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Re:Editorial: "How piracy changed my life" by k-mcgrady on Saturday December 01, 2012 @03:37PM (#4858891)
> "Many (if not most) of the people that do it would pay a reasonable price if it was possible for them to do so."

And the fact that they can't afford it gives them justification for stealing it? Would it not make more sense, that if you can't afford something you aren't entitled to it? If a poor or homeless person were to steal food from a shop they wouldn't be allowed to do it because, although they would like to pay, it isn't possible for them to do so.

Re:Editorial: "How piracy changed my life" by learc83 on Saturday December 01, 2012 @09:41PM (#4859876)
If the homeless person was taking food from the infinite food replicator, then yes it would be fine.
Re:Editorial: "How piracy changed my life" by joesb on Sunday December 02, 2012 @09:02AM (#4861181)
Why does it have to be infinite? Every restaurant has left over at the end of the day. Is it wrong for the homeless to pick up food from those shop during the day without paying?

Is it wrong for the homeless to sleep in your house in the room no one is currently using?

Re:Editorial: "How piracy changed my life" by qu4z-2 on Monday December 03, 2012 @12:34AM (#4864102)
It has to be infinite for the analogy to work.

The restaurants have to pay to replace food the homeless would pick up during the day (or even put in work to prepare it for a restaurant). Food that's leftover at the end of the day and can't be sold the next day could certainly be given to the homeless for free (and I know of at least a few restaurants in my city that do this).

The homeless person sleeping in the spare room creates cleanup work, and prevents you from using that room at a moment's notice. If a homeless person could sleep in my spare room without using the shared spaces and leaving the room instantly, in perfect order, the moment I wanted to use the room, I don't think I can morally justify not letting them.

So while the situations you mention may or may not be moral, it's shifting the debate back into a worldview centred around scarcity.

Re:Editorial: "How piracy changed my life" by anonymous on Saturday December 01, 2012 @04:48PM (#4859124)
The difference with your homeless person is that these people are stealing education.

You're committing an act of classism. Please check your rich whiteboy privilege.