Personally, I think this issue has been beaten to death. The bottom line is that if someone creates something they intend to make money on they need to protect it "as best as they can" but in the end...and I don't care what part of the political spectrum you come from or what title you choose to hide behind...a thief is a thief...and if someone wants it without paying for it...not matter what they choose to call themselves or how righteous they wish to portray themselves as...they will get it.

People the world over tend to think that by calling themselves one thing or another that "sounds" less threatening or less like a thief...it somehow makes them better than "the other guy"....which is total bullshit.

As far as people "thinking" the government owes them anything...the people of this country give this government trillions upon trillions of dollars every year...and they can "vote themselves a raise" to raise they're standard of living...gee...should I vote yes or no...but yet when we...the hard working people who are the ones actually responsible for making this country what it is..."ask" for a raise for ourselves we are forever told no.

And this clown McCain just made a statement that the government should not be helping people who are losing they're homes now because...."they are irresponsible." But if it weren't for the rising cost of living due to trillions of dollars spent on this "irresponsible and senseless" invasion of a third world country that isn't going to accomplish squat...these people might not be losing they're homes. So maybe the people of this country need to stop giving this government help in fighting this invasion and supporting the governments irresponsible behavior....and while we're at it take away all the freebies these government officials take advantage of that the hard working people of this country pay for. They already get paid for the work they do...let them pay they're own way like the rest of us.

Basically, if you gave people the chance to earn a better wage...maybe...just maybe...they would be less inclined to steal.

And give me a break already with these...I'm left of center....right of middle...Dem/Rep...or whatever you choose to call yourself...we're all in the same boat and the boat doesn't get anywhere when we're all rowing in different directions...we need to start working together...remember...united we stand...divided we fall.

Waaay off topic . . but the housing crisis is not due to govt. spending on the war.  it's due to people trying to scam people.

Whose fault is the "mortgage crisis"?

Bullcrap . .I've know poor people that don't steal and rich people that do.  It has to do with what kind of person you are.

Sorry Z..but not bullcrap! But I will also agree with what you said as well. Depends are the person you are.

And my "way off topic" was in response to something you said.

Once again, this is not saying that every democrat, liberal, whatever adovcates piracy.  I know people who pirate cover a broad spectrum. 

I simply say that people who lean to the left are more likely to due to their hatred for business, capitalism, and just basically anything that isn't "free".

 

I was still referring to the entitlement mentality that encourages them to think it's ok to take whatever they want (like music, games, movies and apps).  You went all conspiracy theory on me.    I still love you though man.  

Well.....I have a hatred for business, capitalism because of the unadulterated greed in many of them...not all...but thats no reason to steal. Thats why I feel "any" label doesn't apply...people are people no matter what label they hide behind. People just like to "appear" to be honest.

Conspiracy theory or not...its still true. And when the government stops stealing from the people maybe they'll stop stealing as well.....who knows. This whole topic can never have a happy ending.

We're cool Z.

I personally Don't get into politics, not because I don't care, I do. Call me a conspiracy theorist if you want but I just don't believe it matters what I vote, and that the government is going to do what it wants to anyway (Just look at the Bush elections). Now not getting involved does go against my inner nature to care, I'm a new ager (I won't call myself Wiccan, but a witch non-the-less), and I do believe it's my job to help better the world around me in anyway I possibly can. That being said I don't advocate piracy, but I do think a better way to fight it needs to be looked at. I don't necessarily think that someone's political affiliation has anything to do with whether they advocate for or against piracy, I do agree though that it does have something to do with what kind of person you are. I've lived around some pretty "low-class" people in my time simply because I was financially going through some tough times, and there are those who will "stand in line for some free" those are the types that will advocate piracy based on the fact that they are tired of being poor and having nothing. Then there are those who have the means but just don't want to pay for it. I really don't think it has anything to do with your political affiliation, but who you are and what your life experience has been.

Maybe we should have those give me programs like we did in the 60's.  People living in shacks driving new caddys while their kids went damn near naked.  Or we should go for big business and let the rich get richer and the poorer get poorer.  Now thats some choice. HUM.  Maybe if we fry all the crooks we might not be in the troubles we're in.  Who knows.  I know this, don't spend/charge more than you can pay off at the end of the month and you won't have money problems.  Why spend $200k on a house when the one that costs $100k will do.  Piss on the joneses.

What choices do we have.   1.  A demo that doesn't have any real plans but can rally the people....2.. A demo that couldn't control her husband.....3... An old POW.

Oh yeah, there Ralph Nadar.  

Personally, I don't political affiliation has any direct bearing on it any more than being right or left politically qualifies someone as being moral and honest. People choose how they behave and can always find a way to justify doing what they know to be wrong.

There's no connection between Political bent and Piracy.

Anyone 'seeing' one should look more closely at their innate prejudices.

People will 'pirate' as and when they are 'blessed' with the right degree of moral turpitude.

It's simply a result of a combination of ignorance [that it is wrong/illegal/theft] and slack moral values [don't care if it's wrong/illegal/theft as long as I don't get caught].

Attributing it [piracy] to anything else is  as defensible as saying "more redheads than blondes are pirates ergo it is a gene problem"....

i completley agree. when you work as a PC tech, you deal with a lot of pirates. these people can't afford my hourly rate, but yet, when i cut them a deal, i suddenly find a Master Suite of Adobe products on their Sempron box. Now, if they can't afford a couple hours labor charge, where in the blue hell did they find 2 grand for software that's on a machine they bought from Wal Mart?

The Political stance is notwithstanding, because in general, people have A)become much smarter with their computers, and b)piracy has become way too easy, with torrents, and "warez" sites. It's simply become a matter of, hey, i don't want to buy that band's cd, but they're awesome, so i think i'll just torrent it. it's ridiculous. i was raised to believe that if you want something, you have some morals in the method you use to retrieve it. Stealing intangible things is still stealing, and to try to disguise it as "getting back at the companies for over priced merch" is pure manure. I'm a novice user of photoshop. but i still found it worth the cash. If i like a band, i buy their CD. this moral decay of society is too far along to undo now. no matter what, people will find workarounds, and nothing is foolproof.

It's sad to see so many people take advantage of others, we've become cold and selfish about our societies, and it's rare to see an actual community. we're so wrapped up in our own problems, that we lose sight of morals in favor of solving those problems.

I'm slightly liberal...and piracy sounds kind of fun. The open sea, cannonfire, swordplay, the view from the crow's nest. Yeah, it might be kinda fun to be a pirate.

~Zoo

i completley agree. when you work as a PC tech, you deal with a lot of pirates. these people can't afford my hourly rate, but yet, when i cut them a deal, i suddenly find a Master Suite of Adobe products on their Sempron box. Now, if they can't afford a couple hours labor charge, where in the blue hell did they find 2 grand for software that's on a machine they bought from Wal Mart?

The Political stance is notwithstanding, because in general, people have A)become much smarter with their computers, and b)piracy has become way too easy, with torrents, and "warez" sites. It's simply become a matter of, hey, i don't want to buy that band's cd, but they're awesome, so i think i'll just torrent it. it's ridiculous. i was raised to believe that if you want something, you have some morals in the method you use to retrieve it. Stealing intangible things is still stealing, and to try to disguise it as "getting back at the companies for over priced merch" is pure manure. I'm a novice user of photoshop. but i still found it worth the cash. If i like a band, i buy their CD. this moral decay of society is too far along to undo now. no matter what, people will find workarounds, and nothing is foolproof.

It's sad to see so many people take advantage of others, we've become cold and selfish about our societies, and it's rare to see an actual community. we're so wrapped up in our own problems, that we lose sight of morals in favor of solving those problems.

sorry for double post