|
I think that there are several issues here.
1. One is piracy (which I personally believe to be a morally bad thing).
2. Then there is freedom of expression - generally held to be a good thing.
3. Then there is a difficulty of drawing a line when (1) and (2) conflict. At the moment we are drawing the line by deleting any links to illegal sites and by encouraging people to disagree in a polite manner.
Encouraging courtesy has several merits. People are more likely to re-evaluate their views if you question them in a civilised manner - even when you think that their actions aren't especially civilised. And flaming merely discourages genuine debate. Moreover, forum members are adults and a strict censorship on even mentioning illegal behaviour would be treating them like children: easily seduced by freebies.
The issue is also rather blurred because some of you live in states where copying a book that you own in treeware format is allowed. And some of us don't. This makes discussion even more complicated. And then we can debate whether the law takes precedence over morality ...
It is hardly surprising that more heat than light is generated.
I have published. I have had my work taken without permission. I was annoyed. I don't intend to do that to anyone else.
|