Poll: Internet Piracy (need input from community for exam)

[Rokar333]

Well my "friends" occasionally pirate things.

"They" have a tendency to pirate software they think is overpriced (such as Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Cyberlink PowerDirector) but don't pirate videogames ("they" just wait for the price to drop). Though occasionally music is also downloaded.

"They" would not have even started pirating if Adobe's software collection didn't cost more than their entire computer.

"They" would stop when media creation and manipulation software drops to a price "they" find reasonable.

"They" would pirate more if game and movie prices didn't drop, and if music cost more than $ .99 per song (as "they" don't listen to a lot of music)

 

[Thaius]

How often do your "friends" pirate stuff, Never, sometimes, allot or everything.

Not everything, but a lot of stuff: specifically movies and music. A lot of times it's because said music or movie is hard to find legitimately, but often it's also simply because of a complete lack of money. However, honesty is an important thing: if a band or movie is truly worth supporting, they will be supported. These actions are not completely without honor.

What kind of stuff do "they" download?

Movies and music, mostly. Sometimes games, but that's rare (unless you count emulation of old systems, which is a completely different moral question since old games are no longer manufactured).

Do "they" think its wrong?

Yes it is: they'll admit to that. Which is why the aforementioned "honor among theives" is such an important aspect of things. If something deserves support, it will be given it.

What would have to happen to make "them" stop?

Internet censorship to the point of intense infringements on constitutional rights. But keep in mind that this pirating is not without limits in the first place: there are certain things and actions that are simply off-limits.

Or make "them" pirate more?

Nothing, really. They only pirate what they are interested in. I suppose if everything started costing insane amounts more, that might reduce the policy of honor a bit.

 

[Sightless Wisdom]

Well a combination of music being more expensive than I can afford, and computer hardware screwing over my legal windows instillation means I "pirate" a fair bit of things.

 

[ZippyDSMlee]

Ya know they can jail me but they can't stop me from doing something that is questionably right or wrong.

No, I mean on the site. They could ban you if you say you pirate stuff.

They could then they would be alienating their readers.....its like a corporate web forum when you can not talk about the bad things about a a game,company or DRM, whats the point of going to the forum if you can not speak the truth respectfully.

I am pretty sure the bans only come from linking to pirated goods and aiding in the act. Saying you do will not get you banned as far as I know.

Pretty much also saying I pirate in a vulgar manner will get you suspended but its not do tot he pirate bit that dose it.

All in all I think the escapist is even keeled on he manner they prefer to go after grammar and lulz posts more than anything else.

Hell I am lucky my sorry ares has not been suspended yet, I have been warned and try to keep to the posting rules as much as I can.

 

[Scabadus]

I used to pirate quite a few games a couple of years ago, and I can honestly say I'm ashamed that a friend recently asked me where I'd downloaded a game from after he saw that it wasn't on my Steam profile. I'd bought it in a sale at a local game shop.

When I used to pirate it was because I didn't have any money, at least not enough to go out on the weekends and buy clothes and buy meals out music and films and gadgets and every game released... I got greedy and started taking what I could for free. Thankfully, I grew up before I started physically stealing things; pirating was still illegal but I learned that myself instead of being punished for it, which would have made me want to blame anyone but myself for my situation.

I stopped the majority of my piracy then, even if I kept much of my illegal programs, but the true turning point came with the release of Left 4 Dead 2. I'd pre-ordered it off Steam and the wait for its release (and, as anyone else who pre-ordered will know, the delay) only sweetened the experiance. Then when I had the game, downloaded and loading up to be played, I knew that I owned it, I really owned it and no police would be knocking on my door the next day to confiscate my computer.

Right then, I deleted all but about five of my pirated games off my computer, five of my absolubt favorites. Slowly, I've been buying them when I could find them non-preowned. The last one (Command and Conquer Generals: Zero Hour) I finally bought a couple of weeks ago in a sale at a small local game shop... yes, the same shop I mentioned at the beginning of this post.

 

[bladester1]

All I "pirate" are old games that are on the n64 or psx

 

[Deadman Walkin]

How often do your "friends" pirate stuff: On the occasion

What kind of stuff do "they" download: Whatever is useful to me
Do "they" think its wrong: Yes, but my invisible money is useless to them.
What would have to happen to make "them" stop: Me, having a job.
Or make "them" pirate more: More wonderful ubisoft DRM.

 

[jpoon]

Occasionally.

I would call "their" downloads softgameapornobookaprograms.

Eh.

Direct threats maybe?

An awesome bit of softgameapornobookaprograms that they "need!".

 

[Gindil]

I am doing a 8 minute presentation for an exam and I want to throw in some research.

How often do you pirate stuff, Never, sometimes, alot or everthing.

What kind of stuff do you download?
Do you think its wrong?
What would have to happen to make you stop?
Or make you pirate more?

I believe your poll is skewed. People usually don't pirate a LOT of things at one time. True there will always be small amounts of piracy (usually related to) but I doubt anyone will admit to downloading more than a few songs or a game or two.

I feel I have sectioned my poll adequately.

A option for those who pirate nothing, One for those who use it to sample or have a little bit, and option for people who have allot of downloaded goods. and an option for people morally opposed to paying and get whatever they need for free.

True, but to what incentive will they have of owning up to pirating a LOT on an internet forum? You would want to give your poll +/-10 points for the difference. What's happening is that there is little reason for anyone to be honest. Since we can't put a laser to them if they're being dishonest in anyway, their answer may be less or more than what you're asking it to be. That's why, no matter what, your poll will be skewed. I tell you so that you recognize this and your teacher won't have a reason to question it.

 

[Scabadus]

I am doing a 8 minute presentation for an exam and I want to throw in some research.

How often do you pirate stuff, Never, sometimes, alot or everthing.

What kind of stuff do you download?
Do you think its wrong?
What would have to happen to make you stop?
Or make you pirate more?

I believe your poll is skewed. People usually don't pirate a LOT of things at one time. True there will always be small amounts of piracy (usually related to) but I doubt anyone will admit to downloading more than a few songs or a game or two.

I feel I have sectioned my poll adequately.

A option for those who pirate nothing, One for those who use it to sample or have a little bit, and option for people who have allot of downloaded goods. and an option for people morally opposed to paying and get whatever they need for free.

True, but to what incentive will they have of owning up to pirating a LOT on an internet forum? You would want to give your poll +/-10 points for the difference. What's happening is that there is little reason for anyone to be honest. Since we can't put a laser to them if they're being dishonest in anyway, their answer may be less or more than what you're asking it to be. That's why, no matter what, your poll will be skewed. I tell you so that you recognize this and your teacher won't have a reason to question it.

Remember that the poll is anonymous, it's only the responces in the thread that we can see who posted them.

 

[NoNameMcgee]

What kind of stuff do you download? Games, TV Shows, Music

Do you think its wrong? Depends on many things, I don't believe its a black and white issue

What would have to happen to make you stop? Nothing could ever make me stop all of my piracy short of having no internet or piracy being non-existant anymore in any medium due to amazing DRM (none of which will happen) or perhaps a complete twist of my moral code where I decide piracy is actually unequivocally wrong, which at the moment I do not think it is.

Or make you pirate more? I would pirate more games if there were even more shit games I have to rifle through to find the gems which I then buy... I can't think of a reason I would pirate the other entertainment mediums more or less.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

What kind of stuff do "they" download?

Shit they want for free

Do "they" think its wrong?

Free shit is beyond right and wrong

What would have to happen to make "them" stop?

A lobotomy

Or make "them" pirate more?

More shit they want for free

 

[Kaymish]

What kind of stuff do "they" download? music mostly some films not games that's stink they have no other real source of income unlike musicians and cinema people and most other programs have open sourced versions
Do "they" think its wrong? wrong from whose perspective?
What would have to happen to make "them" stop? death
Or make "them" pirate more? nothing "they" pirate as much as they want now and i doubt they will increase

 

[XT inc]

Do SNES emulators count? If so, then yeah, but I never pirate anything else.

Yes very much so. It is technically the equivalent of you taking a working super nintendo, the hookups and the controllers. as Well as whatever the cost and effort involved in tracking down and buying the game cartridges.

 

[FinalHeart95]

Do SNES emulators count? If so, then yeah, but I never pirate anything else.

Yes very much so. It is technically the equivalent of you taking a working super nintendo, the hookups and the controllers. as Well as whatever the cost and effort involved in tracking down and buying the game cartridges.

Fair enough. The game cartridges are ridiculously overpriced anyway. Well, for the good games anyway.

 

[Sebenko]

How often do your "friends" pirate stuff? sometimes

What kind of stuff do "they" download?

Anything with stupid fucking DRM, just because of the DRM.
And the occasional mid-nineties game that's far too hard to find.

Do "they" think its wrong?

It's the lesser of two evils- that, or buy games with DRM like Ubisoft's
I often hear it said that more piracy results in more DRM, but I just think Publishers need to wise the fuck up.

What would have to happen to make "them" stop?

No more bullshit DRM

Or make "them" pirate more?

More DRM, duh.

 

[Jamieson 90]

What Do I downloand? Nothing

Do I think its wrong? Yes, especially where games are concerned.

What would have to happen to make me stop? Nothing because I don't, I guess cheaper prices might prevent other people from pirating though.

Make me pirate? If it ever gets to the state where all PC games are just crappy console ports riddled with oppressive Digital rights management. Then I would seriously consider whether it was worth purchasing products were the developers didn't care about me or other PC gamers, sad to say its looking more like this all the time.

 

[Eclectic Dreck]

The closest to piracy I've ever come is to dowload a game that I already own but have lost one or more discs for. I did this when I recently had a hankering to play Diablo 2 again, and considering I've purchased three copies of the game over the years I did it without a shread of guilt.

 

[TehCookie]

How often do your "friends" pirate stuff, Never, sometimes, allot or everything.
Sometimes, depends on what's easier, getting it legally or illegally
What kind of stuff do "they" download?
Music, (old) games, movies/anime, manga
Do "they" think its wrong?
Some is some isn't, most anime I watch isn't available in America and other games are so old you cant buy them in stores anymore. As for music, if I love the band I will buy their CD, but I will never buy a CD without knowing every song.
What would have to happen to make "them" stop?
Have more stuff available and cheaper.
Or make "them" pirate more?
Make merchandise more expensive or take it off the shelves.