I live on Silom Road, and every afternoon and evening, the streets are full of people selling illegal CDs and DVDs of music, sex and movies. And there are a lot more people buying them. In fact, millions of people buy these illegal products. Computer software is another popular area for these sorts of crimes: millions of people around the world happily buy and use illegal versions of Microsoft and other companies software.
Are these millions of shoppers and computer users doing something immoral?More important: do they think their behaviour is immoral?
Both the sellers and buyers are stealing and profiting from other people's work, so it would seem to be immoral as well as illegal.
Does this mean that millions of people believe that it is OK to behave immorally?
Or do you think that those people convince themselves that it is not really immoral for some reason? Do people do things that they know to be immoral, or do they believe their acts are not really immoral for some reason?
What do you think? Can we happily do what we know is wrong, or do we try to make up an excuse before we do it? Does having an excuse make it right?
__________
References
- Pratruangkrai, P. (2006, May 6). DVD, VCD piracy is worsening, in the Nation [Electronic version]. Retrieved September 18, 2008 from http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/05/06/business/business_30003348.php
I forgot to mention that this is a response writing activity, not an academic writing exercise, so it's quite OK to say things like "I think".
ReplyDeleteThe purpose is to clearly express your ideas in sentences. As long as you do that, your response writing is successful.
Of course, others might disagree with you and ask you explain or support what you've written, but in the same manner as happens in a discussion, rather than a piece of academic writing.
We're not looking for an essay here - just your clearly stated response.
People khow what they do is immoral but they do this because of cost of the product. Some of them buy illegal dvds and computer software because it is necessary to have some kinds of software which relate to their works but they do not have enough money to buy it. I personally think people buys illegal dvds and computer software from some reasons. For example, the cost of genuine version of computer software usually have a high cost; Microsoft Windows costs more than 6000 bahts. When people work , they often use this software. If they don't have it at home, their jobs could be very inconvenient. Besides, I think dvd movies usually have unreasonable price. They're always expensive. If there is no illegal dvds, the sales of dvd movies wolud be not much different. Because people might avoid to buy a legal dvd which is expensive but they might get the movie at dvd rent. In my opinion, illegal dvd movies cause the dvd rent disappear.
ReplyDeleteMany people definitely know that buy illegal CD or software is immoral however they still buying it and try to find their excuse such as the original are rare or expensive. For example, many people buy illegal computer software because it’s too expensive and they can not afford it such as Microsoft office or antivirus. I can’t deny that some software is really important but we still have many options. For example, Microsoft office is really popular and so important for our life. Anyway, apart of Microsoft, we still have another option like Linux. The first time that Linux has been introduce to the market. They allow us to download their software for free but most people still prefer to buy pirate software which is a strong brand like Microsoft. Moreover, nowadays we have many anti-virus software which is really cheap. It’s around 800-1000 Baht but many people still want to buy pirate software or tries to hack for the code in internet. In addition, many people feel that it’s common to buy pirate software. According to Peter’s story, we can find illegal CD or pirate software easily on street or in many malls in Bangkok. This problem never been solved because some of the member in government get involve with this matter and a lot of corruption in Thailand. Police also take a bribe. After all, I prefer to buy original and try to convince many friend of mine to do the same. I hope that everyone will pay more respect to the owner or creator because these people spent a lot of time to create it in the meanwhile the pirate dealer just copy and sale. They don’t have to do anything except stealing people ideas.
ReplyDeleteI agree this issue that stealing or profitting from others' work are immoral in terms of illegal. I think people who used to buy illegal CDs or DVDs know this fault and maybe they don't need to buy them and someone is not happy to do that, but the copyright CDs or DVDs,I mean the original manuscript,are rarely more expensive than illegal ones.So,they maybe think that they have a better choice to buy the cheap ones.In my opinion they don't think that it's ok for behave illegally,but it's necessary. Moreover, not only the buyers but also the sellers should be more concered about this problems in order to reducing illegal activities.I think the government also must have strong punishment,I mean the government must have rigid measures to cope with this significant problem.In other words, the companies that produce CDs, DVDs, computer software and so on should sell them in reasonable price because the sales of original products will be increasing and people will not do a wrong thing like this.
ReplyDeleteI agree and disagree with some points all of you posted.Firstly, I think using priracy product is quite different from stealing other people's thing. Please make it clear that this product is intangible asset.So, being copied actually cost no one directly.What the owners lose is their opportunity cost.It differs from stealing tangible asset like cars, pocket, or cheating other money. Can you convict someone because they steal your money expected to earn in the future. Ok, it's wrong to do that but not as bad as what thieve do. Especially, when you consider this intangible product's cost structure,it almost has no cost for any one additional unit produced because all cost it incurs is fix cost though there is some variable cost but it account for very small portion of overall cost. In contrast, for tangible product, almost all of its cost is variable cost. So, if you steal the tangible good ,you steal the real money from the owner but for software or music ,what you do is just sharing other opportunities,without their permission. Yes,it's wrong. But isn't sharing is the common concept of all religion.
ReplyDeleteMoreover, for people in developing country, most of those product have been priced at unreasonable price. With the average income of Thai people is around 10,000 baht a month, How can they afford MS Window at their almost half-month salary cost. Yes, I knew that those price in developing country are lower than in western country but they are still expensive comparing with our power of purchase.However, the tourists from the rich country who buying the illegal dvd on Silom Road can use this for their excuses.
Later, i think that almost computer users in Thailand use those software because of reasons related to education either direct or indirect ways.In Copyright Act, It states that this copy prohibiting law is except for educational purposes. If everyone have to buy the expensive software for education, this price discrimination limits the poor to have a chance that rich men have.
For those reason above, almost people using illegal intangible things don't feel much guilty. Yes, they know that it's wrong but it's not killing other or stealing.Watching pirate dvd is the same as robbing a bank is the propaganda being exaggerate by Hollywood studio.
How to solve this problem, First,let's use demand and supply rule. If you can sell your product at the current price, why don't reduce its price down. Yes, you sacrifice some profit but get less isn't better then get none especially with this kind of product that every unit sold more almost has no cost to producer. Why you won't decrease your price down to fight the piracy like some of Thai studio did and they can get some of their market back.
Lastly, If you won't to get less profit you have to add more value to your product to persuade customer who can afford to buy the real one.
In my opinion,illegal CDs and DVDs quite common to see and buy them.We know that is illegal but we are still buy them.Many reason to get idea why do people buy the copy ones.I suppose one of them is the price.The price is the main reason that people think about.We know If we buy the copy of CDs or DVDs is illegal and immoral.In fact we know the real ones always better than copy ones and more valuable but their behaviour is acceptable in society.So,that would be fine to buy them.Both the sellers and buyers are stealing and profiting from other people's work,so they realized but still do it. Naturally of people behave always do the thing that give an advantage for their self.They do not care about impact of the real product.I think it is hard and too late for goverment to control them.
ReplyDeleteTechnically,it is certainly immoral to doing stuffs like that, selling, buying illegal DVDS and software, it is kind of stealing other people's idea, I agree. As well as doing or acting something else that affect others, any kind of immoral should not be happen in society. However, in case of illegal DVDs, I believe there are some causes, that made it happen. I think it's because earlier stuffs like this are really expensive, until now the legal one still expensive, but people need to use it. The producer try to get too much benefit, that I would say it is also one kind of immoral. Almost every body want to use the DVDS if the producer make there stuffs a bit cheaper and sell them to lots of customer,they could be the only seller anyway,like Microsoft Window, I think that should be enough,but they don't think it is ,even more people need,more expensive they sell.They take advantage of the other first. Therefore, if any body else can bring the same thing but lots cheaper, then who cares. So illegal markets appear but they've seen like ordinary,as yet I don't think it easy to stop this kind of selling.
ReplyDeleteWe all khow that buying and selling pirated goods are illegal and also immoral, but it is hard to deny, isn't it? I think people still buying illegal DVDs and computer software because they are much cheaper than the legal one. So, one way to deal with this crime is that the price for a coppy right should be reduced.May be setting prices for products depands on producers of products or the marketing(I'm not an expert on this issue). Then, if they gain lease benefit by reduce a price down a little bit,they will gain more benefit from the increasing of selling. However, the stong law for people who break it is very important. I think the law for couterfit goods is very weak in Thailand and that's why we can see pirate CDs everywhere. Moreover, we should built up people's conscience on this issue that buying illegal goods is a kind of serious crime. When the buying stop, the selling (illegal products) can too.
ReplyDeleteAccording to reading the sentence I agree with the statement that Illegal DVDs are certainly popular because since I can remember. It’s so hard to buy legal CD or legal software because a number of shop which sell legal product. Moreover, in case of the price I think it is not reasonable to sell in the high price in Thailand because the company knows Thai people get low salary and they have to pay money on other way such as for meal, medicine, and maybe their family. I think the right way can protect illegal DVDs or program is set up the price cheaper and suitable with the buyer. In addition, they have to promote about the quality is better and price gap is not much like people think.
ReplyDeleteThis issue is also controversial in Korea. This article posted by Peter wrote about illegal DVD, but downloding MP3 music is also a big prbleme. Most famous actress, singer, director campaign not using illegal CD and downloding album in computer. But it could't be dissapeared easily. There are a lot of lawsuit about it. Whenever it happen, it become a hot issue in Korea.
ReplyDeleteIt is important that this problem is not solved although Korean government have strong punishment. Actually, I enjoy downlode music because one album who directed by one singer group have some music but all of them isn't good. I can choose music that I like by downloding. Too many people like do it and today I can't felt I am guilty.
But I don't think that government have to make strong punishment. That is not good solution.
Think about this case. When appearing internet shoping mall, some people think that offline market will be disappeared. When appearing camera chatting on internet, someone think that we don't have to disscussing with facing directly.
When appearing electronic books, someone think that paper books will be disappeared. But all of them isn't disappeared. It is still important to meet people, read a paper book, and go to shoping mall with your family. Even though there are a lot of illegal DVD selled by many people, theater won't be disappeared. If DVD have high value, people will be buy it and would like to possess for a long time. Directors have to try more to make their movie becoming high value and develop another way of commercial movie market likes theater. Even though many people use MP3, many fans would like to meet their singer in the concert. The world become globalize, so Korean famaous singer can have concert in Asia. Music directer and singer also have to develop those commercial market.
If we buy things easily from supermarkets, department stores, markets and so on, we can buy easily many types of the illegal CD and DVD such as music, movies, software of computer and so on too. I often see the illegal CD and DVD in many places such as streets, markets, puntip, website and so on. I think that most people like to buy them because it is cheaper than the genuine CD and DVD. My idea is neutral about them. I used to buy it, but it did not work. It is truth that it is cheaper than the original CD and DVD. If I need to buy music CD or movie DVD again, I will buy original CD and DVD. It gives me sure that they works. For legal position, they are illegal, and have the punishment, so I do not be surprise why the buyer will hide them if they see the policemen. It still is true that they are immoral, and we should not support them. The host of copyright should get fairly when they produce their prolific.
ReplyDelete