How Bad Is PC Piracy Really?

[RXRob]

If I have the ability get something for free then I take it. I pick berries, grow vegetables, readily accept hand-me-downs, search Freecycle, and download films, music and games.

Thing is, you're crossing a line with downloading films/games/music. There's nothing illegal about coupon clipping, gardening, or picking through second hand stores. Downloading media just because it's available through some channel or another isn't really the same.

Not saying plenty haven't done it at one time or another, just that rationalizing it as fine for you because of x, y, or z isn't accurate. Media is a luxury. If you don't have the money to pay for it, then you aren't entitled to use it. Simple as that. Anyone at any income level could use the money they spend on games (or movies, music, etc) on something else. Piracy does not equal thriftiness.

But as an end user I can get the product for free, at a quality that is equal to (or better than in case of DLC, DRM, and unskippable DVD trailers) a more expensive copy would be. I'd be a drooling idiot not to take that deal.

[isiolia]

But as an end user I can get the product for free, at a quality that is equal to (or better in case of DLC, DRM, and unskippable DVD trailers) than a more expensive copy would be. I'd be a drooling idiot not to take that deal.

Except that it isn't a "deal" because it's not something offered by the companies that produced the product. You're illegally acquiring a copy of something without paying for it. It's piracy, plain and simple. There's no cleverness to it, no rationalization that changes the simple fact of the matter. Trying to dress it up as something "better" is simply bullshit.

Again, plenty, if not most of us here have pirated something at one point or another. All I'm saying is trying to disguise it as some wannabe Lifehacker hipster philosophy is disingenuous at best. You're (essentially) stealing, you know it, so call it what it is.

[ZenErik]

I agree. I illegally download almost every day. My poor justification for doing so is to try before I buy, but it doesn't make it right. I just like to give music, anime, and games a test drive before I buy. Kind of like downloading demos on the PSN or Xbox Live except not legal.

[Erik_Twice]

But as an end user I can get the product for free, at a quality that is equal to (or better than in case of DLC, DRM, and unskippable DVD trailers) a more expensive copy would be. I'd be a drooling idiot not to take that deal.

Deal? There's no deal when you trample over worker's rights and take without permission.

You are not an "end-user" you are a parasite.

[RXRob]

But as an end user I can get the product for free, at a quality that is equal to (or better in case of DLC, DRM, and unskippable DVD trailers) than a more expensive copy would be. I'd be a drooling idiot not to take that deal.

Except that it isn't a "deal" because it's not something offered by the companies that produced the product. You're illegally acquiring a copy of something without paying for it. It's piracy, plain and simple. There's no cleverness to it, no rationalization that changes the simple fact of the matter. Trying to dress it up as something "better" is simply bullshit.

Again, plenty, if not most of us here have pirated something at one point or another. All I'm saying is trying to disguise it as some wannabe Lifehacker hipster philosophy is disingenuous at best. You're (essentially) stealing, you know it, so call it what it is.

I'm not trying to dress it up as anything other piracy. I'm simply being honest about why I do it (something that I suspect the majority of gaming forum users are less than honest about). And if I could get bread, or a car, or a house, or anything else for free without physically depriving somebody else of the item that I just took then I would without second thought.

You are not an "end-user" you are a parasite.

Harsh, and totally incorrect. I am the end user of the product, no matter what means I use to acquire that product. And I could live without games, unlike a parasite that relies upon it's host for survival.
If you must insult me, at least stick to accurate terms such as pirate, thief or tight-arse.

[Erik_Twice]

And I could live without games, unlike a parasite that relies upon it's host for survival.

Then why don't you stop pirating games? Other than "because I don't give a fuck about other's people's work" which seems to be the case?

BTW:

par·a·site   [par-uh-sahyt] Show IPA
noun
1.
an organism that lives on or in an organism of another species, known as the host, from the body of which it obtains nutriment.
2.
a person who receives support, advantage, or the like, from another or others without giving any useful or proper return, as one who lives on the hospitality of others.

So yes, it was pretty much the correct word.

[o.pwuaioc]

Except that it isn't a "deal" because it's not something offered by the companies that produced the product. You're illegally acquiring a copy of something without paying for it. It's piracy, plain and simple.

Really? He's hijacking ships on the high seas and taking their cargo? Well shiver me timbers, that's pretty fucking cool.

[RXRob]

And I could live without games, unlike a parasite that relies upon it's host for survival.

Then why don't you stop pirating games? Other than "because I don't give a fuck about other's people's work" which seems to be the case?

BTW:

par·a·site   [par-uh-sahyt] Show IPA
noun
1.
an organism that lives on or in an organism of another species, known as the host, from the body of which it obtains nutriment.
2.
a person who receives support, advantage, or the like, from another or others without giving any useful or proper return, as one who lives on the hospitality of others.

So yes, it was pretty much the correct word.

Because I enjoy playing them. Simples

I'm a parasite, and I shall continue to receive as much support and advantage as I can possibly get in all walks of life. On topic however, thief is much more accurate and not a term that I shall shy away from.

[Erik_Twice]

I'm a parasite, and I shall continue to receive as much support and advantage as I can possibly get in all walks of life.

Okey, you are officially a douchebag! Congratulations!

[RXRob]

I'm a parasite, and I shall continue to receive as much support and advantage as I can possibly get in all walks of life.

Okey, you are officially a douchebag! Congratulations!

Not at all, I give back where I can. I don't expect you know these things, but I volunteer for a youth charity, I organize non-profit nights for niche tastes and local charities and I sponsor three different national charities.

This thread has now gone way off topic. Can we stick to the subject of pirating PC software please?