Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi,
I just thought I would start this discussion to see what people think about illegal downloads....
I can honestly say I have never done it. Mainly for the fear of downloading a virus. From a moral perspective I am undecided.
I love music and love to collect CD's and records. If someone was never ever going to hear a beautiful peice of music in their life because they could not afford it would it be OK for them to download it illegaly? If they could never create something because they did not have some expensive software and therefore never fulfill there full potential would it be OK to illegall download the software? However where do you draw the line? Do you then just help yourself to someones possesions? Also what if the owner (software designer or artist) is really struggling to make a living? Should that influence your decision to download?
I am not a big fan of the consumer economy and culture but thats maybe another topic.
Jon said:Thanks for the post Zone_tripper. I agree it is 'stealing' nut what is interesting is where people draw the 'moral line'. I guess the risk of getting caught plays a part. I think the idea of stealing something 'physical' as opposed to 'virtual' (for want of a better word) influences people too. Also the fact that 'everyone else is doing it'.My mum used to soak an envelope to re-use the postage stamp if it wasn't franked. I am pretty sure she did not see it as theft and would be horrified at the idea of stealing.Another hypothetical moral question:If a friend or member of your family was dying and you had no way to afford the drugs to save them, would you be prepared to steal them? (In addition the drugs are easy to take, made cheaply and sold with a hugh mark up price).This is a totally made up scenario.
Thanks for the post Zone_tripper. I agree it is 'stealing' nut what is interesting is where people draw the 'moral line'. I guess the risk of getting caught plays a part. I think the idea of stealing something 'physical' as opposed to 'virtual' (for want of a better word) influences people too. Also the fact that 'everyone else is doing it'.
My mum used to soak an envelope to re-use the postage stamp if it wasn't franked. I am pretty sure she did not see it as theft and would be horrified at the idea of stealing.
Another hypothetical moral question:
If a friend or member of your family was dying and you had no way to afford the drugs to save them, would you be prepared to steal them? (In addition the drugs are easy to take, made cheaply and sold with a hugh mark up price).
This is a totally made up scenario.
Theft is theft, no matter what you are stealing; medical drugs or music downloaded illegally. Both are illegal acts, albeit through different acts of legislation.
And it is an unrealistic comparison to compare downloading music illegally with stealing drugs for a genuine medical emergency. If someone stole some drugs because a family member was seriously ill, the courts would probably treat them sympathetically and give them a more lenient sentence. However, considering the NHS offers prescription (subsidised medication) and free of charge to those on state benefits and considering the NHS provides free healthcare, I very much doubt anyone has a genuine reason for stealing medication.
This is just another lame attempt to morally justify the illegal downloading of somebody else's work, without paying them for it.