The term "pirate" has lost meaning and most negative connotation that once accompanied the word. There are still modern day pirates on water, but that is not w

The term "pirate" has lost meaning and most negative connotation that once accompanied the word. There are still modern day pirates on water, but that is not what comes to mind to most people when they hear the term pirate. Today, people think of the antihero, from Jack Sparrow to Long John Silver (Treasure Island, or the restaurant, your pick). They are fun and engaging, clever and witty. They are fighting back against an unjust government. They are even likable, even when they aren't "good" (Captain Hook of Peter Pan). In addition, the term pirate is often used for copying software or something else digital. It, however, is a victimless crime, in that nothing is actually "taken" from anyone, it is merely that additional money is not given from the pirate to the copyright holder. Your cute niece and nephew dress up like pirates. Pirates have buried treasure for us to find (so they actually benefit someone, so to speak). They are the very definition of adventure! This is different. These are not people engaging in a victimless crime. These are not people fighting an unjust cause. These are not just people having fun. These are thieves. Public perception is one way to fight them, so I encourage people not to call them "porch pirates". They are thieves. They may be thieves who steal packages from porches, but they are undoubtedly still a thief. I don't care if you call them blue-hatted, striped-sock, ding-dong-ditch, grinch flunkie thieves, so long as you identify the crime for which they should be rightly ashamed and castigated. They are a thief.