3 ms·

Now you're making a completely different argument. Now you're doing the whole stealing versus theft thing, which was not your original comment. Originally you w

Now you're making a completely different argument. Now you're doing the whole stealing versus theft thing, which was not your original comment. Originally you were going to try Netflix, but it didn't work on Linux so you decided to try to steal the shows instead. This is exactly like going to buy something in a store that doesn't accept AmEx, getting all pissy when they don't accept AmEx, and trying to shoplift instead of pulling out one of your other payment methods (because chances are, you don't only carry AmEx). Similarly, chances are your only computing device is not a Linux computer. Android, iOS, XBox 360, Wii [U], PS3, and all sorts of other TVs and set top boxes also stream Netflix.

mayneack 14y ago
Same argument, more context. If I go to the store, pay with my AmEx to buy a DVD, then bring it home and pirate the show because I don't want to go through the process of ripping it to watch on my computer sans TV, it's the same thing since I've already "paid" for the free trial. My justification is absurd and arbitrary because it's highly unlikely that this is all I will pirate, but no more absurd or arbitrary so suggest that it's equally immoral to shoplift if they don't take a credit card. It's at least marginally more moral because of the whole infinite copy thing. In both cases (shoplifting and downloading), the content creator suffers the same "loss" associated with creating something and losing a potential sale, but in the shoplifting case, they had to put materials into the DVD, shipping and stocking. I'm saving them money on bandwidth (torrent) and still "paying" with their free trial.