthday to you"?

 

[saor]

Just because you lack a sense of honour does not mean everyone else does as well.

So you're an honorable pirate because you've got some rationalization that excuses your piracy? Lol.

 

[rambo919]

So you're an honorable pirate because you've got some rationalization that excuses your piracy? Lol.

No, I am honorable because I pay for what I can afford even though I don't actually have to.

 

[saor]

No, I am honorable because I pay for what I can afford even though I don't actually have to.

I'm happy to admit the wrongness of the piracy I commit. What's amusing are the gymnastics people are pulling in here to avoid admitting as much of their own pirate behavior.

 

[prod]

No, I am honorable because I pay for what I can afford even though I don't actually have to.

And what you can't afford you take anyway?

Using the I'm poor narrative, how leftist! Why don't you just make more money?

 

[rambo919]

I'm happy to admit the wrongness of the piracy I commit. What's amusing are the gymnastics people are pulling in here to avoid admitting as much of their own pirate behavior.

What is interesting is how people glorify what they consider to be theft and then complain about government corruption..... rules for thee but not for me hey?

 

[rambo919]

And what you can't afford you take anyway?

Using the I'm poor narrative, how leftist! Why don't you just make more money?

You can only take something if it deprives someone else from it.

 

[|tera|]

You spend 2 years writing a book. Upon release I create digital copies which I make freely available on a popular e-book site and loads of people get your book for free. You don't think there's anything wrong with that? You don't think it's wrong that something you created and intended to be bought is now being freely acquired on piracy sites?

I'm still failing to see how this is framed is being morally correct behavior. Whether you sell the pirated copy is irrelevant. The wrongness creeps in the moment you acquire for free a thing that was intended for you to pay for.

We're going in circles. I explained my viewpoint yesterday. Enjoy your day

 

[rambo919]

We're going in circles. I explained my viewpoint yesterday. Enjoy your day

Clearly you don't get his pain. He considers himself a shameless thief and want you to consider yourself one too so he won't feel so bad about what he does.

 

[rietrot]

You spend 2 years writing a book. Upon release I create digital copies which I make freely available on a popular e-book site and loads of people get your book for free. You don't think there's anything wrong with that? You don't think it's wrong that something you created and intended to be bought is now being freely acquired on piracy sites?

I'm still failing to see how this is framed is being morally correct behavior. Whether you sell the pirated copy is irrelevant. The wrongness creeps in the moment you acquire for free a thing that was intended for you to pay for.

Your friend buys a physical book. After he is done you borrow it and read the same book. How much money do you need to give to the author?

Better yet you buy a R5 book at the SPCA charity gift shop. Now how much does the author get and who is responsible for paying it. You, the person who donated it or the SPCA.

Digital media didn't change these basic concepts it just made it easier to share something.

I can read free second hand books in digital or hard copy format without feeling guilty, it is perfectly fine morally.

I didn't steal anything.
I didn't defraud anyone.
I don't even have to lie.
Where is the moral wrong? Name the crime/wrongdoing.

 

[|tera|]

Clearly you don't get his pain. He considers himself a shameless thief and want you to consider yourself one too so he won't feel so bad about what he does.

Life goes on. An opinion is like an @sshole. We all have one.

 

[saor]

What is interesting is how people glorify what they consider to be theft and then complain about government corruption..... rules for thee but not for me hey?

I'm not glorifying anything. I'm saying I fall into the trap of excusing my own wrong behavior. The absurdity is when people start telling stories about why their behavior is justified and start believing it to be true.

 

[rambo919]

I'm not glorifying anything. I'm saying I fall into the trap of excusing my own wrong behavior. The absurdity is when people start telling stories about why their behavior is justified and start believing it to be true.

It's only a problem if the stories are false.

I simply have never been completely convinced that piracy is always theft..... people keep repeating it as if the repetition makes it true but they only do that to convince themselves.

 

[rambo919]

Your friend buys a physical book. After he is done you borrow it and read the same book. How much money do you need to give to the author?

Better yet you buy a R5 book at the SPCA charity gift shop. Now how much does the author get and who is responsible for paying it. You, the person who donated it or the SPCA.

Digital media didn't change these basic concepts it just made it easier to share something.

I can read free second hand books in digital or hard copy format without feeling guilty, it is perfectly fine morally.

I didn't steal anything.
I didn't defraud anyone.
I don't even have to lie.
Where is the moral wrong? Name the crime/wrongdoing.

At the same time.... would you not start feeling guilty if you never paid for the books you can actually afford?

 

[prod]

Huh...right wingers support piracy? You learn new things everyday

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

I'm happy to admit the wrongness of the piracy I commit. What's amusing are the gymnastics people are pulling in here to avoid admitting as much of their own pirate behavior.

I agree with this. It's more a question of right or wrong than whether it constitutes theft, which it doesn't, per the title...

 

[rietrot]

At the same time.... would you not start feeling guilty if you never paid for the books you can actually afford?

It's not about affordability. You can't adjust your morals based on your bank balance.

 

[Gone Fishing]

This was always the most amusing part for me.

I bought a legal DVD, only for them to bombard me with adverts and anti-piracy ads.

I can download the same movie, for free, faster, and not get any ads

 

[rambo919]

It's not about affordability. You can't adjust your morals based on your bank balance.

I don't think of it that directly, it makes no sense to me. As I stated previously.... you cannot vote with your wallet by buying everything and then deciding whether it's worth the money.... it's logically impossible to do.

You first have to consume and then decide what the worth of the content is.... you cannot do it the other way around.

On the other hand morality simply does not factor into not being able to pay.... it does start factoring in when you clearly can afford to pay but refuse to.