Tech-Freaks and the Future.

[The Laughing Man]

I am by no means justifying, and do not deny that I steal software. So what? I do it. I was merely alluding to the underlying attitude that seems to be related to all things "digital".

[Avatar]

Ignore my posts. Sorry to have butted in.

Nonsense. The whole point of these discussions is so that people can "butt in" and give their opinions. Otherwise, we'd all be wasting our time here, wouldn't we?

You raised a valid point, and I gave the best reply I could. That is what this is all about, damnit!

So don't apologise.

And if you are ever lucky enough to be paid for your creative output, perhaps I'll be able to give you the compliment of "stealing" it, because I like it so much, but just can't pay for it. (Depending on what sort of creative output you're talking about of course. If you're making and selling it yourself, I'd be much less likely to do so than if you simply sold it to a company who would pay you for it, and then produce, market, distribute and sell it for their own profit, rather than yours.)

--A

[Nerdanel]

Just FYI copyright infringement is not stealing. Consider the fact if someone loses something not hypothetical in the act. If I tell my friend that movie X sucks and my friend doesn't go to see movie X because of me, I also deprived someone of potential income. If you practice installing Windows using an illegal copy, you are in fact benefiting Microsoft by increasing their mindshare.

Also, thinking that a decrease in copyright infringement would cause CD prices be lowered is just not true. The principle of modern capitalism is not charging the cost of production + reasonable profit. It's charging what the market will bear and that's no secret. (The music industry seems to be less than great in maximizing their profits by charging obscenely high prices, but the famed invisible hand of the market is no match against stupidity in oligopolic high places.)

Don't pirate Windows, use Linux instead.

[The Laughing Man]

Linux + Drivers + Games = AAAAAARRRRRGGGHHH!!!!!
( I have always been able to "tame" windows pretty well, so I never needed to "make the switch", but our router/firewall here is a Linux box, and you can't beat it. )

[Avatar]

Good post Nerdanel, (and if I haven't already mentioned it, nice to see you around again.)

...thinking that a decrease in copyright infringement would cause CD prices be lowered is just not true. The principle of modern capitalism is not charging the cost of production + reasonable profit. It's charging what the market will bear and that's no secret.

Very true. And contrariwise, demonstrating that the market cannot bear the prices of software, especially by pirating, may indeed drive prices to a more reasonable level, which would make piracy less attractive.

--Avatar