"Innate predjudices" have nothing to do with what has been discussed.  People from all types of spectrums pirate goods, their political leanings is not causing it, but it certainly is part of the problem as people from certain political beliefs tend to be less caring when it comes to business, profit, IP, etc.

 

 

 

 

true, they may care less, but they are (hopefully) still aware of the difference between right and wrong.

They might know the difference, but as I said, they don't care or feel they are "sticking it to the man" so to speak.

 

exactly.

I tend to think it is the other way around ...

I believe, in general, a lot of the people that would pirate/ think they need to 'stick it to the man'/ believe they are owed something/ or are out to get whatever handout or freebie they can get their hands on, tend to be Liberals ...

simply for the reason that Liberals are more willing to give out free stuff (money, food stamps, etc.)


and if you don't think some people support Liberals because it's the best way to 'get what's owed 'em', you're mistaken.

I think piracy cuts across all political lines.

However, in my experience, people on the left are far more likely to rationalize their piracy as somehow being morally good.

ID ....that sounds pretty 'prejudiced' actually....as again there is an attempt to equate IP issues with one particular entity, be it 'certain political beliefs' or whatever.

Here's the test.... replace key words with other more 'emotive' ones.....

Replace 'certain political beliefs' with 'Muslims' or 'blacks' .... and 'business, profit, IP, etc' with 'honesty' or 'caring about their fellow man'.

If personal life experience shows a 'trend' one way or another with political bent and IP respect it does not necessarily follow that a maxim is proved.

Remember the 3 philosophers on the train....when they cross the border into Scotland and see a black sheep...

First one says..."all sheep in Scotland are black".

Second one says..."no, all we can deduce from that is at least one of them is black".

The third corrects both by saying "Actually all we can say with certainty is that at least one of them is black.....on at least one of its sides".

Back to IP, warez and it sprevalence.

Is it correct to say all Chinese are IP pirates [because most IP theft originates there] or is it more correct to say most IP theft is sourced in China because its population is so huge.  The number becomes the issue of prevalence whereas the % uptake may be the same as elsewhere...on a population basis...

So the people on the left-wing are deluded, while the people on the right are crooks? Sounds about right.

I thought Ron Paul was the favourite of the pirating internet classes?

Piracy cuts across all walks of life...meaning I don't care if your squeaky clean...left or right...if they they can get away with it and not get caught some people will do it...even the squeaky clean ones. Politics has nothing to do with it. Might as well just say that people who like ketchup on their burgers as apposed to those that like mustard are more prone to stealing...its just another spin. Its more a matter of character than anything.

I could say its more likely that a poor person will steal simply because they out number the rich...but then rich people steal more simply because they have access to larger things to steal. The arguments and analogies on this could go on forever. Piracy....which is just another word for stealing has always been around and isn't likely to go away...even if people are financially equal. Create another way to protect something and someone will just come along and figure out how to get by it. And life goes on.

I don't think there is any connection. 

I'm a mid-40s man whose personal political bent is definitely left but I think piracy and pirates are just another indication of the selfish, greedy motivations of society today.

Piracy is theft and thieves should be prosecuted to the full extend of the law.

There's a difference between prejudice and experience.  In my experience, those on the left believe they are owed . . so they take.  If I meet a person that starts spouting of what they are owed (especially without volunteering to contribute) I can infer (pre-judge) (with what I consider a high enough probability)  that they are more likely to take.  

My experience may not make or prove a maxim . . but I'll still lay higher odds than not.

  I'll buy this too.

According to this am I to believe that people who shoplift and/or steal are liberals? Why do you attempt to tie criminal conduct to a political affiliation? Are you sure you're not Karl Rove in disguise?  

Z...you'll buy anything.

Based on my experience....people on my right that wear long hair are far more likely to rationalize their piracy as somehow being morally good. But then again...people on my left that have short hair are just as likely to rationalize their piracy as somehow being morally good. And when I think about it to long....people that commit white collar crime are just as likely to rationalize their piracy as somehow being morally good. Shall we go on and on and on...?

Theft unfortunately is part of human nature...you cannot narrow it down to any one group of people....people are people...period. Deal with it!