Virgin media possibly getting serious on dodgy boxes?

[Digital Fanatic]

Originally Posted by Saaf_laandon_mo

Calm down, I am not insulting you as I didn't say that all people show a hypocritical attitute. I am saying some people do. I suggest you re-read my post. If you have never downloaded content illegally or watched illegally copied content then you have every right to slag of dodgy box users. I am also not condoning the use of dodgy boxes, and I did not say its ok to steal cable.



I was under the impression that the copying of films, say using recording equipment in a cinema, is illegal. The distribution of illegal DVDs, if what we are led to believe is true is an organised crime that we are told also contributes to terrorism amongst other things.

Whether people go to the cinema, because they get a higher experience than watcing the film on a download at home is irrelevant if you are still downloading or watching downloaded content. They might not be commiting a criminal offence, but they are contributing to one.

Yes using dodgy boxes is illegal, and I am not defending their use. My post was about differing attitudes. I do think that before tarnishing all users of dodgy boxes as evil ****, we should look a bit closer to home.

I am now calm

[TheDon]

Originally Posted by Saaf_laandon_mo

I was under the impression that the copying of films, say using recording equipment in a cinema, is illegal. The distribution of illegal DVDs, if what we are led to believe is true is an organised crime that we are told also contributes to terrorism amongst other things.

Copying is, distribution is, downloading, most likely isn't.

It also doesn't contribute to terrorism unless you're buying off some dodgy guy in a pub that happens to then send the money on to some terrorist sleeper cell, but then the same can be said for anything, the guy on the market you buy your fruit and veg from could be sending the money to some terrorist organisation.

If you're downloading, and ergo not paying any money, you cannot be contributing to terrorism or organised crime as they're not making any money from it.

I wish the likes of the RIAA/MPAA would stop with the "zomg piracy funds terrorism" arguments already, because in 99.9% of cases it doesn't and just causes people to roll their eyes at the campaigns.

Originally Posted by Saaf_laandon_mo

Whether people go to the cinema, because they get a higher experience than watcing the film on a download at home is irrelevant if you are still downloading or watching downloaded content. They might not be commiting a criminal offence, but they are contributing to one.

Yes using dodgy boxes is illegal, and I am not defending their use. My post was about differing attitudes. I do think that before tarnishing all users of dodgy boxes as evil ****, we should look a bit closer to home.

The thing is some people that do download do so because they simply cannot get the same service without doing so.

For instance just about the only thing that I download (well, I stream it online) is live football at 3pm on saturdays, I'm a season ticket holder, and go to every home game, and watch every televised away game, but because of some dumb FA rule that bans 3pm's being televised in this country I can't watch them legitimately, instead I have to delve into the dark world of online streams. I'd HAPPILY pay for an official service, but there just isn't one.

As much as I'd love to I can't go to many away games as I'm on call on weekends, and as such have to be within 30mins traveling distance of work, so I'm left with the scenario of either not watching the game and listening to the worst commentry possible on the radio, or actually getting to watch the game, but it being through an unofficial potentially illegal 3rd party. I'll choose the latter everytime and not feel bad about it because I'm not depriving anyone of income as no one will offer me a service where I can do it legitimately.

[Mr Angry]

Bored already.

[antonb31]

about time virgin did something about this ,thousands folk gettin to watch movies,sports .porn even sky box office for free! takes the **** .but no doubt when they eventually hack nagra 3 il be the first to buy a box!lol

[tony_i]

Originally Posted by TheDon

I'll choose the latter everytime and not feel bad about it because I'm not depriving anyone of income as no one will offer me a service where I can do it legitimately.

The service is offered: you can go to the match.

Anyone who thinks stealing for this reason is okay is a hypocrite.

Originally Posted by tony_i

The service is offered: you can go to the match.

Did you miss the part of his post where he says he is a season ticket holder, and goes to all matches apart from when he's on-call and unable to be more than 30 minutes' drive from work?

Thought so.

Anyone who thinks stealing for this reason is okay is a hypocrite.

It would be more accurate to accuse him of special pleading ... he recognises that the rules are against him, but he thinks he's a special case.

[tony_i]

Originally Posted by Chris

he thinks he's a special case.

There are no shortage of special cases on here.

Originally Posted by tony_i

Okay, so if I was a fan of a major premiership team but either couldn't get a ticket because it was sold out, or because I couldn't afford it, would that make it okay to get a dodgy box because it would enable me to watch my team when I wanted?

Does the pricing of a lot of people out of buying season tickets mean it's okay to get a dodgy box?

If I (genuinely) can't afford a VM sports sub does that mean I can steal?

If I'm a Man U fan that lives in Surrey (hardly unusual) and the train fare is too much to afford does that make it okay to steal?

Unbelievable.

Go back and read my post again, then quote for me the precise bits of it where I say I think TheDon is justified in what he's doing. Go on. Dare you.

[tony_i]

Originally Posted by Chris

Go back and read my post again, then quote for me the precise bits of it where I say I think TheDon is justified in what he's doing. Go on. Dare you.

Show me where I was responding to what you had written. Dare you.

Obviously hit a sore spot. What a bunch of hypocritical vipers.

(Apologies for deleting my second post, but it's above anyway.)

---------- Post added at 21:13 ---------- Previous post was at 21:05 ----------

If there's any confusion it's here:

Okay, so if I was a fan of a major premiership team but either couldn't get a ticket because it was sold out, or because I couldn't afford it, would that make it okay to get a dodgy box because it would enable me to watch my team when I wanted?

Does the pricing of a lot of people out of buying season tickets mean it's okay to get a dodgy box?

If I (genuinely) can't afford a VM sports sub does that mean I can steal?

If I'm a Man U fan that lives in Surrey (hardly unusual) and the train fare is too much to afford does that make it okay to steal?

Unbelievable.

Originally Posted by tony_i

Show me where I was responding to what you had written. Dare you.

Obviously hit a sore spot. What a bunch of hypocritical vipers.

(Apologies for deleting my second post, but it's above anyway.)

---------- Post added at 21:13 ---------- Previous post was at 21:05 ----------

If there's any confusion it's here:

Okay, so <snip>.

Thank you for doing it for me. It's obvious your post is a response to mine, seeing as you start it with an acknowledgement of what I said ("Okay") and follow it with an attempt to take what you think I'm saying to some sort of logical conclusion ("so..." - synonymous in this instance with "therefore"). If you weren't responding to me, to whom were you responding?

I note you still haven't done me the courtesy of answering my question. Allow me to re-phrase it in a way that makes it a little easier for you to answer:

What, specifically, makes you think I condone what TheDon is doing?

[tony_i]

You'll be surprised to hear that the world doesn't revolve around.

Just accept that I have no interest in what you think of what another member writes.

Read my post in isolation from yours (or don't read it - I don't really care) and move on.

Originally Posted by tony_i

You'll be surprised to hear that the world doesn't revolve around.

Just accept that I have no interest in what you think of what another member writes.

Read my post in isolation from yours (or don't read it - I don't really care) and move on.

It would have taken fewer words for you to simply admit you got it wrong. Still, that's the internet for you, no shortage of angry keyboard warriors out there. Maybe next time you'll take a deep breath, wind your neck in and engage your brain before starting to vent.

[tony_i]

If it makes you feel better, that's fine.

Where do you get the 'warrior' bit from? And the 'anger'?

Have you seen some of the aggressive illiterate drivel in this thread? Very picky in your moderating, soldier.

Were you bullied at school by any chance?

[TheDon]

Originally Posted by Chris

It would be more accurate to accuse him of special pleading ... he recognises that the rules are against him, but he thinks he's a special case.

Indeed.

Originally Posted by Tony i

If I (genuinely) can't afford a VM sports sub does that mean I can steal?

No, because that's entirely different, it's like saying you can't afford a car so I'll go steal one, whereas what I'm saying is I that no one is actually offering to sell me the service at any price, so who exactly am I withholding revenue from to make it as bad as hooking up a dodgy box?

My point is merely that all those who infringe are not created equal, and just because some people may infringe (or may not, depending on the interpretation of the law) it doesn't mean that they are on the same level as others and are therefore unable to draw comment, as the intention behind the infringement can clearly separate someone who does so to avoid payment, and someone who does so because there's no legitimate alternative.

Infringement isn't black and white, nothing in this world is, there's a whole world of gray in between.

[Reedy]

Originally Posted by Chris

Still, that's the internet for you, no shortage of angry keyboard warriors out there

That's a REALLY cheap shot ... For provoking people you should have your mod status taken off you. I'm pretty disgusted by your behaviour and YES, I'm going to report you for it.