MattyJ wrote:
P2P or any kind of file sharing is stealing! Sharing bandwidth is
stealing! Playing a radio is the barbershop without paying ASCAP is
Sharing implies the sharer knows that they are sharing, and this is
not what we are talking about. At least that's not what I thought we
were talking about.
Like Stewart said, you're putting the burden on the wrong person. If a
person doesn't know that he is leaving his WAP open for sharing, that's
*his* _ignorance_. With the automatic WiFi connections done seamlessly
by many modern OSs, the surfer may be ignorant as well.
If my neighbor is witlessly "sharing" his music with me, he may not know
that he is sharing it, but that doesn't change the fact that he *is*
sharing it. It's only considered "rude" if it bothers me. But if I
happen to enjoy it, it doesn't magically become theft. And if I start
singing along, it's not rude (even if it bothers him) because he's
providing the base for it. If he stops the music that I'm singing to,
then I will likely stop the sing-along.
Sorry, I thought it was a contrived analogy and so didn't pay too
much attention to its details. Given those details it's even weaker.
My can's on the curb. Obviously, I've already put all my available
trash into it. I could care less what my neighbor (or anyone else for
that matter) adds. The city's going to take it all away in the
morning anyway and I'll have empty cans for another week. Where's the
harm? Like I said: lame!
Maybe you live in an area where trash collection is free, in which
case you should provide 20 trashcans to all your neighbors because
garbage wants to be free. Viva la garbage.
I don't live in such a utopia. I pay for my trash can and trash
collection out of pocket, and even though the can is not technically
mine, and once the can is out on the curb it's considered public
property, I don't want my cheap neighbor *not* paying for their trash
and using my can. I guess I really am stupid and just can't understand
why it's okay to piggyback on someone else's paid service for free.
I'm still going to choose to believe that many open networks in
residential areas are not open by design. Just look at the names.
Right now I have three open networks in my neighborhood, with SSID's
of Apple Network 220b4e, and two of everyone's favorite 'linksys'. I
just don't feel right taking advantage of someone's outright stupidity
or technological ignorance.
You are *assuming* either "stupidity" or "technological ignorance". Why
can it not be assumed that they knew full well that they were leaving
their WAP open for anyone to use and didn't really care to change the
name from the default?
If they are indeed ~"technologically ignorant"~, then the burden to
learn is upon them anyway, *if* they care to. If they are ~"stupid"~,
then they can pay the "stupidity" tax.
"Stupid people should have to wear a sign." --Bill Engvall
--
Ralph
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In India, hot and warm are colloquial terms to differentiate between
weather that will melt a brass doorknob and weather which will only make
it mushy.
--Mark Twain
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