[Gllug] Priracy.

[Dermot Moynihan]

At 10:46 04/03/03, you wrote:

>         Linux is never going to replace Windows until people start
>replising that Software Piracy is a real crime and is exactly the same as
>Stealling.

"real crime" as opposed to...?
A Definition of "crime" and "Stealing" in the context of a Capitalist 
so-called Democracy might be in order.

>         Its not the law abiding

A fairly relevant quote: "The law is Capitalism's mask and ally".

>computer users we need to convert most of
>them know that If its leally free and it works its good. But how do we
>tell the great users of Grokster and the like that Linux is free when they
>argue that windows is free becuase I can down load it for free from the
>internet using Grokster.
>         Like any criminal activity it damages the real work

mustn't interfere with Gate's plans for world domination! The Great Satan 
versus The Axis Of Evil.

>, and strangly
>that of real Open Source Software (Which just so happerns to be Leally
>free)
>         The problem seams to be that software piracy is not really sean as
>a crime and the likly hood of being found is neally zero.

Lock 'em up and throw away the key?

>If only becuase
>a good copy of windows is very difficult to prove.
>         In short although Linux is free and Open. we still have to do
>battle with Windows becuase many people "Think" windows is free too (Just
>not Open Source which means nothing to most people)

I don't know who the hell you get your information from.

Speaking as a newcomer who would dearly love to get away from Windows and 
move to Linux, the problem with Linux is simply that it's difficult and 
consequently very time consuming. Those who object to Gates and his ilk are 
unable to find people amongst their mates who will show them how to use 
Linux because the mates themselves don't know.

The problem won't be sorted until Suse (makers of my own wretched distro) 
and their like stop producing distros that *they* claim are *user friendly* 
and actually produce one that *is*.

Who the hell wants free (with all its meanings) stuff if they can't get it 
to do what they want it to do?

We can kid ourselves forever as to the real reasons but if we don't face 
facts we are wasting our time and will achieve little. You can be damn sure 
that Gates doesn't kid himself. He sees the threat that Linux poses and 
must consequently do a little jig (sound proofed room) when another damn 
difficult Linux distro appears.

This email reminds me of a Sufi learning-story:

Nasruddin was on his way home late one night and saw a guy looking for 
something under a lamp post. Being a Linux user, he stopped and offered to 
help. The guy said he'd lost his front door key.

Well, they searched for a while and then Nasruddin asked him where exactly 
he thought he'd lost it. The guy, pointing about 50 yards up the road, 
said, "Up there". When Nasruddin asked him what the hell he was doing 
looking for it down here the guy replied, "This is the only place where 
there's light".

rgds
Dermot

>Peter Childs