I usually don't reference something I've already posted but I believe it should be reviewed in light of new posts. So...please review my post here:
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showpost.p...69&postcount=2
In addition to what I stated there I believe that there has been a fundamental change in society associated with the advancement of technology.
Pirating (as it's now called) has been around for a very, very long time. It really came to the forefront when people would attend and record concerts. If you're a Dead Head or somewhat familiar with the Dead, you'll know that some of their most strongest and vocal supporters were those who bootlegged copies of their shows. These tapes (y'all remember tapes don't you?) would get shared (early version of P2P) with fellow Dead Heads. The Dead eventually embraced the bootleggers but the culture of "pirating" was already established.
Back then there was still a human element involved. You weren't bootlegging to get rich...you were out there sharing these tapes because you truly loved the product and wanted the experience of concerts that you may have missed. Part of it was done out of admiration for the group.
With time and technology bootlegging has morphed into pirating. Pirating is primarily done, I believe for 2 reasons. The seller wants to make some cash...the buyer wants a cheap/free product. I think that's pretty much a no-brainer!
Technology has brought these two together quite easily. Additionally there is some sense of entitlement in our society. This sense of entitlement "allows" people to justify the stealing of goods (e.g., pirated software, etc.). We're all guilty of it. We all say to ourselves, "Well...Microsoft already makes a killin' on their software...I'm just downloading a few of their apps off of the net for free." Or, "movie ticket prices are so expensive...I'll just get download the movie off the net for free." Or, "I'm just downloading a few songs...it's not hurting anyone."
Now I'm not quite sure where this cultural sense of entitlement has come from. I do believe that we are a very material society. I believe a lot of people base their self worth on what they own. Tell me y'all don't show off your phones to friends and family? Tell me y'all don't want the sweetest car with the best sound system. Tell me y'all don't want the best/biggest plasma/LCD TV. Why? It doesn't make the shows any better. All you're watching is some crappy TV show...but now you get to see that crappy TV show in hi-def. And y'all justify the purchase of you're hi-def rigs.
Now how does this sense of entitlement work with the issue of piracy? Well, for starters I believe that most of us feel that we are entitled to whatever we want...even if we can't afford it. Along comes the pirate who's selling his "wares" and the perfect relationship has just been established. And again we justify our use and buying of pirated goods.
We don't ever have to see the pirates...there is no human interaction anymore. It's all done with mouse clicks anymore. You're not getting that pirated movie because you're a fan of the director or actors in it. You're getting it because you can...because you feel you're "entitled" to it...because you want it...because it's easy...because you deserve it...because you work all day at a lousy job that doesn't pay much...because everything is too expensive anymore...because...because...because...
In the final analysis everyone has to make their own decisions. I've probably not articulated my thoughts as best I could because I'm writing this at work (I have a sense of entitlement to surf the net instead of do my job). However, ask yourself what your motivations are for using pirated stuff (e.g., software, music, etc.). Ask yourself why you do it and let the rest of us know.
late,
Coz