Sunday, December 2, 2007

Yo Ho Ho! A Pirate's Life for Me!

If a Christian steals, did he or she sin? What if I told you that many Christians right now are thieves? Would you believe me?

The contention of the software industry remain in echoes - intellectual property needs to be respected for the sake of those who labor in coming up with the solutions brought about by commercial software.

Now what if I told you that more than 89% of the software that you use - to type your homework, to run your computer, to do your yearbook - are pirated software. No matter where you go - AUP, MVC, or the homes of Christians - the source of application software that many of us use are bootlegged (not all, of course). Why is that? Because of the high costs of software compared to the almost eerily cheap pirated sources.

You see, software piracy in itself is just like stealing. We tend to steal the ideas, the revenue, and the ownership of those who did the work honestly (as far as we know, of course). We may easily say that the same people are richer than us anyway, so that they can afford to lose a meager amount. But then, can we really rationalize our way out of this?

Of course, many of us tend to shoo this away and think, "I do what I have to do." That is the case. We do what we have to do. But as Christians, do we just, well, do? It remains imperative that if we want to be truthful to our beliefs, we better do it practically. I may be preaching this knowing that I too might be guilty of this atrocity. Yet I do believe that there is room for change and we can either go ahead and actually buy our software (painful to the pocket) or migrate to Open Source software. Either way, the benefits to our character become a lot better than just hiding within the bounds of, "I do my share as an evangelizing Christian." I bet you segregate your trash too.

Whether you are a computer geek or a computer user, you are not immune from your supposed Christianity. What practical steps do you think should you do as a Christian educator when the fine line is drawn to usability and character? Will you continue to become a thief, or will you change your ways just like your Christianity compels you to? What did you have for dinner tonight?

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Honestly speaking I don't know that softwares are also being pirated. Now I know that even we who professed as the true church of the living God are breaking His commandments. Nevertheless I believe that some didn't know that what they are using are pirated. If only they know it then they should have not patronize those products.
On the other hand it is our duty to teach the people whom we are acquainted the laws of God both in speech and in deeds.

Anonymous said...

Honestly speaking I don't know that softwares are also being pirated. Now I know that even we who professed as the true church of the living God are breaking His commandments. Nevertheless I believe that some didn't know that what they are using are pirated. If only they know it then they should have not patronize those products.
On the other hand it is our duty to teach the people whom we are acquainted the laws of God both in speech and in deeds.

Unknown said...
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Unknown said...
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Unknown said...

hi, jimwise...
we are accountable for every act isn't it?

so, we must be knowledgeable on every step or things we do...
they say, "that ignorance to the law excuses no one!."
therefore, scrutinize first what path are you taking, the right way or the other - that leads you to total destruction.

WE MUST BE WARY AND WISE ALL THE TIME...

what I'm trying to say is in every door we enter we shall first know what's the first step how to enter or at least have a background what is happening inside before entering...

mikka said...
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mikka said...

hmm... there's a saying that what you don't know won't hurt you, well now I know! So, lagot ako...guilty as charged.

Piracy is definetly a crime both for the producer and the consumer. But the question is why is this happening?; money matters. Some might argue and say that there is no excuse, definetly! But the more interesting question is,is there a solution to avoid piracy but still not pay much?As I read the article I think that the open-source software is a good solution to this problem because it also allows redistribution of materials,so more people can benefit from the program and more people are to contribute to whatever it costs.

So now that I know,as a Christian I must try my best and make sure that we are purchasing programs that are produced legally.
And pray to God that more softwares are to be produced for the convenience of both the producers and the consumers.

What I had for dinner tonight? Just about to eat dinner, we're having sinigang na bangus...so, my comment ends here. (",)
Bon appetite everyone!

Victoria & Hpone said...

So then i am one of the thief.But now i know so i can change.
you can not say that everyone is a thief because some do not know that it is pirated. So we can forgive at this. But since we know then stop doing that if we don't stop then we are thieves.

Unknown said...

oh... i'm kinda lost.. really coz i reali don't know much about software... but as the article...its showing that we are theives huh!!!! hehehe ok..
i agree when mikka said.. money matters.. yes now days you can see those pirated movies are bad..but still people do that .. the question is money.... but as a christan side of view.. we should try our best to avoid those things even those we are not perfect.....and............
stealing is a bad thing.... and it is not good to steal and the person who lost his things will be sad, juz had an experience last week.. lost my cell ph.. somebody got it.. he might be happy but i do am really sad and feels bad....
still sad.. didn't have anything for dinner last night......

Kim, Jee Eun said...

I had also heard before that most of the softwares were pirated, and that it was a "wrong thing". At first, I didn't exactly understnad why it was a "wrong thing". When I asked people around me, they kept saying "It can't be avoided. Everyone is doing it."
It didn't answer my question because I asked the reason why it was wrong, and what they told me wasn't exactly a reason, but an excuse. But now, I think finally understand why it was called as a "wrong thing".
Some may say that it is because of the money. But as a Christian, I think that we should do what is right rather than doing something wrong for our benefits in budgets.
I'm not sure if the most computer softwares I have at home are pirated, since it has been with us ever since we first bought our computer, at during those times, none of us in the family knew much about computer. We just got we were told to get... But I know there are few softwares that are pirated. I can recognize them since, well, it somehow has that "I'm pirated!" look...
But if I need a software someday, now I know that I shouldn't buy any pirated softwares, or get the open source software, because that is also known as "stealing". It is quite a pity that I somehow can't find a software shop that sells the "original" softwares. Whenever I pass by a computer software store, I can see that they are selling pirated softwares. But I know now that I shouldn't stop looking for the original softwares since that is the right thing to do.

selina said...

wow~~sticky problem~
i have seen the original softwares only several times in China.And i'm sorry about most of pirated softwares in Philippines which made in China...i'm shame about it~ but,but,the pirated softwares helped all the Chinese learned about computer~ if there wasn't the pirated software how many Chinese can use computer? i think, only a few~~ i'm not mean that pirated softwares is right things, but it was helpful in our country especially for poor people~
we are christian, of couse we can't steal, but if you like me liveing in China, then you use a lot of monay to buy the original softwares (you have to make sure it is real "original".kk~good luck~ )people will think you are crazy. i give you example,microsoft office , the original software is 2000p, and the pirated software is 18p~~~(actually nobody sell the original software.)
it's hard to be a Chiese, and more hard to be a Chinese christian~!!
let's pray to God,ask Him to solve the problem~

Anonymous said...

ohhhh...shoCks...nawala yung kinoment ko..asar!!!
well..am using computer for almost 10years now,including my elementary years..i dont actually know about pirated softwares, i dont know what are those.. i have watched a news bout burning chuva, it is also an act of robbery, i was shocked because i have it in my computer and am using it from time to time..but as the days went by, iforgot about that thing and now,,heres another issue, well,,i if i could do somethinf like not buying those pirated softwares i will not,..pero kasi i dont know what are those e,kaya i dont care(bad)..bsta im using computer,that's it..(grr)(tsktsk bad)hahaha..

>>>i had for dinner is a 1 pc vegE burger wit egg..and 2 sAchet of miLo...im not on a diet but im not in the mood to eat heavy foods...

aun lng..****ciao*****

Anonymous said...

hmmn...Of course if we steal, we have sin...
Actually I didn't know that there was a software piracy. I am not aware of that!
Now, I know that Christians become thieves just because of the software piracy. I think it is the high cost why many were using the pirated software, because it is cheaper that the original. But, it is not fair to those people have a hard time making software. Those are like a cheater, copying the idea of others, stealing the work of others. As a Christians, we must not build this kind of character.
We must change this kind of character; we must stop using the pirated software.

anabillee said...

oh my........i dont know that actually!So,maybe users like me who is inocent did not commit sin yet.hehehe.....maybe, practically speakng,some people continue using pirated softwares inorder to save money.but,for me,if have enough money i would rather use those stuff which are more quality.so,i will try my best not to be swindled anymore...........!

Anonymous said...

honestly, after i read this article, i ralize that software are also being pirated. example, if i buy a software,i did'nt know that my software is pirated,now is the time to teach the people who are saleling pirated, is there time to stop.we must knowledgeable to buy a software, as i christian, i must try to promote this program, Stop piracy.be sure that if we but, it must be original.

Anonymous said...

I already heard this kind of issue before and I could still remember when my computer teacher in high school warned us about this.It was very surprising that our school prefered piracy software because it's cheaper. I believe that everyone is guilty of this act. So what is the best thing to do?Definitely, it is not easy to prevent but I think the government should make ways inorder to stop this piracy.
And as a christian, this is n important thing to consider.Now that I realize my fault. I will try my best to patronize the original product.

Rachelle said...

Most probably I will change my ways. You have the will and choice to do something but as Christian we are ought to do what is expected of us, to live in a Christian way. I do believe also that there is always a room for change. As an educator, you should be aware of what you are doing, before doing anything think of it twice! The dignity is very important as an educator, students and other people are looking at you as someone special as someone to be idolized, a model, particularly in character. Your lifestyle as a bonafide Christian is already a ministry to other people specially to your students.

Angeline said...

Humans are sinners, that’s the reality and we can’t change it no matter what. All of us commit sins in our everyday lives and unfortunately, many of us commit sins without knowing it. Just like in the computers, almost all computers we are using right now are pirated. And I think more than half of the users or owners of those computers don’t know that what they are using right now is pirated or illegal which means they already commit sin without knowing it. This is life, and I think what matters most is us being Christians and we should always do what we think is right and always ask for forgiveness and always have faith in God.

Anonymous said...

we born in this world with sins because we inherit this from our first parents Adan and Eve.honestly i am not aware and i don't understand this.

Anonymous said...

i heard it before and i think its true,. you can't blame those people who are using pirated software.. the original is quite expensive..and besides, not all of us have our own computer.. so maybe many of them didn't know these "pirate pirate whatever" maybe they will just say "who cares?"
anyway, its good that computer users are aware in these issue.
Thanks.. ^^