Today before breakfast, my son asked my opinion on content and software downloads without paying for it. I looked at it and said, do suppose that you created an application that took you a long time, and you decide to sell it online. Someone downloads it without your consent and doesn't pay you for it. He replied immediately, it is unfair.
During breakfast, the talk revolved around the arguments against and in favor of piracy in general. My definitive answer was categorical; it is neither moral nor ethical, as well as illegal. However, I didn't always think that way. In 2017, my external drive contained over 200GB of music and movies downloaded through torrent services, especially from the Piratebay site. Like my son, I believed that it would not affect anyone if someone shared a file. I was only looking for entertainment and not commercializing it, and I was also aware that I was violating rights. I justified it under the pretext of an illogical and non-rational rebellion.
That year 2017, was strange and difficult for me. Not only because of the conflictive situation of citizen protests that shook the country and left many families mourning. The most severe existential crisis began inside me, and it reconfigured the man I am today.
I don't want to deviate from the topic by telling you about my crisis, but I thought it pertinent telling you what one of the upturned areas was my preference for the type of music and movies that I used to see. I questioned not only the messages that came in these, but also how I obtained most of the entertainment material. So, one fine day I format the external hard drive, deleting all the files, including those obtained legally. The reason was simple but powerful: he didn't want to remain a thief.
On some websites or YouTube videos, I read or heard that about 40% of the software that people use in the world is illegal. Maybe I could have gone through with all the stolen material. However, I decided to be at ease with my conscience. No one is likely to be interested in my illegal use or enjoyment of the content or software. Before, I justified it in a thousand ways, but now I can't. Also, the risk you take is a lot, and it is not worth it. Viruses and malware abound on these pages could affect your privacy and could even steal personal and financial data. Another aspect to consider, your internet provider knows what you do on the web. In this sense, they have evidence of how good or bad you do.
My son is somewhat stubborn. I don't blame him; he looks a lot like me. I hope he listens to my advice and follows my example. Meanwhile, I will do a new inspection on my laptop to verify that there are no traces of my old misdeeds, not for fear of being discovered, but because it is wise to rectify, and having a clear conscience is liberating.
The photo was taken by me
