Pluralistic: “If buying isn’t owning, piracy isn’t stealing” (08 Dec 2023) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow
pluralistic.net

The ability to change features, prices, and availability of things you’ve already paid for is a powerful temptation to corporations.

  • abuttifulpigeon@lemmy.worldEnglish
    23·
    11 months ago

    An associate of mine defines stealing as, “taking (either by cloning or removing) something (either digital or physical) of which is not of your original possession”

    If anyone has a rebuttal, please help.

    Edit: What’s with the downvotes? I’m on your side.

    • OmegaPillar@lemmy.caEnglish
      8·
      11 months ago

      It’s not really a rebuttal, but by that assessment, a person may not view a webpage, as the browser copies files from a distant server for viewing.

    • TheDezzick@lemm.eeEnglish
      2·
      11 months ago

      It’s not so much a rebuttal, but ask if they think stealing has any relation to depriving another person of something. Imo, they have a correct, though extremely narrow, definition of stealing that doesn’t leave any nuance for comparing different kinds of stealing. Piracy, or as they would say ‘stealing digital media’ is not a kind of stealing that deprives another person of that thing, so clearly it’s somewhat different than stealing money or physical property.

      If they aren’t willing to entertain that there are different kinds of stealing then they’re ignorant of reality and it might not be worth your time to try to change their mind.

    • Phrodo_00@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      11 months ago

      It’s because that’s not a common definition and it’s not even a good one. No normal person would call cloning stealing. Also, this completely misses lending, gifting, downloading a webpage or even renting. All of those would be stealing under this definition.

    • poopkins@lemmy.worldEnglish
      21·
      11 months ago

      Hi, welcome to the Technology community here on Lemmy! Discourse is not tolerated here, so please just tack on your endorsement of piracy and leave your civility at the door.

        • poopkins@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          11 months ago

          Whoa whoa, we don’t take kindly to people telling us that. Only a boot-licking, brain-dead, corporate shill wouldn’t outright endorse piracy. Take your nuance somewhere else, pal!

    • merc@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      Who cares what your associate uses as a definition, stealing / theft has long established definitions. You can just point and laugh and say that your associate doesn’t actually understand the words he/she is using.

      You could say that you define agreeing as “thinking someone is completely wrong”, and that you agree with your associate.